KATHYMARK CHRISTMAS STORIES

Posted on November 21, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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There has been a huge flurry of Hallmark Christmas movies playing on the network of the same name since July.  Talk about gearing up for the holiday in advance.  A few years ago, I chose to look at some of the old Christmas stories and how they applied to things of today.  Nothing is new under the sun, as they say.  This particular story has been told and retold for years.  Traditionally there is a production on our city’s famous Guthrie Theatre Stage every year and it seems to resonate with different audiences as time goes by.

I always thought that “A Christmas Carol” was just another of those dark Dickens stories, filled with hopeless characters. I now see it as a tale of a man’s redemption. I think if each of us were allowed to travel in Scrooge’s dreamlike time machine, we might all be afforded the same result Scrooge experienced.

Looking at my Christmases past, I remember there were always presents, even though we didn’t have any money. I don’t remember any of them anymore, but I recall moments of wonder and excitement.

There was always Christmas music and a huge, freshly, cut tree in church. It stood about  50’ tall.  The aroma of the north woods permeated the sanctuary. Candles were lit and special music played. One of the biggest things I remember is never having much money. What I didn’t realize then, was the sacrifices my parents made for us. Even as I began my own family, there never seemed to be enough, but we muddled through.

Scrumptious sights and sounds and smells – Christmas is full of delicious treats, special cookies, good times with family, laughter and so much more, but for those who are alone,
it’s time to dwell on the emptiness and loneliness. For those who have little or no money, it means depression and guilt. For those who are far away from home, there’s a feeling of loss – a feeling of not being apart of this amazing season with those they love.

Christmas present has placed me in the golden years of life, giving me time to reflect, to refresh and rejuvenate as I decide what lies ahead. We now enjoy the charm of a house from the late 19th century. Even though the floors are uneven, it’s as if God prepared it just for us.  We still find ourselves with little of financial gain but the love of God’s greatest gift to the world is alive in our hearts and that is what this holiday is really about.

The Christmases yet to be, could be consumed with thoughts of the grave, but it seems God has other plans for me. So I’ll continue to press on through the next chapter. None of us knows the amount allotted to us.  If we choose, we can wallow in our aches and pains and give into the aging process, or we can find a way in which we can continue to bless others with God’s amazing grace.

As Scrooge’s heart softened through his journey, the tale of a heart redeemed gives us hope too. We can choose to be like the old humbug Scrooge or become new again through the love that God gave us on that first Christmas eve. The choice is really a no brainer.

Lord, help me realize that you are the light of the world radiating from a humble cradle. Your Christmas gift to the entire world is more than we deserve, yet you gave it freely, without condition.  You are the Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end.  You are also God of all time. Live in my heart now as my Redeemer and King. Amen!

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FRUIT OF THE HARVEST

Posted on November 20, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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November brings thoughts of Apple Cider simmering on the stove – the scent of cinnamon permeates the entire house. Pumpkins have been carved and set on doorsteps. Straw scarecrows stand as guards at the door. Farmers are looking forward to some time off from their hard labor as fields have been stripped and the bounty has been stored or sent off to market.

Thoughts of Thanksgiving sneak into our brains along with the beauty of a formally set dinner table complete with many delicious things to add to our girth.
We all know what comes after November so we take advantage of this month to plump up and get ready for the long hibernation ahead. The squirrels are doing it – right?

God provides us a bounty each and every day. Some days we may feel there is nothing to be grateful for. We may think that God has passed us by when it comes to fruits of His Spirit. We may feel we don’t know how we can be used to serve Him. He does have a purpose for each one of us.

According to Galatians 5:23-23 the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are all attributes with positive connotations. What a bounty we receive from the King of Creation. Let’s use those things to prepare ourselves for the winter storms of life and the spring of our new life in eternity.

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TAKE HEART!

Posted on November 19, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

The headlines tell the state of our world in just a few simple words – “MASS SHOOTING AT SCHOOL,” DRUG OVERDOSE AT ALL TIME HIGH,” “SEX TRAFFICKING, RIGHT HERE,” and the list goes on.  Our world is filled with bad news.  There is unrest in our political arena.  Children are committing suicide at alarming rates.  The aged are being abused.  Abortion is a matter of convenience.  Life is no longer valued.

