Good Sunday morning, Everyfriend.  There's a breakfast frittata to go with your coffee or tea.  Have a blessed Sunday.







Dog Worry
   
"My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to 99 cents a can. That's almost $7.00 in dog money."



"We Need Revival"
(Written by N.L. DeMoss)


We Need Revival When:

. . . we do not love Him as we once did.

. . . earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than Eternal ones.

. . . church dinners are better attended than prayer meetings.

. . . concerts draw bigger crowds than prayer meetings.

. . . we have little or no desire for prayer.

. . . we would rather make money than give money.

. . . we put people into leadership positions in our churches who do not meet scriptural qualifications.

. . . our Christianity is joyless and passionless.

. . . we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives.

. . . we make little effort to witness to the lost.

. . . we have time for sports, recreation and entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer.

. . . preaching lacks conviction, confrontation and divine fire and anointing.

. . . we seldom think thoughts of Eternity.

. . . God's people are more concerned about their jobs and their careers, than about the Kingdom of Christ and the Salvation of the lost.

. . . church services are predictable and "business as usual."

. . . believers can be at odds with each other and not feel compelled to pursue reconciliation.

. . . Christian husbands and wives are not praying together.

. . . our marriages are co-existing rather than full of the love of Christ.

. . . our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular philosophies and ungodly lifestyles.

. . . we are more concerned about our children's education and their athletic activities than about the condition of their souls.

. . . sin in the church is pushed under the carpet.

. . . known sin is not dealt with through the biblical process of discipline and restoration.

. . . we tolerate "little" sins of gossip, a critical spirit and lack of love.

. . . we will watch things on television and movies that are not holy.

. . . our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless.

. . . our prayers are empty words designed to impress others.

. . . our prayers lack fervency.

. . . our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry.

. . . we aren't seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God.

. . . we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our own sin and the sin of others.

. . . we are content to live with explainable, ordinary Christianity and church services.

. . . we are bored with worship.

. . . people have to be entertained to be drawn to church.

. . . our music and dress become patterned after the world.

. . . we start fitting into and adapting to the world, rather than calling the world to adapt to God's standards of holiness.

. . . we don't long for the company and fellowship of God's people.

. . . people have to be begged to give and to serve in the church.

. . . our giving is measured and calculated, rather than extravagant and sacrificial.

. . . we aren't seeing lost people drawn to Jesus on a regular basis.

. . . we aren't exercising faith and believing God for the impossible.

. . . we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God thinks about us . . . we are unmoved by the fact that 2.5 billion people in this world have never heard the name of Jesus.

. . . we are unmoved by the thought of neighbors, business associates and acquaintances who are lost and without Christ.

. . . People complain about prayers not being allowed in schools but churches can't get people out for prayer meetings where it is allowed

. . . the lost world around us doesn't know or care that we exist.

. . . we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us.

. . . the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages and the church.

. . . we are blind to the extent of our need and don't think we need revival.


“Our mission is at once the oldest and the most basic of this country:  to right wrong, to do justice, to serve man.”

~ Lyndon B Johnson

Good Morning Everyfriend!  We had a good sleeping night.  The temp went down to the low 70 and I opened the window.  For the first time in several nights, I slept through the night. 

Natalie is on her way to the airport to return to Texas and I miss her already! It's so good to have the kids come home and light up our lives!  I just wish they all were not so scattered!

I, too, enjoyed the photos of Don and Bubble.  So much love is there!

Must be on the way to getting ready for church.  I'll be back later to see what Everyfriend has been up to, today!  Make it a good one!

good Morning bis and everyone else that makes the Sean. it is some what cooler here. we had good temp yesterday.
not good time here , we dug on water line all day yesterday , so good it is cooler today is 3 day were out of water and we have a  $299.28 on top of machine higher  and metatarsi cost. hope you all have a great day, see you all later.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone..

We had some rain overnight and now it is muggy!!! A day of rest here. I also enjoyed the photos of Don and Bubble

Phyllis ,great graphic, love the cardinal.

Joan, thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone..

I see Lloyd is here...good morning Lloyd and I hope your water problem is soon fixed.

 Jane you may be writing in the red but we are in the red with water problems. I think we are going to need to find someone to float a lone with low intrastate.

Lloyd

Good morning, Janie.  My kids and grandchildren + nieces and nephews are scattered all over the US, too.  The times I get to see them are precious.

Lloyd--Good morning.  I am sorry you've incurred a big expense with that broken water line.

Good morning, Amy.  We STILL have had no rain.

