Boundaries & Bridges

Vacation 2011

2011-06-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Brunch the last morning of the Focus on the Family Clergy Conference
This is in "Whit's End" at Focus - my children love this program

H.B. London - a Great Man of God - A Pastor to Pastors

30 degrees & very windy/...loved it!

I love this pic. The contrasts in color, texture, & space is interesting

Two Big Horn Sheep near the top of Pike's Peak Odd to see snow in June

On Top of the World

I lost my head in Kansas...We left steamy Macon Georgia at 9:55 pm June 1st. We pulled into my in-law's drive around noon the next day. Not a bad trip but we were beat...all of us. Emma did the best. She was nothing but a delight. An amazing gift of a baby. God knew that we'd need a sweet content baby in our old age.

I was able to preach at Liberty Baptist Church that Sunday then we left Monday morning for Colorado Springs for 5 glorious days - just Beth & I. We attended the Clergy & Spouse Conference at Focus on the Family. It was tremendous! Every thing there was first class but not in a showy way but in a God honoring way. The purpose of the conference was rest, relaxation, & encouragement. They pulled that off in spades.

The other wonderful aspect of Colorado was the time alone together. It has apparently been a very long time since we've been together for several days alone. It reminded me of how much I not only love Beth but I 'like' her too. We 'fit' each other & that is the grace of God & His working to make us 'One' over the past 23 years. It took 11 hours to get to Colorado Springs from Kansas City. We didn't talk for the first 10 hours. We literally just enjoyed the quiet...which is a rare commodity in our home. On the way back to K.C., Beth began reading an excellent book that I highly recommend - "Give them Grace" by Elyse Fitzpatrick. It is really the only 'grace/gospel' parenting book that I've ever heard of. We had some excellent discussion, repentance, & laughs. We got back into Kansas on Friday evening. Ben didn't do well in our absence. That night when I put him to bed, he wouldn't let me leave because he was afraid I would go away again. Even now, over two weeks later, his still gets a little panicky when I grab the keys.

We traveled over 3,400 miles round trip. It was a great time & one of the best vacations in recent memory. Thank you Lord.

Where Does the Time Go?

2011-05-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Seems like yesterday that I got a call from Elizabeth to tell be that the baby she was carrying was a girl. "You got your girl!" were the words I distinctly remember hearing. What a day that was. Anna was born on Mother's Day after a long night of unproductive labor. She was stubborn even before she was born!

Anna turned 15 a few days ago. She wanted to take her driving permit test. Anna has only driven once...in my old beater truck on my hunting land a couple of years ago. Well, I had to go to the DMV to renew my drivers licence last month. I asked for the book so she could begin to study it. The lady behind the counter informed me that they were out. I took that as a sign from God & told Anna as much. A few days later she had the book from a young man in our church who took his earlier in the year.

Well, she passed it...amazing! I let her drive my current - not a beater - truck home from the church. She did well in light of her nearly complete lack of experience.

I'm still trying to figure out where the time went. She & I were headed to the church yesterday & I came out to see her in the driver's seat with the engine running. She gave me a 'deal with it Dad' look & I prayerfully climbed into the passenger seat.

The way the 'Speed of Life' is going for me, Emma will be driving soon!

2011-05-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

I was asked to read the theme scripture & offer the opening prayer for the NDP event on the steps of Macon's City Hall today. Below is the text of my prayer:

Psalm 91:1-2
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
Father God,
We come boldly before your throne of grace seeking help in our time of need. We’re in trouble Father & we finally know it. We’ve gathered today as your sons & daughters by your grace though faith in your Son Jesus Christ. The scripture for this National Day of Prayer is Psalm 91:2 where David said, “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’”
A Refuge & a fortress are places of Rest, Relief & Protection. We – your people – have no concept of You as our Refuge & Fortress. We have the government for that, we have 401ks, IRA’s, & fat bank accounts for that. We would never say it with our lips but our lives loudly declare, “Who is the Lord that I should need Him?”
Help us Father! We come to City Hall today the way we should come every day – not with hands out but with hands up. Not looking to GET something but coming to GIVE something. Not looking for HELP but rather GIVING HOPE.
David also made his statement personal – He called you MY GOD, MY Fortress, My Refuge. That’s what our country so desperately needs today – Citizens who’s first allegiance is to your Kingdom & your will & your righteousness. A nation who’s God is unashamedly – Jehovah.
David also concludes his bold declaration by stating that His trust will be in you. The prophet Isaiah echoed that in 31:1 when he said, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD!”
That’s exactly what we’ve done and are continuing to do as the church – your called out ones. We’re looking to Egypt for help instead of Heaven. We’re looking to capital hill for answers that can only be found in Calvary’s Hill.
We’re trusting in our Military might to execute the Bin Ladens of our would & keep us safe while the real terrorist of the World, the Flesh & the Devil laugh in victory. There is only one execution that holds the answer & it happened at Calvary’s hill not Capital hill.
We are an unfaithful people who are so prone to wander from the God we love. So today we gather to seek true repentance – a changing of the way we think & act. The hope for America is standing here today but we must turn from our Idolatry & truly trust in you again as our forefathers once did at the miraculous founding of this great nation. Change our hearts that we may declare with some level of integrity, “We will say of Jehovah, ‘He is our refuge & our fortress; Our God, in Him & Him alone we will trust.” Help us Father in Jesus Name

A Family Seder ~ 2011

2011-04-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

The Passover Table is set!

Oh No! Leaven! Let's get it out of the house!

When are we ever going to eat!

Bitter Herbs aka - romaine dipped in horseradish sauce - sin stings Samuel

Parsley dipped in salt water-life in slavery to sin brings many tears

Daddy tells the story of God's covenant faithfulness to His people...Past & Present

I'm not drunk on Passover wine...really I'm not. Breaking the Afekomen

Enjoying the choroset dessert - Apple salad that looks like the mortar used in the bricks
It represents the sweetness of God's deliverance
Lots of Wine for everyone (Fruit of the Vine - in case my Mom is reading this)

Clean Hands

Pure Hearts

God is up to something. Seems that so many of us 'Gentiles' are being wooed back to God's holy days & festivals. As a father I find myself forever trying to 'clean up' the holidays for my kids. Ever get tired of trying to strip the holidays of meaningless fable, carnivoristic consumerism, & theft of God's characteristics bestowed upon Scandinavian saints who break into homes, leave gifts...and steal the glory of Jehovah?

Well, I feel your pain. God has a much better idea. Imagine a holiday that still has much fun & story for all ages to look forward to it months in advance. The whole idea of "Spring Cleaning" comes from preparing for Passover. The Jewish Mommas would deep clean the dwelling to get every trace of 'leaven' out of the house.

Then, just before the Passover Seder could begin, the Jewish Papas would take a candle & search the house with the little ones. Momma would leave a little bit of "Chametz" by the stove. One child would have a wooden spoon & the Dad would sweep the leaven onto the spoon with a feather. Another child would wrap it in a linen cloth & then they would take it outside of the house & burn it. You don't have to be a biblical scholar to get the symbolism: Candle - God's Word, Wooden Spoon - the Cross, Feather - the Holy Spirit, Linen cloth - grave clothes, Fire - Christ's sacrifice - a burnt offering.

We retold the story of God's delivering the Children of Israel with an Outstretched arm. When God stretches out His arm - you don't want to be on the receiving end of it...just ask Pharaoh.

We talked about the bitterness of life, the wages of sin being death. We remembered our baby who we will see in heaven one day. Salty tears still flow at the thought of him or her. But out of that sad valley came three beautiful babies - Samuel Isaac, Benjamin Robert Anthony, & Emma Grace. The blessings & the bitterness - through it all God is faithful.

We've never done this at home before. I've wanted to for years. We almost didn't do it this year but I felt an urgency to celebrate this 'Moed' with my family.

We're going to do it again this Friday with our Church family. The Seder at home was a bit of a dry run. We're going to scale things back & loosen them up a bit for Friday. But we are still going to remember, recount & retell the story of God's covenant faithfulness to His children.

Let me encourage you to give it a try. God knows how to have a holy holiday. It beats the fire out of thinly veiled pagan festivals. Let's get back to the book & back to Celebrating the feasts of the LORD.

The Gospel Stairs

2011-04-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

Our Church, Lake Wildwood Baptist, began a journey through Romans this past Sunday. I came across this poem in my studying & I have to confess that I wept when I read the last line. It is my story & that of any & all who have been drawn by the Father & effectually called by the Holy Spirit to Justification by faith alone - vacant of ANY work on my part. May we all be reminded that God has done it all...We are merely the blessed recipients of the His gracious gift through our Lord Jesus Christ. Enjoy...

The Gospel Stairs

O long & dark the stairs I trod

with trembling feet to find my God

Gaining a foothold bit by bit

then slipping back & losing it

Never progressing; striving still

with weakening grasp & faltering will

Bleeding to climb to God, while He

Serenely smiled, unnoting me

Then came a certain time when I

Loosened my hold & fell thereby;

Down to the lowest steps my fall,

As if I had not climbed at all!

Now when I lay despairing there

Listen...a footfall on the stair!

On that same stair where I afraid,

Faltered & fell & lay dismayed

And lo, when hope had ceased to be,

My God came down the stairs to me!

Ellicott Wilderness: A Great Teacher

2011-04-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Drying my shoes by the fire Going fishing the second day

My 'barely one person' tent

Beautiful Waterfall

My pack complete with crickets for fishing

A Black Bear track right outside my tent!

Necissity is the Mother of invention

Smoking Trout...Its what's for dinner!

I caught the big one & 2 of the smaller ones! Panther martin spinner knocks em dead!

I recently had the opportunity to take a hiking trip with some fellow Pastors. We went to the Ellicott Wilderness for a 3 day 20 mile hiking/fishing/camping trip. I've shed, by God's grace-the moringa tree & Zija, 60 pounds since July of last year. I figured the 40 pound pack would be no problem! I may have lost weight but I have yet to gain cardio shape! The 3,000 foot elevations really challenged me to the max. My partners gave me the 'trail name' of 'Grunt' because I made noise with every step.

We hiked 7 or 8 miles the first day. By the end of that hike I figured out how to & how not to wear the backpack. It is supposed to rest on your 'saddle' aka top of your butt. Let me tell you, my 'saddle' was sagging by the time we made camp that afternoon!

The second half of that first day found us in some very steep mountainous country. Nearly vertical ravines on a foot & a half wide dirt trail made for some hairy hiking. At one 'hairpin' turn there was a tree growing up over the path & a 300 to 400 foot drop off on the outer edge. I watched my partners grasp the trunk & 'swing' under the tree. No problem. I didn't factor in my 40 pound pack. In the middle of my swing my left hand slipped off the tree trunk & my swing started swinging down & not over! That was a wake up call to be sure!

The hiking wasn't so fun at first...or in the middle...or on the last day really. What was fun was looking back & realizing you did something hard & you persevered!

We camped along the Chatooga river where deliverance was filmed. I kept a sharp ear out for banjo music!

We caught 6 trout the first afternoon & I caught 3 more the next day. Nothing like fresh trout smoked over a fire. The big trout bumped my spinner on 3 successive casts. On the 4th cast I reeled that spinner as fast as I could & instead of 'tasting' it - he inhaled it!

After our trip I figured out why my Pastor buddies so enjoyed this kind of get away. It is the polar opposite of what we do every day. No cell phones, people, or problems other than physical ones to be overcome. No dressing up, meetings, or fires to put out - only ones to start.

It was so quiet except for the sound of the river which lulled us to sleep each night. We carried everything we needed to sustain us right on our backs. We were miles from civilization & we not only survived but we thrived.

I can't wait to go back & take Paul Jr. with me. He would love this kind of adventure!

2011-03-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't had the flu in 12 years...all good things comes to he who waits! I got hit with it Monday evening - Aches, chills, fever, chest pains - the whole 9 yards! Baby Emma got it earlier on Monday & Ben had it over the weekend. Sam got hit with it last night at 3 am when his dinner came up & out. Note to self - no sick ones on the top bunks...gravity is not pretty when wed to the flu. He also just threw up all the way down the hall what sounded like gallons. Of course he stopped right at the bathroom door...go figure. One of our church members Face Booked me & asked if she could bring us anything. I replied, "A mop carried by a Nanny. My wife is about to lose what little of her mind she still has." Its been one of those weeks.

Anna just came out & stated she is feeling sick! Please God, don't let Beth get this mess. Ellie is also complaining of a sore throat.

I just couldn't stand to be in bed by Tuesday late morning. Beth kept trying to shew me back to bed but I wasn't having it. It hurts to just lay there. I'm still achy but it's not so painful. I'm left with a rough & painful cough.

I am not a good patient. My wife reminds me of that often. She's been such a trooper though all of this. I am a blessed man to be sure.

God has been so good to me & my little family. Pray for my older sons. They both want to attend Toccoa Christian College in the fall but money is the only barrior. Pray for God's provision.

Red Russian, Proud Uncle, Happy Nephew

2011-02-20T13:46:00.000-08:00

Joseph Creath - Great Guide & all around excellent man, Paul Jr., me & Garrett "Safety" Bennett
Hanging Hog

Ribs on the Smoker Baby!

