Bug's Bleat - - GCF: After-Thanksgiving Poem

Thanksgiving "on the porch"
Annette and Josiah
Annette and Ethan
Claiborne watches the kids play. 

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: After-Thanksgiving Poem

"Fuzzy" Vaughn and Bud Horne at our Mutual Aid Fire Fighter Training
Pat Hammock, Buddy Kyle and I stand at the control station during this year's Mutual Aid Training
We had some good, hot fires at training this year. 

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: After-Thanksgiving Poem

Volume 8, Issue 47 Friday, November 24, 2006

Hello All,

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. Food, Fellowship, days off work, what more can a guy ask for?
We gathered at Vanessa and Jimmy’s house for dinner. Jimmy’s mom and sister were also there and we brought MamMaw Dorothy. When Claiborne arrived we had a house full of kin with the kids playing at our feet and five women in the kitchen. Vanessa said there were 23 souls in all.
Since the weather was pleasant, Vanessa had set up a long table on her screened in porch where the younger folks ate. Of course, we all ate too much and had to go home and take a long nap.
We stopped by the Armolds to deliver a brownie cake to David and the boys. Dusty was driving his cousins around the yard in a go-cart while the men tinkered with the engine whenever it stopped.
After our nap, we watched a great Christmas Romantic comedy and then had my favorite supper of Collard Greens, cornbread and Annette’s beef stroganoff. We finished the evening with Garrison Keillor and “A Prairie Home Companion” on PBS.
Friday, we had the joy of our grandkids coming over and another day with family blessed us.
~~~~~
At the plant, we finished up our annual Mutual Aid training (on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening) and, as usual, my heart was warmed by the hard work of our Fire Brigade, not to mention the support from Bud Horne and Mary Alexis. The next day, several areas had potluck lunches, as it was the day before Thanksgiving.
I can’t express enough the thanks that I work with such a great group of folks.
~~~~~
Speaking of people we appreciate, I forgot to mention Backyard BBQ. They smoke MamMaw’s turkey every year at no charge. Our life is full of people who cater to us. Wednesday Keith Burton came by and that evening, Kelley Davidson and girls brought over three pies. Friday morning, Sim Bailey called to let me help him set up his new computer.
Over and over we see how much the people in our lives mean to us.
~~~~~
I always wonder what people do who live where the Holiday Spirit is dead or dying? Do they know what they’re missing?
~~~~~
Speaking of Spirit, does it bother you that the MSM (Main Stream Media) treats Voodoo, Psychics, and witches as acceptable but Christians are wacko fanatics?
~~~~~
This is my favorite season. The movies on TV are heartwarming (for the most part) and the kid’s movies in theaters are a treat.
Those of us who don’t like “reality” shows or horror movies or off color jokes or bad language are feeling more marginalized every day. I don’t mind if you like that stuff, but I do mind that it’s being pushed on me. We have to cut ourselves off from the MTM (Main Stream Media) more to preserve the culture we value. And MTM is clueless to what we think.
After the Janet Jackson Super Bowl debacle we hear constant complaints from the media outlets.
They just don’t get it. We’re not the ones that don’t understand the universe.
They’re the ones that don’t understand that off color humor and foul language are like garbage being dumped into our living rooms.
~~~~~
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really complaining, I’m glad we’ve chosen the path less traveled. I look at the life I’ve had and the life we live and it’s supremely satisfying. Married to the wife of my youth (who also happens to be the love of my life), with great kids, super in laws, and fantastic grand kids. Family is a big part of our life but the biggest is the family of God.
Thank God that Annette was unrelenting in her faith and prayers for our kids and me.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
The Road Not Taken is a poem by Robert Frost, published in 1916 in his collection Mountain Interval.
~~~~~
The Razorback’s lost today. LSU won by five points in a great, hard fought game. I’m disappointed but not dejected.
~~~~~
The photos on the front of this weeks “Bleat” are from Thanksgiving at Vanessa and Jimmy’s home. Claiborne watching the kids play, Annette and Josiah, the gang eating on the porch and Annette and Ethan.
Speaking of Thanksgiving again, if not for the grace of God and the skill and hard work of Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, etc. Vanessa and Ethan wouldn’t have been here.
Thanks again Lord.
~~~~~
Columbia Christian School Fruit/Meat Fundraiser
FRUIT / MEAT FUNDRAISER
Cause: Columbia Christian School
Contact: Paula Mosier at ext 6514 or 234-5112 or come by my office
Deadline: November 28, 2006
Make checks payable to: Columbia Christian School
Delivery: Scheduled week of December 11, 2006