The world is not a pretty place and yet there is still the glory of a sunrise or sunset. God has placed life on this earth for our enjoyment and rest.  Every day is a gift.  At least I’m alive.

Well, those are sentiments we’ve all expressed at one time or another.  Life can be miserable to say the least, but if we’re defeated by it, we’re turning our back on the greatest hope we have – Jesus.

Jesus is God’s remedy for a sin sick world.  In fact, God came to earth in human flesh, to experience life as we know it.  He isn’t Superman nor does he repel bullets and leap over tall buildings, although He is certainly capable of doing so.   Instead He chose to be born into poverty, to a simple family from the line of King David.  All the prophesies of old were fulfilled in His birth.  He knew the scriptures, because He was the author of them.  He was able to stand up against temptation of Satan, because He is God.  He is able to forgive sins, because of His amazing grace.

To most folks that sounds like the recipe for some kind of fantasy story – a science fiction drama designed to make us feel better about things.  In fact the whole thing sounds quite extraordinary.  Why would God submit Himself to a humble life, no home to call His own, an exhausting ministry and a humiliating mock trial and horrific death?  None of it makes sense to our logical human minds.

But in God’s eyes it makes perfect sense.  He is the ultimate example of love in its purist form.  He loved us so much, He designed a perfect world for us.  Even though we thought we didn’t need Him, He stayed with us.  He carried our sin to the cross so that we wouldn’t have to.  He overcame Satan and the power of evil.  He promised life in paradise for eternity.  All this was done for us, not because we deserve it, but because we have a perfect God who loves us without measure.

 

 

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THE CROSS OF GLORY

Posted on November 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Art & Poetry by Pau & Kathy Boecher©
He died that I could live. He suffered pain and loss.
He gave all He could give, upon that rugged cross.
But on that awesome day, so many years ago,
He for my sins did pay, so freedom I would know.
The story didn’t end there. He came to life once more.
To show me that I too will live within His heavenly door.

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LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER

Posted on November 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Do you pray on a daily basis?  Maybe you pray before meals or upon going to sleep each night.  Maybe your prayers are sporadic and often forgotten.  Did you know that even calling out God’s name is in effect a prayer? I’m not talking about the misuse of God’s name when people flippantly banter it about as a means of letting of steam or showing anger. That would be a whole different blog.

What I’m talking about is our very intimate relationship with God, in which we can simply say His name and know that He hears us.  When we can know at a moment’s notice that He is actively involved in the exchange.

A prayer is really that – a conversation with God.  We come to Him in times of trouble.  We lay our requests before Him.  When we feel alone, we know that He’s there to listen.  When we pray, we’re opening the door to a two sided discussion.  We may not always get the answers we want.  We might not even get an answer, but even when that happens, we can be confident that God is participating in the dialogue.  He may answer immediately.  He may have a different solution in mind. He might even tell us to wait.

The fact that He’s on the other side of this repartee, listening, planning, analyzing, processing and looking at every detail, should give us great consolation in any of our prayers.  To think that we have that ability to simply call on His name and He will answer in some way, is mind boggling.

Dear, Holy, God, my Heavenly Father,

I come to you today asking that you would intercede in all the madness, pain, sadness and depression facing our world today.   This is a big prayer, God, and I feel silly asking such a thing, yet you are the One who created this world.  You gave breath to every living thing. You control all things, including the weather, the time, the aging process, the life and death involving our time here, our comings and goings, our governing bodies and all things.  There is an incomprehensible reason that you continue to love us.  Because of that undying love, I pray that you will hear my prayer.

We try so hard to manage things alone, when all we need to do is ask you for help and trust that you will give it.  Increase my faith in your power.  Help me to accept your will in all cases.  Also give me the fortitude to press on to eternal life with you, when we can continue our talks face to face.  Amen!

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2000 WORDPRESS FOLLOWERS

Posted on November 12, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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This is no great accomplishment for me, but I am glad to know that my blog is being well received by at least 2000 people around the world.  Thank you all for following and reading my posts.