Garrett & I with his harvest

Garrett had never been hunting before he moved here to Georgia. I remember my Uncle Jerry taking me when I was about his age - I was hooked!

Garrett didn't like the early morning hunts & truth be told, neither do I. He's hunted faithfully with me for 2 seasons now. He got the knick-name "Safety" for missing a doe due to his safety being on & the hammer stopping short with a 'click' - The deer had enough of that & I had to take the shot. He asked how long he'd have that name & I told him until he got a deer. That was 2 years ago & its stuck with him. He is also very careful & has the best muzzle control of a greenhorn hunter that I've ever seen. So his name started off as a jab but ended up as a compliment.

Yesterday evening we ran down to the Creath plantation as we call it. The Creath's have around 50 acres in Perry. Joseph met us & we killed some time fishing. I caught three nice bass - one over 5 lbs.

Then we headed to the back fields where the hogs had been sighted.

We got into position & lay down under some low hanging branches that afforded us a great view of the field. The pigs were supposed to come out in front of us across the field but as fate would have it, they flanked us & entered the field very close to us on OUR side. There were 12 wild pigs in all. 5 large shooters & 7 small piglets.

Garrett is left handed & left eyed so this was a perfect set up for him. Joseph, our guide, handled everything so smoothly. He told us when to be still & when to get set up for the shot. Then when the piglets got nervous & headed back to the woods, He picked out the Red Russian sow & told Garrett to shoot her.

Garrett is the calmest rookie hunter I've ever seen. He's just a natural - able to control his emotions, line up the cross hairs & squeeze off a shot as the whole herd is headed back to the woods. There was a lot of pressure on him but his shot rang out & the pigs scattered. He said, "Great, I missed!" due to all the pigs bolting & squealing into the woods. When his red pig hit the forest line, it piled up & began squealing for all it was worth. Joseph instructed us to stay put & he ran over & put a 40 cal. pistol round between the ears. All was quiet except for the congratulations. I was so proud of Garrett & I think he was a little proud of himself.

I asked God to give Garrett success as we were lying there waiting for the pigs to show up. God answered that prayer with one of the most memorable hunts I can remember.

Way to go "Safety"!

Lake Wildwood Baptist Church

2011-01-29T16:33:00.000-08:00

We Exist to Glorify God & Exalt the Lord Jesus Christ by:

Praising Him in Worship & Prayer

Proclaiming the Gospel

Promoting Discipleship

Producing Ministry & Fellowship

We had our Charter service on Wednesday, January 26th 2011. It was a time of looking back in thanksgiving & looking forward in anticipation. Bob Franklin, our SBC Association Director of Missions, was in attendance & he gave an excellent charge to our new church.

We're excited to see what God is going to do in this new church. Please pray for us as we push forward to fulfill our mission.

Muscle Gain & New World Record

2011-01-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

This is Luke Curry. He is obviously a body builder. He was taking all the supplements & protein drinks to increase his muscle mass & repair time between work outs. He had hit a wall & wasn't progressing like he thought he should.
A fiend challenged him to stop all the supplements & try Zija's Smart Mix for 2 weeks. The results were amazing. Here's what Luke had to say himself in a recent Facebook post - "Thanks to Zija & XM3 for helping me break a world record in power lifting and going from 198 to 252 in 6 months. I was also able to retire my wife & myself from a J.O.B."
Zija is an amazing product made from the Moringa tree. It is loaded with over 94 verifiable nutrients. 100% of it goes into the blood stream which is unusual for most vitamin supplements. XM3 is an all natural energy drink. We call it "Green Bull". It is actually good for you & it works.
Not only can you gain muscle mass you can also lose weight. I've lost 50 pounds without going on a DIEt.
Check it out for yourself at www.drdz777.myzija.com

A Hole In One to Remember!

2011-01-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

During bow season this year our good buddy Phil had this buck walk out just 20 yards or so from his blind. He waited patiently for a decent crossbow shot. The buck finally gave him a quartering away shot. Phil leaned in, aimed, & squeezed the trigger. Just when the bolt took flight, the buck turned slightly...HOLE IN ONE!

I'm not making this up. The poor thing didn't run that far ( I understand that!). When Ken came to pick Phil up he says that, "Phil had a sheepish look on his face". "Did you get anything" asked Ken. "A buck, come & see" replied Phil sheepishly. Ken said when he saw that deer, he just busted out laughing.

Right then, Ken hatched a plan to get a replica mount of Phil's "Hole in One" & give it to him for Chirstmas. I don't know if you can hear Ken on the video but he says, "We were going to get the front end mounted but we couldn't get the look off his face!"

The Hole in One now hangs proudly over Phil's desk in his office. Now when he's having a bad day, all he has to do is to look up & realize..."It could be a lot worse!"

Emma Grace

2011-01-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

Our little Emma Grace recently turned 6 month's old! She's growing so fast - it kind of makes me sad. Being an "Old Daddy" makes me content to keep them little & enjoy them because experience has taught me that they grow so fast & these days will never come around again.

Emma is still an amazing baby. She rarely cries unless she's hungry or hurt. In the first pic, she fell over & bumped her nose on the dock which explains her tears.

She's not a big fan of baby food although Beth did discover that Emma enjoys sweet potatoes...go figure.

I've been working at three local funeral homes lately. It has been fascinating for the most part. I am very familiar with the front half of the business as a Pastor but the back half - the behind the scenes side - is really something to behold.

I work with great people for the most part & it has been interesting to get to know a whole new group of people.

That's about it for now. Just wanted to enjoy Emma's pics. What a beautiful & delightful baby.

Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

Family Ornament 2010~Crafted by Catelyn

Christmas Emma
Miss 'G'
Sleep in heavenly peace...

Twas the night before Christmas

& all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even...Emma

Samuel...

or Ben

The Calm before the Storm

Momma Clause put out the gifts...love that woman!

Ben is still clutching his candle - he couldn't wait to light it but fell fast asleep right before we did it...maybe next year little buddy

Stellar Picture by Elizabeth - We make beautiful babies

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

My wife had a great post on Christmas Eve.

This year was a bit of a rush job for me as I ended up having to work some major hours at the funeral home. That has been a fascinating experience & I'll have to post on that soon. Suffice it to say, the Snows staff are consummate professionals who really know how to help a family navigate the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

I got home at 5:30 Christmas Eve - just an hour & a half before the service. I had the whole thing planned & the Advent poem written. What I hadn't been able to do was to practice a couple of key songs. Zack has really improved in his piano skills in just a few months under his tutor - Roxie Adrian. He was able to get all the songs together & just nail them. He really put feeling into his playing.

I read pertinent scripture then read a section of poem that I wrote from those texts.

Zack, Dave, Andy, & Dad did all the prep work in the sanctuary as well as Joseph & James Creath & Paul Jr. They evicted the bats (we think, hope, & pray!) My Mom did a bang up job decorating the beautiful rustic sanctuary.

God just showed up & showed out. We had many new faces from the community there. What a blessing.

The children's bell choir did great on Silent night. All in all it was wonderful.

Some old friends were there as well as some new ones. It really is a new day for our Church & I am looking forward to what God is going to do for His glory through our Church. We had a time of precious candle lit silence with the instruction to listen to what God would say to you personally. I actually did 'hear from God' in that time. As I looked around that sanctuary it was as if God said, "These are your people - love them, lead them, for my name's sake". That thought really didn't come from me as I was thinking about the logistics for the closing song. God just kind of broke through my frantic thinking & 'spoke' to me. I felt a love for that congregation just flow over me. Oh that God would help me nurture that command & to lovingly lead my little flock to love Jesus more & live out the gospel every day.

Ode To Advent~2010

2010-12-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Ode To Advent~2010
Hear Ye the Word of Yahweh tonight
'His' story through the chosen line
A Savior Promised in dark days passed
Isaiah's word enfleshed in our time
To Ancient Ahaz~Judah's King
Did God give Salvation's sign
A virgin born Immanuel Son
A Rescuer for all time
Centuries passed on our side of time
for 400 years God went quiet
Religion flourished as souls fell away
God's favor? None could come nigh it.
Then history went into labor
in the fullness of time He was sent
He whom the universe could not contain
Was in the womb of a virgin content
The Christ, it was long ago fortold,
would be born in Bethlehem town
A census & national tax the Lord used
To send Joseph & Mary on down
While they were there in God's sovereign plan
She brought forth her first born, a son
Rag wrapped & in a rough manger laid
Was God's answer, Manacham, the One!
The shepherds on Bethlehem's hillside
Did the Angel glad tidings tell
Glory to God in the hightest
and Peace rang through the dell
They came with haste & what they found
forever transformed these men
Their voice they found & spread the news round
"God is with us once again!"
Young Mary cradled her Maker
And nursed Him at her breast
In wonder she gathered each memory
which would one day be put to the test
Was He just another poor babe
born long ago in a land far away?
Or was He the actual Son of Heaven
The Lamb of God born to be slain?
A babe came He into our sin sick world
A sinless life lived He until age thirty three
Then despised & rejected ~ yea, cured of God
He hung broken & bleeding for you & for me
This babe was born for one purpose alone
To live a life perfectly
Then to trade it all in for all of my sin
He's the Sacrifice Lamb you see.
There is but one question that still remains
What must I do for this gift to receive
Tis the grandest news of all my friend
For all you must do is believe!

~Paul J. Dziadul Sr., 2010~
Written for the Advent Eve Carols by Candlelight Service

Dedicated to the Memory of Jo Ann de Boer

Thanksgiving Weight Loss?

2010-12-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

Emma's Elvis Hair

We had over 20 people over for our annual celebration of Thanksgiving. We have a tradition of going to Church from 10-11am on Thanksgiving morning. Often this is attended by my family & just a few others.

This year we had 43 show up & when it came to the testimony time - did they ever have a lot to share. It was one of the best Thanksgiving Day Services we ever had.

We brined the turkey's for 24 hours before smoking one & roasting the other. They turned out Fantastic!!! The highlights may have been the desserts. Beth made a pumpkin cheesecake with home made whipped cream. Amazing!

Probably the most amazing thing is that on Sunday morning I got on the scale & I lost 2 pounds over "Feast Week"!

I've been on the Zija Weight Management System since July. That 2 pounds was kind of a big deal as it puts me at 50 pounds lost without spending one day on a DIEt.

The Moringa Tree is an amazing creation that is chock full of vitamins & nutrients.

Ezekiel 47:12 describes a tree that sure seems to match what we know about Moringa: "... their leaves shall not wither & their fruit shall not fail, they will bear every month...and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

Moringa can be harvested every 2 weeks & it seems the healing properties seem to reside in the leaves & the nutritional properties can be found in the fruit.

Give the body what it needs & it will do what God created it to do...come to a place of balance.

You can even enjoy a FEAST yet still lose weight...amazing!

Great Day!

2010-11-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

I went to the Georgia Baptist Bible Fellowship Meeting at Central Fellowship Baptist Church today. My friend Rodney Queen is the Pastor there & he asked me to speak. It was a joy & a privilege. I've been attending the meetings for going on 3 years now & the speakers are a cut above to be sure. Today I heard some great sermons from the Word of God. First I heard a great testimony sermon from Brother Paul Young who is from Brighton England. He has a ministry to the homeless there called "Off the Fence". What a salty brother who actually believes God & takes Him at his Word! Go figure. I was captivated by has strong British accent & his heart for God.

Brother Henry Van Wye is an older pastor who is an excellent preacher. This is the second time that I've had the privilege of hearing him preach. He spoke on Jonah 1:1-3 - "God always picks the right man for the job" One of his thoughts was that because God chose us for our particular work/ministry - then we must be the right man for that job. He also asserted that God has confidence in us & our calling. Our job is to have as much confidence in God that He has in us. Interesting & tremendously encouraging.

The last preacher tonight was a favorite of mine - Pastor Virgil Barnard. I don't know how old he is but he's got to be in his upper 80's. He preached on Psalm 22 - the prophetic psalm of the suffering messiah. When he got behind the pulpit he lost 50 years at least & came alive with the zeal & passion of a young evangelist. One statement that I found particularly stunning was the statement of Christ, "I Thirst". Pastor Barnard then said - "The one who made the rivers & streams cried out for thirst & was offered vinegar mixed with gall" He CREATED water & his request was denied by the men her created. What have we done?

Then brother Virgil said this, "The first Adam through his sin striped us all naked in shame but the last Adam (Christ) hung naked in shame that we might be clothed in His righteousness." What has He done?!

What a day of encouragement & affirmation. The Reformer's Unanimous ladies provided the special music & it was off the hook!

What an incredible day invested in God's house with God's men exalting God's son by preaching God's Word!

No Way!

