Hello, I am new here

[islandboy]

Received this from a friend and thought I would share it with you.

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold
until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience,
because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him.
Maybe some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but
he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man.
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the
entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes all we have to do is reach out to Him.
If you liked this story, share it with your friends. If not, you took your blindfold off before dawn.

[islandboy]

THOUGHT  FOR  TODAY:

Cling to the belief that all things are possible with God. If this belief is truly accepted, it is the ladder upon which a human soul can climb from the lowest pit of despair to the sublimest heights of peace of mind. It is possible for God to change your way of living. When you see the change in another person through the grace of God, you cannot doubt that all things are possible in the lives of people through the strength that comes from faith in Him who rules and loves us all.

[islandboy]

THOUGHT  FOR  TODAY:

God is always ready to pour His blessings into our hearts in generous measure. But like the seed-sowing, the ground must be prepared before the seed is dropped in. It is our task to prepare the soil. It is God's to drop the seed. This preparation of the soil means many days of right living, choosing the right and avoiding the wrong. As you go along, each day you are better prepared for God's planting, until you reach the time of harvest. Then you share the harvest with God--the harvest of a useful and more abundant life.

[islandboy]

                                                                  HE   IS    GOD
                                                      *************************
                                                         He is the First and the Last,
                                                        The Beginning and the End.

                                        He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all.
                                 He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times,
                                        He always was, He always is, and He always will be.....
                                        unmoved, unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
                                                     **************************
                                                     He was bruised and brought healing.
                                                     He was pierced and eased pain.
                                                     He was persecuted and brought freedom.
                                                     He was dead and brought life.
                                                     He is risen and brings power!
                                                     He reigns and brings Peace.
                                                     The world can't understand him,
                                                     The armies can't defeat Him.
                                      The schools can't explain Him, and the leaders can't ignore Him.
                    Herod couldn't kill Him, The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and The people couldn't hold Him.
         Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him, The New Age can't replace Him, and  "Oprah" can't explain Him away!

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

                                                     He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
                                               He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God,
                                               He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.

                                                      *****************************
                                                                    His ways are right,
                                                                    His word is eternal,
                                                   His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.
                                                                    He is my Savior,
                                                         He is my guide, and He is my peace.
                                                                    He is my joy,
                                                                    He is my comfort,
                                                           He is my Lord, and He rules my life.

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

                                                          I serve Him because His bond is love,
                                               His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.
                                 I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful,
                  the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of overcomers, and is to come.
                                                And if that seems impressive to you , try this for size.

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

                                                            His goal is a relationship with ME.
                                                                  He will never leave me,
                                                                   never forsake me,
                                                                   never mislead me,
                                                                   never forget me,
                                                                   never overlook me and
                                                never cancel my appointment in His appointment book.

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

                                                                   When I fall, He lifts me up.
                                                                   When I fail, He forgives.
                                                                   When I am weak, He is strong.
                                                                   When I am lost, He is the way.
                                                                   When I am afraid, He is my courage.
                                                                   When I stumble, He steadies me.
                                                                   When I am hurt, He heals me.

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

                                                                   When I am broken, He mends me.
                                                                   When I am blind, He leads me.
                                                                   When I am hungry, He feeds me.
                                                                   When I face trails, He is with me.
                                                                   When I face persecution, He shields me.
                                                                   When I face loss, He provides for me.
                                                                   When I face death, He carries me home.

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

                                         He is everything for everybody everywhere, every time, and every way.
                                                       He is God, He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine.
                                                       My Father in heaven can whip the father of sin in this world,
                                                       So, if you are wondering why I feel so secure, understand this......

                                                                         He said it and that settles it.
                                                                       God is in control, I am on His side,
                                                                      and that means all is well with my soul.

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

                                                                       Everyday is a blessing for God is !

[nChrist]

AMEN ISLANDBOY!

[islandboy]

                                                                       The Pledge of Allegiance

                                                I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of
                                                    America and to The Republic for which it stands,
                                                                        one Nation under God,
                                                             indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.




I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners,
My head is a little higher.
My colors a little truer.
I bow to no one.
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshiped---I am saluted.
I am respected---and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy and Gram, Okinawa, Korea, and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me.
I'm presently in the mountains of Afghanistan and the hot and dusty deserts of Irag and wherever freedom is needed.
I led my troops, I was dirty, battleworn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free.

It does not hurt for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled in the streets of my country.
And when it's done by those Whom I've served in battle---it hurts.
But I shall overcome---for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.
When I am torn into strips and used for bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud.

Please share my message with all those who still love and respect me so that I may fly proudly for another two hundred years.


If you wish to learn more about our Flag, go to http://www.usflag.org/

[nChrist]

ANOTHER AMEN! - but with UNDER GOD AT THE TOP!

