Happy New Year

Virginia and I wish all our friends in the Land of Blog a Wonderful and blessed 2009.

From the Washington Post. New Year in Sydney ;

Mervi

Virginia (4)

Virginia is doing GREAT.
She still has some problems, little problems, when she gets tired or overloaded. Her strength has come back wonderfully in both her arm, hand and leg. She has a doctor's appointment two weeks from this coming Friday to try and get cleared to return to work.

For all of this we give thanks to our Great and Wonderful God, Jesus Christ.

Mervi

On a coffee cup

Yesterday I saw this saying on a coffee cup. Once more it caused me to stop and think.

God,

put you arm on my shoulder.

And your other hand over my mouth!

Just a thought on this Christmas Day;
Mervi

Arlington Cementery

As we pass through this Christmas Season, let take a moment to remember those whose lives gave us the freedom.

Mervi

My Christmas thought.

Luke 2:11
For unto you (That is to me and all mankind)

is ( a fact no fable but truth)

born (Came in the fashion of a man He was man in the flesh)

this day (Right here, right now)

in the city of David (In the city of the greatest King Israel had known)

a Saviour (The one was to take upon Him that ultimate sacrifice for my sins),

which is(This is a fact)

Christ (The anointed one of God)

the Lord

(The one who said beside me there is no saviour).
KJV

Italics are my thoughts;

Mervi

A Miracle and Einstein.

I lifted this thought for the religion part of the L.A. Times.

"Albert Einstein once famously quipped that,

"There are two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle."

What a powerful message.

The choice, ultimately, is ours."

Something to think about during the Christmas season;

Mervi

A song for mothers

Here is a song for the busy mothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhuAtyFCrw

Hope you enjoy it;

Mervi

Pray ! !

Please pray for Mervi!
I was advised at lunch this afternoon that there would be an addition to the Clark Family.

I don't know if I am ready for this?

Mervi

Convictions ? ?

This entry was stirred by a blog of Sis. Allard. Yes, it caused Mervi to stop, look and listen to that small voice and then write.
What does the term CONVICTION mean to you?
How does the term CONVICTION fit into your daily life?
Does this term have an effect on you?
When is the last time, we as Pentecostals, last heard not a preached message but a Bible study on the subject of CONVICTION?

Listed below are the definitions from Marian Webster on line:
1: the act or process of convicting of a crime especially in a court of law
2 a: the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truth
b: the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth
3 a: a strong persuasion or belief
b: the state of being convinced
Synonyms see certainty, opinion

I believe it that great New Testament theologian Paul who said, knowing that I am set in defense of the Gospel (Phil 1:17). Paul was set, he was ready to do battle over something and that something was the Gospel. Now, the question is asked of us, those who inhabit this time frame and this generation. Are we set, ready to do battle for this Gospel? Did Paul have, “a strong persuasion or belief?” How strong is OUR persuasion of this Oneness not one less gospel? How does our belief in the teaching of Jesus Name water Baptism stand? Are we set to defend these ago old points? Not just in the mistiest of those of like faith do we hold and proclaim this truth. Are we ready to give an account for this faith which we hold so dear? Not to be aggressive, not to be domineering but to stand ready to present and defend our CONVICTIONS when the need arises?
Once more form Paul in the book of Romans Chapter 14 verse 5, “Let ever man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” That STRONG persuasion that this is right or that is wrong! Those good old fashion holiness conviction? This is right, that is wrong, I will condone this, I will not condone that. Why? Because I have been fully persuaded in MY mind, heart and spirit this is where I stand and I have no PLAN to be moved easily!!
What is your opinion about this or maybe that? Are you convinced whatever is right or wrong? Does it require a vote of the majority to establish a conviction? I think there are far too many people waiting to see how, what and where the majority does and goes. Then they will show an opinion! This, in my never to be humble opinion, is not a convection nor an opinion! But let us all go together and be friends.
Yes, many of my convections were formed under the ministry of I. H. Terry and others under whom I sat. Those men who had something to say and said it with both deep and earnest convection, love, desire to help others and certainty this is what influenced my life and ideas. I do the best I can to hold these truths scarred.

