We have been gone in the business of life, but this post is to signify that this blog has not been forgotten. Since my last post as the summer of 2011 was drawing to a close so much has taken place. I can only summarize the highlights with times of celebration, times of change, and times of sadness, all part of this big family who were once altogether in this small house. Andrea and Cherith did leave for seven weeks to work with Harvest Teen Rally out of Indiana. A few short weeks after they left Ricky and Karlyn moved to Baltimore to begin serving the Lord in ministry at Arlington Baptist Church. Ricky had to close down his electrical business and make that work transition. Karlyn had to make the transition especially from having close friends to unknown friends. A few weeks then after that Lois, Eunice, and I left for Michigan to go to the Allegan County Fair, my first time in 28 years. On the way there we had the privilege to stop and help in the first Harvest Teen Rally of the fall. Then on to Michigan we went for Lois and I to serve in the Child Evangelism Fellowship booth at the fair. We made time to visit Aunt Rose a couple of times as well as be with my family. It was our last time to see Aunt Rose alive. Andrea and Cherith finished their time with Harvest Teen Rally at Bob Jones University Farmfest. Josh and Hannah had an unexpected opportunity to visit Cordoba, Argentina for ten days in October. Shortly after their return to the United States Josh graduated from ECPI in Website Development. At the same time in early November Lois completed her therapy after her rotor cuff surgery in June. Thanksgiving was celebrated twice with family since Josh and Hannah had previous commitment for Thanksgiving week. So we celebrated Josh’s graduation, Thanksgiving with Josh and Hannah and family, then Thanksgiving Day with Ricky and Karlyn in town. For Christmas many of the family went to Michigan with the Blaha family. Lois and I spent Christmas with Jesse as he was notified he would be leaving for marine boot camp early in January 2012. He did not have his car to be taken care of as it had been stolen from the side of the interstate where it had broken down in the late fall. Many of the family where home to go to our somewhat traditional New Years Day visit to Chimney Rock, NC. Jesse found out the Wednesday before he would be leaving for MCRD Parris Island January 2, 2012. Once our last child left to pursue his next step of his life the business of life did not change. Josh and Hannah left for their planned visit to Argentina this time visiting both Buenos Airies and again Cordoba. Shortly after their return Andrea left for St. Vincent for a five week mission trip. Next Cherith was able to begin working at the Calvary Baptist preschool. As our income tax return came in and Lois’ settlement for the accident in early 2011 also came in we were able to payoff our unsecured loans and other outstanding debts. We were also able to purchase a very nice automobile to replace the vans that had become unusable the end of 2011. We also had the blessing of replacing our heating and air conditioning unit that had been dead for almost four years. Much excitement grew in anticipation as the time for Jesse to graduate as a new United States Marine quickly came the end of March. Ricky and Karlyn came in the week before as did my sister Ruth and her husband Rick. Andrea flew in from St Vincent on Tuesday morning. My sister Karla and her husband Todd came Tuesday night. Lois, Eunice, Andrea, and I left for Parris Island early Wednesday morning. The others all came the next couple days for Jesse’s graduation on Friday morning. It was a great time of celebration. The next couple of weeks we enjoyed having Jesse around on liberty. Then we took Jesse and PFC Cobb to Camp Geiger at Camp Lejeune, NC. We are hoping now things will not be as busy, but I doubt they will. God has blessed. God is good. God is love.

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Some of the first Sweet Gum leaves have fallen, an indication of more to come, much more. The Yellow Poplar (Yellow Wood, Tulip tree) has been dropping its leaves since the beginning of July. There is no surprise there.

So much has happened this summer. There was camping with Grace Bible Church families, Lois’ surgery and continued recovery, celebrating birthdays, Ricky and Karlyn being accepted and preparing to move to Baltimore, MD to minister to people out of Arlington Baptist Church, Lois and my 34th Wedding Anniversary which we celebrated with all our family with great friends Tim and Beverley Roberson and their daughter Kelly, and so much more. Jesse now owns his first automobile. Andrea and Cherith have left to work this summer/fall with Harvest Rally out of Indiana and are enjoying prep work to begin.

Also, Lois’ brother Bruce and his wife Deirdra and their son Zack moved to minister in Montana. We went to spend a Saturday with them the weekend before they moved.

It is fun to look behind, but there is so much ahead. Welcome Autumn!!!

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We must fight. I repeat it, sir, we must fight. An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. Nor shall we fight our battles alone. That God who presides over the destinies of nations will raise up friends for us. – Patrick Henry

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A parent’s pride in their children when they make a great accomplishment should be obvious. Our youngest son Jesse graduated from high school Tuesday night May 24, 2011. We are proud of him and very excited for him. We love you Jesse. We do have proof outside our say so that he did indeed graduate from James F Byrnes High School in Duncan, SC. (As you watch please note that no one in our family was escorted out or ticketed. Yes, we all had tickets to get in. We were happy we weren’t given one as we left.)

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From our local TV station:
Graduation Guests Ticketed For Loud Cheering

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When you see Jesse please congratulate him!

“Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.” Job 39:19-25

The opening quote of the movie ‘Secretariat’ came out of this small paragraph amongst all of what God questioned Job about when he had justified himself rather than God. Here God Himself is questioning Job about his capabilities as a man. In doing so the strength, stamina, and endurance of horses is enunciated succinctly. The movie portrays a combination of strength in the horse, the jockey, the trainer, and the owner towards the focus of winning what is known in horse racing as The Triple Crown.

I personally enjoyed the presentation of this horse and its amazing achievement in its speed and endurance. In the end I was brought back to God’s Word simply by the fact that God’s Word was quoted in conjunction with such a horse. Again, God’ speaks of such great qualities of the horse. But at the same time I had read another part of God’s Word that also mentioned the horse.

“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”
Psalm 147:7-11

God, who created the horse and with all of creation said, It is very good, and then spoke of its typical characteristics and qualities to a man named Job, is noted as ‘not delighting in the strength of the horse’. There are many true stories of great accomplishments among men in meeting amazing challenges and overcoming of which ‘Secretariat’ is one. These stories are realistically known as once in a lifetime achievements that hold a record or several records that others only dream of or attempt unsuccessfully to reach. They are held out as ‘good examples’ and ‘role models’ which inspire what man considers ‘greatness’. But here God has an amazing qualification for what He takes pleasure in: “The LORD takes pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” This is not what many consider unreachable goals. This is in fact from man’s capability something every man and woman ever born, save the son of perdition, can have said of them, The LORD takes pleasure in them. Over the great qualities of the horse which God himself stated in His rebuff of Job? Yes. Over all creation of which God said, It is very good? Yes. Yet man so often cannot grasp how fearing God and hoping in his mercy is all that is necessary or even required for the LORD to take pleasure in them. This is truly in the capability of any man. That is how God designed man in his own image.

FEAR GOD AND HOPE IN HIS MERCY.