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THE DARKNESS OF DEATH

Posted on November 12, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & INSPIRATION BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

A few years ago, on our way to Bible study, we took our regular route over the river through the north side of town. The trees dipped in the light of a falling sun. Silver rimmed clouds floated lazily in a multi-colored sky. I was just remarking to my husband how lovely the fall colors looked in the shimmering sunset, when we passed through a crime scene.

Several police vehicles along with vested officers were on hand with guns drawn. On the opposite side of the street, interested onlookers stood with their cell phones held high, photographing the event. It was almost as if they were lined up to witness a parade, but this was anything but a celebratory occasion.

There was no doubt that something serious was going. Ironically, this all occurred right across from a funeral home. My husband knew instantly that this was the smell of death. Growing up the son of an undertaker, had engrained that aroma in his memory forever. The smell of death – the fear of death – the everyday evidence of death.

Life has taken on new meaning to many in our population. That which once was sacred is now unimportant. The consequences for taking a life have lessened. The ability to destroy life before it begins is commonplace. Hearts need to be changed before the violence ends. We can’t continue to solve “problems” by ending lives.

Even though that’s the case, those who come to God with repentant hearts, will receive His perfect protection and be confident that they need not fear evil. Our shepherd, Jesus, will walk beside us through the valley of death – the fear of life – the unknown of eternity. He will carry us through the most difficult situations life puts in our way. His shoulders are strong enough to carry the weight of our sin. He certainly can support us through the dangers of life as well.
 

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HIGH NOON

Posted on November 12, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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We’ve taken to watching some of them there western movies at our place lately.  The typical story of the battle between good and evil always ending with god winning, is a nice refreshing change from the way of the world.  Of course there’s always a share of gun slinging and a badge involved.  In the movie, “High Noon,” we find the local sheriff getting married and on the same day involved in a gunfight for his life.

Gary Cooper played the sheriff and his lovely wife was Grace Kelly.  The song that came from that movie was called, “Oh, Don’t Forsake Me, Oh, My Darling.” The first and last verses are as follows:

Do not forsake me, oh my darling
On this our wedding day
Do not forsake me, oh my darling
Wait, wait along
I do not know what fate awaits me
I only know I must be brave
For I must face a man who hates me
Or die a coward, a craven coward
Or die a coward in my grave

Do not forsake me, oh my darling
You make that promise as a bride
Do not forsake me, oh my darling
Although you’re grievin’, don’t think of leaving
Not while I need you by my side

The word, “forsake ” means to abandon or leave completely. The thought of being forsaken leaves one desperate or hopeless. Loneliness is one of those perceptions that eats away at our mind as well as our soul. No matter how many surround us, when we feel abandoned, we feel utterly alone.

Our Savior, Jesus, felt this complete abandonment as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It pierced through His mind as He was nailed to the cross. When He cried out for God and asked why He had forsaken Him, He felt that complete separation from His Father.  His humanity was reunited with His Godliness when He was able to overcome death on Easter Sunday.

He’s promised us through His Holy Word, to never leave us. He is available 24/7, every day of every year during our walk on earth and even after we depart from this world.  He will not forsake us.

What a comfort to know that we never have to walk alone – even though the world may be crumbling around us – even when it seems we have no one left who understands our physical, emotional or spiritual needs. We have His promise, “Never will I forsake you.”

Escaping from the reality of the sinful world we live in is just a temporary fix.  We can do so by finding something else to entertain ourselves or turn to the darkness of that world that draws us from God.  If we want true hope, we can turn to Jesus, the One who experienced all our sorrows and knows what it’s like to be totally alone.  We can rely on Him.

 

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WHY HONOR OUR VETS?

Posted on November 11, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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This beautiful flag, crafted by students, was made of construction paper rings and draped over the railing of the upper level of the gymnasium.  It extended down to the gym floor.The size alone is impressive.  The time to create it and the dedication of those who made it – amazing.  The colors streaming down, catching the rays of sunlight on a crisp autumn day, turns the heart to thoughts of patriotism and dedication to the country we cherish.