To view the Fruit and Meat that is available, go to www.riverstarfarms.com
and click on fruit products or meat products
~~~~~
WEE Care Daycare at Central Baptist Church is having a fund-raiser.
It is a Grilled Chicken dinner with potato, green beans, roll, and dessert.
It will be held from 5:00-6:30pm on Tuesday, November 28th.
Drive-thru pick-up at Central Baptist Church on Madison Drive.
Tickets are only $8.00 each.
A delivery can be made to the plant at 6:00 if anyone working that night would like it.
Please call Chris McCook at x6215 on B Crew in the lab, or at home at
901-0004.
~~~~~
Dr. Steven N. Blair, professor and executive lecturer at the University of South Carolina, will be the guest speaker at the annual Albemarle Lecture to be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Foundation Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center located on the campus of Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
~~~~~
The Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Christmas parade on Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 4:30 pm. The parade will once again kick-off an evening of Christmas festivities hosted by Southern Arkansas University for the community’s enjoyment. The theme for the parade this year will be A King is Born, Christmas 2006. Parade Chairs are Kelli Souter and Charles Tripp.
If you are in the Magnolia area on November 30, please come out for the Celebration of Lights that takes place on the SAU campus. Our campus is truly breathtaking when all the lights come on. SAU students, faculty, and staff put countless hours into getting ready for this event, and it is all done for the enjoyment of SAU family, friends, and community.
~~~~~
Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
~~~~~
We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com or http://www.bugsbleat2q.blogspot.com. Older issues can be found at http://www.bugsbleatfirst.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat3q05.blogspot.com, and http://www.bugsbleat4q05.blogspot.com. Our photos are posted at http://www.bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com.
~~~~~
Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
www.aaa.com Regular - - Current Avg. $ 2.24 - - http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - We’re sharing recipes from Shannon Voigt’s Taylor Recipe Book

In honor of the season, we’ve recalled “Manny's Good Fudge”
¾ cup butter
3 cups sugar
2/3 cup canned milk
Boil for five minutes, and then add
1 package 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 jar marshmallow cream
Vanilla,
Nuts as desired.
Spread on a greased pan and cut when cool.

Her Divinity
SYRUP
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup Karo
¼ cup water
Boil syrup until you can spin a thread. Pour into two beaten egg whites. Beat till fluffy. Add nuts to taste. Pour onto greased plate. Cut after it firms.
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson

What Happened AFTER the Feast
11/24/2006
The Rest of the Thanksgiving Story

Thanksgiving is just about my favorite holiday—a wonderful combination of family, faith, and American-style religious freedom. I love the story of those hardy Pilgrims, and I love eating turkey and pumpkin pie and gathering with family.

Many of us tend to think of the first Thanksgiving feast as the official end to all the Pilgrims' difficulties. Wrong: Their survival would remain in jeopardy for years to come. And yet, no matter how difficult things became, they never failed to offer thanks to God.

As every school child knows, the Pilgrims arrived in the New World in the winter of 1620. As the freezing weeks passed, nearly half their number died. It was a terrible time, but by spring, things began to improve. Friendly Indians helped the Pilgrims plant their crops. By October 1621, the fields yielded a harvest large enough to sustain the colony in the coming winter. The grateful Pilgrims invited their Indian friends to a three-day feast of thanksgiving to God.

That's where the story typically ends—for us. But for the Pilgrims, the hardships went on. The next month, a ship arrived with thirty-five new colonists. But to the Pilgrims' dismay, they brought no provisions. The entire colony was forced to go on half rations that winter. At one point, with food running out, everyone was forced onto a daily ration of just five kernels of corn.

As my friend Barbara Rainey writes in her book, Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember, by spring, the colony was weakened by hunger and sickness. While the bay and creeks were full of fish, the Pilgrims' nets had rotted. Were it not for shellfish, which could be dug by hand, they would have perished. Despite the great difficulties, they thanked God for His provision.

More ships arrived that year, usually bringing newcomers with no supplies. Pilgrim father William Bradford wrote in his journal that, given the poor harvest, it "appeared that famine must still ensue the next year also."

