When former Speaker of the House Sam Raburn was near the end of his life, he supprised his colleagues in Congress by informing them that he was going home to Bonham Texas. His announcement made no sense to them. They wondered why he would choose to leave a place that had some of the best medical facilities in the world and go to a tiny town in North Texas. Rayburn explained his reasons in a simple and sincere way. "Bonham Texas," he said is a place where people know when you are sick and care when you die."
Let that sentence soak in your mind for a little bit as it makes its way to your heart. And when it gets there, never let it leave. The message is a mandate for the church. We are to be that type of caring community. God's desire, as revealed in his design for the church, is that we be keenly aware and intimately involved in the lives of each other. The reality of loving relationships is what drew Sam Rayburn to Bonham Texasfor the last days of hid life. That same reality, in practice, not just in principle, will also draw people to the Lord and his church for the rest of their lives, too.
There is a dear lady whom i go to church with knew Mr Rayburn in years past. She lived there in Texas as well and knew the family.
Since i do not know much about what people like to read, and surely don't know much about blogging, I really don't know what to write about. I have been trying to use materials that have inspired me so that is the reason i share them. Everything i write is intended to be positive and not with my critical view that seems to come out often. Let me know if these type post are intresting to you.

IN MEMORY OF TIFFANY AND BILLIE BROWN
We have all seen them. Driving down a road, off to the side of the pavement, stuck in the ground, often surrounded by real or plastic flowers, we see a small cross. As soon as we it, we know what it means. Someone lost their life at that place. But what does that cross on the side of the road mean? What does that symbol standing alone on the landscape, communicate to us as we go by?
It tells us that someone who is loved is memorialized at that spot. It reminds us that something tragically significant happened there. The cross may serve as a warning, even change our behavior. It may encourage us to slow down, pay attention, put on our seatbelt, or even compel us to say a prayer of comfort for those who are hurting. Our prayers are certainly with the Brown Family as the mourn the loss of Billie and Tiffany. From now on as we drive the highway especially Interstate 40 we will reflect on the lives of these two dear individuals who meant so much to so many people. Even if there are no small wooden crosses there along the highway we won't forget them. Their lives will help us to say a prayer of gratitude for our own safety and protection as we travel. Mother and Daughter now safe in the arms of Jesus where they now have the safety and protection that we all long for someday. Through their lives we can become more dedicated to serve the Lord so someday that reunion we all long far will be a reality. Thank you Billie and Tiffany for the love you shared with so many folks during your lifetime here on this earth. You will be greatly missed.

A reporter was interviewing Jack Nicklaus. He said Jack, you are spectacular! Your very name is synonymous with golf. You really know your way around the course. What is your secret? To which Jack replied, The holes are numbered!
In addition to a good sense of humor and humility, Jack's response underscores the simple truth about things that are true-they are often simple. Though there is more to golf than following the order of the numbered holes, the basics of golf begin with that simple awareness in a similar way, though there are deep and challenging theological insights in serious study of Scripture, there are also some basic and simple truths to guide our way every day.
"What does the Lord require of you. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
The game of golf begins with a basic awareness of the layout of the course. The game of life begins and ends with simple truths that will guide your course through this life.

It was a good day for the Razorbacks. They were able to win a close game and that is what i have been waiting for. We can stand to improve in our free throw shooting. I noticed Heath talking to his asst. coach today which may have been a factor. Florida was ranked no. 10 in the polls.

I simply do not know what is wrong with the Razorback basketball team. I rushed home last night from my church meeting at 10:00 pm to see how bad we beat the rebels only to find out we had lost. This is devastating to be beat again by a team who had lost 7 straight games and a team with less talented players this year than the hogs. I have tried not to blame the coaching but at this point something has to be done. Heath is not motivating these guys to keep playing defense the whole game. He has a good group of talented players but for some reason they are not being consistent and that reflects in my mind poor coaching. Thats my story and i am sticking to it. Whats your take? If i am wrong tell me.

Today, Paul Harvey mentioned a test that was conducted at 5 fast food places(i think it was 5) where the water was tested in the toilet bowls and the cold drink ice. The test showed 5 times more bacteria in the ice compared to the toilet bowl. Draw your own conclusions on what you do when you frequent fast food places. Either drink from the toilet bowl or get your drink with no ice. Yuk.

One time Jimmy Durante was asked to be a part of a show for world war 2 veterans. He agreed to perform, but just for a few minutes because his schedule was already quite full. However, when he got on stage that evening, he stayed much longer than he intended. After the extended show, someone asked him why he kept performing as long as he did. Durante pointed to the front row where two men were seated, each of whom had lost an arm in the war. One had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left arm. Together, they were able to clap. And that is exactly what they did, with excitement and exuberance. The inspiration of their teamwork kept the performer performing. Two working as one, encouraged the heart of the one who had come to encourage their hearts.
It works the same way among the Lord's people. Saved sinners, full of imperfections, flaws and wounds, join hands to do what needs to be done. Two or more, with the lord in their midst, accomplish much more than individual efforts would ever produce. We are the body of Christ. We are united as one in him. His love binds us together with cords that cannot be broken.
In Galatians 5:13 we find these words. :You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.:
Call this unique bond of encouragement teamwork. Call it how friends treat each other. Call it how family members interact. But hopefully, we can, by God's design and his desire, call it the church.
Part of my presentation on budget Sunday.

