A CHANGE OF VIEWPOINT

In late August of 1967, I was laying on my bunk in barracks in Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. I had just arrived after returning from Sharlene's funeral. Myself and two other swabbies had arrived about the same time. Something happened that we were forgotten for three days. We had been escorted to this barrack and left. We had no work assignments or reporting duties. However, most importantly I knew where the chow hall was.

I was laying on my rack studying my Bible. I had been studying End Time Prophecies. Laying out on the rack was a commentary on Ezekial, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah, Revelation, and my open Bible.

As I lay there, I reached up and began to close each book saying out loud, "Whatever is going to happen will happen, Lord, just as you say it will. What I need to know now is how do I make it thru today."

You see, I had no time to grieve Sharlene's death. She was my first love, my first wife and now she was in the presence of Jesus. And I was straight across the globe.

For the next 30 years, I never taught on the end times. And now I see that I was wrong, my duty to my congregation was to teach and grow them in the whole counsel of God's Word. I have sought forgiveness.

Lately, I have begun to see what is happening in our world, the confusion, and the chaos. I have been studying more time as I have seen things going on and how they are pointing to end-time prophecies in the Bible. Studying so much that I have started changing my position on the end time. If and when I share it it will cause some arguing so I'm not ready to share it just yet. I still believe in Jesus, His death burial, and resurrection and His soon return to gather His church to Himself. 

I believe that as we open our eyes, physical and spiritual we will see what is happening in our world and not just the USA.

WE SAY ALONG WITH JOHN, COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS. 

Watch for my next posting, OUR WORLD OF CHAOS.

 

GOING IT ALONE OR WITH OTHERS

We were not created to be alone thru life.  Or another way to put it is we are not intended to do life alone. Christianity is a lifestyle of relationships, being in relationship with one another.

Here are some scripture verses to bear this out.

Hebrews 10:24,25
"... let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Do a personal search for all the 'one another's' in the New Testament. I believe your eyes will be opened.

1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul is teaching on spiritual gifts.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." Spiritual gifts are NOT for our personal benefit, they are for the benefit of others. We must be in fellowship with other believers for your gifts to function.

1 Corinthians 14:3
"... but everyone who prophesies (a spiritual gift) speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement  and comfort."

Acts 4:32-35 tells of the first Christians sharing with one another.

We believers are to be in relationship with other believers to encourage and receive encouragement.

I believe this quote comes from Plato, "He who keeps company with only himself, is liable to be corrupted by the company he keeps".

May God bless you as you seek out and build relationships with other believers.

I DIGRESS ... TO THE PAST

We know that many times we are affected by situations/occurrences in our past that stay with us and sometimes actually cause our present behavior. Such a time for me was the summer of 1967.

On June 4, 1967, I graduated from The College of the Ozarks (now it is The University of the Ozarks). That same day my wife, Sharlene and I with another couple left Clarksville, AR, and drove straight thru to Myrtle, South Carolina. We spent three days there before driving back.

On June 20, I was called to leave for active duty in the Navy. I had joined the Navy Reserve before I ever met Sharlene. On that day I had to say goodbye to the one person I loved more than life itself. Somethings you just don't know how to do, no life-training for it.  We had been married for one month short of 1 1/2 years.

(Had to take a break here for an emotional relief.)

I'm in a library writing this and I just walked by a book with the title "LOVE NEVER QUITS". First thot was about how God's love never stops. Then about the love of a parent for a child. About my first love and wife.

I was in San Diego Naval Base waiting for my orders to come in. When they finally came in I was to hitch rides (bus, air, ship) to the South China Sea to join my ship, the USS Haleakala, AE25, an ammunition ship operating in North/South Vietnamese waters. I was to leave on July 25th.

Sharlene flew out to spend the 22nd-24th with me. We stayed with my aunt and uncle in Whittier, CA. We drove down to San Diego on the 23rd and spent the night at a motel. My aunt and two girl cousins went with us. Thank God they did.

The 24th  was a Sunday, 1 1/2 years after we were married. While I sat next to the pool in my civvies, Sharlene and my cousins were in the pool, (she loved water) standing at the divider rope talking. She was standing close between my cousins when she slipped under the water. My cousins went on talking and did not know anything was wrong. ER doctor said she was probably dead as she slipped under. 1 1/2 years after we were married.

The Navy gave me three weeks of unearned leave and I took her home and buried her in Springdale, AR. Not much time to grieve. I'll always be grateful that God had my aunt, two cousins and then my two guy cousins and my uncle who were there with me in the hours after.

I went back to San Diego Naval base to await new travel orders. The last of August I caught my ship in the South China Sea and was hi-lined over in the dark!!!

A few years ago I told a Navy Psychologist who was testing me for PTSD, that I still believe that my life is still being affected by that summer.

That is an event in the life journey that my Lord has me on.

Back to current events next time.

May our loving Heavenly Father keep you in His loving arms.

 

LISTEN/SILENT

LISTEN AND SILENT use the same letters. May there be some thing there that we need to learn?

