Top-Button Truth

"If you know God, you know truth. Everything will work itself out the end. It's what's called top-button truth.  If you get the top of your shirt right all the rest of the buttons will fall into place behind it. But if you get the top button wrong ,no matter how hard you try, nothing will ever lineup like it's supposed to."

-Ninie Hammon, Five days in May

A Different Drug Problem

Never Forget Our Fallen Soldiers

True Story..... 

                                 Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were...  A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back.  Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere  near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. 

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.

The complaint: 
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:

Whom do we thank for the morning air show?  Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing  west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet.  Imagine our good fortune!  Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyn's early bird special?

Any response would be appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12  a.m. , a  perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-1 6s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques.  Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.  Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom.  We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show'?  The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it  was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their  lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.  One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt.  Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. 
  .......... 

                   TRUE STORY:     http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp
                                              
                                                 GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS

Why Should I Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. He said: "I've gone for 30 years now and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So," he wrote, "I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher—

I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment! See you in church.

In Christ

In Christ,

                         You are a loved child of God. John 1:12, Rom 8:16-17, and Gal 3:26

You are redeemed and forgiven. Eph 1:7, Col 1:3-14, I John 2-12
You are complete in Jesus Christ. Col 2:9-10, Phil 1:6, and I Cor 1:5-7
You are a new creation in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 2:20, and 1 Pet 1:3,23
You are more than a conqueror. Rom 8:37, Eph 3:20, and 1 Phil 2:13, 4:13
You are a citizen of heaven. Eph 2:19, Phil 3:20, and Col 1:12

Here I Am, Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?
 Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
 I will hold Your people in my heart.-    James Kilbane

Quentin's Theme

Dark Shadows was one of my favorite shows back in the late 60's. I  particularly loved David Selby and his portral of the ghost Quentin Collins. Aside from the occasional fits of maniacal laughter,  or turning into a werewolf now and then, Quentin Collins remained silent for quite some time as he haunted the Collinwood Estate.I was so happy to find this on the internet and hear the lovely music that he used to play on his gramophone again. Beautiful.  

QUENTIN'S THEME by Charles Randolph Grean Sounde

Shadows of the night...
Falling silently
Echo of the past...
Calling you to me
Haunting memory...
Veiled in misty glow
Phantom melody...
Playing soft and low

In this world that we know now
Life is here, then gone
But somewhere in the afterglow
Love lives on and on

Dreams of long ago...
Meet in rendezvous
Shadows of the night...
Calling me to you

Calling me to you

Don't ever mistake my silence for ignorance
My calmness for acceptance,
My kindness for weakness.

My Lost Youth- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

My Lost Youth -  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

There are things of which I may not speak;
There are dreams that cannot die;
There are thoughts that make the strong heart weak,
And bring a pallor into the cheek,
And a mist before the eye.
And the words of that fatal song
Come over me like a chill:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."

Strange to me now are the forms I meet
When I visit the dear old town;
But the native air is pure and sweet,
And the trees that o'ershadow each well-known street,
As they balance up and down,
Are singing the beautiful song,
Are sighing and whispering still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will, 

And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."

And Deering's Woods are fresh and fair,
And with joy that is almost pain
My heart goes back to wander there,
And among the dreams of the days that were,
I find my lost youth again.
And the strange and beautiful song,
The groves are repeating it still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."

Special Woman-For Grandma Sarah

An original song written for my Grandma Sarah. 1974

SPECIAL WOMAN

By Joanne H. 1974

Time goes by and I wonder

      how you managed to be here with me.

Miles and trials that you conquered with pride,

     tears and fears that you kept deep inside.

Grandmother, wise and true,

     someday I hope to be just like you.

Special woman, teach me your ways,

     the lessons you’ve learned through your long struggling days.

Years go by and I wonder

      how you climbed to reach your goals.

Times were hard but you stuck to your dreams,

      whenever they tore, you sewed back the seams?

Grandmother wise and strong,

      I learned of life from how you got along.

Special woman, life cant be done

      Till you’ve waited with our Lord for forever to come.

Life goes by and now you wonder

       how a young mind can truly see

back through years of an ageless lifetime

       and from it learn how to conquer and climb.

Grandmother wisest of minds,

      of values, virtue, love and good times.

Special woman, wonder no more it’s true…..

      All this I have learned and found in you.

Happy Birthday Mike

You finally asked me to dance on the last slow song
Beneath that moon that was really a disco ball
I can still feel my head on your shoulder
And hoping that song would never be over.