In this post i would like to talk to you about one of the most important people you will find anywhere. That person is you. God wants you to feel good about yourself. He expects you and I to have a reverence for him while at the same time to have respect for others.
Paul expressed this thought in two(2) passages that i want to share. In 2nd Cor, chapter 6 verse 11, "We have spoken freely to you Corinthians and opened wide our hearts to you." Then in chapter 7 verse 4 he states "I have great confidence in you, i take great pride in you, I am greatly encouraged and in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
In these verses Paul lays bare his heart, his feelings for the Corinthians was deep and his love was evident. Any restraint felt by the Corinthians would be because of their feelings, not his.
Paul loved these people despite the fact of their previous actions. So we ought to love each other. Be able to reach out to others, we must feel good about ourselves. Just stop and think about all the people you know. How do you feel about them? I must state that I myself have some feelings that are not what Christ would be pleased with.
If we have a warm and genuine feeling for others, then we are being the type people God wants us to be.
In todays society we hear a lot about disrespect. Just stop and think about all the types of respect that is prevelent in our society. Disrespect of children to parents, disrespect for authority and the list could go on and on. I believe respect must be earned. We must respect each other because you and I do make a difference in the lives of other people. If we really believe this, we won't try to be intresting, we will be intrested. We won't expect to be pleased, we will be pleasing. We won't wait to be enertained, we will be entertaining. We won't wait to be loved, we will be lovable. We won't ask to be helped, we will be helpful. These will make a difference.
Someone has said, "If you expect to get anywhere in this world, you have to know someone important." I believe this to be true. You do have to know someone important, you have to know yourself.
Just imagine a world filled with people who know that what they do will make a difference. That world is reality and within our grasp.
All this may seem elementary but it is excerpts from one of my chapel talks at Central Arkansas Christian School several years ago made to high school students.
( theres a mistake in the text above where respect was used and should have been disrespect)

This is Valentines Day. From Mom and myself we wish everyone in the family a very happy day. A special note of love is sent out with this post. We have reached the point in our lives where we don't celebrate like we use to do but after 61 years we feel we know how each other feels. Anyway, have a good day and use this time in your own immediate families to express your love to each other.

These comments come from a catholic elementary school. Kids were asked questions about the Old and New testements. They have not been retouched or corrected.
In the first book of the bible, guinessis, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the sabbath off.
Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark. Noah built an ark which the animals come on to in pears.
Lots wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire at night.
The jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unsympathetic Genitals.
Samson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah.
Moses led the hebrews to the red sea, where they made unleavened bread which is a bread without any ingredients.
The Egeypitians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went on Mount Cyanide to get the ten ammendments
The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.
Moses died before he reached Canada. Then Joshua led the hebrews in the battle of geritol.
The greatest miracle in the bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.
David was a hebrew king skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times
Solomon, one of Davids sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
When Mary heard she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.
When the three wise guys from the east side arrived, they found Jesus in the manager.
Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.
Jesus enunciated the golden rule, which says to do one to others before they do it to you.

Well, the hogs were able to win another game. I was concerned the first half because Auburn played like they would win the game. You can never tell about the hogs from one game to another.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hate, may i bring love. Where offense, may i bring pardon; Truth replacing error; Faith where once there was doubt; Hope, for despair; Light where there is darkness; Joy to replace sadness. Make me not to so crave to be loved as to love. Help me to learn that in giving i may receive; In forgetting self, I may find life eternal.

Well, we did get a little snow today. Not enough to create any problem and it is quickly disapearing since we are getting some rain now. We definitely need the rain so no one is complaining that i am aware of. Using the word definitely reminds me of this story told by John Smith at a National School Conference in California. A first grade teacher was telling her students that today we will be making sentences with the word definitely. Who would like to go first? Little Mary raised her hand. OK Mary what is your sentence? Mary stated "The sky is definitely blue." That is a good sentence Mary but remember that we can't always see the sky because clouds sometime hides the sky but that is a good sentence. Who is next? Little Susie raised her hand. OK Susie lets hear your sentence. Little Susie stated, "The grass is definitely green." Thats good Susie but remember that the grass turns brown in the winter but you made a good sentence. Next, Little Johnny in the back of the room raised his hand. Johnny ask the teacher if he could ask a question, Certainly the teacher replied. What is your question? Johnny ask the teacher. Is gas lumpy? No Johnny gas is not lumpy, it can be in the form of a liquid or maybe in the form of a vapor. Why do you ask? Little Johnny replied "I have definitely messed in my pants."

