Stay Faithful!

Yes, I am sad and disheartened today like many of you.  I don't know what's going to happen and the human side of me fears for my children and grandchildren's futures.  America is not the place that it once was.  It is not the nation based on the love and fear of the Almighty God that was founded by our forefathers.  It's not the people here now that came here, fought and died for our inalienable rights.  One thing will never change --- that things WILL change.  They never stay the same.  And so we are off to another four years in a downward spiral, in my opinion, to the demise of our great nation.

After 8 years of this administration, is that a long enough timespan to change forever the way of the United States of America?  Is it time enough for people to forget the way it used to be?  When people had morals, and faith and Christian values and cared about their fellow man.  When people stood up for what is right and not for "if it feels good, do it".  When people listened and adhered to the teachings of the Word of God about homosexuality.  Before people thought they had a "right" to choose whether to kill the unborn and go on about their business.

I am amazed how scientists can find a one-cell organism on Mars and call it LIFE, and turn right around and say that a fetus does NOT constitute LIFE and provide a way for us to expel the offending unborn human being from our bodies because it's inconvenient.  Explain that one to me, will ya?  If memory serves me correctly, as a nation, we've killed about 55 million unborn babies to date and more are being aborted even as we speak.

Dear Lord in heaven, Forgive us we pray.  May we STILL turn to you and may it not be too late for you to Bless America.

Regardless - I am filled with hope for our future. I trust that God has a plan and that He knows best.  I will mourn, and then I will go on with life, loving those in my life, trusting in the Lord, and I will continue to pray for our president as he leads our country.  He needs our prayers.  Desperately - every single day.  He has a very difficult job and I sure wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

One thing I know.  I am His child.  He is my Heavenly Father.  No matter if the world comes to an end, it is well with my soul.  I hope and pray that you all are, too, my friends.

Remembering 9-11

Remembering the tragic events of September 11.  May we always cherish the memory of those who were lost on that fateful day,and support and uphold the families who lost loved ones.  May we never let the importance and relevance of 911 lose its intensity.  Long may our flag wave o'er this land of the free and the brave.  And long may we treasure our country and the countless blessings that we have in this most wonderful of countries in the whole wide world.  Never let us become complacent.  May God continue to bless America.  And may He raise up God-fearing, Christian leaders to direct our nation to its once- glorious state.  Hold your families close and keep your eyes lifted up unto the hills from whence our strength comes.  May you all have a blessed and reverent Sunday.

Commentary by a Friend

http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-wonder_27.html

You simply MUST hop over and read this post by Jennifer.  It came from 2009, I believe, but she reposted it. It's simple, to the point, and highly thought-provoking.  I stand and applaud her.  She put very eloquently what I think and feel every single day.  Tell her I sent you... Thanks!

Suspected Church Arsonists in East Texas CAUGHT!

Posted: Feb 21, 2010 5:49 PM CST

The following was released by the Texas Department of Public Safety:

EAST TEXAS - Authorities have charged and arrested two men in connection with one of the 10 church arson fires that occurred in East Texas beginning on Jan. 1, 2010. Three other churches were targets of attempted break-ins, and investigators believe those and the remaining nine burned churches are also connected to these men. The investigations are ongoing.

The two men arrested are Jason Robert Bourque, 19, of Lindale and Daniel George McAllister, 21, of Ben Wheeler. They had attended the First Baptist Church in Ben Wheeler together. Bourque was arrested without incident in Van Zandt County and transported to Smith County and McAllister was arrested without incident by Texas Rangers in San Antonio and also transported to Smith County.

"By working closely with our local and federal partners, we brought tremendous resources to this investigation, working around the clock, and culminating in these arrests. The arsons of these houses of worship were despicable and cowardly acts, and Texas won't stand for this kind of criminal activity," said Steven C. McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"Clearly this effort shows that Texas law enforcement has mastered the art and science of working together, sharing information, and dedicating the necessary resources to bring cases such as these to a successful resolution, and these officers are to be commended," McCraw said.

The men were arrested by the task force created to find these individuals and stop these arsons. The task force includes hundreds of local law enforcement officers, more than 200 personnel from the DPS, including Texas Rangers, Highway Patrol troopers and Criminal Investigation Division agents, fixed-wing and helicopter aviation assets and the DPS Communications and Fusion Centers, and numerous FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents and specialists. A call to a task force tip line alerted investigators to the two men.

Agencies involved in the arrests included the DPS; FBI; ATF; Tyler Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department; Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department; Wills Point Police Department; Smith County Sheriff's Office, Fire Department and Fire Marshal's Office; Athens Police Department; and the Canton Police Department.

The task force was formed on Jan. 20, and investigators worked cases in a three-county area covering 2,648 square miles and an estimated 713 churches. Investigators from numerous agencies worked together to develop leads, and local agencies assisted with nightly patrols of churches in the area to prevent additional arsons.

Dates and locations of arsons:

01-01-2010, 9:02 AM – Little Hope Baptist Church – Canton, TX;
01-01-2010, 11:05 AM – Faith Baptist Church – Athens, TX;
01-11-2010, 10:40 PM – Grace Community Church, Athens, TX;
01-12-2010, 12:09 AM – Lake Athens Baptist Church, Athens, TX;
01-16-2010, 6:30 PM – Tyland Baptist Church, Tyler, TX;
01-17-2010, 6:33 PM – First Church of Christ Scientist, Tyler, TX;
01-20-2010, 7:37 AM – Prairie Creek Fellowship, Lindale, TX;
02-04-2010, 5:23 AM – Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, Wills Point, TX;
02-08-2010, 8:47 PM – Dover Baptist Church, Tyler, TX;
02-08-2010, 9:44 PM – Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church, Lindale, TX.

In addition to the arsons at the above listed churches, there were attempted break-ins at the following churches:

02-07-2010, 12:19 AM, Heritage Baptist Church, Tyler, TX;
02-08-2010, 9:19 PM, Clearview Church, Tyler, TX;
02-08-2010, 9:39 PM, Pine Brook Baptist Church, Tyler, TX.

This is what we've been dealing with here in Tyler, and the East Texas area for the last couple of months.  Area churches have been beefing up security and installing cameras, hiring security guards, and using church members as volunteer security.  We haven't heard the whole story behind the reasons for the arson yet.  But I'm glad they've been caught. One of my sons attends the University of Texas at Tyler and I understand that one of these guys does, too.  It was said that they were arrested at their homes without incident, so it appears that they have the right guys.  Our communities have rallied together and been an involved and united front against this attack on God's people.  Our farm is about 8 miles from one of the fires. There is STILL one man on the loose they are looking for. There were 3.
 
I hope they catch this last guy & that that's the end of it.  I was touched by the Sheriff's office statement on TV. After thanking all those involved in the capture, the officer said "most of all, thanks be to God." There are several of these congregations that lost their entire church. But as people of God, they are undaunted. They will re-build. After, the church is NOT a building - it's the family of Christians that worship there. 

Merry CHRIST-mas!!!

You might have seen this making the forwarded email rounds, but it gives me great sadness to know that alot of it's TRUE...

*Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*

*See the PC Police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holidays !*

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!