You may or may not agree with John Piper. You may or may not like Barak Obama. But what John Piper says to Barak Obama here is "spot on".
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Winter Storm Pics
I took this on the way to the office this morning.
Just after I took the picture of the church building above, I turned around and took this one of the pastorium.
Very long ice icicles on the house yesterday and today.
Emily displaying a L-O-N-G icicle.
Travel Mercies
We often pray for "travel mercies". We learned to pray that when we lived in West Africa. We DEFINITELY prayed for travel mercies as we drove from OKC to Wagoner on Tuesday/Wednesday.
As we were leaving OKC, we saw NUMEROUS vehicles that had been abandoned after going off the road, crashing into bridges, and in two or three cases, rolling over. The roads were as bad as any I had ever seen in my life. In fact, I called and activated our church's prayer chain to pray for us as we traveled. I have not been that scared in a very long time.
As we were coming from Checotah towards Muskogee, we saw this FedEx trailer that had flipped on its side and had been abandoned.
Dale and I praise the Lord for a safe trip for us and want to express our appreciation to all who prayed for us!
As we were leaving OKC, we saw NUMEROUS vehicles that had been abandoned after going off the road, crashing into bridges, and in two or three cases, rolling over. The roads were as bad as any I had ever seen in my life. In fact, I called and activated our church's prayer chain to pray for us as we traveled. I have not been that scared in a very long time.
As we were coming from Checotah towards Muskogee, we saw this FedEx trailer that had flipped on its side and had been abandoned.
Dale and I praise the Lord for a safe trip for us and want to express our appreciation to all who prayed for us!
Weather Pics
We had to scrape about 1/4 inch of ice off the windshield when we left the canceled Evangelism Conference. The next morning, we had to scrape another 1/4 of ice off!
When we finally got stuck at Henryetta, OK, the Highway Patrol had closed the Westbound lanes of I-40!
Wednesday morning, we faced a nearly-empty I-40. Mostly semi-trucks and some 4x4's were out. Very few cars. No church vans! (except ours)
The trees were covered in ice, making this a winter wonderland; a beautiful picture I really would have rather seen on TV.
Click on this these pictures to make them larger. You can see the ice cycles on the sign in this one.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
150 miles in 25 hours or
my trip home from the State Evangelism Conference....
Oh My! What a week this has been!
I left immediately after church on Sunday evening to drive to Oklahoma City to attend the State Evangelism Conference. There was a forecast of a possible ice storm, but they wouldn't say how big or severe it was going to be. We decided to "press on".
By 10 am Monday morning, it was sleeting. By noon, the conference organizers said that it wouldn't effect the schedule. Just after lunch, they announced they were going to cancel the rest of the conference after Monday Afternoon's Schedule. They invited everyone to stay for a free banquet that had been prepared to honor some folks who weren't able to show up. (there's a sermon in there somewhere)
I was traveling with Dale Clayton, pastor of FBC, Porter. A third had dropped out on Sunday, because a church member died and he'd have to do the funeral. (he had no idea how fortunate that turned out to be for him[not that the guy died, but that the third pastor didn't go with us to OKC]). We stayed at Dale's parents' house in Del City, as they were in Texas for the winter. We barely made it home Monday night. We had decided to leave mid-morning on Tuesday, hoping that would give time for the street crews to "do their thing".
Well, turns out, it wasn't near enough time.
Normally, the 150 miles from Wagoner to OKC takes roughly 2.5 hours or so. After 5.5 hours, we had only made it to Henryetta. We had to pull off I-40 to "use the facilities". Big mistake.
A semi-truck had mis-gaged the entrance ramp back onto I-40 and had gone off the road, blocking the entire ramp. We needed to move out of the way to wait on the truck to be moved, so we entered an access road near the entrance ramp. Big mistake.
An SUV was also waiting there on the access road and had parked near the center of the road. We had to go around him and went off the main road onto the grass. I got out to push and was able to get us about 10 feet up the road, then got stuck again, when we tried to move for another pickup with trailer trying to do the same as us.
They got out and helped us push the van until it got going. At this point, the sleet, freezing rain, and fog were really bad and we decided we better not try to go on. We decided to spend the night in a Super 8 motel that was at the end of the service road. We got stuck 3 more times before we got there.
The motel had a room for us and we needed to pull around to the room. Meanwhile, another guest was stuck in the parking lot and we tried for 20-30 minutes to get him into a parking place. (It really was THAT slick). Then, when it came our turn to park, we got stuck AGAIN.