Just simply sick about the Razorback game last night at LSU. Why can't we win these games or at least part of them that go down tothe last shot? Oh well, there will be better days some where down the road. The latest on mom is the first procedure was done on Tuesday. Yesterday, she was up all day and done quiet a lot of housework. The same for today so hopefully some progress has been made. She goes back on the 21st for the second procedure. We have used 8 doctors plus 3 mris to get to this stage of her return to being pain free. Once that is done she will then go in for the surgery. If it were not for the doctor statements coming each day we would not get much mail.

This note is in reference to my last post. I mentioned that there were several African Americans that i dont like their agenda. There are more than several white folks that i can't stand their rhetoric whom are in hollywood and politicians in Washington. I can' cater to these folks who continually berate our nation. This info. too if you don't know. The reason Billy Carter did not run for president, Mrs Lillian did not think Jimmy could run the filling station.

The visit to the pain Dr. went rather well today for mom. It may take a couple of days before we know if relief has occured. In 2 weeks we go back for the 2nd injection. She can have up to 3 if necessary to reach the comfort level she can live with. While she was going through the procedure i watched the funeral service for Mrs King. It made me think back to the days when i held a lot of ill feelings toward African Americans, especially during the Central High crisis in Little Rock. I cant recall how all this came about because in my youth we lived one block from a African American family who were my best friends. They ran a small cafe like business with mostly take out. It was called Kidds place. The Kidd boys and i played ball together all the time together and were the best of friends. I ate at their home on many occasions. Anyway, i have respect for the majority of African Americans. there are about a half dozen whom rub me the wrong way with their agenda. I have no hatred but really can't stand to listen to the likes of Farakan and a few others i won't mention their names. The only sad part of watching the funeral service for this great lady was the playing of the race card and and political attack on President Bush by the has been Jimmy Carter and a minister whom i dont recall his name. I know now in my late years that what Martin Luther King did in his stand for civil rights was the movement that started turning things around in this country.

We made our first trip to the pain center today. We were pleased with the Dr. and the facilities. This Dr Hart was reccommended to us by Dr Bowen at the orthapedic clinic over at St Vincents. We go back tomorrow to start the spinal injections. She will be given a light anesthetic and the doctor will give the first series. He has a well staffed clinic and probably better equipment than most hospitals. We will then see how the first series goes and that will determine if the 2nd one is needed. Keep her in your prayers for a relief from the constant pain. A major problem isw in the spine so the carpal surgery was more than likely not needed. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel, lets hope its not the light from an oncoming train.

I had predicted the super bowl score to be 31 to 14 in favor of Pittsburg. I was wrong but i will settle for the score and the Steeler win. Glad to see the Bus play one more game since he mentioned that Detroit was the last stop for the bus. I have some feelings for the Seahawks since two razorbacks are with the team. They interviewed Jeb Huckabea last night on one of the local chanels here. He has had foth feet worked on and will be ready this next season. That should be both feet.

My prediction for the game tomorrow is Steelers 31, Seahawks 14

Even though i got nervous in the second half of the Razorback and Gamecock game it was nice to see the hogs hold on. We have been capable of blowing 2nd half leads but today this was not the case. What about Modica's 37 points? Will be tested this next Wednesday when they play LSU.

This note is to my daughter, the english professor. My last post has several mistakes in my english. Just remember i am not very well educated. I did get to the third grade and then the draft for the army came along.

My granddaughter has some very good information on her latest post. I would encourage all of you to read it. I subscribe to a magazine called the Good Old Days. It sure brings back memories of days of yesteryear when this country was united and and was supportive of our government. I was thinking of Dec, 7th 1941 when our country was attacked at Pearl Harbor and the next morning we all at school were sent to the auditorium and listen to President Roosevelt ask Congress to declare war on Japan. This nation banded together and supported that decision. I never heard anyone call for his impeachment for him defending this nation. We say , ewll that was different. No when our nation is at risk we should be concerned enough to support our President and the military men who are fighting for our national security. To all those who continually and call for the impeachment of President Bush. An article in our daily newspaper reminds us that he is doing his very best to protect the citizens of this great nation. If he is at fault in this is that he has kept the citizens too insulated from the war and the reason for the war. What happens when we have another incident like the one on 9/11? The article also reminds us as we go through our daily lives, calling for government help in every problem rather than doing our best to solve the problems ourselves. There are people here and throughout the world who plan to kill us. I know i will be chastized for this statement. We are fortunate to have a president that sees the potential destruction of our country. Rather than critisize, pray for our president, world leaders and our troops who serve so that we might enjoy the freedom we have enjoyed so many many years. I am truly disturbed about our critics who have no respect for good and strive to keep our efforts for freedom a worthless situation. My main concern is for my children and grand children and even great grand children whom i may never see. I want them to live in a country where peace and harmony exist and their christian lives safe and sound. We not only have the terrorist situation to be concerned about but we now have Iran and North Korea loomimg on the horizon which either one would like to bring this country to its knees. I think we need to be on our knees now before we are brought to them. My prayer is for the next President to be courageous enough to stand firm and take action on any threat that may arise. This statement is for free. Hillary will not do that. My President may not make every decision that pleases me but you can rest assured he has my support and respect. I hurt when he is continually being dragged through mud.