Hi everyone on a nice 77 degree morning here in South Carolina.  I am ready for Sunday School and Church but still need to read the Sunday School lesson.  After church I will stop and get something to bring home for our main meal of the day.  I seem to be gaining a wee bit more confidence in the kitchen as each day passes.  Last evening I fixed the hamburgers and we finished up some left overs.  Now I am going to have to cook some more things for our meal on Monday.  Pat is only slowly, if at all, gaining ground.  She was able to sleep laying down yesterday afternoon and then again last night so guess that is a step forward.  She is still experiencing the muscle spasms when she stands or moves a certain way.  Nothing else on the schedule for today. 

Joan, I think a lot of the price we pay for doctors is due to the many government regulations and the complexity of health insurance filings. 

deAngel, I think I have finally gotten rested by staying home the last two days and having a long afternoon nap as well as sleeping well during the night.  I do have something on the calendar for today with Church and for the next four days as well.  Glad you got some rain.

Amy, that is a nice charity your friends support with the bake sale. 

Hal, I had a friend years ago that when he retired his wife did as well and they ate out every meal.  I think they just had two meals a day.  Like you I get tired of eating out too much, although when Pat is up to it we do eat out often. 

Phyllis, that is an appropriate graphic that Joan posted for us to enjoy.  Beating the heat has been a big job this summer. 

Good MOrning Everyone!

Well it rained all day yesterday, well most of the day, and I think it rained most of the night.  I heard thunder a couple of times.  Wife said there was three inches of rain in rain gauge and she emptied it last night.  Hope we got as much over our recharge zone.  Weather lady last night said just East and South of us some folks could expect up to 12 inches of rain.  They are under a flood alert.  Thats Texas for you.  Drought or flood.

Lloyd, hope you get your water problem solved pronto.  You don't have a well on your place?

Larry, we do eat in a lot of time, just that wife is just not up to cooking meals like she used to.  She is an excellent baker and can make some great things, but doesn't like being in the kitchen.

Got a lot going on next week.  I think I have an appointment everyday of the week, between PT and doctors.  At least don't have to travel too far for about helf of them.

Got to run, getting ready for church and want to get a bite to eat.

 

Good morning, Larry.  You sure are doing well in the kitchen.  When my mother lost her sight and hearing, my Dad took over the cooking, laundry and cleaning.  Up to that time he had NEVER done any of those things in their married life.  He amazed us all at how proficient he became at doing those chores.  I pray Pat continues on a path to become pain free.

halkel--Good morning.  So you folks are keeping all the rain to yourselves.  Sure wouldn't wish a flood on anyone.

After my mother died, my dad did the cooking for the most part.  I did some on weekends.  Dad came home from school before I came home from work and he'd get things going.  We both liked to watch the news on TV at 6 pm (in those days) so we had to eat early.  Dad was a by-guess-and-by-gosh cook, no recipes for him.  If we wanted desserts (and we did), I made them.

Mary Ann

Good Morning,

It's delightfully cool in central Oklahoma.  Thanks, Shirley - for sending us the "cold front".   

Unfortunately, my area didn't get any rain and we do need it.  Hal? 

Larry,  I'm very impressed with your meal preparing skills!  Would have been interesting to see how well my husband would have done in similar circumstances. 
Once, when I was away and had called home to check on the family, I asked our son how Dad was doing in the kitchen.  He said, "Pretty good - but his pancakes look like scrambled eggs."  I was amazed he had tried to make pancakes!!!!

Today is the day I take a deep breath and may not come up for air until this time next week.

Great-niece will be driving up from Austin TX for a week-long professional workshop and is staying with me.  She'll be gone from 9 - 5 every day, so all I really need to think about is an evening meal and things for DIY breakfasts.
Janie is such a good example that I've planned and cooked ahead as much as possible. 

  Miss Ellen will be home for a few days because there are no rehearsals once performances begin.  She and her cousin are the same age and both in The Arts so have become good friends "electronically".  Ellen is coming for dinner tomorrow night.
I'm sure the rest of the local family will pop in other evenings.

It's been a very long time since I had to plan and keep up with meals for a week!

Wishing Everyfriend Everywhere a lovely day.

Good morning, Mary Ann.  My dad didn't do any baking--he went to the local bakery for the sweet stuff.

Callie--Good morning.  Guess your husband got a "D" in cooking.  Wow--you're having quite a variety of guests this coming week.  That's quite a bit of cooking.  At this point, I'd be overwhelmed.

My dad was a good cook.  He grew up in a farm family of boys and they all learned the homemaking skills.  I grew up thinking all men could cook.  My grandfather was a master baker who owned a bakery in his youth.   Then I married!  My husband was the only son in an Italian family.  He was the Crown Prince at home and I don't think he was ever required to do any more than carry in the groceries for his mother. 