2010-11-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

The above is the summit viper classic climbing stand. I have to make a confession here - I've been lusting after this thing since before hunting season started. We've come on some lean times financially & I just couldn't see my way clear to buy it. I can usually talk myself into any selfish purchase but no dice this time.
One of the features I really like is the quick connect system that is very quiet as well as quick. The solid climbing brackets were also a great feature.
My hunting partner & mentor, Mr. Ken Goings, has been an off the hook blessing to me this past year. He manages a 1,000 hunting club in Crawford county. I hunted Turkey with him there this past spring. I lost my lease in Monroe county this past summer. Ken decided to give me a membership to his club which he paid for. We've had some amazing hunts there already this year. I harvested 2 does last Friday morning. I shot one at 8 a.m. & one at 9 a.m. Both were big does. Ken took an even bigger doe that evening & one two days later.
On opening day of bow season, Ken noticed that the cable on my climbing stand was cut nearly in two. He advised me not to use it. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't take his advice & I was pretty nervous.
Ken called me Monday to meet up with me so I could pick up the cooler with the last deer in it. We met at Dicks sporting goods in Macon. I put the cooler in my truck & Ken then sheepishly admitted that he had an ulterior motive. With that Goings grin he said, "I'm gonna get you an early Christmas present - the Summit Viper climbing stand." NO WAY!!!
I am the very proud new owner of the latest in quick & quiet climbing technology! I cannot wait to give it a test run soon.
God has sure blessed me with good friends like Ken. He meets not only my needs but my wants as well. Simply Amazing!

Vintage Ben

2010-10-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Ben is his own man...even though he's still a little boy. I took him hunting last Sunday evening. We sat for 3 hours in a cramped & rickety stand. He did great! At one point he heard some leaves rustling & said, "I hear a deer!" I figured it was an armidillo as they sound like an elephant coming through the woods. Sure enough it was. I watched Ben as he first spyed the armor plated pest. He 'wispered' - "look Daddy, a piggy!"

Gotta love that boy!

Recent Pics

2010-10-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

Turns out Emma is the one baby of ours that doesn't like Daddy's harmonica playing! I tried fast, slow, happy - nothing doing - she listened for a few bars & cried. Everyone's a critic!
Lauging with Momma! Beth had her laughing out loud for the first time. Glad I was there to see & hear it

Ben cleaned up on High Ho Cherio! I'm thinking of taking that kid to Vegas!

So exciting to be in 36 pants again! Zija Weight Management System is the bomb! Check it out at www.drdz777.myzija.com

Laughing with Daddy...as long as he doesn't play the harmonica!

Gut Be Gone!!!

Random pics found on the camera. Anna's close up

Ben's first deer hunting trip. He did great!

Virgin Hunter & An Epic Hunt

2010-10-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

My nephew Josh came by for a visit this past week. I haven't seen him in a quite some time. He asked about going hunting so Jr. & I took him. Josh couldn't believe that you just sat still for hours. I could tell this wasn't going to work for him so after about an hour we did some stalking hunting. We covered about a mile & saw 7 armadillos. One just about ran over Josh's sneakers! He was amazed by that. We did jump 2 deer but we didn't have a shot. Along about 6:15 pm we heard a shot ring out over near where Jr. was hunting.

When we got there, Jr. was knelt down near the entrance to the forest. I told Josh that he was either kneeling by the deer or by the last blood drops. It was last blood. We marked it & Jr. & I made a few careful forays into the dense woods. No deer.

We needed a better flashlight for tracking. The way the blood trail dried up, I figured we'd better give this animal time to die & not push it clear to the next county!

So we went to town & got a couple of good flash lights & something to drink. After an hour or so we were back to tracking our wounded game.

Josh proved to have excellent eyes for blood tracking. We hit a couple of 'dry' spots but the young fellas with their young eyes always seemed to find the next spot.

We hit a dry creek bed & saw where the deer leaned up against a tree. It was good blood - a lung shot based on the color & the bubbles in it. I told the guys that the deer wouldn't be far. It was 10 yards from that spot but the trail dried up. I decided to drop back into the creek bed to search further down for more blood. Not 15 feet from there was the beautiful young buck.

Jr. put a fantastic shot on him but it was a little high so the blood stayed in the animal which explained the light blood trail.

I knew there was a quicker way out of the woods so I headed due west. I could see the logging road only 20 yards ahead. Then I stumbled over something. When I caught myself I shined the light on a grave from the 1800's. Pastor Washington Cromwell Cleveland - born in 1803 died in 1869. The inscription read, "His death was a triumph of God's Grace"

There was a 7 year old daughter buried next to him with this inscription, "Here lies our sweet little daughter. We will be with her again soon"

One grave with a little lamb on top of the stone was that of a one month old infant.

I had several emotions & oddly enough, fear was not one of them. One was a sense of blessing to find such a lost treasure. The thought of how blessed I am to live in the 21st century where my babies don't die from now curable diseases. I also thought of the truth of those inscriptions. This primitive baptist Pastor knew the same Jesus that I know. He served the same master that I do. I will meet him one day as I sing the praises of the lamb around the throne. It was a hallowed spot & a holy moment. I was reminded that death is as much a part of life as birth is. I was also reminded that one day I too will be laid to rest. People will say nice things about me & then life will go on. I may be as forgotten as Pastor Cleveland only to be discovered again a century & a half later by a Father & Pastor. Maybe my grave will serve to shake him out of the lethargy of the moment and into the urgency of the Kingdom. Here was my take away: Life is short so live for what lasts longest - eternity. Life is hard, ie - burying several of your children - but God is good & you can still die in his service without being bitter at His sovereign hand in your life. Life is good, this world may forget about me & the forest my take over my resting place but because of Christ, no trees of this world will ever blot out what my Jesus did on that old rugged tree on skull hill outside of Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. Life is good because God is good even when you bury your babies. This man died with his pastoral boots on even though several of his babies preceded him in death. The verse that comes to mind is Hebrews 11:4 "He being dead yet speaketh". Pastor Cleveland spoke to me even though he's been dead since 1869 thanks to a well preserved vault stone. He spoke to my son & nephew as well. I reminded them that this was a hallowed spot & that though we would document what we found we would in no way desecrate that place or the memories of that family. They were in full agreement & what a time we had.

Josh was taken a back a bit by his earthy uncle & cousin but was more than up for the traditional face painting for all virgin hunters on their first harvest experience. We let him off the hook really as local tradition calls for a bite out of the still warm heart.

All in all it was an epic hunt. I was proud of my son for his commitment to find that animal even if it took all night. That young man has some great ethics which are the markers of greatness.

What a night, what a hunt, what a God & what a Gospel!

Big Shoes To Fill

2010-10-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Every boy love to wear his Daddy's shoes. Ben loves my boots. So here he is in my new hunting boots. They kind of work like waders for him. He knows how to turn my hat light on without looking just like an old hunter.

I may take him hunting with me before the year is over but after taking Sam the other night, I'll need a few weeks to forget.

Before & Half Way to After

2010-10-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

I started at very close to 240lbs. At 5 feet 9.5 inches that is either too much weight or not enough height. I couldn't do anything about the height so I decided to do something about the weight.

I went on the Zija Weight Management System. Here's how it works in a nut shell: Flood the body with nutrients at the start of the day, late morning some dutch cocoa xm3, & some moringa tea before bed.

Sounds crazy I know. Here's what happens. The body gets what it wants & needs - over 100% of the daily nutrients including all 9 essential amino acids that the body cannot produce & is almost non existant in our daily diets anymore - It tends to bring itself into balance.

Then hit the brain with a dose of "Don't Worry-Be Happy" chocolate based xm3 that knocks out cravings, flips the full switch in the brain & gives a pretty good boost of energy to boot.

At night before bed - drink a steaming mug of miracle tea that serves to absorb all the toxins created by burning fat all day & gently 'flushes' them out of your system in the morning - a moving experience some say - pun fully intended.

I've never eaten less food or enjoyed it more. I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out but the only thing that is falling is my pant size: from 42 - 36 since July!

Believe it or not, I'm making money so its not costing me anything. My food bill has decreased $300 a month since my wife & I started the system.

I'm trying to find the negative & I can't...because there isn't one.

Try it for yourself. There is a 30 day money back guarantee. All you have to lose is the weight & all you have to gain phenominal health & the energy of a toddler on cotton candy.

Check it out for yourself at www.drdz777.myzija.com

Come "Drink Life In"!

Say Hello To My Little Friend

2010-10-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

Beth & I were coming home from the store the other evening & as she started around the van I heard her scream. I've lived with her long enough to know that it was a "big bug or reptile" scream as opposed to a mouse scream which can break glass...but that's for another post.

I quickly came to her side & she said, "Its a snake". It was dark outside but I could see a small coiled snake not too far from her foot. The snake thought better of it & slithered under the van. "I don't like the shape of that snake" I said as I quickly retrieved my flashlight & machete. I could only see the outline of it but it had a thick body & a triangular head - tell tale markings of a pit viper.

By the time I got back out to the drive, the snake was making a break for it-heading under the wagon. I foolishly tried to cover it with my hat it struck at me - barely missing my hand. The next time I used the machete to try to hold it down. It saw that coming & went under the car.

I met it coming out the front of the car & was able to get the flashlight on it - It had the Hershey kiss marking all the way up it's body. The only snake in north America that has that is a copperhead.

It coiled again...and for the last time. The machete made short work of the little viper. I don't kill snakes unless they are venomous & near my house. If I had come across that viper in the woods, I'd have let it go in peace.

The light green tail is interesting. I thought maybe it was used by this juvenile snake to attract small lizards or other such critters for it to eat.

I'm sure thankful that my bride didn't step on that thing & that it decided to flee rather than fight as she almost stepped on it.

Happenings Part 1

2010-10-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

Grahm & Dad - Q?"How has Christ Changed You" A: "My Conscience is much Bigger"
Kristen & Grandpa

Cindy Stands for Christ...all the way from Trinidad

Carol - Rejected her works for the finished work of Christ

No place I'd rather be - "We will not Orphan one of these New Believers"

Book End Brothers

Zack's last playing for CWW for a while...sniff, sniff

God's Men Blessing My Boy-The last time we did this was at his barmitzpha

We've been living at the speed of Life as of late. So much has been going on that it has my head spinning!

Zack recently moved to KC Kansas to live with his grandparents & study the piano under Roxanne Adrian. It is temporary but tell that to my heart. I had a tough time letting my boy go. I still get choked up when I think about Zack not being here. I really miss him. Beth reminded me that we'll get to do this 6 more times. Our house is strangely quiet with our Zack.

The Baptisms were a huge blessing! I love seeing new life in the body of Christ. Praises to God from whom our rescue flows from the finished work of Christ on the Cross! We Believe!

Fishing on the Farm

2010-10-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

3 Nice Bass
Goat Galore!

Horse & Hay Barn

I've always loved to look at those big round hay bales

Sam's Big Brim

My Bigger Bass

3 Men in a Field

Burgers on the hoof - Doc was picking out a steer

We had Dr. James Raiford in for our Autumn Bible Conference this year. He is a most skilled bible expositor. Everyone enjoyed the time we had listening to him teach through the book of 1 Peter.
We enjoyed fellowship with several church members & with Mr. Ken - our friend from Camp Eunice. We went to his farm to fish for brim. The fishing was slow so I migrated over to the other pond that is known for it's bass. Doc came over & crawled under the fence to fish with me. We each caught our big bass at the same time! We enjoyed a great lunch of venison & beef burgers. Ken then treated us to homemade banana goat milk ice cream!

That was a great day all the way around.

My Favorite Morman?

