Memorial Day, 2009

Memorial Day, 2009

Did you know that only 28% of Americans know the meaning of this noble holiday? According to a Gallup Poll, it's true. Congress has established a National Moment of Remembrance and is asking that all Americans take time today to remember the men and women who have died in the service of our country. At 3:00 p.m. today, take a moment to stop and remember those who died. And remember that their sacrifice means we get to enjoy freedom and liberty in the United States of America. This is also a perfect opportunity to remember and pray for those who are serving in our Military forces today.

Today I take time to remember and give thanks to ...

Sgt. Clyde V. Moore - Army

Winford Riddle - Army

Emery Collins - Army

Francis Elliott, Jr. - Army

John L. Collins - Army

Basil Elliott - Marines

Rodney Mitchell - Navy

James Kirklin -- Air Force - Leaves July 1 for Iraq

Bill Elliott - Air Force

John Wm. Mitchell - Army

Michael Batwinas - Navy

Ballard Mosley - Army

Lee Holloway - Marines

Emmit Colon Adams - Died in Vietnam, 1966

Larry Maggard - Died in Vietnam, 1968

Capt. Rick Hauck - Army

Tom Gabbert - Army

Huston James - Army

Tom Royal - Army

Jerry Golden - Army

Happy Birthday Linna Sue

Happy Birthday Linna Sue!

Happy Anniversary Jamie & Kristie - Today!

Happy Belated Birthday to

Tanner - May 8

I have a friend. He is a thoughtful man who has considered spiritual things. His background is with a church that teaches salvation comes from faith and works together. He says he can't imagine that salvation is free, that there is not something that we have to do to earn it. The Bible, specifically in the Book of Romans, clearly says otherwise. His church does not consider the Bible the final authority.

I told him, "Here is one way to look at it. What if your only son gave his heart to save my life? Would you bill me for his heart? Would you expect me to make payments for it? No. I think you would agree that your son's life is a thing of such value that nothing I could ever do could ever compensate you for it. Or what if you invited me and my whole family over for dinner with linen, candles, silver and all your family favorites. What would you think if at the end of the meal I stood up and got out my wallet and said, "How much do I owe you?" You would be justifiably hurt, confused, and offended.

To think that you can pay for your salvation or repay God for what he freely provided through His sons death tells me two things about you. First, it tells me you don't realize how sinful you are. Second, it tells me you don't realize how righteous God is.

Churches themselves are full of people who do not yet realize what a gift salvation is. Because they have never realized the depth of their guilt, they do not appreciate the miracle of God's grace. P.T. Forsyth said it this way, "Our Churches are full of the nicest, kindest people who have never known the despair of guilt or the breathless wonder of forgiveness." Have you known the despair of guilt and the breathless wonder of forgiveness? I wonder if all who claim to be saved have really been delivered from their sin and the horrific penalty of it.

Shark Attack! Imagine you are swimming in the ocean and you are suddenly and savagely attacked by a shark. One moment you are enjoying the sun and water, the next you are struggling for life, gasping for air. Panic seizes your heart. You are in a desperate struggle for life. Just when you are going down for the last time a strong unseen hand grasps you and pulls you from danger into the safety of a boat. They deposit you on the warm sand. You are shaken but safe.

You have been saved, delivered. You have been rescued from death. You have survived a shark attack and drowning. It takes you a half hour for your heart rate to settle down again. When it does the sun is brighter, the sea is bluer, the world is full of life. If you have been saved from eternal torment and separation from God in hell you should be overcome with gratitude. You should know the breathless wonder of God's grace. If you have been delivered from the violence and finality of death and eternal suffering you ought to glory in it every day. You ought to sing with hands uplifted and a tear-streaked face. You ought to shout. You ought to tell everyone you know.

When you understand that you have been saved from the horror of sin, judgment and death, the sun is brighter, the sea is bluer, and your whole world is full of life. Has that happened to you?

Ken Pierpont

Grandma's Hands

GRANDMA'S HANDS

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a clear voice strong. "I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her.

Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?" I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making. Grandma smiled and related this story: "Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse. They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of Grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

Thanks to Kay for sending this via email

Honoring Moms

To the Woman who nurtured me…I appreciate you.

To the Woman who disciplined me when I needed it….I’m a better person for it and now that I’m older and understand why… I commend you.

To the Woman who fought through her struggles… I admire you.

To the Woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for the God she believes in….I respect you.

To the Woman who is my friend, my prayer warrior, my guidance counselor, my travel partner…..My Mother…. I LOVE YOU !!!

Happy Mothers Day, Mom. Kay

Happy Mothers Day Mom!

Just posting this note to wish you a wonderful mothers day. You are BY FAR the best mom anyone could ask for (no offense to other mothers reading this :)

I am one of the lucky ones in this world who can not only consider my mother my mother, but also my friend. Someone I can talk to about anything at any time of the day. No matter what the circumstances or topic at hand, you never judge.. and you use your insiteful wisdom to help me in any way you can. You truely are a wise woman and I hope to be just like you. Thank you for all you do. I wish I could be there with you on this special day, but I will be thinking about you across the miles. I will be home soon!! I love you! Megan

Before there were all the fancy irons, Mom ironed our baby clothes and diapers.

Before washing machines that did all the work for you, Mom washed our clothes by hand.

Before there were microwaves, Mom cooked and baked most everything from scratch.

Before there were dishwashers, Mom trained us to wash dishes. I still do my dishes by hand!

Before there were vacuum cleaners, Mom swept the floors almost daily.

Before there was 'Swiffer', Mom used a cotton mop to clean the floors.

Before there was a Meijer's or a Walmart's, Mom canned food every year so we'd have plenty to eat during the Winter.

We've all learned much from this lady we call Mom and we all have so much to be thankful for. She was tough when she had to be and yet we knew she cared for us. She faced some hard times in life but with her faith in Christ, she always bounced back and she most always has a smile for those she meets.

She does her best to understand the changes in the world and so much has changed in the past 80 years of her life. She isn't afraid to stand up for what's right and will most likely tell you when she knows something's wrong.

I give Miss Aileen a great deal of credit ... for taking care of us and some of our children and grandchildren. For always having a positive outlook on whatever situation comes up and for always pointing us to Christ.

I love you Mom ... Happy Mother's Day .... Louise

I have a question for you ...

If you died tonight, where would you go?

We all have an eternal destination and this very minute, we're all headed to one of two places. Once we take our last breath here, we will immediately either be in the presence of the Lord Jesus, or we'll be in darkness, awaiting God's judgement.

The decision is yours to make and now is the time to make it. Don't wait for tomorrow, or later on ... we may not have the next hour, let alone tomorrow.

All of us are sinners. The punishment for that sin is death and eternal separation from God. Jesus Christ satisfied the anger of God against our sin by taking the punishment we deserve and rising from the grave the third day. When we come to Him and sincerely ask Him to forgive us and to cleanse us from unrighteousness, He does just that.

In order to be delivered from the wrath of God, you must repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus Christ, and you must do so now. "Today is the day of salvation," the Bible says. It's not something to put off 'til a more convenient time. You repent as much as you know how to repent, and you trust in Him as much as you know how to trust.

If you haven't come to faith in Christ, I beg you to give thought to what that means. It means we 'believe' and believing means we come to God as sinners, recognize that Christ died for us and arose from the dead, and then we trust in Christ alone to save us. The best word to convey what the Bible means by 'believe' is the word trust. Trusting Christ is not merely accepting intellectually that a person named Jesus Christ died on a cross and rose again. It is acknowledging that He alone is my only way to heaven. Trusting Christ is the means through which we appropriate His gift of eternal life.

I invite you now to trust in Christ alone to save you. And once you've done that, will you let someone know? You can leave a comment on this blog, or send me an email ... cmoore2659@wowway.com; or call me. I'd be thrilled to talk with you about the most important decision you will ever make.

Happy Birthday Matt

Happy Birthday Matthew

Happy Birthday Becky

Happy Birthday Becky!

Happy Birthday Kim

Happy Birthday Kim!