Once, when my kids were little and I was away at mealtime for some reason, he said he get supper for them.  His first question was, "How do you manage to get everything on the table at the same time?"  Cathy was about 6 and she said, "Yeah, first we had peas and then we sat and waited for a while and then we had a pork chop and then we waited some more and we had potatoes.  I don't like to wait!"  He thought you could start everything at the same time and finish up at the same time.  That was the one and only time he ever tried cooking!  Although he did get pretty good at grilling hamburgers and hot dogs.

I better get busy.  I went by the farmers market after church and I now have mucho red beets in the kitchen to deal with.  Right now they're sitting in water cleaning themselves.  I think I better go help them.  They're not very good at baths.

P.S.  If Callie's husband gets a D, mine must get and F.  Is there anything lower than F?

Janie--My dad came from an Italian family--four boys and four girls.  The girls did household things and the boys ran the store.  The boys never had to lift a finger in the house/kitchen.  But, when my mother became too ill to do any of that, Dad stepped up to the plate and amazed us all.  I think your husband get an F-. What are you going to do with the beets?

Sunday Morning, I am showered and shampooed. Had a cup of coffee and an oatmeal cookie for breakfast, and if I keep holding together I plan to go to Chapel at 10 a.m. Right now, I would love to crawl back into bed.

Also sent my sweet grandaughter, Ricki, a B. Card from Jacquie Lawsons program.Gary has taken over sending out B.day and other  checks , God Bless him, but I try to remember to do a J.L. card myself. If I get any more "retired" I may forget to get dressed in the morning.

I hope you all have a beautiful Sunday. June

P.S. Thank you PHYLLIS for the beautiful Cardinal, relaxing in the  bath...a very wise bird indeed.

June--It's nice if you feel like going to Chapel.  Those JL e-cards are nice.

 

When my mother got shingles about 8 years before she died, my sister took food to them all the time, she lived about 30 miles away.  Dad had his specialties.... basically... french fries he fixed in a Fry Baby I had given them years before, and he absolutely loved baked apples.  He would fix a whole cookie sheet full, wash, removed the core & pack with brown sugar & maybe cinnamon & bake.  They were always ready for anyone that came into the kitchen.  He would peel a bunch of potatoes, never considered the frozen ones, & they (and I) could make a meal of french fries & catsup.   He learned it was easier to keep a pot of boiling water & instant coffee for the many people that visited them every day, so Mom let him play host.  Her shingles would break out every time she got upset, huge, deep sores that went on until she died. 

I always took food when I visited.... the things that took all day to cook & my sister didn't fix.  They never went hungry or let anyone that came go hungry.  They had a KFC near by & would insist we'd "do them a favor by taking their money to buy a bucket full of chicken or whatever sounded good".  It made them feel they could still put food on their table. 

On the other hand, my husband could build the house around a kitchen but when left alone would fix himself a bowl of cold cereal 3 times a day, couldn't be bothered with toast..... I finally bought him a Kurig..... and I'd leave him frozen TV dinners that I made.  As time went by I found he could make it through the one dairy store drive thru lane..... (that made super hamburgers) because he loved their malts.... if I left him a gift card so he didn't have to dig out change.  He didn't like to admit he couldn't hear how much they wanted, so with a gift card, all he had to do was hand it to them. 

Even after my heart surgery & having kids, I was back in the kitchen the day I got home from the hospital..... and it was okay with me, if I could stand & walk, I could fix food.  We are all just what we are & it never entered my mind to be sick enough to be in bed.  I asked my daughter not long ago (was doubting my own memory) if she could remember any day that I stayed in bed..... she couldn't.  I was afraid I'd miss out on something, I think.  My fear is the day comes when I can't do what I want, really scares me, so my tummy does flips when anyone can't get up & go, & my prayers are with you.  I know I'm lucky/blessed, and it can be taken away at any time, so I give thanks every day.... for the day. 

And now, got shocking news yesterday when I took the RV to the Ford dealership to have those metal valve stems installed.  Turned out the spare tire that was the original inside dual... got a cut in the sidewall so I had the tire people switch the two.... has a metal valve stem in place from the get-go.  I have no idea if the spare that was put on & made one trip to St.Louis & came home flat had a metal valve stem because it was thrown away to install the new tire on the rim.  It came home minus the bracket that held the valve extender on & had a gash in that sidewall.  Conclusion NOW is that the brackets came loose & cut the sidewalls..... and the new tire I bought at that time was mounted with a rubber valve stem plus the valve extender. 