2010-09-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Great Post by Brannon Howse at worldviewweekendfoundation.com

Glenn Beck Rally Set Stage for "Christians" to Accept Paganism, and Mormons Say Beck Achieved 200 Year Goal of Getting Evangelicals to Declare That Mormons Are Christians by Brannon S. Howse
www.worldviewweekend.com
I tried to warn evangelical leaders about Glenn Beck's rallies but most of them laughed at me. Now Satan is the one laughing at them as "Christians" run head-long into embracing non-Biblical theology and call it "Christian". Greg West in the Mormon LDS Examiner validates my pre-Beck rally warnings to Evangelical leaders on my radio program, columns, e-mails, and phone conversations. I told them that partnering with Beck in a spiritual enterprise would send the message that Mormons are Christians.
Greg West writes:
As a Mormon, I have to consider an unintended message throughout Beck's work, which has culminated in this event. That message is: "Mormons are Christian believers." Despite nearly two centuries of misrepresentation and religious envy by sectarian Christianity, Beck has achieved the visibility, prominence, and has had the time day after day, week after week, to speak openly and truly about his core beliefs. Those statements of faith have disoriented and confused those who had previously believed the lies about Mormons.
Jim Garlow, a popular and influential pastor who partnered with the Mormon faithful in California to defend traditional marriage was quoted recently in CNN's Belief Blog, saying, "I have interviewed persons who have talked specifically with Glenn about his personal salvation - persons extremely well known in Christianity - and they have affirmed (using language evangelicals understand), 'Glenn is saved...' He understands receiving Christ as Savior."
Hallelujah! The light bulb has been switched on after nearly two centuries! Every single member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that a person must be "born again" and receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Redeemer. Our holy books teach that salvation comes only in and through the atonement of Christ and that there is no other way a person can be saved…Glenn Beck's beliefs are mainstream Mormon beliefs. Joseph Smith, the Church's founder, was a Christian prophet. He was an apostolic witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.http://www.examiner.com/lds-church-in-national/glenn-beck-and-the-restoring-honor-rally
Notice that West admits that what Beck has said on his broadcasts about his faith has "disoriented and confused" people who thought that Mormonism was not consistent with Christianity. However, Beck has now convinced them that Mormonism and Christianity are compatible with the help of America's Christian leaders.
The actor Kirk Cameron is the only one I personally know of that took to heart my pre-Beck rally warnings and reversed himself. Kirk really encouraged me when I needed it by calling to thank me for the column and sharing with me how it helped him understand why he must not take part in Beck's 8-27 event. Kirk even had the courage to come on my national radio program and speak about this issue publically. The irony is rather thick. Kirk played "Buck Williams" in the Left Behind Movies. Buck was a famous secular journalist who became a believer and then set out to warn Christians not to accept the demonic spirituality of a one-world religion that was unfolding through national and international figures.
I believe what happen over the weekend was a seismic shift within evangelicalism; an historic event that will go unnoticed by most Christian leaders. A few leaders may eventually understand the nature of what happen but it will be weeks if not months before they respond. Many of these leaders waited years to provide the defense against Oprah's pagan spirituality and when they did it was too late for many of the goats within their flock of sheep that had already consumed Oprah's spiritual poison.
Sadly, most Christian leaders and pastors are completely deficient in understanding the ideas and philosophies that have, and continue, to be the force behind the rushing cultural stream. As a result; the members of their own congregation hear no advanced warning of the coming spiritual undertow nor do they acquire the needed Biblical knowledge that keeps them from being children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (Ephesians 4:14).
The compromise by evangelical leaders and pastors by spiritually uniting with "all faiths" with the theme of "looking to the one god", as described by Beck, has laid the foundation for untold numbers of self-professing Christians to now embrace pluralism and pagan spirituality. Pastors and evangelical leaders literally locked arms with all faiths, including Imams, in a spiritual endeavor despite the clear Biblical warnings of II Corinthians 6:14.The Mormon Church is now rejoicing over the public relations success that these undiscerning evangelical leaders have handed the Mormon Church by uniting with Glenn Beck in the two events that were promoted as spiritual.
I believe that Beck does not only embrace the pagan spirituality of Mormonism but also Cosmic Humanism. Cosmic Humanism is known by most as the New Age Movement. Cosmic Humanism says that man is god. Mormonism says that man can become god. See the similarities? Before you react listen to what Glenn Beck said on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace on the Fox News Channel. Glenn Beck said that his rally was not political and the reason for his rally was because "there's nothing that we can do that will solve the problems that we have and keep the peace unless we solve it through God, unless we solve it in being our highest self. Be your higher-self."
Beck used the phrase "higher self" three times in the interview with Chris Wallace. No one talks that way unless they know exactly what they are saying. One New Age website says:
There are many great words to describe Who or What your highest identity or Self truly is. Below are just a few: Higher Self, I am Presence, I Am That I Am…Cosmic Consciousness, God, Christ, Holy Spirit And the list goes on…
Notice that "I AM that I AM" is another word for "higher self". Last week on his radio program Beck said, "I Am That I Am is the most powerful phrase in any language as it is the name of god, never use it in vain; use it to create who you want to be. I AM blank."
I AM is a title that is to be reserved for God Himself. In Exodus 3:13 God told Moses that when the people of Israel ask for My name tell them, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" In John 8:58 we read, "Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'"
"I AM" is to be reserved as a title for God yet it is being blasphemed in the pagan practice of what is called "the law of attraction." In the book The Secret, that was promoted by none other than Oprah Winfrey, Rhonda Byrne wrote:
· The law of attraction is the law of creation….You create your life through your thoughts." [p. 15.]
· There isn't a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are, The Secret can give you whatever you want. [P. xi]
· With this powerful knowledge, you can completely change every circumstance and event in your entire life…" [p. 17]
The fact that people like Beck on the right and Oprah on the left are proclaiming the "I AM" message is a sign that we are living in the last days according to Jesus Himself in Luke 21:7-8:
And they asked Him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, "Take heed that yet be not deceived: for many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near; go ye not therefore after them."
Former New Ager, now Biblical Christian, Ray Yungen writes:
Notice, "Christ" is italicized in verse 8, meaning that it was not in the original manuscript. The translators of the King James Bible probably thought it awkward that it said "Many shall come saying, I am." Probably for the sake of clarity and to be consistent with Mathew 24, the translators added the word "Christ."
Did you catch that? Jesus was saying that when people say they are god by using the title "I AM" it is a sign that we are living in the end times. We are also told to run away from the people saying "I AM". Sadly, many of our nation's pastor's and Christian leaders did not run from Glenn Beck but ran to join him in a spiritual service and enterprise.
Beck on his radio program last week also declared, "Hell is an eternity of regret not being able to forgive yourself." This is a completely unbiblical statement. Nowhere in the Bible do we see instruction to "forgive yourself" because it is impossible. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." Verse 17 is what brings me peace since I have repented of my sins and placed by faith and trust in the Jesus of the Bible. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."Grace and forgiveness is provided to those who repent and therefore there is no need to believe the lie that you can "forgive yourself" of your sins.
Glenn Beck has accomplished what neither Oprah Winfrey nor Shirley McClain could. I believe that Beck used his conservative veneer and doublespeak to co-opt leaders of the religious right. Beck and these evangelical leaders have sent the message that it is acceptable for millions of "Christians" to embrace humanistic spirituality and paganism for the purpose of social activism and social change. These pastors should re-read Luke 17:2 where we read; "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."
Beck has set the stage for "conservatives" to accept a one-world religion and numerous leaders of the religious right pulled the ropes that raised the curtain on this ecumenical stage. Christian leaders that should have known better nodded in agreement and provided the backdrop as Beck preached his sermon of pluralism and universalism on 8-27 and 8-28.Perhaps sooner, rather than latter, the world will be in massive economic, political, and spiritual chaos and a leader will step on to the world stage and this anti-Christ will call for the religions of the world to unite and embrace spirituality. He will declare that he is not about politics but about bringing peace, unity, faith, hope, charity, stability, freedom, and prosperity under the common god of all religions. This world leader will perform counterfeit miracles signs and wonders and those who reject Biblical truth will follow him [2 Thessalonians 2:9-12] and embrace his plan for restoring honor.
If I had told you five years ago that a "conservative" radio and TV personality would have millions of viewers, would talk about the spiritual battle being waged in America, would be a self-confessed member of a cult, would quote New Age phrases, would call for Christians and conservatives to look to the "one god", would seek to unite all faiths and would convince dozens of evangelical pastors and leaders to support him in a spiritual service-you would say I was writing fiction and that this would never happen.
Do you now understand the magnitude of the spiritual shift that occurred this past weekend? The millions that see nothing wrong with the messages of Beck's 8-27 and 8-28 rallies reveal that the religious left and the religious right will be easily merged together in the coming one world religion under the coming one-world spiritual leader as prophesied in Revelation 17:8.
Ephesians 5:11 commands all Christians to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do in spite of e-mails and voice messages that are filled with cursing and insults. Our response must simply be, "Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" [Galatians 4:16]

Vacation 2010 - The Blow Out & the Blast

2010-08-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

Our Vacation started with a BANG...literally! About 2 hours down I75 going 70 mph - we blew a rear passenger side tire. I heard it going down before it blew and was able to change lanes & slow down before the back half of the tire exploded! God was sooooooo gracious in keeping that overloaded 3 seat wagon from flipping.

Found out the donut spare was also flat but a shot of air from the AAA wrecker fixed us up just fine! Three hours & a decent lunch later - we were on our way to Cape Coral!

We finally made it late Monday night but the kids just HAD to jump in the pool! Sam learned to swim the next day thanks to Anna! Way to go Sam!Ben loves the jacuzzi. He calles it "His Water". By the way - those armies that also have a float across the chest with one clasp in the back are WONDERFUL! They keep the little fellas a float & upright. Ben loves it!The kids have really enjoyed the pool as have I. It is especially nice at night with the underwater lights on.

Dziadul Happenings...

2010-07-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

Love this dress from Aunt Rebecca

The second family ready for church

Ben & Emma time

Cousins Emma & Emily

Prayer of dedication with Grandpa Adrian

Little Boy feet - no tellin' where they've been!

Funny face!

Emma meets Miss Mary

Overheard

2010-07-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

While driving yesterday we hit a sun shower. The sun was burning hot & bright & it was raining. I saw that it caught Sam's attention. I watched him process what he was seeing & then He exclaime, "Daddy, its raining SUNSHINE!!!"
I love that boy!

Anna meets Emma

2010-07-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

How much does she weigh?

2010-07-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

What Did He Say?

2010-07-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

Ben, Sam & Ellie Meet Emma Grace

2010-07-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

More Pics of Emma

2010-07-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

10 pounds 8 ounces - 22 inches long!
Burp!

Sleep on little Emma

Ben's Big Brother Present from Emma

Is that a smile?

Welcome to the Loud & Bright World

Meet the Protectors

Ben's Spontaneous Kiss - He LOVES his little "Emma Grapes"

Daddy introduces Ben to Emma

Little Big Brothers - future Protectors

Emma Grace is Here!

2010-07-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Emma Grace is Here!!!

She was born 10:24 a.m.

10 pounds 8 ounces

22 inches long!

A 'Healthy' Girl so say the least.

God blessed us by giving Beth a great expereince - the IV didn't hurt or take 6 trys & the epidural took right away so I didn't have to wait in the hall like last time!

She is a beautiful 'little' girl

Her wavy black hair puts me in mind of her Momma.

Ben was soooooo sweet with her. He held her & patted her head & then kissed her on her cheek.

Such a sweet boy.

Sam was far more concerned with his Momma. He didn't like the fact that she was in the recovery room & not where he could see her.

She has LOTS of hair & is a great baby thus far.

She seems to be very content - I pray that this will continue.

God has blessed us greatly & for that we are greatful.

Stay tuned for more pictures.

20 Pounds in 2 weeks!

2010-06-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

What a STRESS FILLED WEEK!!! My doctor once told me that I was a 'stress eater' - not that I consume stress but I consume everything in sight when I'm stressed.

Well this week has been one of the most stressful in my memory - which admitedly is not at all what it used to be.

I wasn't able to get on the scale this morning so I had to wait until this evening.

The result...5 more pounds GONE!!!

That equates to 20 pounds in two weeks.

The amazing part is that I'm not hungry, not dieting, & the cravings are still absent even in the midst of a VERY stressful week.

The only answer is that the Zija system works!

You really need to check it out for yourself.

Beth's b/p this week was 106/62! Lowest in her adult life. Zija has given us our health back.

We're having another meeting this Monday at the Church of the Wildwood at 7 pm. You need to come & get the 'skinny' on God's amazing Moringa tree!

My energy level has been phenominal this week. Call me impressed.

Young Preacher Boys

2010-06-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

James Creath & Zack Dziadul joined me in delivering the Sermon today. Our young people handled nearly the entire service today. Zack lead the worship along with his sister & our regular worship team all of whom are under 18.
They did a great job in selecting the songs & leading the congregation in worship.
The sermon was on the 5th commandment. I asked Zack & James if they'd like to take the sermon time. As they began to study the text they came up with the following outline:

The Children’s Role
Honor DEFINED [The What]
Honor DIRECTED [The Who]
Honor DEMANDED [The Why]

The Parent’s Role
DISCIPLINE
Pr 13:24
DELIGHT
3 John 1:4
DEMONSTRATION
Gal. 6:7

God’s Role
The FIRST Inhabitants
Exodus 23:20-33
The FUTURE Inhabitants
Ezekiel 22:7 & 15
The ENRICHMENT of Life
Eph. 6:3
The EXTENSION of Life

These young men didn't feel comfortable speaking on the middle point & that fell to me. I gave the introduction, Zack spoke on the Children's role, I took the Parent's role, & James took God's role.

They did an excellent job!!! I counted at least 6 people that came just to hear the young preacher boys. I posted it on our community yahoo group & folks came. They were really impressed with their handling of God's Word.

Please go to WWW.CWWMacon.com & go under the sermons. Look for "Honor Your Parents" & then listen to this sermon. Way to go men!

Lose Your Gut - Week One Results

2010-06-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

I was dreading it but I had to do it. I went to Mom & Dad's & got on the scale this morning after a week of pretty much the same lifestyle & diet.

The results...220 lbs which means I lost 15 POUNDS THIS WEEK!!!

I've been on the ZIJA lose your gut program which consists of a nutrient rich drink in the morning, xm3 supplement mid day & one hot cup of miracle tea before bed.

Here's the skinny - pun fully intended:

I didn't change my diet with the exception of cutting sweets way down. I did have some chips & some ice cream on my weekly date with my wife.

I have noticed that my cravings, especially for chips, have all but gone away. I am rarely eating seconds because I feel so full. I still get hungry before a meal but it is somehow very different. The hunger seems satisfied quicker.

After one reasonable helping I feel stuffed.

I did have seconds one evening & I felt like post thanksgiving.

I haven't had any more physical activity than normal on purpose. It has been a massively stressful week (see previous post) & yet I have still lost the weight.