I learned something about myself after I had been pastoring fulltime for some time. Someone would be telling me of a situation/problem/concern when something they said caught my attention. At that point I mentally closed my hearing, waiting to jump in and address that point. I did not really hear anything else they were saying.

There is a term for this but at this point I can't remember it. I was listening for something I could address, not to hear what all they were saying.

One of the main points to being a good friend/spouse is to know that most people just need some one to listen. A wife may be telling of a hard time at work that day. Husband stops her and gives her three things she should do to take care of it. All she wants is for him to listen, not try to fix anything. We  men tend to be fixers.

There are two verses that somewhat address this malady. Ecclesiastes 3:7b  "...a time to keep silence, and a time speak;" and James 1:19 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,...". Pay attention husbands and you who want to be married.😀😀   Also, memorize 1 Peter 3:7.

AND THE JOURNEY CONTINUES ...

In my last post I shared how I arrived in NW Arkansas. Not long after getting there I got a phone call that I should get to my mothers bedside as it looked like she was failing fast. So God had a reason for my change of plans. Mother recovered so I spent a few extra days there visiting. She went home to be with her Lord Jesus on Dec 9. She is now "running and leaping and praise God". I'm sure she is singing, also.

I headed back to Denver and took two days to drive there. I arrived at my dotter's and spent the night there. On arising the next morning I found her driveway covered in auto coolant! Turns out to be a loose lower radiator hose. I tightened it and went on. I had spent 115 days traveling 8400 miles and covering 11 states. No mechanical problems of any kind. Praise God it waited till I got to Denver.

However, two weeks later a head/manifold gasket blew out. Will cost $3000 to repair. I don't  have anywhere close to that amount, in fact, that is about 3 times what I do have. Thank God that it happened after I got to Denver where I know some mechanics.

So what now? I don't know, but I'm trusting that God has His plan for me and I'm resting in that. Will my travels continue? Again, I don't know. Guess I'm entering into another season in my life.

Pray for me as I seek His face in all this. Pray for clear directions, money to repair or to buy another means of transportation.

May our Lord God give you blessings during the days ahead. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

More photos

 Hickory Creek Marina on Beaver Lake outside of Springdale, AR

 At the end of the point on the right is a bluff that is about 75ft deep. In July of 1963, I cleared brush out from under the bluff before the lake came in. I spent a week at the State Park there in Skypilot Base.

PTSD model at the VAMC in Denver

Me and Skypilot Base

CHANGE OF PLANS ... AGAIN.

Changes of my plans has become a constant for me.
I left my niece and nephew's on Monday the 23rd on my way to Arkansas. I spent the night in Sikeston, MO. The next morning while driving to West Palins, MO, to turn south, I noticed what I thot was a mosquito bite had turned red about the size of quarter and was hard in the middle with red streaks going out from it. I found that there was a VAMedical Center in West Plains, a small one but still well staffed. No determination as what bit me but gave me antibiotics. I was told that if I saw any change in the spot to get to an ER or urgent care.
Had been planning on heading south to Jonesborfo, AR, to meet, after 10plus gears, a former boss turned good friend. From there to Clarksville, AR, to my alma mater to visit with Coach Lonnie and Levada Qualls. From there to Ft Smith to meet a nierce, or is a second niece I'd never met.
But no, God changed my plans and I headed straight West to Fayetteville, AR., to the large VAMC.
More on my next post. Just know that God was in this change of plans.

PHOTOS OF COUNTRYSIDE OF INDIANA

Photos of country side in Indiana.
So many more I took but can't put them all in here.

 A strong heritage in this part of country

 Still in use

 When is last time you saw a round barn?

 Another covered bridge still in use

 I can see a GRAND RE-OPENING of this one room country church

 Family cemetery in use from 1850s to 1905. In disrepair from neglect or vandals.

 Someone's one time dream home

 Old but still standing

Part of 100's of thousands acres not planted due to rain in spring and summer

STARTING MY JOURNEY BACK TO DENVER

It is time to get on the road again. The scriptures caught my attention this morning as I was reading. He directs my direction and He is with me always.

Just about everywhere I stop for a few days I get comfortable and the Lord has to remind me that He has called me to the open road. And so once again He has reminded me that it is time for me to set out on this road. I'll be making my way back to Denver over the next couple of weeks.

I love the way the Lord is so gentle in reminding my of my calling. I read this statement recently … "When the Lord gives us a calling He has already taken in consideration our stupidity". If that crude word offends you you can replace it with lack of sensitivity, ignorance, pride. stubborness, whatever. I think of Jeremiah 1:5 in this case. Also, when I was in the process of starting Hope Chapel Foursquare Church in Albuquerque I was praying (whining) and telling the Lord how I didn't know how to operate, pastor a church, or how to prepare a message, etc. He gently spoke to me, "All I've asked you to do is show up." Also the verse in 1 Corithians 1:27, about God using the foolish.

So, with that in mind I will head south back into Arkansas to visit my alma mater, the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR.,  and then back up to NW AR for another high school reunion in Rogers.