That tire made one trip to CO & came back with the rubber valve stem cracked loose.  The mechanic showed my son &  the valve stem broken away from the tire wall (got a photo) as reason for that tire flat.  Said rubber valve stems should NEVER have extenders attached.  BUT THEY DID IT!!!  When they called next day to say the tire was ruined because I drove it flat & should have checked air before leaving town... my comment was "YOU checked the air the day before I left!"  They sent me a receipt for the tire as paid up.... but I had told them that if Thor didn't pay, I would"..... so after talking to Thor & Ford & both denied ever putting rubber valve stems on this vehicle....

I called the tire people & begged to let me pay for the tire.  I was still convinced they were the only place I could get this lemon fixed... New man in charge.  I was told they would not do any more work on the RV... period!  The man at the desk that first offered to help me and the mechanic that put on the new extender & bracket were both gone last time I needed them.... only the guy that changed the tires in my driveway & warned me that the rubber valve stem was the problem, knew what was going on. 

Finding out from Ford yesterday has left me so relieved I came home & slept 5 hours.  I'm not going after the tire people, has cost me a bundle but the guys that goofed are gone & can't hold the "shop" responsible.  It cost me $139.06 yesterday for 3 valve stems + labor (ended up needing only one as the other inside dual already had the required metal one)... but since they had to take all those tires off & did check air in all 7 (including the spare with the gash).... I thought it worth every penny.  Their opinion was the gash wasn't so bad that it couldn't be driven on, not just to a place to buy a new one.   I am SO relieved......

OH.... time to get to gr-grandaughter's birthday party!!!!    ' Scuse any typos.... no time to proof!  Shirley

My dad grew up in two small towns in Minnesota - one has a current population of 200 so I imagine it was about the same around 1900 +\-.  By the time he was born, two children had died and Dad made three alive; one child was born after him.  By the time they matured, Dad and his brother were the only ones living, both married and we had four Tock cousins.  Dad learned to do everything, even knit. 

I think my mother was the one catered to because her father died a month after she was born.  There were many relatives in town and I think they babied her because she had no father.  She had plenty of uncles and aunts though.  My mother was a good cook, nothing fancy, but she was well known at church for her lemon pies and tarts.  She let me "help" her at my young age and I specialized in cakes - made from scratch.  Our desserts after mother died were usually cakes, although Mother's sister taught me to make a pie crust from scratch (something I would never do now).  We preferred fruit pies, especially cherry and apple, but I made a lemon pie occasionally.  With Dad as the cook, we ate well.

Mary Ann

Hi Sandy.

Shirley--I'd be relieved, too, after all you've been through with that RV.

Mary Ann--I enjoyed reading about your Dad, mother, you and the family.

Good late afternoon, was sunny part of the day, and then would cloud  and looke like rain. Weatherman said 80% chance of rain to night.

When we retired my husband made breakfast nealy every morning. WE would read the paper, while having coffee. the he would ask what I wanted to eat. Anything from French toast, eggs al kinds of way, I also learn to eat scauge and bisquits.  He also made a lot of our dinners.

Phyllis, thanks for another great graphic. I have a pair of cardinals here everyday.

Joan, as always thanks for good readings and great breakfast. I don't gain weight on them.

Linedancer--After we both retired we made an agreement.  We were on our own for breakfast and lunch.  For supper we took turns cooking.  The one who didn't do the cooking had to do the clean up--worked for us.

Bis, you had a good marriage to Ray. You respected each other and were able to share duties nicely. You were an excellent couple. I recall how you used to tote in dozens of cans of energy drinks for him.

The program they had today has finally ceased. It was titled, Concert in the Park. UGH !!! I was NOT geared for Seniors. Very loud keyboard and drums...raucous noise, no rhythm whatsoever. I came home, closed my windows tightly turned on the A/C and settled in for the day. Called the office ad asked how long we were going to have to abide the noise. The girl at the desk felt exactly as I did. They banged away from1:30 to nearly 4:00. I'm quite sure they will not be invited to return. 

We had two power outages today. The first one happened when I was out. Came home to find I had to replug my computer, then another that was very short and all I had to do was restart. I called Gary to tell him what had happened. He right away got on the phone with Edison, and found a 160 homes in Stanton had been affected. I don't know the reason why, but I had read earlier that Ca. should expect power outages frequently, something to do with power plants that had been shut down year ago. I feel many of our errors of the past will be haunting future generations for years to come. Alas.