This school would each year celebrate Veterans Day with a special service, including patriotic songs, poetry and readings prepared in advance.  It was dedicated to those who fought in wars, who died, who returned with the scars or lost limbs or broken hearts.  The local VFW would describe the symbolism of the Prisoner of War Table set for One which was instituted after the Viet Nam conflict.  Taps would be played.  The Pledge of Allegiance spoken.

They would honor each veteran in attendance with a red rose and a packet prepared by students, containing letters, poetry and thank you notes regarding their service.  These young ones have not had much exposure to war in the past few years.  It’s all very far away.  Even the 9/11 attack is unknown to most of them.   The largest wars they have faced are those within America’s own citizenry.

There is nothing to celebrate when it comes to war.  Lives are lost, blood is shed, dreams shattered and minds forever changed.  The idea of patriotism is waning in our land.  The heroes of days gone by must be remembered – not only because many veterans gave the ultimate sacrifice of their own lives in service of this county – but because this country is worth fighting for.

Sometimes that thought is drowned in the news of the day – the lies, bigotry, hatred and misinformation that we face.  No matter what you think about politics or the state of our nation, the defense of this country has not waivered.

Many years ago, a rag tag group of farmers and merchants banded together to achieve their independence from a tyrannical government on the other side of the pond.  They won, not because of their superior fighting skills or knowledge of war, but because they knew this land was better than anything they’d ever experienced.  Through many battles on our own ground, blood has continued to flow.  Lives have been altered and many times soldiers didn’t even realize what the fight was about.  They accepted the duty as a soldier to protect and preserve what had come to be.

We might think that our nation has become polluted with a decline in morality, depravity, excess and narcissism.  We might even wonder why we should risk lives to protect it.  Still there are those whose hearts are filled with patriotism.  Young men and women who daily choose to join the armed forces for the sake of making a difference in the country they love.

War has been with us since the days of Cain and Abel.  The greatest struggle between good and evil came to be when man decided he was smarter than God.  Wars over territory, religion, greed, hate and poverty will remain until Jesus returns to judge the world.

Thank those who have dedicated their lives to serve.  Honor the memory of those who gave their lives.    Thank God for providing those who still have the courage to stand up for their beliefs.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

 

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KIDS IN CHURCH

Posted on November 10, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

I really know the value of bringing kids to church. It was a real battle when my own were little, but we can’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit working in hearts and minds from early on. Through their baptism, that power has been unleashed, preparing our children for life.

When Jesus’ disciples tried to dismiss the children from the large crowd, Jesus rebuked and reminded them that His kingdom consisted of those with a childlike faith. Kids believe without hesitation – accept with open minds – come with no preconceived ideas or years of theological study.

Looking back, it wasn’t easy getting three kids ready for church. They complained, many times refused, would much rather crawl back into their warm beds and preferred to watch Sunday morning cartoons – but we went to church. It was simply a part of their childhood.

Once there, we faced short attention spans, fidgeting, teasing each other, not paying attention and trying to discretely open a bag of Cheerios to satisfy them for a while. Sometimes their loud singing brought stares. There were several trips to the restroom to review the rules and talk about behavior. I felt all eyes follow as we took one after the other out.

One Sunday our precocious third child coaxed a piece of chewing gum from the boy sitting in front of us. She literally retrieved it from his mouth! The poor little guy asked his dad for another piece and was told that if he swallowed it, he couldn’t have anymore. Of course we explained after church, but it was one of those moments I wanted to crawl in a hole.

Most of the time we picked up smidgeons of the sermon, but I often wondered if it was serving any purpose to bring them to church every week. In those moments I was underestimating the power of the Holy Spirit. Not only was He working in the hearts and minds of my children, He was doing so in me as well.

His house is the perfect place to bring our families to be fed, even though we don’t see immediate results. We’re demonstrating to them the respect and honor due our God through worship, praise and prayers. Kids may not be big enough to see over the pew, but they can see us. God loves children just as He loves all those who come to Him. He is the best thing we can give to these precious little lambs.

