Oxen Wanted

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 14:4 KJV



No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow. Proverbs 14:4 The Message

I've Been Tagged

I have been tagged by Godzheart. If you need some encouragement today, see her June 10,2007 post. Her other blog Lessons from Life is both educational and devotional.
This is a first for me. I left her a note that I had never been very good at playing tag. Actually, I wasn't fast enough to catch most of the kids I played with. Seems I have been a bit slow with this tag too.

Here are the rules:
Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names.
Don't forget to leave them a comment and tell them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

8 Random things about me.
1. I have always been a tom-boy.
2. I love Gospel music. Gospel as in the old-time "Black Gospel".
3. I work in the medical field as a Laboratory Technician.
4. I am a fix-it kind of person. I love tinkering with mechanical things.
5. Ooops! #4 has 2 things listed.
6. I settled for "B's" in school rather than apply myself to study.
7. Now I enjoy studying and want to give my best effort.
8. I hate answering the telephone.

Now, who to tag??? I would love to know more about my readers, but many of them have little time for games. I have made some new discoveries. Some of them I enjoy reading simply because they are about living and working in the country. Those folks may not have much time for games either. We will see. I thought of tagging Heather, but you can read her 8 random things here.


Northern Farmer @ Healing Waters Flow
Jel @ My Place
ND Homekeeper @ ND Homekeeper
Jenn @ Reflecting Him ---- rec'd updated info, see this.
Karla @ Looking Towards Heaven
Melanie @ This Aint New York
Peanut @ Peanut's Place
Stephanie @ Olive Tree

Don't forget to catch me over @ Beneath the Ivy Wreath where I post Worship Wednesday for my sister.

Work Him In

I want to thank you all for your prayers and words of comfort during the time of our loss. I use that expression simply because it is the common way to say it. Truly we have not lost Paw, we know just where to find him and how to get there.

When Pastor Hughes(my grandparents' pastor) asked if we had any scripture preferences for the funeral service, we just told him to say whatever God gave him to say. My grandmother told him to keep it short and sweet. I said, "preach a salvation message. There will be some unsaved folks there that never hear the Word." He said, " I always work that in some where."

There are many other truths that can and must be preached, but there is one that is absolutely necessary for salvation. Preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. My friend Milton has an excellent post on this subject. Preaching Jesus cuts through legalism as well as fanaticism. We need to teach and preach the Word in every situation.

There is always a way to work Him into your conversations. Practice it at home in every day talk with your family and friends. It will become second nature. Be prepared to be mocked. The carnal man does not understand the spiritual. Rest assured the Word will bring conviction. Hearing the Word will bring people to a place of salvation by faith.

Shouting Life

My PaPaw is shouting life! See last paragraph. Thank you.



This relatively new site is a spin-off of MySpace. I haven't joined because I do well to post here a couple of times per week. My sister over at Beneath the Ivy Wreath has joined and finds it a refreshing alternative.

If you are considering MySpace, check out ShoutLife. I believe it is important to support Christian ventures. Besides, you will find information on a variety of Christian artists and organizations.


I would also like to request your prayers on behalf of my family. My Papaw was promoted to glory yesterday. He leaves behind my Granny (his wife of 68 years), a brother, one daughter,a grandson, me, my 2 sisters, and 2 great grandsons. One thing for sure, he is living and shouting life in his new home. In that, we are being comforted.

A Warrior's Example

David: the son of Jesse, King of Israel, and man of God.

He was a young lad both sensitive and strong. His days were spent tending his father's sheep and playing upon his harp. He was chosen of the Lord to succeed Saul as king of Israel.ISamuel 16:12,13.
He was described in verse 18 of the same chapter as a cunning musician, a valiant warrior, a prudent man, and handsome to look upon. When Saul was troubled he would call upon him to play.

Recognizing his spirit of excellence, Saul soon appointed him as his personal armor bearer. I Samuel 17 is the account of David and Goliath. It was David's own testimony in verses 34-37 that earned him the right to face the giant. This engagement sealed his enlistment in Saul's army. We read in ISamuel 18:5 that David was successful in every assignment. He then advanced in rank and was entrusted with many men.

This was only the beginning for David. He would later become the King of Israel. He would eventually die and leave the throne to his son Solomon. He would be known throughout all time as a 'man after God's own heart'.

Goliath was not the only giant he encountered. In his lifetime, he faced the wrath of Saul, the treachery of his own son, and the vengeance of the Philistines. All these he overcame through his reliance on God. He even suffered the judgement of God and lived to tell about it. IChronicles 21:15,16

Our opponents come in various forms. Our battles range from brief to daily skirmishes. We fight in physical, mental, and spiritual arenas. We are warriors in every sense of the word. We may lose a battle now and then, but our victory is guaranteed in Christ. We must be like David and face our giants in the strength of the Lord. "Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies." Psalms 60:12

Remember Our Troops

The following is an article by Chaplain Norris Burkes reprinted by permission.