Remember that old saying, If you don't believe in something, you'll fall for anything;
Mervi

Baby tumor with foot inside!

"COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A pediatric neurosurgeon says a tumor he removed from the brain of a Colorado Springs infant contained a tiny foot and other partially formed body parts.
Dr. Paul Grabb says he operated on Sam Esquibel at Memorial Hospital for Children after an MRI showed a microscopic tumor on the newborn's brain. Sam was 3 days old and otherwise healthy.
Grabb says that while removing the growth, he discovered it contained a nearly perfect foot and the formation of another foot, a hand and a thigh.
"It looked like the breach delivery of a baby, coming out of the brain," Grabb said. "To find a perfectly formed structure (like this) is extremely unique, unusual, borderline unheard of."
Grabb isn't sure what caused the growth but says it may have been a type of congenital brain tumor. However, such tumors usually are less complex than a foot or hand, he said.
The growth may also have been a case of "fetus in fetu" — in which a fetal twin begins to form within another — but such cases very rarely occur in the brain, Grabb said.
Sam's parents, Tiffnie and Manuel Esquibel, say their son is at home now but faces monthly blood tests to check for signs of cancer or regrowth, along with physical therapy to improve the use of his neck. But they say he has mostly recovered from the Oct. 3 surgery.


"You'd never know if he didn't have a scar there," Tiffnie Esquibel said."

From Fox news;
Mervi

Morro Bay (2)

This is the LARGEST flower bloom that I have ever seen!!

Have a great day where ever you may be;

Mervi

Goverment ;-}

Just for a smile and then "I feel your pain??"
Mervi

An early present :-)

Virginia and I did something different this year we gave each other a few days in the Morro Bay area.

Enjoy the pictures. WE enjoyed the real thing.

Yes, these are all my photos;

Mervi

How to wash a toilet

This was simply too much of a time saver not to share it with you.
1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.
2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.
3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid.
4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.
5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a 'power-wash' and rinse'.
6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.
8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.
9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

Yours Sincerely,

The Dog

NO!

I do not hate cats, but this was funny. I copied it from an e-mail of a cat lover.

Mervi

Person of the Year

Here are some of Bill O’Reilly’s suggestions;

Congressman Barney Frank, Senator Chris Dodd & Security and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox

Sarah Palin

Senator Ted Stevens & Governor Rod Blagojevich

Hillary Clinton and John McCain

Michael Phelps and the U.S. Olympic Team

Bill gives sometimes honorable mention and sometimes not so honorable mention yet he rejects each. Here is the one that Bill gives his “Person of the year” award to.

"But above all this year, the U.S. military has had a major impact on the country and the world. Overcoming enormous obstacles to bring a measure of stability to the beleaguered people of Iraq, our forces have performed brilliantly. And, along with NATO troops, American troops continue to protect the Afghan people from the horrors of the Taliban.These brave, unselfish men and woman proved once again in 2008 that America is a noble nation, and their impact and sacrifice should be positioned in the forefront of any "person of the year" exposition."

I agree Bill. Those who, with pride, ware the uniform of the American solider should receive the “Person of the year” award.

Here is the link to his complete article;
http://www.billoreilly.com/newslettercolumn?pid=24741

Mervi

A preyer request.

Yesterday morning the father of a dear friend of many years completed his course and ended his journey. Richard (Dick) Smith journey was Ninety-six (96) years in this life. Dick has gone to be with the Lord he loved. I would ask that those in the Land Of Blog remember his wife, sons and other family members during this time.
I loved this man and his sons very much. Dick was very kind and a teacher to me in my youth.

With saddness Mervi.

Not just peace but confidence.

Happiness is contagious, research finds

From the L.A. Times today.


"In a study published online today by the British Medical Journal, scientists from Harvard University and UC San Diego showed that happiness spreads readily through social networks of family members, friends and neighbors
Knowing someone who is happy makes you 15.3% more likely to be happy yourself, the study found. A happy friend of a friend increases your odds of happiness by 9.8%, and even your neighbor's sister's friend can give you a 5.6% boost.