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I WALK IN DANGER EVERY DAY

Posted on November 8, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Psalm 56:2 “Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.”

Every day we’re set upon by the enemy. It can be the fear of failure, the angst of pain, the inevitability of death. Whatever it is that holds us captive is the result of sin and God has a remedy for that. Even though our enemies surround us, He is there to protect you from harm. Trust in His unending love.

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WALLY’S FRIDAY FRYLESS DADDY FUNNY

Posted on November 8, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Haven’t seen much of my friend, Wally lately.  I’m expecting a great transformation just like the one above.  Actually you’re fine just the way you are!

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on November 8, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

Posted on November 7, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Yesterday morning was filled with a time of waiting while listening to reverberations of Claire de Lune as I was placed on hold.  This seems to be the story of my life lately as I try to rearrange my schedule to fit that of my doctor.  It took most of the morning to get through at least fifty renditions of Claire de Lune.

The afternoon was even more exciting.  My husband went to the tire store to get new tires before all the heavy snow sets in.  I was off on my own travels to the local Walmart to pick up a container of Biofreeze, which we seem to be going through by the case lately.  I also picked up some ice melt since winter is on its way and we must be prepared.  I never realized how much ice melt weighed before.  Anyway, our paths went different ways, but we weren’t more than a couple blocks apart.

As I got out of my car and sucked in a deep breath of 20 degree wind, I felt I was missing something, but I continued on my quest.  Once in the store I tried to remember if there was anything else I needed so I wouldn’t have to go outside again.  I made quick work of it, but as I returned to my car and reached in my purse for my keys and checked all my pockets, I realized exactly what I had missed when I left the car.  My keys were laying on the passenger seat in view of the entire world.  I made my way back to the store, laden with my Biofreeze and ice melt.  Fortunately I had my phone so I called hubby for assistance.

His car had just gone into the bay to have new tires put on, aligned, balanced and all the things they do to new tires.  He would not be able to get to me for another hour and a half.  There was another key, which opens the car door at home.  I had no key for my house.  He said to call our daughter.  I did, but wasn’t able to reach her so I left a message.

In this time of emptiness, I had no knowledge that she was experiencing her own comedy.  She and her husband had taken the week off and were loading some bricks into their trailer.  It was a great deal – only $50 for at least $300 worth of bricks. Unfortunately the load was too heavy for the tires  and one blew out.  So she was standing outside as he changed the tire.  Their daughter needed to be to work at 4, but they were close enough that she could walk.

When she returned my call, we had a good laugh about it.  It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from this tree.  I sometimes feel like I’m living in an episode of “I Love Lucy.”  It wasn’t long before she pulled up and rescued me.  She got the keys to our house from Paul, drove me home and back to my car so I could drive myself home.

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WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE

Posted on November 7, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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The familiar phrase, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to decieve,” is often attributed to William Shakespeare.  The author and composer of so many flowery words, with a beautifully rhythmic pace, in fact did not pen those words.  I personally believe many of the words attributed to the prolific playwright were stolen from the Bible, but that’s just my opinion.

The truth is this nugget written to be spoken in an epic poem, but not one conceived by Willie.  The author was Sir Walter Scott – the work, “Marmion.” The poem is referring to a love triangle and the way things get so muddled when we lie ourselves out of them.

Isn’t it interesting that one poet would be given the glory for the line of another poet – a lie in fact?  Things get distorted over time and eventually become truth if spread far enough.  I guess it’s kind of like manure.  A lie starts out small, but in time the spreading of it can grow into a giant field of untruths.

Well, maybe that’s not the right analogy, but we are in this kind of situation today.  Three years ago a man was elected president.  The opposing side couldn’t fathom how a bumbling idiot  could possibly have won.  They set up a plan, right from the start, called the Resistance.  This plan was hell bent on impeaching the newly elected president and hasn’t given up since. Some might say they have every right to unseat this man.  He isn’t a politician, but a businessman.  He uses foul language, social media, has a checkered past and has been called a buffoon, a clown, a joke and the devil himself.