Thank our soldiers--they've got our backs.

Last month our family flew to San Diego to see our son, Michael, graduate from Marine boot camp.
After the ceremony and celebration, we drove back to the airport talking about the next two weeks we'd spend with him on leave. At the rental car return, I noticed a clerk eyeing my son in his razor-creased uniform and I offered an unsolicited explanation.

"We're here in San Diego to pick up our freshly minted Marine." He smiled and offered his congratulations.

As we walked away, my son cautioned me, "Dad, not everyone likes us. Some people hate us."

I countered that assumption by telling him not everyone was in favor of the war, but we were all in favor of our troops.

I reminded him his oldest sister is a good example of that. She is not a fan of the current leadership. She has marched in her share of demonstrations and worn anti-Bush T-shirts with words not repeatable by this reservist in a spiritual column.

Yet, she's a fan of her brother. At the graduation, she cheered and hollered until she lost her voice. She hugged and kissed him until she turned him beat red from embarrassment and risked violating the regulation against PDA (Public Display of Affection.)

He nodded hesitantly at his sister's example, and proceeded with some reticence to the shuttle stop. As we stood at the stop, three women lined up along side us whispering.

Then one woman broke out to speak to Michael. "Thank you for your service," she said. My son gave away a shy smile.
"Do you mind if we pray with you?" she asked. Mike nodded and the woman began to pray. She prayed that God would lay a protection around him and that he would serve with honor.

Forty-five minutes later, we were at our gate when a man bolted out of his chair like he'd been sprung from it. He approached Mike with an open hand explaining that he was a retired Air Force major. Then he said, as the others had said before him, "Thank you for your service."

The next few hours passed quickly and in no time at all we taxied into our home terminal. As the jetway was extended, the flight attendant made an announcement. "Ladies and gentleman, I want you to know that we have a new Marine on board who graduated from boot camp today!"
Spontaneously, the passengers erupted into the type of applause usually reserved for the touchy landings.

As I reflected on those we'd encountered, it occurred to me all of them likely had opinions about the war, but each had kept their opinions separate from their gratitude.
And from a soldier's point of view, let me tell you why that's good.

Every soldier is sworn to obey the orders of their superiors. That means, even if a soldier has a dissenting opinion, he can't express it -- especially not in uniform. So as the saying goes, "Don't even go there."

Let me tell you, however, where you can go. You can say thank you. You can tell a soldier, especially the young ones, "Thank you. Thank you for being a part of the largest volunteer force we've ever had to wage. Thank you for making it possible for some to work, some to pray, and yes, even some to protest."

So as we approach the next two holidays, Memorial Day and Independence Day, stop a soldier, any soldier, and simply say, "Thank you for serving."

Why say thank you? I believe the answer to that question was best expressed on a T-shirt worn by a parent at my son's graduation: "Sleep well, America, my son's got your back!"

Name that Church

Many times you can identify one's denominational affiliation by their appearance, demeanor, language, garb, or haunts. While we are to be a people set apart, that is hardly the meaning of the scripture.

As we concluded the series on the 7 churches of Asia, another church from the same locale and era came to mind. The church of Corinth with all its complexities is yet another that is mirrored by many churches today. Rather than write a complete assessment, I offer this list of characteristics with supporting scripture references.
(Guess I'll get that much needed practice w/links) :>)


Enriched of God...ICorinthians 1:5
Possessed a Christian heritage....ICorinthians 10:1-6
Keepers of ordinances...ICorinthians 11:2
Recipients of the 'Gifts of the Spirit'...ICorinthians 14:26

Contentious, envious,& fleshy... ICorinthians 1:11
Babes in Christ & carnal.. ICorinthians 3:1-3
Vain & puffed up... ICorinthians 4:6-8,18,19
Proud & adulterous..ICorinthians 5:1-6
Defrauding one another... ICorinthians 6:1-8
Offenders of the weak... ICorinthians 8:12
Abounding in heresy... ICorinthians 11:18,19
Unclean & unforgiving... ICorinthians 11:27-30
Unrighteous & sinful... ICorinthians 15:34

What else could we add? There must have been divisions among them. They needed both examples and instructions on being stewards of the "gifts".



When people look upon us they should see Jesus. When we assemble for worship and respond to God's presence, we should ascribe glory to Him and not to ourselves. I believe that is the purpose of "the love chapter" (I Cor 13) being sandwiched between the introduction of the 'gifts' (chapter 12) and the instructions for their use (chapter 14).