Bad backs, bad knees, headaches and so on, and so on. It's that time of year where our family goes nuts! Don't believe me? Drive by our house. If that doesn't do it, knock on our door and come in. You'll think you've entered the North Pole. (No this is not a dig about how cold my wife likes our house.) We are ready for kids, parents, Santa and all. Come Saturday night we should have a dozen sleeping children and adults. We don't have a real big Christmas tree yet, but only because our son Bill wants to chop one down. If you have one in your yard, you better protect it!

Our family loves christmas. We love it because it means family...love...sharing...and of course Jesus. No Jesus, No Christmas. So enjoy your holidays.

If I can figure out how to do it, I leave you with a John Lennon song sung by Celine Dion. Merry Christmas from Beka, Pam and Don

 

Sorry about the heading but it is football season. Also, I apologize for not being on here sooner. ( sooner...isn't that Oklahoma's football team? ) I have been on a vacation to the "wolverine" state where Pam and I had a great time. Since then, there have been 3 times I tried to get on this site only to be blocked for one reason or another. It has been driving me nuts...buckeye nuts that is. Okay, enough of the football analogies. Let's talk about that B that stands for benevolence. I appreciate all the comments from yesterday's lesson. Our deacon in charge of that B, Andy Stouder, handed me a note after the lesson. It said if 25 families gave $5.00 a week to the B, that we would have $6,000 dollars after one full year for this effort. Knowing that Andy is a Buckeye, this Wolverine added it together to see that the actual total would be $6,500.  (Sorry Andy but good try! ) Think of hundreds of families that would be helped.

This my friend would be "acceptable worship" that our Father in Heaven would love to watch.         ( While He is watching His favorite football team...the Dallas Cowboys! )

I've heard it all my life, no pain, no gain. Is it really true? Can my football slogan from days of old be correct? Perhaps. But sometimes pain is a consequence of our actions. Let me tell you a story. Pam's brother, Buddy, is one of the kindest people I know. He's a preacher that wouldn't hurt a fly. I see so many attributes in him that my Savior would have and that I am lacking. And yet... One of his daughters, very, very intelligent, you know the type, Ph.d M.A. etc.etc. called him and said, "Dad, I've decided to get a nose ring. I've wanted one for a very long time and have decided to get it." His reply was, Won't that hurt?" "No" she answered, "Not any more than the ear ring holes I have gotten." To this, my kind brother-in-law said,"No, I mean when I rip it out!" Ouch!!!
Well, I can tell you that I have had my nose ring ripped out several times. And it keeps happening. I ask God for guidance and I still make ill-advised moves. To which, after another nose ring has been ripped out, my heavenly Father graciously forgives me. That, does make it better. 

Yes, we are dealing with tough economic times but don't think that has swayed our thinking about getting a Bargain! I can tell you that my grandfather,A.B. Belcher, when buying a horse never offered $100 when the seller was only asking for $10. Good times, bad times, we all want the most bang for our buck. I am looking into buying a car as my lease is coming up on my mustang. I've called dealerships, visited car sellsmen, and I can tell you I am not paying sticker price. There are deals to be had. All you have to do is look for them.

I can tell you the best deal I have found anywhere!!! No one can beat it. The price is right. And that deal is your Salvation. Jesus paid it all. There is no downpayment, no interest, and no hidden fees. All our Lord asks in return is to follow him. Does that sound like a high price to pay? Some may think it is. But what I have found is that by following my Lord and what he asks, gives me a better life now than what I had before. Friends who love me, a way of life that has shown me more happiness than without him, how can I turn this down? Go and look into your nearest Bible and see the deal the Lord has for you.

This song came to mind as my family and I are in the Great Smokey Mountains. What beauty. I've been here many, many times but this time instead of all the tourists things, I'm enjoying God's handiwork. Yes, there is time to enjoy my grandchildren as they enjoy the tourists traps. All the swimming, tee-shirt shops and food galore make this a busy place for young ones as well as us of the older generation. But
as I climbed to the top of one mountain just to see many, many other mountain tops, all I can say is what a great God we have.

 

I know I haven't written in a while. I could blame it on conferences I've attended. Or the technical difficulties we've had on this website. But the real reason is I have just been busy with busy work and not taken the time to smell the roses. God forgive me. You have made a beautiful world that I need to take a little time and enjoy. There is a God...He is Alive...In Him we live and we survive.

 

When I said, "I climbed to the top of the mountain" you must understand that the car did the actual climbing, I just take the credit for being there.