He’s been the brunt of every late night talk show.  He’s been mocked, laughed at and set up as a puppet president, rather than one who cares about America.  However, something happened once he took the oath of office.  A lot of things happened in fact.  The economy has never been better.  The job market has increased.  We are again seen by the world as a force to be reckoned with.  This president has spent more time negotiating with foreign countries than I can recall any other president doing.  He doesn’t accept a paycheck for the hours he spends each day at his job.   He can’t possibly sleep much, because of his busy schedule.

When the smoke clears and the truth is revealed, we’re going to see a lot of heads rolling.  Corruption and lies have been the cornerstone of our government for many years.  It’s time to untangle the web.

 

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HISTORY REPEATING/LEARNING FROM THE PAST

Posted on November 6, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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On this day, November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president by a landslide, electoral vote. He was not the popular vote winner.  He went on to lead our country at a time when living was slower, easier and we had a congress which hasn’t changed much over the many years since.

Being a rather lanky, unusual looking fellow – wearing a stovepipe hat which added another foot to his height – he was a bit comical to the average man.  However his timely stories hit a nerve with the people.  They could relate to Lincoln’s desire to save the nation from the Civil War.  This young man, with little political experience, seemed the perfect, untarnished, politician fit for the job.

At the same time, another man was gaining material for his future writings, by spending time in Missouri, on the river which would provide fodder for those adventurous tales.  He also was a man who related well to the populace.  He had a keen sense of humor and had plenty to say about our government and especially the congress.  Many of his most popular quotes refer to that.

Here are a few:

  • “That’s the difference between governments and individuals. Governments don’t care, individuals do.”
  • “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”
  • “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”
  • “Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”

Abraham Lincoln could also turn a phrase.  Here are some of his gems:

  • “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
  • “Ballots are the rightful and peaceful successors to bullets.
  • “Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties
  • .”No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar

The words of these men bore similar threads.  They both lived in a time of a much simpler way.  We don’t always think of the treacherous, ominous cloud that hung over our country then. Soon after Lincoln’s inauguration, the Civil War broke out and lasted through most of his time in office.  This fellow who loved America and felt responsible for her.  He knew that blood would be shed over a way of life that had up until then consumed America – slavery.

Twain had his opinions, but he held our government responsible for inactivity and not doing their jobs.  In Lincoln’s time, men would be fired for their lack of getting things done.  Instead of holding our elected officials accountable for their laziness, we allow this to continue more than 150 years later.  We seem to lack the intelligence to know how to deal with this issue.  When employees are not doing what they were elected to do, or are not administering their oath of office, it’s time to send out a lot of pink slips.  No employer would stand still for what continues to be the soup du jour of government.

Here’s a quote I’d like to leave you with today.  It comes from a book which has been a  best seller for centuries and will go on for years to come:

  • “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”  Jesus, Christ

God instituted government. He gave us a handbook by which we can lead our lives.  He will always deliver those who trust in Him.  We must remain vigilant as more and more corruption rears its ugly head, yet we should even pray for those who might cause harm to our country – within our borders or outside of them.  We cannot allow our basic tenets to be squashed, nor stand silent as our Constitution is dismembered. These beliefs and have endured for over 200 years and are still pertinent to what is going on right now.

 

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MORE GOOD NEWS

Posted on November 5, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Who would think that two little stones in the kidney could cause so much trouble?  One Cat Scan revealed the little buggers a few weeks ago.  Prior to that I was nursing a knee that had been Cat Scanned also.  My knees proved to be better than the average 77 year old, but I was given a shot of cortisone to relieve the pain. which it didn’t.  In the meantime, I took a tumble on the stage I was managing and fell on my knees.  You’d think I spent a lot of time on those joints.  Come to think of it, I do.

The show went much better, but I was covered with bruises on both of my legs, along with two little stones which were now rolling around and causing severe pain.  A visit to the urologist determined they had to be blasted.  So surgery was scheduled.

In the pre-op exam, my amazing doctor was reminded of another Cat Scan two years ago, which indicated some nodules on my lungs that we were going to rechecked after a year, but forgot to do.  So another Cat Scan on my lungs happened last week, Friday.  By end of the day, the report had been submitted and I got the good news that everything was normal. There was no growth or change in the nodules, so I am good to go for my procedure next week.