Fortunately, there was a restaurant next door that stayed open late enough for us to have supper and breakfast again this morning.
This morning, as we were getting ready to leave, we noted that the hotel manager was towing people out of the parking lot with his 4x4. One other 4x4 truck was so stuck in the parking lot that even the manager couldn't get him out. We prayed about it, pulled out of our spot with a little slippage, then put it in LOW 1 and drove right up onto the access road without missing a beat!
The ride home was terrifying, both yesterday and today. God watched over us; we saw many, many wrecks, but we had no road problems.
So, after 25 hours, I finally made it home! (and I am sure glad to be home!)
Thanks to all who prayed.
Oh My! What a week this has been!
I left immediately after church on Sunday evening to drive to Oklahoma City to attend the State Evangelism Conference. There was a forecast of a possible ice storm, but they wouldn't say how big or severe it was going to be. We decided to "press on".
By 10 am Monday morning, it was sleeting. By noon, the conference organizers said that it wouldn't effect the schedule. Just after lunch, they announced they were going to cancel the rest of the conference after Monday Afternoon's Schedule. They invited everyone to stay for a free banquet that had been prepared to honor some folks who weren't able to show up. (there's a sermon in there somewhere)
I was traveling with Dale Clayton, pastor of FBC, Porter. A third had dropped out on Sunday, because a church member died and he'd have to do the funeral. (he had no idea how fortunate that turned out to be for him[not that the guy died, but that the third pastor didn't go with us to OKC]). We stayed at Dale's parents' house in Del City, as they were in Texas for the winter. We barely made it home Monday night. We had decided to leave mid-morning on Tuesday, hoping that would give time for the street crews to "do their thing".
Well, turns out, it wasn't near enough time.
Normally, the 150 miles from Wagoner to OKC takes roughly 2.5 hours or so. After 5.5 hours, we had only made it to Henryetta. We had to pull off I-40 to "use the facilities". Big mistake.
A semi-truck had mis-gaged the entrance ramp back onto I-40 and had gone off the road, blocking the entire ramp. We needed to move out of the way to wait on the truck to be moved, so we entered an access road near the entrance ramp. Big mistake.
An SUV was also waiting there on the access road and had parked near the center of the road. We had to go around him and went off the main road onto the grass. I got out to push and was able to get us about 10 feet up the road, then got stuck again, when we tried to move for another pickup with trailer trying to do the same as us.
They got out and helped us push the van until it got going. At this point, the sleet, freezing rain, and fog were really bad and we decided we better not try to go on. We decided to spend the night in a Super 8 motel that was at the end of the service road. We got stuck 3 more times before we got there.
The motel had a room for us and we needed to pull around to the room. Meanwhile, another guest was stuck in the parking lot and we tried for 20-30 minutes to get him into a parking place. (It really was THAT slick). Then, when it came our turn to park, we got stuck AGAIN.
Fortunately, there was a restaurant next door that stayed open late enough for us to have supper and breakfast again this morning.
This morning, as we were getting ready to leave, we noted that the hotel manager was towing people out of the parking lot with his 4x4. One other 4x4 truck was so stuck in the parking lot that even the manager couldn't get him out. We prayed about it, pulled out of our spot with a little slippage, then put it in LOW 1 and drove right up onto the access road without missing a beat!
The ride home was terrifying, both yesterday and today. God watched over us; we saw many, many wrecks, but we had no road problems.
So, after 25 hours, I finally made it home! (and I am sure glad to be home!)
Thanks to all who prayed.
Friday, January 23, 2009
and so it begins
Obama reverses abortion-funds policy
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday quietly ended the Bush administration's ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option.
Liberal groups welcomed the decision, while abortion rights foes criticized the president.
Known as the "Mexico City policy," the ban has been reinstated and then reversed by Republican and Democratic presidents since Ronald Reagan established it in 1984. Democrat Bill Clinton ended the ban in 1993, but Republican George W. Bush re-instituted it in 2001 as one of his first acts in office.
A White House spokesman, Bill Burton, said Obama signed an executive order on the ban, without coverage by the media, late Friday afternoon. That was in contrast to the midday signings with fanfare of executive orders on other subjects earlier in the week.
Obama's action came one day after the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.
Read the rest of the story here.
++++++++++++++++
Me: What's with the Democrats? Why must Democratic Presidents think that they must uphold what is morally derelict? Why? Why? WHY????
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday quietly ended the Bush administration's ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information on the option.