Joanie, the redbeets are all canned.  I make spiced pickled beets and then I can have pickled eggs whenever I want them.  For the uninitiated, pickled eggs came from my German heritage...the PA Dutch.  I know they are made in other places but I also know there are people who have no idea what they are.  They are hard cooked eggs, peeled and dropped in red beet juice with the beets and no picnic is complete around here without them.  The very best ones have been in the red beets long enough that the entire white of the egg is pinkish purple. 

I have 15 beautiful pints sitting on my kitchen counter and I'm bushed but proud.  I love looking at the finished product.  Of course, while I was making them, I was telling myself, "This is the last year I'm going to make these.  They are getting to be too much work."  Then they are finished and I get to eat them through the winter and, if I'm able next summer, I'll probably do it again.

I'm finished in time to watch the closing ceremony of the Olympics.  I don't know if I'll be awake for all of it but I'm sure going to try.

Joanie, I'm sure my sister and BIL have the same agreement you did with your husband.  He certainly knows how to cook but she usually does it and he usually cleans up.  Many years ago, I said I was going to do the dishes after supper (it was just the 3 of us) and she said "Jim will probably hit you if you try to do his job."  His answer, "I won't hit you but I'll shove you out of my way".  I chose not to interfere with something that works.

My son is a very good cook...even helps his wife with the canning.  When my kids were growing up, I cooked and they cleaned up.  Each one took a turn on the week days and they all chipped in on Friday so they could go get ready for dates.  My son makes a better apple pie than I ever did!

Janie, I am all worn out just reading about all you have done today. I am SO glad you enjoy the fruits of your labor.

It is not quite seven o'clock here on the west coast, but I think I will call it a day, close down the computer, turn down the bed and go finish my book, and so to sleep. I pray you all have a very peaceful night and a happy tomorrow. God grant you Love, health and happiness. June.

Good Monday morning, Everyfriend.  There's blueberry muffins to accompany your coffee or tea . I wish everyone a nice day!!





Combination

The temporary Sunday School teacher was struggling to open a combination lock on the supply cabinet. She had been told the combination, but couldn't quite remember it. Finally she went to the pastor's study and asked for help.

    The pastor came into the room and began to turn the dial. After the first two numbers he paused and stared blankly for a moment. Finally he looked serenely heavenward and his lips moved silently. Then he looked back at the lock, and quickly turned to the final number, and opened the lock.

    The teacher was amazed. "I'm in awe at your faith, pastor," she said.

    "It's really nothing," he answered. "The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling."

     
     

Two Opinions

By John Kuperus
Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-39
If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.
1 Kings 18:21
We are people with a choice. Whom shall we worship as God? The Lord? Our wallets? Our political party’s opinions?
Elijah confronted his people with a choice. Choose the Lord God, or choose King Ahab, his wife Jezebel, and their idol Baal. God had long ago told his people to worship him only (Exodus 20:3-4), but when Ahab married Jezebel, a foreign princess, she introduced the worship of her god, Baal, in Israel. Ahab set up an altar and temple for Baal and “did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him” (1 Kings 16:33). Jezebel began to kill off the Lord’s prophets (1 Kings 18:4), and God had now sent Elijah to put a stop to all this.
It appears the people wanted to worship both Baal and God. But this angered the Lord, and, through Elijah, God asked the people, “How long will you waver between two opinions?”
To that question today someone might respond, “Why choose between two gods? Aren’t they all valid?” But God says, “I am the Lord . . . I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:. Elijah challenged the people to see if an idol would answer them. Baal was silent, but God’s power came through as fire consumed the altar and the water around it. The people exclaimed, “The Lordâ€"he is God!” Do you trust the one and only God as your God?
Lord, we glorify your name because you alone are the true God, worthy of all honor and praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.




“Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.”

~ Mohammed

Good Morning Everyfriend!  And a special "Good Morning" to you, Joanie.  It looks like I was next to last in and last night and second in this morning.  I slept well last night, maybe because it was so much cooler, only 61º so far this morning.  It must have been good sleeping weather. 

I didn't get to see about half of the closing ceremony of the Olympics.  I made the mistake of putting my recliner all the way back at some point and I woke up to the 11 o'clock news. 

I think I'm going to go to the berry farm this morning.  I had an email that the red raspberries are heavy on the bushes.  I'm short about one cup for my jam and I'd sure like to have some to eat, also.  It's relaxing to be out on the farm in the morning and I sure could use an easy day.

I hope Everyfriend who comes along has a lovely day full of the love of friends and family. 

Good morning, Janie.  When I got up I looked at my thermometer, and it was 81°.  We don't get any nights as cool as you do.  Yummy--red raspberries.  Yesterday it was beets and today berries.  You're "queen of the kitchen".