If you'd like more information on it, then join me at the Church of the Wildwood this Monday at 7pm. The lady who started Beth on it for her pregnancy will be speaking on the ins & outs of this amazing supplement system. I'm going to try to record it so you can hear it if you can't be there. This is amazing. My blood pressure has also dropped from borderline hypertension 139/90 to 126/78.

Beth has had a net zero weight gain in her pregnancy which means she's lost weight. Her b/p & blood sugar are amazing! She's usually on bed rest with sky rocketing b/p, sugar, & edema at this point. Instead her vitals are better than they've been in our 22 years of marriage.

Christus Victor & a Pit Bull Attack

2010-06-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

Last night, Sunday June the 13th, my Father was walking his little lap dog down our street. A pit bull dog charged across the street after little Max. The pit bull grabbed Max in his jaws & my Dad grabbed its jaws to hold them open.
Can you say, "Let's Get Ready to Rumble!!!!?" Dad was amazed at the power of this dog. They literally wrestled across the entire street. Dad was bitten badly during this time.
God gave Dad the presence of mind to wrap the leash around the dog's neck & strangle it. He made sure it wasn't going to get up...ever again.
He then grabbed his poor little Max & ran the quarter mile home. Now Dad is 68 years old but don't tell that to the pit bull.
We went to the ER & he was just covered with puncture wounds, abrasions & in some places - literally chunks of flesh just missing - ripped out by a dog trained to fight.
When I saw Dad his pants & shirt had more rips & holes than not. He looked like he had gone through a shredder. He was covered in his own blood.
Now, because whoever owned that dog immediately disposed of the body, He may have to get a series of shots for rabies. We don't know yet.
What does that have to do with Christ our "Christus Victor"? Well I just couldn't help being reminded of how Christ ripped me out of the jaws of Satan, how he was torn in the process & how he bled & how ultimately He slew the serpent & won the keys to death, hell & the grave. Why? For the same reason a 68 year old man would attack a pit bull with his bear hands...LOVE. A love that makes no logical sense mind you but love none the less. Jesus WON our ransom - He rescued us & defeated our foe forever! And he did it out of LOVE. I was just as helpless as little Max & Christ was just as committed as my Dad & infinitely more.
A torn & bleeding Father, a grateful lap dog, a helpless sinner & a victorious messiah - My Christus Victor!
"But God demonstrated his love by sending Christ to die for us while we yet hated him"

And IT Begins...

2010-06-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

NO WAY!!! I got on the scale & this pic was only 7 lbs over...you heard it right - I've weighed in at a rotund 235 pounds! By far the most I've ever weighed.
Today, I began the Zija 'Lose your gut' program. Supposedly for us fellas, the average weight loss is 5 to 7 pounds a week. I would like to get down to 175 & maintain that.
That equates to 65 pounds! If all goes well, by the opening of rifle season for deer, I should be pretty close to my target weight.
I'll keep you updated on my progress & the effectiveness of Zija's Zm3 all natural weight lose supplement system.

Bed Rest -vs- Low Blood Pressue

2010-06-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a post from my wife's facebook:

Elizabeth Adrian Dziadul is pretty sure not many people will understand the significance of my blood pressure being 110/68 at 34 weeks pregnant

Elizabeth Adrian Dziadul
I have chronic hypertension that rises as the pregnancy progresses. By this time, I'm usually on bedrest or on 3 meds. I'm on the same meds I've been on the whole pregnancy and these past few weeks the bp has been LOW! It's the supplement I'm taking= Zija. If you know my past history, you know this is amazing.
Elizabeth Adrian Dziadul
Zija is a company that develops products from the morianga tree. It is a complete nutritional drink and it is amazing. I credit it with my blood pressure being so low this far into pregnancy. When I started this pregnancy, my bp was in the 190's/120's- now it's low!

I don't really know what to make of all this but seeing is believing. Beth began taking the tea & after one mug of it - all her edema / swelling was gone. I believe this also has something to do with the b/p & the regulated sugar levels as she has gestational diabetes.

Zija also makes a completely natural diet supplement called Xm3. Beth said that she'd like to try that after Emma arrives.

Seeing that I'm the only one who has gained weight with this pregnancy (Beth has not had any weight gain thus far) I will be starting on it as soon as it arrives next week.

The average loss for a man is 5 to 7 lbs a week.

Why not follow my progress right here. I'll weigh in next week & begin to regain my health with the help of Zija.

2010-05-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

Ben is being 'prepared' for the new arrival of a little sister in the not too distant future. We talk about Emma Grace & ask him where she is etc. Well, He has caught on & He talks about his new sister, "ELMO GRAPES".

I have several concerns with this new moniker.

1: I am very fearful that the name will stick. How unfortunate for little Elmo, I mean Emma

2: I fear that Ben is expecting a red furry puppet from sesame street & that he's going to be mighty disappointed in the real Emma Grace.

I thank God for little boys who keep a stressed out Daddy laughing.

Anna's Birthday

2010-05-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

Anna turned 14 on Wednesday. I've forgotten how amazed I was when I first saw her. I finally had a girl! Black hair & chubby cheeks. The cheeks got chubbier & the hair got lighter...a lot lighter & curly. The sweet baby became a very feisty toddler who considered herself the queen of the world & we were all her royal subjects.
Today that has all changed...mostly.
Anna is now a young lady who is hanging on to the last vestiges of her childhood as her adulthood looms ever larger on the horizon. I'm proud of her.
She is a talker & loves to let you know what is going on in her heart.
She's going to be a great wife & mother one day. Sure love you Anna girl.

What are you trying to say?

2010-05-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

Ben, my 2 year old son, was sitting on my lap the other day. He patted my stomach & said, "Hi baby Emma". Most of the family was in the living room at the time & they witnessed it.
I suppose that's a sign that its time to shed some excess pounds.

Opening Prayer

2010-05-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to bring the opening prayer at the National Day of Prayer Breakfast in Macon.
As I began to pray about the prayer, God seemed to give me some words that would not have been my first choice to pray out loud but may have been His first choice. I had my son read it & he indicated that it may be the last time anyone asks me to pray at a public event.
I could discern no release from the Spirit to pray something different so I delivered what God impressed on my spirit the night before.
Here's the text of that Prayer:

Good Morning Father,
I just want to say 'thank you' for a beautiful morning. This day has dawned differently from most days for today we gather to bow as a nation to admit our brokenness, to confess our national sin, & to repent before you - our sovereign God.
We need you Lord, but our problem is that we have forgotten how much we need you.
We have transformed Your national blessings into our national idols.
We've worshiped the blessings & rejected the source from whom all blessings flow!
We heartily sing, "God Bless America" but its been a long time since we've prayed to be blessable Americans.
We plead with you to restore our national health while we reject your supernatural holiness.
We fret over our devalued dollar but we fail to weep over the fact that we've devalued your deity.
We've looked to Capital Hill for the answers that can only be found on Calvary's Hill.
We're in trouble Father & your people don't believe it nor can we discern it because we're numb!
We need you Father God to give us back a hunger & a thirst for righteousness!
We need you to give us a passion to seek first your kingdom & your righteousness & as you add 'all these things' to us, we will hold them loosely so as not to worship to blessing over the source.
We long for the day that genuine Holy Ghost revival floods this land!
On that day Lord, we will be far more concerned about offending you than offending man.
On that day we will discover the freedom that comes from fearing you & we will escape the fear of man which You said is a snare.
On that day we will lift the Son of Man up & watch your Spirit draw all men unto you.
O let that day be today! We need you Father - help us!
Come by Macon Georgia & visit us with true Holy Spirit Reformation & Revival!
Only Jesus can heal our hurt & bring life where there is death. Only Jesus can unite what Satan has divided.
Help us Lord & begin with me.
I beg you in the ONLY name by which man can be set right with you - in the name of your son & my savior - Yeshua
Let It Be

2nd Ammendment training

2010-04-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

During our Spring Co-op at CWW, we had an elective class in the afternoon for the young men. Whilst the ladies made cookies & crafts, we men learned all about fire arms & safety. It all culminated with a trip to camp for an afternoon of shooting & demonstration. The guys loved it!The Arsenal

Most of the firearms belonged to my buddy Ken Goings.

He is an avid hunter, Vietnam vet, & Grandpa to Drew.

No one knows firearms like Ken.Drew moves up to the big boy firearms!Sam being Sam

Andrew "Crack Shot" McCorroll

This 8 year old 'man' was nailing the quarter sized spinner target at 30 yards!

My 30 yard shot with a 45 caliber black powder rifle. That 250 grain bullet was travelling so fast that the cup never moved!

Garrett shoots the 44/40

Me & the collector's gun

Jr. & the brass beast

Zack nailed the water bottle in one shot. I couldn't hit it with 5 shots

A Sneek Peek at Emma Grace

2010-04-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Well, here she is in all her ultrasound glory! I usually can't see a thing in these pics but that first one is a head on shot & even I could see that little face.
My cousin Angela says that little face looks like Samuel. The pattern is Paul Jr., Anna, & Sam - now Emma. They all have very similar traits from their hair (eventually lighter in color), build (slight, or trim - not a tank like Zack), & personality.
We had agreed on Emma Grace before Ben was born. Had he been a girl, that would be his name. Emma is a family name on both sides. Beth's Great Grandma & Aunt & my Great, great, great Grandma - Emma Kate Smith - who lived in England. Thanks to my cousin for cluing me in on that.
Well, she will make her grand appearance somewhere close to Elizabeth's birthday on July the 5th. She'll have a birthday buddy like I do with Sam who was born the day after my birthday.
We don't have ANY girl stuff as it has been 11 years since we had a baby girl. Actually we do have a cammo & lace outfit from Elizabeth's Aunt Donna. She will wear that a lot.
Beth ran into a neighborhood friend at the store & caught her up with our news. She told Beth that they had a baby girl a couple of years ago & had lots of clothes to share. What a blessing.
My Mother in Law told Beth to remind me that I'm the Father & not the Grandfather. Not sure what to make of that...

The First Commantment Quandry

2010-04-19T04:17:00.000-07:00

I preached a sermon entitled "No Other Gods: 21st Century Idolatry" out of Exodus 20:3 this pas Sunday. You can check it out for yourself at the above link. It was a straight forward exposition of the grammar of the verse & the history of the time. Two words were interesting to me in the grammar: 'have' - means to own or be in possession of. And the word 'before' - literally means 'in my face' or presence. As I explained in the teaching: "This is not about PRIORITY but PRESENCE" It's NOT OK to have gods as long as they are less loved & served than GOD. There was also an interesting polemic on the plurality of gods. I let you check that out for yourself.
As is our custom at CWW, we engage in a Q&A after we eat lunch together every week. This week's Q&A was probably the best we've ever had. It went well over an hour & nearly everyone had something to say. One young man in our fellowship, Art, asked the best question of the day. "How do you know when something has become an idol?" That question gave birth to 45 minutes of dialogue. I don't really know how many people read this blog but I'd be interested in your answer to Art's excellent question.
I find we tend to list things in a priority list but remember that this is not what God was commanding in the 1st commandment. It is about presence not priority. No other gods in my face! That is his clear command.
I believe the starting point to answer this question is understanding God's Lordship, His ownership of our lives - "Lock, Stock, & Barrel" as they used to say. If we can embrace a biblical paradigm of God's ownership of all that we ARE & HAVE...then from that starting point, it becomes a matter of management of blessings that are not mine but His.
I'm studying it further for myself this week. I believe we'll have a part 2 on Idolatry in the 21st century this next week. Then on the following Sunday, my brother Jim will address the congregation regarding 'carving on God'.
By the way...I love our Church! We have some of the saltiest believers that I've ever met.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Grace & Peace...

Emma Grace

2010-04-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth & I went covert today with a secret ultrasound. She didn't want to say anything in case the baby was modest again & we were unable to tell the gender.
Two minutes into the ultrasound & the tech said, "This one's a girl". I had to choke back my tears. Glad it was dark in there. I wanted a girl for my old age. So did Beth but she had convinced herself it was a boy. Now we won't have to argue about a boy's name as we couldn't agree. Emma Grace was agreed on from the outset.
I'm just a little blown away that our God would so bless us with a baby & a girl to boot! He has given us a great reason to praise HIM passionately! I Praise YOU - El Roi - the God who sees. You saw Emma long before we did. In you book all her members were written when as yet there were none of them. I Praise YOU YHWHY Jirah - The God who provides. You will provide for Emma all her days. I praise you Yeshua - my rescuer, my Lord, my King. You will provide the only way for Emma to be set right with our Father...through your precious blood. Oh blessed Spirit, draw her heart to our Messiah at a young age. Reveal Christ to her that she may spend her life serving our risen Yeshua. I Praise the Triune God for blessing this foolish servant with much more than I'll ever deserve or thank you for properly. Take this feeble attempt & know that my life is yours & the real praise will come from my Spirit empowered actions.
Thank you God!

First Fruits Sunday

2010-04-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

Mr. GQ! He was so funny. Sam had it going on!

Ben informed His Momma that he did not want to wear 'baby shoes' & that he wanted a suit like Sam! Too funny! That kid walks like John Wayne...with swagger.