I am one of those people who cannot tolerate contrast dye, thus the Cat Scans.  Can you imagine how many cats it takes to scan a body so many times?  I can attest to the fact that there are a lot of them.  Maybe even more than hang out in our neighborhood.  Come to think of it, I could probably conduct my own Cat Scans

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CREATOR OF ALL

Posted on November 5, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Genesis 3:21 “So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

Man has tried to replicate the complexity of God’s creation for centuries. They say we are a result of a big bang and yet each cell, each ligament and tendon, each nerve, muscle and drop of blood is so intricately crafted by One with knowledge way beyond our comprehension. Each day scientists marvel at the defining characteristics of our DNA, our fingerprints – each one unique but all having a basic connection. God continues to know what He’s doing and He always will. It is good.

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GETTING THE BUGS OUT

Posted on November 4, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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For all my 77 years of living, I’ve been under the misconception that Daylight Savings Times was suggested by one of our founding fathers.  Ben Franklin actually made a suggestion similar to this when he was living in Paris, but never thought it would fly in the United States of America.

Actually, an entyomologyst from the nineteenth century, named George Vernon Hudson presented the idea to the Royal Society of New Zealand.  At first he was the laughing stock of New Zealand, but eventually his idea caught on.  George spent most of his days at his job with the Wellington Post Office.  However, what he most loved, was collecting bugs.   His suggestion to spring forward in the spring, would allow him more sunlight to pursue his hobby.  It also was helpful to those who wished to get more time to get their crops in or do other chores that required daylight.  Way to go George!  He did have one of the largest collections of insects, so I guess his idea worked out good – for him.

I, for one, have great difficulty with changing the clocks in the spring and fall.  The months seem to be stretching further apart, and eventually the change may eventually even things out some day.  Still in the meantime, we go through this ritual twice a year.  Fortunately computers and cell phones change automatically, but what about the wind up kitchen clock that requires a step ladder to reach?  What about the clocks in our cars – on the refrigerator, microwave and stove?  You need to be a mechanical engineer to change them.

What about all the cows that are used to being milked at 5 AM, having to wait an extra hour because we want to sleep a little longer?  What about the pets?  They have their feeding schedule disrupted twice a year.  When ever man gets in the way of God’s natural order of things, we’re faced with a whole new set of problems.

I used to spend time trying to figure out what happens to that extra hour.  Where does it go?  Maybe they could use it in congress to start another rant against Trump.  It must be his fault, after all.  Maybe the congress might accomplish something with an hour, but I digress.

Now the time changes in November. I recall when it was mid September.  It changes again in March, when it used to be in May sometime.  Like most things that serve no logical purpose anymore, I suggest we get rid of it entirely, but of course that would take an act of congress and we know how that would end up.

So for the next six months of Minnesota darkness, we will maybe see the sun for a couple hours a day until March when it really doesn’t matter anymore.

 

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SATURDAY PRAYER

Posted on November 2, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Every day of the week is important.  When we think about how long it took God to create the world, the universe, the seas and air and all things within them, it is not only unbelievable, but astonishing.  Our Creator thought of every detail from the beauty of birth to the expanses of land which would provide for that same life.  As we end our week of hard work, problems, health concerns, loss, depression and sometimes hopelessness, let’s take time to talk to Him and thank Him for all the blessings he has bestowed on us as well.  All things – good and bad – have been blessed and used for His purpose, to strengthen and prepare us for coming days.

Dear, God, this has been quite a week.  I’ve had news of friends facing life changing events.  I’ve been concerned about my own health, but I know that everything is in your hands and you hold me with your presence.  I’ve also received news which fills my heart with joy.  No matter if its seriousness or happiness, you are in control of all of it.  I, therefore give thanks to you in all things. Continue to shine your light on us and give us the knowledge that, because of you, we will inherit the perfection of eternal life.  Great is your name, Jehovah.  All my praise, thanksgiving and honor don’t even come close to the power of your majesty.  Bless the rest of my week, the rest of may days and my future with you.  Amen!

 

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