The Dog Again

Old Cookie is still doing quite well at seventeen; and as you can see, he pretty much owns whatever he wants around here. He still asks for "bites" and for his walks. Otherwise, he spends a lot of time, as one might say, in the arms of Morpheus. He can still spook a squirrel up a tree post-haste, and the rabbit nests within our fence perimeter have been uprooted. Darned doe should learn to keep it outside the fence. She comes back every year, and every year she has to start over somewhere else --usually under the neighbor's tool shed.

[April 29, 1933 Birth of Willie Nelson in Abbott, Texas.
One can but appreciate his talent as a musician/singer and composer/writer of songs. His excessive lifestyle, his politics, his fixation on bio-fuels, not so much.]

100 Days

You tell me.

Getting to Know You

While reading Steele (the Day), a blog I follow, I found this recommendation to join in "Getting to Know You." Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground gives all the details. Check it out.

That's What Tortures Me

Is there anyone else out there who is torqued with our so-called leadership who seem more intent on tearing our country apart than they are in healing rifts and fixing the economy? The witchhunts promoted by top personnel in congress and their henchmen in the left-wing media can do nothing but damage the nation and its image worldwide.
Ninnies.

Torture? Two words: Nick Berg.

Then There's This

Obama's problem is that he does not know who the enemy is. To him, the enemy does not squat in caves in Waziristan, clutching automatic weapons and reciting the more militant verses from the Koran: instead, it sits around at tea parties in Kentucky quoting from the US Constitution. Obama is not at war with terrorists, but with his Republican fellow citizens. He has never abandoned the campaign trail. --Gerald Warner, in the Telegraph

Wow, those Brits really tell it like it is.

Freedom of Expression

A group of bloggers is holding a blog rally in support of Roxana Saberi (who is spending her birthday on a hunger strike in Tehran's Evin Prison) and of others who have dared to express their thoughts freely only to be imprisoned, abused, or killed.

Please consider placing a blue ribbon this week on your blog, website, and facebook / myspace / twitter page, and invite others to do the same, in honor of the journalists, bloggers, students, and writers who are imprisoned in Evin Prison (nicknamed "Evin University") and other prisons around the world for speaking and writing down their thoughts.

Why We Need a Pentecostal Encounter, Part 2

This morning, Pastor Doug continued the series on a pentecostal encounter. The lesson continues in the Book of Acts, today emphasizing chapter 4. This is a study of the trial of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin following the healing of a lame man at the temple gate.

Why we need a pentecostal encounter:
1) The believer's verbal message becomes Holy Spirit-filtered and empowered. (v.8)
See Luke 21:12 where Jesus predicted negative public reaction to the message. But, He tells us, don't plan what you will say, for "I will give you words and wisdom."

2) Faith and courage builds on itself. (vv. 9, 10)
Definition of "salvation:" healing, health, wholeness, oneness.

3) Human intellect and training only go so far. (v.13)
The Sanhedrin noted the courage (daring) of Peter and John, but they were not impressed. Rather, they were offended. They "could not deny" that the man was healed. But they didn't admit it, either. There was "nothing they could say." Except to tell the disciples to shut up.

4) Everything a believer does is a witness for the Lord. (v. 16)

5) The Holy Spirit fuels the believer with passion to fulfull his purposes. (v. 20)
"We cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard."
A passionless Christian probably has a Holy Spirit issue.

The Holy Spirit wants not only to be among us, but to live in us.
Why?
He wants to empower us to live as witnesses for Christ.

As Christ-followers, we may expect the world to say we are crazy, out of our minds; but we'll be the ones who have our lives together.

Talented Spouse

Several years before I met her, BBBH published a book of poems and songs she had written. I submit here lyrics to one of the songs. I particularly enjoy hearing her sing this.

Take a Look It's All in the Book

The Bible says we can be free

From all our sins and misery

That the Lord's the only way

Not many paths, like people say

Says we can claim His every word

Of His promises be assured

That we can know He loves us so

And that He just wants us to know

Says in the word that we can find

In the book He left behind

That He shed His blood for me

Took my stripes at Calvary

In His kingdom we can share

Because He'll always be there

He came to set us free from sin

So open your heart and let Him in

So take a look, take a look,

It's all in the book

So take a look, take a look

It's all in the book

John 3:16

Copyright Grace JoAnn Harrison 1995. Used by permission.