My younger two thirds.

I asked the Lord to give me ugly daughters or sons who could shoot straight. I got the latter. Those girls are scary pretty.

The four younger children got all dressed up for First Fruits Sunday as we celebrate the defigning difference between our faith and all others...Our Redeemer LIVES!

Vintage Dziaduls

2010-04-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

Sam going for a ride with Uncle Andy's 'Car'

Andy loves his wheels! He rides all over our community. I never know where I'll run into him. He loves his new found freedom!
"Schnitzel" His name is short for wiener schnitzel. He is a cool little dog & we all are crazy about him.

Queen "Sheba" - the best natural cammo I've ever not seen. Too bad she's dumb as a brick!
We're trying to figure out how to contain her. She climbs the fence like a person would - putting her paws in the chain links & jumping over the top. My big boys are installing an invisible fence. Training of our brainiac brindle bull dog begins next week...to be continued

Singing Men

2010-04-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

This is for my friend Charlie. I haven't posted in forever as most of my daily posts have been on facebook. Thanks for the friendly reminder of my lack of updating.
The above pic is of Zack & Paul at our family new years celebration. The karaoke became a big competition & it actually coaxed them into performing. We had a video of it but it mysteriously was deleted. It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out who did that.
If you want to hear Zack sing then go to www.CWWMacon.com & listen to him sing the second section of Psalm 119 entitled "Beth" (the 2nd letter in the Hebrew Alphabet. Zack wrote the music & played the guitar on that recording. It is right on the front page.
He also wrote the music for the section "He". That debuted this past Sunday & it was FANTASTIC! That will be on the web site soon.
Paul Jr. has decided to answer the call to ministry. At least he's heading in that direction. He hopes to attend a Bible College this fall. Finances are a hurdle so please pray for him as he is still attending Macon State & working two jobs.
If you get a chance to check out my last two sermons entitled "A Holy Dress Rehearsal" & "Jesus our First Fruits". Here's my question, "Are gentile believers required to celebrate the feasts?" Before you say no, answer this question by scripture, "Did the gentile believers in the 1st century celebrate the feasts?" - There are numerous references in acts & one stark reference in 1 Cor. 5:8.
We did observe Passover & celebrated Jesus as the fulfillment of First Fruits through his resurrection.
It's a great discussion & study.
Thanks again Chuck! I can't wait to see you in person & have some great fellowship in Christ.

Singing God's Word

2010-02-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

This year I challenged our Church to memorize Psalm 119. It just so happens to be the longest chapter in all of God's Word - 176 verses. To help us 'hide God's Word in our hearts' I determined to put it to music so we could 'sing' the Psalm together. We've got the first two 8 verse sections done & you can listen to them here.

Please post your discoveries & insights into Psalm 119 in the comment section of this post.

Dream Come True...

2010-01-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Today marks a most memorable event for me...I'm about to burst with pride. Last week I asked Zack to work on putting Psalm 119:9-16 to music. We're memorizing Psalm 119 as a Church this year. All 176 verses. We're trying to put it to music, word for word from the New King James version of scripture. I was just hoping that he could maybe get the tune going for me then I could finish it. I've never written a song with a piano & that opened the door for a whole new way of writing. Life got real busy & I forgot about it but Zack didn't. I was very surprised when he told me today that he had it a little more than half way done.
What he had done was excellent & very different than anything I would have come up with. We worked, fought, & argued our way through the next three verses. We figured out how to work together. Zack tightened up my loose musical ways & I was able to loosen him up & get him to think outside the box. The vast majority was Zack's arrangement & I have to say that it is AWESOME!!!
I'm trying to figure out how to get it on my blog but I haven't got there yet. I'll figure it out soon

Life as of Late...

2010-01-20T14:57:00.000-08:00

Vintage Ben
"Stickies"

Garrett aka "Safety" & that waskilly wabbit

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Just some pics of life in the Dziadul Cave as of late.

Sunday Sentiments

2010-01-11T05:57:00.000-08:00

"Grace & Peace in Jesus' Name"

Paul, Peter, & John all use "Grace & Peace" in the greetings of their epistles
Grace is the Root & Peace is the fruit of the believer's life in Christ
Eph 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
S3 - Say it, Savor it, & Sing it - Scripture Memorization method
Psalm 119 'Aleph' - word for word, NKJV put to music - on Sunday's Sermon cd & at http://www.cwwmacon.com/ - listen to it today
Peace is conjoined with grace; they are like mother and daughter, or like twin sisters
“No two words are more important in the whole of our faith than ‘grace’ and ‘peace.’
Yet how lightly we tend to drop them off our tongues without stopping to consider what they mean. Grace is the beginning of our faith; peace is the end of our faith.” -Martin Lloyd Jones
Grace is the fountain out of which peace is the stream
It is hardly too much to say that God has in no word uttered Himself and all that was in His heart more distinctly than in this word grace
No grace, no peace.
Know grace, know peace!
The food was off the charts today!
A few special mentions: Carol's 'angel eggs'- loved em & no I won't admit how many I ate, the lasagna - loved the sauce, the white chocolate covered oreos - next time just put them in the Pastor's office, top left drawer.
Cold outside but comfy inside
I think I might actually be getting used to our new digs
Thanks to Jim S for getting communion ready
Men's Meeting - we are to study out the duties of elders according to scripture. Great discussion today. CWW has some great men!
Missed Cherie & family - I had to do the bulletin & it just didn't look right to me
We're going to need more chairs & food for next Sunday as it is BABY DEDICATION SUNDAY & we are sure to have guests.
Ann Black, the green chairs are not for you...you have to sit in the front:-)
Tim Sleeper got a drum machine for Christmas...can't wait to hear it in worship
I enjoyed singing with Kyle during communion
The music is sounding better & better
Love Rachael's new guitar!

Haircuts

2010-01-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

We were all WAY over due for a good haircut...especially Ben. My Dad had to hold him while I cut his hair with the flowbee. He screamed the whole time, "I'm scared, I'm scared!" I managed to give him a pretty decent & manly hair cut.

Life Way Over Due

2010-01-10T20:16:00.000-08:00

I am so far behind that I figured I'd just upload some pics from the past few weeks & comment as I go. They aren't necessarily in order time wise. Ben & Uncle Cliff. I love this pic because they both seem to be enjoying a good laugh together. Cliff is going to make an awesome grandpa one day.

A Frigid Kansas Sunday Morning. This pic was taken through the van window I think. Made me appreciate Georgia & our 'winter'.

That's one impressive icicle! My Mother in law says it is now over 6 feet long! The kids were fascinated with it.

This is the first time I have ever heard my sons sing together...the great spiritual "Jingle Bell Rock" They have nice voices. Jr really surprised me with the quality of his voice

Ben is dancing here. He really cuts a rug. His dancing is a cross between slam dancing & ballet. You just have to see it for yourself.

One of Jr's life long (19 long years) dreams was to go out in a blizzard with no shirt on. It was COLD that night & I couldn't believe my eyes. He actually posed for the pic. It was funny to see him so excited and animated...but he's still crazy

My Brother Tony & Elena, his wife. He was & is such a blessing. Tony lead the Dziadul crew that closed in the back deck that will be the future room for Paul & Zack. Couldn't have done it without him.

My bride & my baby. Love em both like crazy. We don't get a lot of pics of Beth because A) She's always behind the lens & B) she doesn't like her picture taken...imagine that!

Working with my men. These guys were a blessing.

I love this pic. Sam is 'helping' me put the roof on the porch. This was Tony's idea & I love it. He got the outside frame completed & gave me instructions on how to build the supports & install the roof. We did it & it didn't leak in the last rain which was really light but hey I'm celebrating every victory here!

2010 at the speed of LIFE

2010-01-01T15:36:00.000-08:00

My goal for 2010 was to slow down the pace of life. Well, the new year is less than 24 hours old & I've blown that away!
We are expecting another blessed addition to our family this year. We are one bedroom short & I decided to close in the back deck to make a 'multi-purpose' room/TEMPORARY bedroom for the big guys. Then the girls can move back into their old room & we will be set for a while.
My brother Tony is in town & he is my contractor for the weekend. The guy is amazing. I just love working with him because he is so knowledgeable. I've learned so much already.
The room is going to be GREAT when done & Tony also is going to make a screened in sun room with the rest of the deck. Every one should have a brother Tony...but you can't have mine as we all need him.
We did start 2010 right though...with the Word of God as a family. We are reading through the Bible Chronologically with our family & church family this year. We are also taking the CWW challenge to memorize the 176 verses that comprise Psalm 119. I've challenged our church to do it together. We've got vs 1 down - 'Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD."
May that be me & my family this year.
Here's to you as you hit 2010 at the speed of life!

SUNDAY SENTIMENTS

2009-11-29T15:10:00.000-08:00

Put a Helmet On! - Ephesians 6:17a

The helmet that IS Salvation

The Helmet was to protect the Soldier from the Broad Sword

Satan's broad sword has two sides: Discouragement & Doubt

Understanding the 3 tenses of Salvation is the key to putting on the helmet of your Salvation

There was a great spirit among God's people today

The new song "Even So, Come" was well received & well sung

Past tense: Justification: I'm saved from the penalty of Sin

Present tense: Sanctification: I'm being saved from the power of Sin

Future tense: Glorification: I will be saved from the presence of Sin

The Hope of our Salvation points to our future final salvation

I am sealed by the Spirit, the Son has me in His hand & He is in the Father's hand...who is greater than all - John 10

God is good & his plans for me are to give me a hope & a future (that will bring Him ultimate glory)

Good visuals today - I always like a good object lesson

The food at the fellowship meal was sooooooo good. Loved Norma's black eye peas

Great meeting with the men after Q&A

Next Week: Worship in our new Digs!!!! See you there!

Deer Deer Everywhere

2009-11-26T18:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I took Anna & Becky (my niece) hunting the other night. A young buck walked out but it wasn't big enough to shoot in our hunting club. It meandered into the pines & about 10 minutes later, it came out right under the box stand. What a joy to watch that deer feed literally right under us. Then just at the end of shooting light, a doe walked out. My scope had fogged up as I shot...and I clean missed it.
Then I took my nephew Garrett a few days later for a very early morning hunt. A nice shooter buck walked out & we both shot at the same time...& we both missed. I need to go sight my scope in as I believe it may be a little low. We looked for blood & hair - but there was nothing. We got back in the stand & about 45 minutes later, it was time to leave. I was listening to my voice mail when I looked up & in the fog I saw a deer walk out into the logging road. I literally dropped my phone. I told Garrett to shoot. His safety was on so the hammer dropped & stopped short. The deer heard the click & was ready to bolt. I squeezed the trigger & she dropped down and faltered in the front. I knew I hit her. Garrett was so excited. We got down & when we got to the spot...NO BLOOD! I couldn't believe it! I got on my hands & knees & found some white hairs. Then I found a little piece of meat about the size of a pencil eraser with one white hair in it. I told Garrett that I hit that deer low & way to the front. I couldn't figure out why there was no blood though. We went into the pines and I figured the deer would circle down & away from the stand toward the creek. We searched in concentric erratic circles for about 20 minutes to no avail.
When we got back to the logging road, my son Jr. was walking our way. He is an excellent woodsman. He disagreed with my 'logic' & said the deer was just as likely to circle back towards the stand. He also looked at the evidence on the logging road and said with confidence that the deer was down in these pines. This time I went to the far right. The game trails in there are really something. I was trying to make circles but ended up following a well worn trail. I took me about 80 yards back in the direction of the stand and then took a sharp left...towards the creek. That made sense to me. I walked just a few yards on the down slope of the trail & there lying in the brambles was a nice big healthy doe. I hit her in the brisket & she eventually folded up. I was so thankful that we found her.
What a great experience for Garrett. I've never seen him so excited or energized. The shot was such that we didn't ruin any of the meat. Amazing! God is so good.

Thanksgiving Surprise

2009-11-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

The look on Mom's face is priceless

More Hunting News

2009-11-22T18:07:00.000-08:00

I actually think I'm slowing down on the hunting front. Paul Jr. harvested a big doe on Friday morning. She was betweed 8 & 9 years old based on her teeth. I took a button buck on a quota hunt at Rum Creek WMA. I shot him at a dead run at 250 yards. I'm making corned roasts of of him.
The creath fellas gave me a couple of Virginia deer & my son Zack spent the better part of a day processing the meat. We'll process the two deer from last week on Monday. My niece Becky wants to go hunting so I may take her this week. With my luck we'll get another deer.
I was skinning & gutting my buck at the rum creek check station. Another hunter came up with his buck & we got to talking. Turns out he was a deer processor. Merry Christmas to me! He & his buddy schooled me in the fastest & neatest way to process a deer. What a God send. They were also Christ followers & we had some great fellowship talking about God's Word.
I got to hunt my good friend's land on Saturday morning. I must confess that I was dreaming more about the waffles his wife was making at the house than the deer around us. We had a great time of fellowship that morning. I'll be making my ever evolving venison pin wheels for Thanksgiving again this year. Hopefully I'll have this year's recipe & pics on thanksgiving night to post.
Thanks Chuck for reminding me how lax I've been in my postings.