I haven't seen you in ages
Sometimes I find myself wondering where you are
For me you'll always be eighteen and beautiful
And dancing away with my heart

Read more: Lady Antebellum - Dancing Away With My Heart Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Grace- Carolyn Hamlin

Lord, as I seek Your guidance for the day,
I find my thoughts unyielding,
confusion crowds my way.

But then when I bow to You,
the challenges You guide me through,
Your promises are ever new,
I claim them for today.

Your will cannot lead me where Your grace will not keep me.
Your hand will protect me, I rest in Your care.
Your eyes will watch over me, Your love will forgive me,
And when I am faltering, I still will find You there.

Eternity is a long time to be wrong about Jesus.

35th Wedding Anniversary!

Bill O'Reilly: Talking Points; The Immigration Crisis

There are some very common sense suggestions here. Not so sure if or how this would work, but at least it's a start to a very serious situation.

The Factor's Plan to Solve the Immigration Crisis

By: Bill O'ReillyJuly 1, 2014

Talking Points has come up with a plan to solve the immigration crisis that is fair, humane, and can be implemented quickly.

Number one, in order to stop the border madness, President Obama must demand that Mexico police its own borders. That means stopping tens of thousands of illegal aliens from crossing into Mexico from Guatemala. Not a hard thing to do if you post the military at border check points.

In addition, the Mexican army must patrol the border with the USA stopping the human smugglers and border intruders. On the other side of the border, the American army will also be patrolling to back up the U-S Border Patrol at the hottest spots like the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The National Guard should have been ordered to the border a long time ago. Its presence alone would inhibit people from paying the smugglers. It would also inhibit drug trafficking.

If Mexico does not cooperate on its borders, President Obama should issue trade sanctions against that country quickly. Mexico is the primary reason we have so much immigration chaos and it's time our federal government acted responsibly to hold that country accountable. We here on the Factor have called for Americans to boycott Mexico. No traveling there. Don't buy their stuff until they stop the massive corruption that has enveloped the entire country. Mexico should allow American planes to conduct surveillance in its air space to pinpoint illegal immigration camps and stop the flow of folks. Strong action by President Obama is needed right now and the Mexican government would respond to any threat of trade sanctions.

And what about the undocumented aliens who are already here? First they all must register at their local post office within three months providing name, age, family members, country of origin and address in the USA. Every illegal alien adult must do that. If they don't, it's a felony. They go to a federal prison upon conviction. Once the foreign national registers, he or she is sent a tamper-proof ID card allowing them to apply for working papers. They can apply to be citizens and their applications will be placed behind those applying legally.

Under my immigration plan, the feds have the power to immediately deport anyone whom they feel is undesirable for criminal or social reasons. Also, the aliens could not receive entitlements although their children could. If an immigrant cannot find work he or she is deportable up to Homeland Security to make that decision.

So there's no amnesty. There's a vetting process but there's also hope that a hard-working, honest, foreign national might build a life here. But no guarantee. It is a fair plan that would put a severe dent in a problem that has been vexing America for decades.

The rules for full citizenship would be tough and it would take a long time but in the end that kind of immigration plan would strengthen the country and show the world we are a humane nation but not a soft one.

I Am Your Child

For Daddy. I miss you. Happy Father's Day

I am your child

Whatever I am, you taught me to be.

I am your hope,

I am your chance,

I am your child.

Writer(s): Martin Panzer, Barry Manilow

Copyright: Swaneebravo Music, Universal Music - Careers

To Hell And Back

Ever wonder why when people say they had a "near-death experience" they all go to heaven? This intrigues me. Why is it that no one ever has a near-death experience and goes to hell? Well, that is where the woman in this video, Tamara Laroux claims she went . She shot herself in the chest, died, and went to hell, but God rescued her from hell and took her to heaven for a glimpse of it, before returning her spirit to her body.

 I don't know what to make of this woman's story. Surely she did not die. Scripture says in Hebrews 9:27 we only die once. But she definetly experienced something very powerful. She truly believes she experienced the love of Jesus so much so it changed her life. God chooses many ways to call His children to Himself. This just may have been one of them. 

How To Begin Your Week

More books have been written about Jesus than about any other figure in history.  More people have committed their lives to him than to any other religious leader.  More people attend church services in America than go to football games.  We were designed for the kind of intimacy with God that our first parents knew in the Garden, so our hearts will always yearn for him.  Our longings to be loved, accepted, and wanted all stem from this fact.  Our world is broken, not because our longings are wrong, but because we try to satisfy them everywhere but in God.

 Here's a good way to start the week: give yourself the gift of a few minutes with the One who loves you.  Begin with a moment of worship, as you "enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4).  Now ask the Spirit to show you a longing in your heart that you are trying to satisfy outside of Jesus.  Name it, and ask Jesus to meet it.  Now do whatever you sense his leading to do—be still, read Scripture, take a walk, listen to worship music.  Let the Great Physician heal that pain in your heart.  Ask the One who fed the 5,000 to feed your soul.