[islandboy]

AIN'T  IT  THE  TRUTH


Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock ( Made in Japan) for 6 am. While his coffeepot (Made in China) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (Made in Hong Kong). He put on a dress shirt (Made in Sri Lanka), designer jeans (Made in Singapore) and tennis shoes (Made in Korea). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (Made in India) he sat down with his calculator (Made in Mexico) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (Made in Taiwan) to the radio (Made in India) he got in his car (Made in Germany) filled it with gas from (Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying American Job. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (Made in Malaysia), Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (Made in Brazil), poured himself a glass of wine (Made in France), and turned on his TV (Made in Indonesia), and wondered why he can't find a good paying job in........America.


This is so true and so sad. All who read this please pray for our country and it's people, that things improve and that our government starts hearing the voices of the people of the United States of America. And by helping save the country before it's too late, instead of letting money and greed, ruin our beautiful land.

[Debp]

AIN'T  IT  THE  TRUTH


Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock ( Made in Japan) for 6 am. While his coffeepot (Made in China) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (Made in Hong Kong). He put on a dress shirt (Made in Sri Lanka), designer jeans (Made in Singapore) and tennis shoes (Made in Korea). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (Made in India) he sat down with his calculator (Made in Mexico) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (Made in Taiwan) to the radio (Made in India) he got in his car (Made in Germany) filled it with gas from (Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying American Job. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (Made in Malaysia), Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (Made in Brazil), poured himself a glass of wine (Made in France), and turned on his TV (Made in Indonesia), and wondered why he can't find a good paying job in........America.


This is so true and so sad. All who read this please pray for our country and it's people, that things improve and that our government starts hearing the voices of the people of the United States of America. And by helping save the country before it's too late, instead of letting money and greed, ruin our beautiful land.

Hi Islandboy, have missed you.

Another thing....I heard the war in Iraq costs $12-$13 Billion dollars a month!!  I don't know how our gov't can spend this much on that, when there are needs here.  I was originally for the war as I thought Saddam was an evil dictator, but how much longer can we spend that kind of money?

[islandboy]

Hi Debp,  I am sorry to be away for so long. I am playing catch-up now. Rarely is it that I get invites to friend's houses, being my outings are usually visiting  doctor office's or going food shopping, but of late I have been blessed with friends requesting I come over and visit. This is wonderful for where I live is beautiful,  but isolating and sorely lacks another woman to talk with. But I am trying to meet my obligations, both here and over there, as well as, one other site. But thanks for stopping by here.   

As far as the money, since we don't operate on the gold standard anymore, but instead have a Federal Reserve Bank that just prints out more money whenever it runs out, we have a dollar that is based on nothing. A friend of mine keeps telling me that our system is like a house of cards, based on whim and the stock market, both of which are based on nothing. I think Ron Paul is right-on with many of his comments but most of us are to wrapped up in believing lies to accept the truth.  All we can do is keep calling our elected officials and keeping praying to God. In the end it will be God who determines the outcome.

[Debp]

In the end it will be God who determines the outcome.

Amen.

Glad you are having some visits with your friends!

[Soldier4Christ]

The thing that most people don't understand is that the situation in Iraq does have a very big bearing on the security and well-being of the U.S. and no matter what it make cost nor how long it may take we must continue in at least attempting to stabilize that nation Otherwise we must simply give up completely and let evil have it's way with the entire world and that is exactly what people like Ron Paul wants all of us to do.

[nChrist]

History has taught us that great EVIL left alone simply grows, and it will eventually come knocking at your door anyway. In the meantime, unspeakable things were done to millions of people. Eventually, you will also submit to the unspeakable things or get up and go fight the EVIL. It's a matter of debate about who should be held responsible for the horrible acts when nothing was being done:  1) the blood-thirsty barbarian committing the acts;  2) the so-called decent people who could have done something to stop it and didn't. In the end, the EVIL must be faced anyway.

Brothers and Sisters, this has happened over and over again throughout history. The one thing sure is that the powerful EVIL won't go away, and it won't leave you alone. It will simply wait for the most opportune time to come get you. If we completely forget the safety issues, the moral issues won't go away either. JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF will finally put an end to EVIL one day. Until then, hopefully there will be people with sufficient morals and courage to face the EVIL and at least slow it down.

[islandboy]

Amen to that Blackeyedpeas

[islandboy]

BLESS OUR  PARENTS  WHO  DRUGGED  US !!!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when we were growing up?"
I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young.
I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.
I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.
I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four letter word.
I was drugout to pull weeds in mom's garden and flowerbeds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.
I was drug to the homes  of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline or chop some firewood; and if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin; and , if today's children had this kind of drug problem......America would be a better place.