I've seen hundreds of acres lying barren from the rains back in the spring. I was told that 200,000+ acres in 2 ounties in Ohio were barren. Pray for those farm families who have lost a year and a half of income.

I am having problems up loading photos, but I will keep working on the problem.

On the road to heaven with all y'all.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

I left Roan Mtn State Park and headed toward the ARK Encounter once again. I had to see that ship again. After that, I headed up to Indiana to see my nephew and niece, Ryan and Jeni Satchell.

Oh, Yeah, on the way to Tennessee I passed this one-room school in Michigan that was still operating into the '60s.

Forgot to mention that while at Roan Mtn, I met Keith and Jean Smith, who told me about a ministry that involves people who are on the road, traveling the country like what I am doing. It's called Campers On Mission. They travel around to places that need help with projects, churches with building projects, fairs, evangelism, etc, etc. It's all voluntary but parking places are provided with electrical hookups and water and a meal a day. I submitted my application and it has been accepted and  passed along to two state leadership. I'll soon be writing about projects I'm on. Maybe this is why God sent me on the road.

Along the way, I've been helped along with gifts of cabinets, carpeting, and now my nephew put an RV refrigerator that works on propane and/or electrical in my bus with gas lines, etc, now working on some electrical. Ryan is so talented and so ready to give me his knowledge and time. I have been blessed beyond measure. God is good and He is good all the time!!

Dad showing the kids how it is done.

Sunrise on the farm.

Until next time may God shower you with His blessings and love and grace.

STILL ON THE MOVE ...

I stopped in Kentucky to see the ARK. It's called The Ark Encounter or Experience. I'm here to tell you that it is an experience. Words kind of escape me to describe what I experienced there. I've been aboard some large Navy ships but I wanted to go on board the first large ship.I have never doubted the biblical account of Noah, the ark or the worldwide flood. This experience showed me proof geologically, practically, and other ways of the Flood. I'm considering going back up to it when I leave Tennessee next Sunday. I'll post some photos. At least I hope I uploaded them. I was sure I had taken a lot more than are showing up.

I left the Ark and proceeded south to Tennessee. I survived Jellico Pass! I'd been warned about pressing my bus to hard up thru there but it did not overheat. I made it to Roan Mountain State Park and was amazed at the beauty and peacefulness of this park. So much so that I  kept extending my stay thru this coming Sunday. At $21 a  night I save money by not being on the road. I estimate that I save at least $60+ a day by not driving. So, with no schedule why not stay and enjoy what God has created?

I met some really nice people at Roan Mtn, some even fed me. ;~)

I forgot to mention somethings

 Somethings I forgot to mention.

I attended my 56th class reunion while in Springdale. Had a good time reconnecting.

Also, Eureka Springs was once called the Little Switzerland of the Ozarks. I couldn't drive thru the original downtown area as my bus was too wide. Homes from the 1800 to early 1900's are still in use and many have been turned in to B/B's. Well worth going on your Bucket List. I know because I traveled that area a building material salesman so I saw the back streets and have always been fascinated by the town, just like I traveled to the small town of Branson, MO, before it became the town it is today.

Just a few miles east of Eureka Springs, AR, is a small town, Berryville, AR. there is a museum there called Saunders Museum. It is mainly a collection of firearms from the 17 to 18  hundreds. Also, period furniture and clothing. There are 893 pistols in the collection. Also some rifles. I saw two that I once had, a 1873 octagon barrel Winchester and a 1892 carbine. The smallest pistol will fit in my palm and the cartridge is 1/3 the size of a .22. Not allowed to take photos inside, but you might check out their website.

The drive across northern Arkansas to Mountain  Home and beyond is one of the most beautiful drives you can take.

I'll post more later on from my waning memory

Photos

 Original First Assembly of God, Springdale Ar. I saw the slab being poured 1957, was saved here in Aug 1964, married here in Jan 1966, buried wife here in July 1967.

 Attended 6th grade in upper left 1956, Springdale, AR  

 I rode in this major rodeo Springdale, AR

 Old Mom and Pop grocery store, Mayfield, Ar

 Mark Twain home Hannibal, MO

 Crop duster in Indiana

 Same

 Kit Carson Restaurant in Kit Carson, CO

 Interior of bus before buildout started

 Same

 Who wouldn't like to be one this porch with your Bible, coffee, and Jesus?

 Backyard quiet place

 Sign for church entry

 Two classmates. One was on the Homecoming Queens Court with her escort. Yep, me.

 Classmate George Thompson

 Family saying for our shindig

 Back of t-shirt

 Christ of the Ozarks, Eureka Springs, AR

 Model of gate to Jerusalem

 Chapel on the Prairie, Prairie Graove, AR

 Church on the Prairie, Prairie Grove, AR, used as hospital during Civil War Battle at Prairie Grove, AR

 ??? An enterprising dumpster diver

 An old neighborhood filling station, Fayetteville, AR

 Latest interior of bus - about 85% completeSame

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