You better laugh...

I don't know if cats can really laugh; but people do! Over the past ten years I have discovered that I seem to laugh more. Why, because I'm funnier? I don't think I am any different than I was 15 or more years ago. I think its attitude, really! I can see it in myself when I go to work; I decide that no matter what happens, I AM GOING TO BE IN A GOOD MOOD! Well, I don't always succeed, because, well.... things happen! But I guess the Axum is true: A person is what they think about all day long. Consider the following Bible passage and THEN DECIDE WHAT YOU WILL DO TOMORROW!

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.

The Webster Bible

My thinking WILL CHANGE MY LIFE! "What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve" is a long-time Amway motto worth quoting. Besides all this, I have to laugh... why? because I have mirrors in my house, that why.... and I do remember what I looked like at 20.

Roy Moore

Alabama Judge

Some of you may be wondering what Judge Roy Moore has been doing since he was removed from the bench for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom wall. Please read the poem he wrote. The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama .

Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama ! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.

America the beautiful,Or so you used to be..

Land of the Pilgrims' pride; I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters, Abortion on demand,

Oh, sweet land of liberty; Your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly Poisoned by cocaine

Choosing to indulge their lusts, When God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea, Our Nation turns away

From the teaching of God's love And a need to always pray

We've kept God in our Temples , how callous we have grown.

When earth is but His footstool, And Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government that's rotting at the core,

Appointing Godless Judges; Who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer In a well deserved tomb,

But brave enough to kill a baby Before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not Angry, that our land's a moral slum?

How much longer will He wait Before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God, From Whom we cannot hide?

What then is left for us to do, But stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children, Will humbly turn and pray;

Seek His holy face And mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven; And forgive us of our sins,

He'll heal our sickly land And those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful, If you don't - then you will see,

A sad but Holy God Withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

My thanks to Nancy Womack for sending this e-mail to me.

USA

The Bible says:

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but from God: the powers that are, are ordained by God.
Rom 13:2 Whoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power; do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou doest that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Rom 13:6 For, for this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. The Webster Bible

I think this is very straightforward; we are to obedient to the government! Yet, consider how our country has changed; banks are bailed out with billions and billions of our dollars, soon the auto industry will follow. Its human nature to want something for nothing and before you know it there will be a long line of businesses and local governments all wanting bailouts. Where does it end? When are people going to be REQUIRED TO WORK, REQUIRED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, REQUIRED TO BE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS? BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS SHOULD BE MADE ANSWERABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND THOSE WHO COMMIT WRONG ACTUALLY PUNISHED!!

Remember this...

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. The Webster Bible

If all of America is owned by the government, perhaps USA might come to stand for United Socialist America? Hard to imagine; yet who would have thought prayer would have been taken out of school or "in God we trust" taken off our coins? I have a little confession to make here.... I voted for McCain because I thought the Libertarian party had no chance of winning. I will NEVER GO AGAINST MY CONVICTIONS AGAIN! Its time we all stood up and became really involved in our government before a new meaning for USA becomes reality !!!

A Real Superman

I remember watching the 50's TV series superman and wondering what it would be like to actually have superpowers! Imagine, being able to fly, to have xray vision and be impervious to projectiles! Most of us would probably get a swelled head quickly. I only know of one real superman and his name is Jesus. What has he done with his powers?

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Webster Bible

The truth is: Those who desire to be superior to their fellow human beings have it all wrong; true greatness lies in being the servant of all, in enriching the life of everyone. The picture above only seems impressive, true greatness lies within those who have God as their king.

A second glance

"Beauty may be skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone". In this case, it may just be the other way round. I see something here that goes beyond unattractiveness. Something about the eyes of this dog say a warm heart is just waiting for a little love and affection. When we are young we don't think like this though. We are attracted to those who are "good looking". As I have aged I remember this: In 50 years we will all look like shrivelled prunes. Perhaps this is what made me look a little closer, or perhaps its because when I look in the mirror now, I think about what I looked like at age 20.

Consider this:

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

The Webster Bible

I am glad someone cared enough about me to bless me even though I didn't deserve it; how about you? Now, take a second glance at the dog and think.....

Friends

This picture is precious to me, not only because my younger brother David is there, but also because of my dog “Pal”. It’s the only one I have ever seen of him and when I was young he was the best friend I had. Times were very hard in those days and it was very, very good to have a “best friend”. He was always there when I needed him and his friendship reminds me of the following Bible passage:

1Sa 19:1 Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.
1Sa 19:2 Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill you: now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, and live in a secret place, and hide yourself:
1Sa 19:3 and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you; and if I see anything, I will tell you.
1Sa 19:4 Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Don't let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you:
1Sa 19:5 for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel: you saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?
1Sa 19:6 Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death.
1Sa 19:7 Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as before. WEB

Everything in the picture has changed, but the memory of Pal remains. Jesus became my best friend over the years and unlike Jonathan he is still interceding for me with the Greatest KING. Now, that is a friend!

A different pont of view

Its been almost a decade since I received my first senior discount at the Florida aquarium, but what I remember most was thinking..."So that's what its like to be a fish". Just looking at things from their point of view changed everything. I can understand a little better now the reason for the following Bible passage:

Mat 5:38 `Ye heard that it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth;
Mat 5:39 but I--I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;
Mat 5:40 and whoever is willing to take thee to law, and thy coat to take--suffer to him also the cloak.
Mat 5:41 `And whoever shall impress thee one mile, go with him two,
Mat 5:42 to him who is asking of thee be giving, and him who is willing to borrow from thee thou mayest not turn away.
Mat 5:43 `Ye heard that it was said: Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and shalt hate thine enemy;
Mat 5:44 but I--I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you,
Mat 5:45 that ye may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because His sun He doth cause to rise on evil and good, and He doth send rain on righteous and unrighteous.
Mat 5:46 `For, if ye may love those loving you, what reward have ye? do not also the tax-gatherers the same?
Mat 5:47 and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the tax-gatherers so?
Mat 5:48 ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect.

Young's Literal Translation

Perfection is not be absolutely perfect in everything we do; I don't think anyone can be completely free of wrong, but it does mean being the best we can be. That begins with trying to see things from another point of view. When we do this, we are ON OUR WAY. Now, who out there wants to be a fish?