Your emotional state depends not just on actions and choices that you make, but also on actions and choices of other people, many of which you don't even know," said Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis, a physician and medical sociologist at Harvard who co-wrote the study."

Link to the complete article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-happy5-2008dec05,0,5056607.story

The old Sunday School song went, "Smile a while and give your face a rest!"

Mervi

Here we go again!

Jesus vs. the Atheists

"At this point, there is little left to say except this: Where are the wise men when you need them?
Just in time for the Christmas season, the Governor of Washington State, Christine Gregoire, has insulted Christians all over the world. Inside the state capitol building in Olympia, there is a traditional holiday display featuring a tree and the Nativity scene—perfectly appropriate since the Christmas federal and state holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
But this year, Governor Gregoire decided to add another item to the display. Standing alongside the baby Jesus is a giant placard designed by atheists that reads, "There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
You read that correctly. The governor of Washington State has permitted an attack on religion to be displayed in her office building as part of a Christmas presentation."

The above was barrowed form Bill O'Reilly news letter, here is the link to the complet article.

http://bl125w.blu125.mail.live.com/mail/InboxLight.aspx?FolderID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&InboxSortAscending=False&InboxSortBy=Date&n=626182864

Mervi

"Optimism" (?)

From the word processor of Cal Thomas;

“During the Great Depression and World War II, truly challenging times, there were songs that boosted the spirits of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. "There'll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover" was one; "Look for the Silver Lining," was another. More recently, the Broadway musical "Annie" lifted theatergoers out of what Jimmy Carter, in 1979, called our "malaise" with the song "Tomorrow" — "The sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun..."
Where is that optimism today in the midst of the sharp economic downturn? One doesn't hear much of it from politicians and especially not from the media, which trades exclusively in gloom and doom. President Bush has said he believes things will get better. That's not exactly a rousing sentiment. Barack Obama hasn't displayed much optimism, other than his campaign rhetoric for undefined "change." OK, so the economy is weak. Who thinks this is a permanent condition? Americans have always been optimists. Where is that optimism when we need it most?”

For his complete article, http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/thomas120408.php3

Just a thought

What was / is missing?

Ride a quad?

I would like to send this picture

and the thought

of what is about to happen

to all my quad riding friends.

Good landing!!

Mervi

Trampled (??)

The sad story of the Wal Mart employ who is trampled under foot. By those who must have that new T.V. at or for the best price.

"Jdimytai Damour was a big man — 270 pounds, by one account — but he was a gentle giant to his friends, who said he loved to chat about movies, Japanese anime and politics. So on Saturday, they were still reeling from the violent and seemingly inexplicable way that Mr. Damour had died — trampled before sunrise on Friday, the police said, by rampaging shoppers running into a Wal-Mart store on Long Island where he was working as a maintenance man for the holidays.
Shoppers started lining up late Thursday night at the Wal-Mart, at the Green Acres Mall on Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream, not far from the Queens border, where DVDs, flat-panel television sets and other entertainment items were discounted to attract crowds on the traditional first day of the Christmas shopping season.
Mr. Damour, 34, who was known to his friends as Jimbo, or Jdidread because of his dreadlocks, got his job at Wal-Mart through Labor Now, an agency for temporary workers. He had been trying to hold back a crush of shoppers pressing against the store’s sliding-glass double doors, the authorities said. Just before the store’s scheduled 5 a.m. opening, they said, the doors shattered under the weight of the crowd. Mr. Damour was thrown to the floor and trampled."

Here is the link to the story;
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/nyregion/30walmart.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Wal%20Mart&st=cse

Is this a sad commentary on the human species?
Mervi

The bench

An empty bench?
I wonder of those who sat here?
The young man who just lost his first love.
The older gentleman who just buried his first love.
The school boy wondering about life?
The middle aged man wondering about life?
The elder gentleman wondering about life?

The young lady who has been jilted by her first love.
The middle aged lady who just received a divorce paper.
The young gril wondering what life holds.
The new mother wondering what life holds.
The older great-grand-mother wondering what life holds.

The many who have stopped here.

Just my thoughts;

Mervi