And he will.

source: 
Dr. Jim Denison, President

Mar 24, 2014

Denison Forum on Truth and Culture. 

source: http://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/995-bill-gates-explains-his-faith

Choose Life

For one glorious day a pro-life billboard towered over Planned Parenthood’s pathetic little abortion feeder with the simple but powerful message, “Choose Life = No Regrets.” There was only one problem: The billboard was on Planned Parenthood’s property.

Adams Outdoor Advertising had leased the billboard space but forgotten about Planned Parenthood’s addendum forbidding any pro-life messaging.

source: http://youngcons.com/

Borderless

The Gift of Life

It's wonderful to watch a baby move on a pregnant woman. It's amazing to watch a baby move, and really helps you understand just how magical life is! Actually feeling a baby move inside your own body is the most awe inspiring feeling you can ever imagine.  The gift of life is truly a spectacular thing.

Read more at http://blog.petflow.com/this-is-what-a-36-week-old-baby-does/#DlE4tOuPRXhubQk3.99

Why Do I Love You?

WHY DO I LOVE YOU? 

by Roy Croft

I love you… Not only for what you are,

But for what I am when I am with you.

I love you… Not only for what you have made of yourself,

But for what you are making of me.

I love you… For ignoring the possibilities of the fool in me

And for laying firm hold of the possibilities for good.

Why do I love you?

I love you… For closing your eyes to the discords

And for adding to the music in me by worshipful listening.

I love you…

Because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern, but a temple;

And out of the words of my every day, not a reproach, but a song.

I love you…

Because you have done more than any creed to make me happy.

You have done it, without a word, without a touch, without a sign.

You have done it just by being yourself.

After all, perhaps that is what love means.

For Aunt Angie

Jesus, The Great Physician

A physician will ask you how you feel and what your symptoms are;
The Great Physician knows how you feel
           and understands what you are going through.

A physician will have you come to the office;
The Great Physician will stay with you and never leave your side.

A physician will show professional concern for you.
The Great Physician will show you true compassion.

A physician will treat you with the best medicine available;
The Great Physician will treat you with the riches of His grace.

A physician will follow your progress with periodic visits;
The Great Physician will keep you in His constant care.

A physician will send you a bill for services rendered;
The Great Physician does His work without charge.

A physician tries his very best to help you;
The Great Physician assures you that your life couldn't be in better hands!

Call Him Crazy or Call Him Lord- Who Do You Say He Is?

     I have been and always will be a Christian. I have always lived with the knowledge that I have absolutely no doubt in my mind I will enter heaven when I die.
I will do so, not by my own worthiness, but only through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Savior, who paid the price for my soul’s redemption through his death on the cross. I have lived with my faith all through childhood always knowing it was there, but not until adulthood have I studied it and embrace it as truth.
      There are many who have different views of Jesus. Muslims believe He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, ascended to heaven and will return to our planet at the end of history--but they do not believe that he was divine. Many Buddhists and Hindus view him as an enlightened teacher. Many Jews see him as a brilliant rabbi. My view is similar to that of the great CS Lewis. “Either this man was, and is, who he said he is; the Son of God: or else a madman, liar or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.”
       I choose the latter because I believe the bible is not only a collection of historical facts that have been verified by archeology and paleontology; I also believe it to be the inspired revelation of God. A guidebook ,of sorts, for living life to it’s fullest, a refuge when in pain, suffering, and mourning, standards for our conduct, guidelines for knowing right from wrong, and principles to live by to help us in a confused society where so often "anything goes."  The plan of God for man and creation is truly awe inspiring.  I refuse to believe I am some meaningless creature evolved here out of some sponge. I can’t. There has to be more. I AM more. I am a child of the king! I believe my presence here on earth is proof of that. He is more than you and I can ever imagine.  For me, the answers to life and the universe have the all been laid out for us by the Christian God. Studying and reading His scriptures has brought me to a new level of understanding in His plan for us all. It is truly a fascinating story and I encourage you to read it. Start with the Gospel of John or the Book of Romans. It will blow you away.  In Jesus I have found my answers. I look forward to the day I go to heaven. You may ask, "What does she know about Heaven, anyway? Has she ever been there? I will answer by saying, "No, but I have a very good Friend who has. He’s been there and came to earth to tell us about it and someday He will return” . Will you be ready?

For more on my thoughts of this you can read my blog here:  http://bubalas-view.blogspot.com/p/my-faith-journey.html