Today was a very good day. God answered prayer and provided for my needs in a mighty and powerful way. I am going to bed tonight thankful for His provision and for the people He used to accomplish it with.
And since it’s been awhile since I’ve posted a pic of her, here is my miniature dachshund Tammy making a German spectacle of herself. How shameless!
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In searching around for churches in this area, obviously I’m looking at their websites. I’m studying a few things, particularly their various statements of belief. In that regard I’ll simply say this: there are already a number of places of worship which I regrettably cannot enter. It would be like bringing a blowtorch aboard the Hindenburg.
No disrespect to those places is meant. I believe they and I worship the same God. We differ however in aspects of that which while ultimately meaningless, are as unavoidable in this carnal realm as they are indicative of the imperfect nature of the church as the body of Christ upon this earth.
As I was saying, I’m perusing the websites of places of worship. Looking for certain qualities. And with the advent of streaming video I’m now able to watch and listen to recent sermons. Sort-of like the Esper machine: getting to ...
It would not at all be inaccurate to state that more than any other time in my entire life, I have not been as scared as I have been for more than a week now.
It would be just as rightfully said that in that same span of time I have witnessed nothing short than a miracle. Maybe even more than one.
Dad had a stroke on Tuesday of last week.
It was incredibly fortunate that it began in a physician’s office. That it was recognized in the earliest stage possible and that as a result 9-1-1- was called and Dad was immediately taken from Reidsville to the best hospital in Greensboro. If it was meant for Dad to have a stroke, well… he could have been out on his tractor plowing a field when it happened and nobody would have known about it until it was much too late....
“My God, I have never thanked thee for my thorn. I
have thanked thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my
thorn. Teach me the glory of my cross, teach me the value of my thorn.
Show me that I have climbed to thee by the path of my pain. Show me
that my tears have made my rainbows.”
— George Matheson
Rob Mancuso, a very dear friend and brother in Christ since college, shared that prayer with me this evening. I am going to share it here too, with others who may also need some comfort right now....
Like Michael Corleone said: “Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in.”
Last week I posted that it might be goodbye for good for my blogging. Lots of things went into that. I have wound up extremely busy with work-related stuff lately (speaking of which, I’m soon going to be advertising freelance writing services on this blog, and if you want to go ahead and solicit my services e-mail me at theknightshift@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you!).
And then, from my perspective, some… very lousy things happened on this end. My spirit wound up darn nearly broken. Friends counseled me to not be discouraged, to keep going. That this blog has given them hope when they needed it, even if at times I myself feel little or no hope at all.
Huh. Imagine that. Getting hope from the hopeless. I suppose anything ...
At last night’s monthly work meeting of the Rockingham County Board of Education, the proposal was put forth that the board should begin each session with prayer. It’s been a longstanding custom to have a moment of silence. If the board approves of it at the May 13th meeting, that would be replaced with a public prayer before an official function of government.
Here’s the story from today’s News & Record…
Board members spent nearly an hour talking
through the finer points of whether they should open meetings with
prayer. It was discussion that at times became tense but never
contentious.
The school board currently opens its
meetings with a moment of silence. Board member Ron Price asked the
board to consider adding prayers during the last meeting.
The members will vote on the issue May 13
...The possibility of a lawsuit was brought
up Monday night by
Earlier this morning I first read about this and ever since I’ve been trying to find a measure of absurd purpose or mad brilliance in this legislation… but if it’s there I can’t find it.
Two members of this state’s House of Representatives have filed House Bill 494, which if passed would allow for an official religion to be imposed upon North Carolina.
It’s not a late April Fools joke. Representatives Harry Warren and Carl Ford (each of Rowan County) want an official state religion which would circumvent judicial rulings on prayer at government functions within North Carolina. Presumably this would be in response to courts which have struck down prayers at county commissioner meetings, school board hearings and the like. Eleven other representatives so far have backed the proposal.
...“The Constitution of the United States does not grant the federal government and does not grant the federal
Good night, and good luck.
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| October 29 2012: Hurricane Sandy floods the site of the World Trade Center in New York City |
Confederate Soldier’s Prayer
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I that I asked for but got everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men, most richly blessed.— Found on the body of a Confederate Soldier, 1861-1865
Good friend, fellow historian and ...
This past week, the southeastern United States has been thrashed in the worst way.
Sanford, here in my home state of North Carolina, is still recovering from a horrific tornado that went through there this past weekend. And since Tuesday communities from Mississippi and Arkansas all the way east to Virginia have been hit by even worse storms. At this hour the death toll is approaching 300, in what is being called the most devastating outbreak of tornadoes the south has ever seen. We were under tornado watch for most of yesterday and early this morning but, doesn’t look like any touched down.
For those who are hurting this day, our thoughts and prayers go out to you....