Ellie's First Deer

2009-09-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

My three eldest children were off at a youth retreat this weekend & we had the three youngest at home. Elizabeth mentioned that it would be a good time to take Ellie hunting & spend some time with her. I had just convinced myself of not going hunting on Saturday when my wife mentioned that to me.
Ellie & I got a late start & stopped in the shooting range at the Beaverdam WMA at 3:30 pm. I had to sight in the new 243 youth model rifle that I picked up for a steal last month. It only took 3 shots to zero it in at 40 yards. I gave Ellie some instructions & then she loaded the rifle, aimed, & fired. About an inch to the left of the bull's eye. Next shot, an inch high. Third shot, an inch to the left...good enough.
We drove around & found what looked like a food plot on an aerial map I found of the place on the Internet. Sure enough, just a few hundred yards down a closed logging road was a beautiful food plot just full of deer tracks & sign. It was Walmart for deer. We set up our ground blind with some tangled bushes for a backdrop. Several hours of hushed conversation & reading went by. About 6:15 pm I saw a brown spot at the end of the field. My eyesight is failing (for real) so I asked Ellie to look. "Its a deer daddy!" she whispered with great excitement. She wasn't in the right spot for a shot so she slowly stood up & I moved her stool to give her a shot at the deer. It took her about 5 minutes to find the deer in the scope. By this time the deer had moved to about 75 yards & politely turned broadside for a clean shot. "I see it now" she whispered with an amazing calm. I told her to just squeeze the trigger - "Crack!" - before I finished my instruction.
The deer seemed to drop it's rear end by a couple of inches but it didn't move. I pulled up to take a shot. Just as I squeezed off my shot the deer disappeared from my scope & my shot went off into the woods. "Where did it go?" I asked Ellie. I thought it ran away. "I think it fell over" was her reply. Well, we went to see. Sure enough, there was the young buck (6 points) lying in the tall grass. Ellie is reserved & not really all that excitable but she was shaking with the thrill of all that just took place. We folded up the blind, chairs & hunting bag & together drug the deer to the truck. She assisted in cleaning the deer & our good friends, the Metcalfes, agreed to help skining & quarter the deer at 10 pm on a Saturday. My big boys were at camp & not available.
It was a picture perfect moment that I look forward to having with all my children. I was with Paul Jr. & Zack when they took their first deer. Now Anna is on fire to get her first deer. I hope that happens soon for her so we can all get some rest around here.
(I'll post pics as soon as I get them from Don)

Macy's Baptism

2009-09-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

A Happy Momma
A Delighted Dad

In obedience to the command of our Lord & Savior...

Baptism...the frosting on the cake of ministry

Standing up & Stepping out for Jesus

Buried in the Likeness of His Death

I believe the Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God

Greatful Dad & Grace filled Daughter

A Faithful Mother

Its not ALL pretty!

Macy is a sweet young lady with a beautiful testimony. She has grown up in a wonderful Christian home & her parent's have kept her before the cross. Macy recently turned 16 & God had begun to awaken her to her need for Christ through some illness. Sweetly & graciously, God made Macy His own & she was able to trust Christ & His finished work on the cross of Calvary to rescue & remake her into a daughter of God.

What a joy to be able to do life with such families. I just realized that Hayward & I have baptized all three of his children together over the past several years.
We are real family - for eternity. The DNA of the risen Christ unites us to our Father in Heaven.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Doe with a Bow

2009-09-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

The fruit of my labor & God's provision

Bella meets Bambi

Patience - an elusive virtue that is only needed when not wanted by him in greatest need of it. I shot a nice doe in the same location last year. I gave it an hour & started tracking it. I jumped it, it ran, tracked it over a mile, never recovered it.
Last evening I got to the stand way too late - 6pm. I decided to set up as quietly as possible & sit until dark. I jumped 3 does on the way in - a good & bad sign. About 7 pm I looked to my left & much to my surprise, there was a nice doe not 15 yards from me. I put the pin just behind the shoulder & released. She was quartering away from me so everything was perfect. I listened to her run & heard her crash. Unlike last year, I eased out of the woods, went home to get supper, gear, & help. I gave the deer nearly 3 hours to expire. I figured it would be easy to find her knowing that she was within 30 to 40 yards of the stand. Not so. She made circles all over that swamp. The blood trail all but dried up. I left my girls standing at last blood & started 'making circles'. You walk in 10 yard over lapping circles. It was so thick that 'circles' were impossible. As I made my way back to the girls, I followed a small overgrown creek. On my hands & knees in the mud I came to a tight bend in the creek not 12 feet from the girls & there was the deer, laying partially submerged in the creek. Getting her out of there was a chore as was the next 2 hours or so of getting it quartered & in the cooler.
I was able to take my girls & nephew with me plus my friend Randy & his boys (it was on his land). My son, Paul Jr. came over & was a huge help in processing the deer. I love that he never shys away from hard work. It was a memorable & tiring night. I went to bed at 2 a.m. tired but grateful.

Wake Up Call

2009-09-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Great Start - Poor Finish. I taught 2 classes today at the first CWW Co-Op. Both were Bible classes (for some reason they didn't want me teaching math...go figure). My first class was with the little children ages 3 to 6 or 7.
First of all, they are so easy to please. We sang & did the motions & they just ate it up. Then I began the lesson on David. I asked several questions that I wasn't sure this little kiddos would know. One was, "Who wrote most of the Psalms". Little Elizabeth knew that one. I asked what instrument David played & my son Sam knew that. They knew the name of Goliath's country - Philistia! Color me impressed.
Next class: 11 older children from 9 - 16. That class is Bible 101. The basic structure, layout, history, & basic geography of the Word of God. It was an exercise in contrast to the younger children. Nobody knew what the word "Testament" meant. To my shame, my daughters were in this class! No one knew what the oldest book of the O.T. was (the earliest written - do you know?) No one knew who authored the majority of the N.T. (do you know that one?) I know my girls have heard me teach this stuff before. When I asked the questions...Crickets.
This class represents CWW's brightest & best. I really challenged them to get engaged & get to know their Bibles. Next week's class opens with a fill in of the break down of the Old & New Testaments - the 3 kinds of books in each & then writing out in order the books of the Bible spelled correctly. My wife said that might have been a little much. I disagree...it's not enough.
Somehow I've broken my arm patting myself on the back because my pre schooler knows that David played a harp while allowing my Junior High age girls to be ignorant of what a 'Testament' is.
Today was a wake up call for me as a Parent & a Pastor.

Ben's Turn

2009-09-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

I guess Ben decided it was his turn for a late night run to the doctor. He really should have been in bed but we were all enjoying his antics so we let him stay up. About 9:15 pm, I heard a scream in the big boy's room. Then I heard Zack say, "Ben's cut pretty bad". He comes out carrying Ben & blood is dripping all over the floor.
I'm hoping for a superficial cut but to no avail. The a/c vent cover in the big guy's room cracked when they rolled an office chair over it so they took it off. Well Ben fell in it with one leg & apparently it had some sharp edges. His heel has a long curved cut that bled the most but wasn't very deep. The small inch long cut on the back of his calf was the one that would need stitches.
After waiting nearly 2 hours, the Doc came in & said the calf cut would need stitches. I asked if he could use the dermabond glue instead & after looking at it again, he agreed.
They had to put him in a papoose to keep him still. He did NOT like that. I've never heard him scream that loud or long. His little face was cherry red & he was soaked in sweat. Then came the tetanus shot.
Suffice it to say, he got out of there a lot better off than his brother's trip. The Doc felt bad & gave him a 'sucker' which he enjoyed all the way home.
Then end (I hope)

The Death of the Wicked

2009-08-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Romans 1:32

And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

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

Proverbs 2:22

But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, and they that deal treacherously shall be rooted out of it.

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Proverbs 5:22

His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.

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Proverbs 10:7

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

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Proverbs 11:7

When a wicked man dieth [his] expectation shall perish: and the hope of iniquity perisheth.

Beach Baptism 09

2009-08-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, we had a beautiful Sunday morning Baptism on the beach. The forcast was for bad thunder storms and rain. We asked God to hold off the rain & angry clouds on the horizon while recognizing God's authority to do what He willed.

Wow! Did God ever exceed our puny expectations.

The rain held off for the service, the celebration picnic, & about an hour of play time after lunch.

God is so Good!

O Ye of Little Faith

2009-08-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

I was aware ahead of time that we'd have at least 5 of our regular families out of town this past Sunday. I like to know ahead of time so I can be depressed in advance.
I even joked with the loyal Church early birds that they could have their choice of seats today as we'd be lucky to half fill the place.
I was in my office right up until start time. When I made it to the back of the church, I was shocked that the place was full...really full! I figured that the balcony was empty (ever the pessimist). In CWW fashion, four or five families arrived during the singing & headed to the balcony.
When I got up to preach, the place was packed to the gills! Beth later told me that we had right at 100 there (the place only holds 90 comfortably). Go figure, a preacher of little faith. I could hear Jesus saying, "Wherein did ye doubt, O ye of little faith?"
I respond, "I believe Lord, help thou mine unbelief"

Sunday Sentiments

2009-07-27T08:42:00.001-07:00

We've actually FINISHED Ephesians 5!
Chapter 6 here we come...
Could we really finish Ephesians in 2009?
Great Q&A with the men Sunday
We have some really salty guys & I pray that our young men are catching it
I've heard nothing but good things from the ladies teaching time
I'm thankful for a gracious wife who is willing to step way out of her comfort zone to cooperate with her husband & please our Lord
I never realized how many men we have until we all filled up the fellowship hall
Ladies talk: Submission, Respect, & Contentment
Men's talk: Responsibilities: Follow Christ, Lead & Love your wife & family
"We will one day stand before God & present our wives back to him. Our duty is to give back to Him a wife who looks more like Christ than when we got her from Him"
"When a man abdicates his responsibilities, he forces his wife to learn to live with out him"
"When a man abuses his responsibilities, he forces his wife to run or retaliate"
I'm so glad to have brothers that I can look to for an example to me & not the other way around
I have great hope for our young married men who are walking wisely before God
Next Week: Ephesians 6!

Junior Camp

2009-07-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

Run John, Run the Law demands

But gives us neither feet nor hands

Far better news the Gospel brings

It bids us fly & gives us wings

-John Bunyon-

We spent a busy & fun week with 120 folks at Junior camp last week. I taught on "Law & Grace". Really I taught 90% on the Commandments & 10% on Grace which is a good rule of thumb when you think about it. Below is the hand motions to commandment #2 - no graven images. I taught these hand motions 2 years ago & some of the children still remembered them. Amazing! One of the 'Great Finds' before camp was a DVD by a group called the Go Fish Guys. I was searching for a great 10 commandments song. I found some real hinky songs but one called "The Ten Commandment Boogie" was a hit with my son Sam. Below is a pic of my girls & Emily doing the motions to it. I encourage you to check their music out at http://www.gofishguys.com/

Here's Sam doing the motions as well - This is to the line..."...the 10 commandment boogie, gonna dance it till I die..."

The material was from John Piper's church & it was excellent. http://www.childrendesiringgod.org/ I had to combine the commandment teachings as each commandment was a stand alone lesson. Due to only having 10 chapel services, I had to combine 2 commandments per lesson. As a result, I couldn't go near as deep as the material did. I had to carve a lot of good stuff out.

The lesson on commandment #7 had me in knots. How do you teach 3rd - 5th grade kids about adultery & why its a bad idea. How do you even define it? God was gracious. Camp Definition: Adultery is treating another person who isn't your husband/wife like they were your husband/wife.

Would you believe it was that lesson that broke the hearts of many of the kids?! They are living with the fruit of unfaithfulness & I never really gave that a thought. I took an egg & dropped it on the floor to illustrate how being unfaithful destroys a family. When I looked back up from that, many children & even some of the teen counsellors were wiping away tears.

Several children came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit & confessed Christ as Savior. My little cousin Becky being one of them.

Some of the most dear & lovely Christians I know are Camp Eunice regulars. I praise God for the opportunity to invest a week in the lives of those young people.

'New' Car for Beth

2009-07-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

First I want to thank God for his incredible provision for our needs as a family. I thank God for my sister-in-law Rebecca for sending me a book by a guy named Dave Ramsey. The pain of bringing my finances under control has yeilded the fruit of being debt free with the exception of the house (see my post in 8 years). I also learned to save for future needs & to pay CASH.

Well, we paid our van off a year ago & I just kept paying myself the same payment. Fast forward to today.

I was wanting a late model 3 seat wagon that had low miles (under 75 k) that would get 20 or abobe mpg around town. Enter "Auto Trader.Com". I found a 96 Oldsmobile Ciera SL, 3 seater, one owner, clean car fax, 58,000 original miles & has been garaged the whole time. It runs like a charm & doesn't shake at 85. The interior is amazing. I don't think the second & third rows have ever been sat in.

The best part is that CASH in hand got me a GREAT deal & NO PAYMENTS (except the ones I continue to make to myself)

Thank you God my Father for your amazing provision.