Liberal groups welcomed the decision, while abortion rights foes criticized the president.
Known as the "Mexico City policy," the ban has been reinstated and then reversed by Republican and Democratic presidents since Ronald Reagan established it in 1984. Democrat Bill Clinton ended the ban in 1993, but Republican George W. Bush re-instituted it in 2001 as one of his first acts in office.
A White House spokesman, Bill Burton, said Obama signed an executive order on the ban, without coverage by the media, late Friday afternoon. That was in contrast to the midday signings with fanfare of executive orders on other subjects earlier in the week.
Obama's action came one day after the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.
Read the rest of the story here.
++++++++++++++++
Me: What's with the Democrats? Why must Democratic Presidents think that they must uphold what is morally derelict? Why? Why? WHY????
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Help please!
Does anyone know of a FREE editor for .mov videos? I have found some on the net, but they display "Preview Only" through their "free" version.
I want to use my digital camera to make a video for the church, but it only records in .mov.
I want to use my digital camera to make a video for the church, but it only records in .mov.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Pray for our new President
As our country experiences another peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next, let us commit to pray for our new President. President Obama will need God’s direction and God’s wisdom as he leads our country. We must be diligent to pray for him and the decisions that he makes, that they would bring glory and honor to God. Pray for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to surround himself with wise counsel. The honor of leading our country is no easy task and our new President will need our prayers!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
John Piper: "Obama Is Making the Church the Minister of Damnation"
Toleration is one thing, but recognition and acceptance is quite another.
I agree with John Piper. Read his blog post here.
I agree with John Piper. Read his blog post here.
Obama's Inauguration Gala Costs Expected to Break Records
The price tag for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration gala is expected to break records, with some estimates reaching as high as $150 million. Despite the bleak economy, however, Democrats who called on President George W. Bush to be frugal four years ago are issuing no such demands now that an inaugural weekend of rock concerts and star-studded parties has begun.
Read the whole story here: AP Story
[HT: Eternity Matters]
Read the whole story here: AP Story
[HT: Eternity Matters]
A (New) Trip Down Memory Lane
Casa Bonita - Open Again after 6 years of being closed.
Saturday, we loaded up the Kia and went to Tulsa. We decided to have lunch at Casa Bonita, recently reopened after being closed for 6 years. When we were home on furlough in 2002-3, they had already closed down. I was disappointed because I wanted my kids to have Casa Bonita memories, too.
The restaurant is a miniature Mexican village. Each dining area has its own theme, from a fiesta plaza, a outdoor patio, a formal dining room in an elegant hacienda, a waterfall, etc. I remember going there as a kid and just having a blast. It was like going to a different country (almost) for dinner.
As we walked in the doors Saturday, my mind was flooded with great memories of Casa Bonita. Amazingly, it looked the same. It didn't look "run down" nor did it look neglected. It seemed to be preserved as I remembered it, but "fresh".
The first thing I noticed that was different was they now serve alcoholic beverages. The second thing I noticed was the prices. Yes, I realize that it is no longer 1974, but $11.95 for their Deluxe Beef or Chicken meal seemed a little high. OK, you gets chips, salsa and queso. That is good. You get guacamole. That is good. You get all the sopapilla's and honey you can eat. That is good. What isn't good is the overall taste. Quite frankly, Taco Hut or The Enchilada Barn has better Mexican food. Emily had the fajitas that were $14 and they looked good, but El Chico's it ain't!
OK, so I paid $60 with pop and tip. Was it worth it?
The "Treasure Room " is back in business!
In a word yes. To expand: the girls loved it! It brought back so many wonderful memories. We liked putting the flag up to signal our waitress we needed something. We loved the sopapillas. The wait staff was very friendly.
I fear that the quality of the food will drive it out of business again. I'm just glad my kids got to have a little bit of Casa Bonita while they were young!
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Hero of Flight 1549
Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III
What do you do when your plane has a "double bird strike" and knocks out both engines? Hope that Captian Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III, is at control. Captain Sullenberger succesfully brought US AIR Flt 1549 to a "safe" crash landing in the Hudson River in New York City yesterday. He is being hailed as THE hero of the incident.
He was trying to bring the disabled airplane around and land at a small field closeby, but it became apparant that it wasn't going to happen. Realizing that an aircrash over a densley populated area was not an option, he decided to do a belly landing in the Hudson River.
The downed airplane was quickly surrounded by passenger ferries and the whole incided concluded without a single loss life! Praise God for His watchcare over these passengers!
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