Enjoy it Beth...I love you...

Sunday Sentiments Ephesians 5:21-24

2009-06-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

It was HOT today & the A/C is not keeping up...or maybe it was that hot preaching (I was soaked after the sermon)

If we ever really came to understand this teaching in its proper context, the women would REJOICE & the men would be terrified!!!

Context is…KING – Context: Direct context of this letter is Christ & His Church.

Great Worship Songs today!

The key to harmony in the home is two Spirit filled believers

God's Glory is always our gain - Satan tells us this is not true

Q&A was such a blessing to hear our women share their experiences in submitting to God by coming under the headship of their husbands

Great to have Aunt Faith & Uncle Duane & Booke Bauer in Church today!

Zack's offertory was a huge blessing

Miss Winnie is more proud of Zack than Beth & I are! Amazing!

Welcome James Allen Duncan to the CWW Family! Good looking baby

Praying for Levi Dittmann to grace the world with his presence this week

So proud of the CWW Men & their willingness to jump in & help eachother.

Jim William's 'retirement picture' slays me. That man is my hero!

Dave & Andy are the best church cleaners ever! I can always 'smell' when they've been there - the smell of CLEAN

Submission Does Not Mean:
1. A husband is in ultimate authority.
2. A wife does not have independent thoughts.
3. A wife does not seek to influence her husband.
4. A wife must obey her husband’s command to sin.
5. A wife is less intelligent or competent than her husband.
Submission Does Mean:
1. A husband and wife are equal with complementary roles.
2. Wives are to submit like Jesus did in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42).
3. Husbands are to lovingly lead like Jesus does the Church (Eph. 5:25).
4. A single woman should only marry a man she can follow.
5. Christian marriage shows the Trinity and the gospel.

So thankful for my precious wife.

Great Father's Day Gift

2009-06-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

I told Zack that all I wanted for Father's Day was a clean basement & my shop area set up. Well, he exceeded my expectations to say the least. Zack wisely enlisted the help of my brother David. The two of them spent several days down in the basement last week. "Uncle Clean" is a great asset to messy basements everywhere.

My favorite part was seeing all my tools neatly arranged on the peg board. I even discovered a fantastic set of Craftsman screwdrivers on the board. That was a Father's day gift from my other boys & dear wife.

Thank You to Zack & David for all your hard work. I can't wait to get down there & start my next project which I can't tell right now because it is a surprise.

Thanks to my children for a great Father's Day

The Famous Dziadul Tongue

2009-06-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

My Dad has always stuck his tongue out & to the side of his mouth when doing something strenuous or that required great concentration. I too, have been graced with this odd habit. I believe it is in the DNA of the Dziadul male. Well, it appears that Benjamin is also the recipient of this gift as evidenced by the above pics. Zack was 'playing dodge ball' with the little boys & this was Ben's game face. The Dziadul Tongue reigns supreme!

21 years

2009-06-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

The years now number twenty one

That we've been joined, two in one

Some times were sad & others fun

But none too bad when two are one

Three states, two daughters, four strong sons

six dogs, six houses, much work done

Regrets...a few, second thoughts-none

Life worth living when two are one

Sins forgiven through the blood of the Son

A heaven to gain - a hell to shun

Not a 'DO' religion but a finished work "DONE"

All Praise to God the great three in one

Twenty one years a great life begun

Christ in you & me made one

Without Him wed've lost in Him we've won

So glad God made from the two of us...one

-I Love you Beth-

First Fruit & Georgia Peaches

2009-06-17T08:01:00.001-07:00

A BERRY Happy Benjamin Georgia Peaches - gotta love em

1st fruits of our garden

The Wax Beans were delicious!

Gave the Squash to Dad & Mom

Country Kids

2009-06-15T18:09:00.001-07:00

Anna has the "Momma's Hip"
Thank God I'm a Country Boy!

Sam plowing the back forty

How's that hair taste Ellie?

The Fruits of my Labor - a Finished Bathroom!

2009-06-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

Well, Sherry has been requesting pics of the finished bathroom. My only regret is that this is the kid's bathroom. I'd like this for my own! The concept is taken from a log cabin that my sweet wife & stayed in in Dahlonaga Ga. I LOVED the bathroom & it was my inspiration for this remodel. The built in linen shelf was done literaly with blood, sweat, & tears (see prior post). I must say that I'm happy with how this project came out. It was the only thing Beth requested & I was secretly thrilled to oblidge.

The fishing creel that holds reading material for the 'Thinking Room'.

The trim on the window & mirror

Wood, wood everywhere!

We sanded & refinished the cabinet doors & they came out great. Thanks to Paul Jr. & Zack.

My Dad gave me the idea to secure the mirror while wrapping it in the rustic trim.

Thanks Dad!

NAILED!

2009-06-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when its late, you are over tired, & you're in a rush. It was nearly 11pm & I just wanted to finish this built in shelf.I had to hold the wood in place being very careful not to have my hand anywhere near the path of the nail

Of course, I didn't take into consideration a knot in the wood. The nail hit the knot, took a sharp right turn & went through my trigger finger. PRAISE GOD it didn't hit the bone! It felt like an electric shock. I tried not to react as my dear wife & daughter were in the room. Beth heard the brief reaction & I was caught. Anna freaked out & I just threaded my finger off of the nail.

No big deal but it does make for a good story. Anna will probably rehearse this ordeal at my funeral one day.

Benjamin & the Bubbles

2009-06-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

In Celebration of a Good Man

2009-06-02T05:18:00.000-07:00

The 'Farm Bureau' Cake Co-workers
Good friends

Well, Jim Williams has finally retired after nearly 40 years with Farm Bureau. Jim was the head of the Pulpit committee that brought us to the Church of the Wildwood. He & Norma have been like parents to us. In fact, Jim reminds me very much of my own Father...stoic, pragmatic, but acutly caring underneath it all. Norma got some of these pictures together for his celebration on Sunday. It was fun to hear all the "Jim" stories from friends, co-workers, & family. Through all the laughter & stories, one common theme emerged: FAITHFULNESS. Jim Williams is a faithful man.

I don't know if there's a better tribute to a man than to call him faithful. Jim loves Jesus Christ & has been so faithful in his walk with Him. I've seen Jim on the mountain top & in the valley of the shadow of death & he's the same man in both situations.

We've been in some ministry scapes together & some of those were all out battles. I've seen Jim difuse a heated situation with a calm, Spirit filled word. As proverbs says, a soft answer turns away wrath...

Norma was thrilled to finally have suprised Jim with this celebration party. Its hard to 'get over' on a guy like Jim but she did.

We had so much fun celebrating this man's faithfulness. May God allow him to finish as well as he has been up to now.

Raja

2009-05-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

I met my brother today. His name is Raja. He was born in A.P. India. He's been here 12 years & God is calling him back home to start a church & witness to his family. He came to our Pastor's coffee group this morning. I immediately had a kinship with this man - it was the Holy Spirit at work. Raja is a man of an excellent spirit. He loves Jesus unashamedly. I asked him to come to dinner at the Church tonight & to give his testimony after we ate. He loved my Mom's coleslaw made the Yankee way with mayo not vinegar & pureed not chopped.
After dinner, he gave his testimony. Our church just recognized the sweet savor of Christ in this man. I was standing in the back of the sanctuary & my daughter Anna quietly said, "Please tell me we're taking up a love offering for this man. I want to give an offering towards his ministry." I was toying with that very idea when she asked me that...can you say 'Confirmation'?
Brother Hayward then tapped me & said, "We need to pray over this brother". Boy did we. We all crowded around him and had a sweet time of prayer. Then we took up a love offering that Raja refused to use for his personal needs but rather for ministry. With just a small Wednesday nite crowd, we took up $345! Even Jim Williams was impressed and that's hard to do.
Yep, I met my brother at Starbucks today...

More Camp Pics

2009-05-27T10:49:00.001-07:00

Fellowship...gotta love camp Nancy at her best

Colin Campbell

Food & Fellowship

Miss Memory & Benjamin

Camp Pics

2009-05-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

The Christopher's quoting Romans 7 Lunch Line

Lunch Lady - queen of the kitchen

Dave the dishman- (& Andy on pots in the right background)

Andy doing what Andy does best!Camp Logo by Cww's own McKie Daddy

Talking...what I do best

Worship...I love that sanctuary!

Post Camp Post

2009-05-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

Well, Its 6:13 pm & I'm finally sitting in my comfy chair in the living room. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Camp was phenomenal! So much encouragement!!! Here's some things that I found personally encouraging:

1: The unity of our Church body. Everyone pulled their weight & then some. The evidence of the gifts of the Spirit were very clear. Administration, mercy, encouragement, prophecy, shepherding, & most of all...serving & helps

2: The profound privilege to BE a blessing to so many fellow saints. It isn't every day that you get the joy of encouraging so many in such a vital area.
3: Working along side my children. I have to confess that I have taken this way too much for granted. I was very proud of my four eldest children as they joyfully labored to bless others. I like my children & I enjoyed working along side of them
4: The Campbell's ministry. What a blessing to hear from a godly man who has done it & is doing it all over again with his adopted children & grandchildren. The above Cd is a MUST for every Father. Excellent quality & variety. Father's day is coming & your dad/husband will appreciate this Cd.

5: God's provision:

When the Cd duplicator froze up, God literally opened a 'door' to allow us to finish
The only sunny window of the weekend was several hours during recreation on Saturday. Amazing
The love offering was double my hope & triple my expectation
The food was excellent & the food order was nearly perfect! Amazing!!!

Thank you Father God for new friends & the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ!

2009-05-22T04:16:00.000-07:00

Well its finally here! After a year in the works, we'll begin the CWW Camp Advance 09. I can't believe it. I went to bed at 1 am & was up at 6 am. I couldn't sleep...too excited. I'm like a kid at Christmas. Paul & Zack have been my constant companions & have labored with me to set up, tune up, & tighten up at camp. Anna & Ellie helped get the camp welcome packets together late last night.
The forecast is for rain all weekend but God is in control & that means that He has a greater purpose that trumps our recreation plans. I'm fine with that & it makes me even more excited to see what He will do.
I'm sure I'll post back with some pics of the adventure. We're expecting around 250 people to attend this weekend!

Dog Poor

2009-05-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know for sure but I may have lost my mind. We now have 6 children & 3 dogs! Bella the Bagel (part beagle & part basset hound) was a Christmas present for the kids (a weak moment of temporary insanity) She was so cute as a tiny puppy. Now she is three fourths grown an is your basic freak of nature.

Schnitzel showed up at our house...well, in our road - literally. He was laying in the middle of the road...napping. He's a full blooded daschund & we've been trying to find his owners. He's house trained & more obedient than any of my children. He is smitten with Anna & she with he. What's a Dad to do?

Neither of these 'dogs' are large enough or fierce enough to deter an ill intended thief or neerdowell from my property. Hence...Sheba. She's not very terrifying right now but give her six months. I love her brindle striping & her broad head. She's going to be a great guard dog one day.

Zack observed that we have an international flavor in our dogs: Bella is Italian, Schnitzel is German, & Sheba is African.

Sunday Sentiments

2009-03-30T07:40:00.001-07:00

Let's Go on a 'Spending Spree' CWW!

'Buying up Opportunities' for the Kingdom

A little light goes a long way in a dark culture

Why can I hear Hayward singing "This Little Light of Mine"?
Is it me or is the food at the Fellowship Meal getting better & better all the time?
GREAT Q&A this week CWW!!!
I liked the fact that the questions were SPECIFIC as were the answers
Stay away from 'holes' this week (thanks Dale for that one)
Question 7 - What are the decrees of God?
It was great to meet the Sleeper's friends Sunday...Has anyone ever seen Jan so excited?
The cherry blossoms are beautiful
Flooded Spillways are a major inconvenience...even my wife was late to church because of it!
Go to your Small Groups Wednesday...Make plans not Excuses
Get Shopping CWW! Eph. 5:16

Camp Meeting

2009-03-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

What a week! I had the great joy of attending a "Gospel Preacher's Camp Meeting" this week at Victory Baptist Church. Bro. Chet Cooper gathered some great preachers & singers. I was so moved by the singing & it ministered to me in a way that kind of took me by surprise to be honest. The preaching was so clear & to the point. There was a variety of styles & subjects but all were God honoring & stirring to my soul. One message was on the Blood & it was such a powerful reminder of God's provision. Another series of messages was on the Holy Spirit. Again, a bulls-eye for me.
God used this week to put me under His microscope & did I ever need it. My heart has been softened through God's Word & God honoring music & a small Baptist Church that reached out to this pastor for no other reason than that they love Jesus.
I made some new friends & I was actually sad...very sad to have to say good bye to brother Billy Sampson, Rick Gilley, & Ken Trivette tonight. I do hope to see these brothers again before heaven.
I wasn't sure about going this week to the meetings but I am so glad I did. Zack went with me each day & we both were blessed. I was blessed to see him blessed.
I guess I didn't realize how empty I was & how much I needed to sit under the live preaching of the God's Word.
Thank you Lord Jesus for Chet Cooper & Victory Baptist Church and something called a Gospel Preacher's Camp Meeting.