By April 1623, the conditions were desperate. The Pilgrims planted double the corn of the previous year, only to see a drought several weeks long threaten the precious crop. In response, the Pilgrims held a day of fasting and prayer, asking God for rain. Pilgrim father Edward Winslow wrote that by evening, "The weather was overcast, [and] the clouds gathered on all sides." It was the beginning of two weeks of rainfall. The crop was saved, and that fall, the harvest was abundant. Another Thanksgiving feast was arranged, and again the Indians took part. As Winslow wrote, "Another solemn day was set apart . . . wherein we returned glory, honor, and praise, with all thankfulness to our God who dwelt so graciously with us."

They prayed this, remember, at the end of two terrible years filled with famine, hard work, and the loss of many loved ones.

As we gather with our families to celebrate our blessings, we ought to remember what happened to the Pilgrims after the feasting was over. Their steadfast trust in God is a reminder that we, too, need to trust in God, even in the most difficult circumstances—and thank Him.

May God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving.

This commentary first aired on November 24, 2005.

For Further Reading and Information

Apply today for the 2007 Centurions Program and study Biblical worldview for a year with Chuck Colson! Deadline for applications is next week!—November 30.

Barbara Rainey, Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember (Crossway, 2003).

Ellen Vaughn, Radical Gratitude (Zondervan, 2005).

Eric Metaxas, Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving (Thomas Nelson, 1999).

BreakPoint Commentary No. 051103, “‘Having Undertaken for the Glory of God’: The Mayflower Compact.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 061123, “‘God’s Instrument’: The Story of Squanto.”

Read portions of Governor William Bradford’s journal.

Anne Morse, “A Willful Forgetting: America Still Owes Gratitude for What the Lord Has Done,” BreakPoint Online, 23 November 2005.

The BreakPoint Web site and BreakPoint WorldView Magazine feature Colson’s commentaries as well as feature articles by other established and up-and-coming writers to equip readers with a biblical perspective on a variety of issues and topics.
© 2004-2006 Prison Fellowship
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
bootless: unavailing; useless.
proclivity: a natural inclination.
exacerbate: to aggravate; to make worse.
subaltern: subordinate.
mollify: to reduce in intensity; to soothe; to soften.
trencherman: a hearty eater.
avoirdupois: weight; heaviness.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak." - William Congreve

"Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Open-mindedness is not the same as empty-mindedness. To hang out a sign saying, 'Come right in; there is no one at home' is not the equivalent of hospitality." - John Dewey

"It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring." - Alfred Adler

"Friendship is nothing else than an accord in all things, human and divine, conjoined with mutual goodwill and affection, and I am inclined to think that, with the exception of wisdom, no better thing has been given to man by the immortal gods." - Cicero

"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative - or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people." - Sir John Templeton

"The habit of ignoring Nature is deeply implanted in our times. This attitude reminds me of people who never look you in the eye; I find them disturbing and always have to look away." - Marc Chagall
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Evangelist Marvels at Divine Appointment that Underlines the Importance of the Great Commission
Parental Consent Laws Work to Reduce Teen Sex According to New Study
Christian Leaders and Media Reps Gather to Discuss Solutions to Media Bias
Christian Workers Praised at U.K. Conference — Said to Have Positive Impact on the Workplace

In the Words of Franklin D. Roosevelt: Thanksgiving Proclamations during War
Wal-Mart Makes an About Face—AFA Calls Off Holiday Boycott
Christian Parents of Beheaded Schoolgirls Forgive Islamic Murderers
Canadian "Singing Soldiers" From WWII Reunite to Testify to God's Faithfulness

Christian Conversions on Rise in Morocco
Revival of Christianity in Europe
NBA Pro Michael Redd Shoots for God and Teammates While Working Toward a Championship
Science Proves there is a God in Lee Strobel's Case for a Creator

95-Year-Old Woman Prepares to Graduate and Thanks God
Hollywood Studio Execs Get Crash Course in "Christianity 101"
Sales of Contemporary Christian/Gospel Music Have "outpaced all other industry genres" in 2006, So Far
Study Finds: Coffee Is the No. 1 Source of Cell-Protecting Antioxidants in the U.S. Diet

Secret Santa's Identity is Finally Revealed after 27 Years of Anonymity
20,000 College-Age Students Expected to Take Part in 2-Location Passion '07 Conference in January
President Bush Prays With Christians in Vietnam
Not Just a "Drop in the Bucket" — One by One, There's Hope amid the Tragedy in Uganda

The Elephant Stampede that brought People to Christ and Birthed New Ministries
National Family Week, Nov. 19 – 25th, 2006 — By the President of the United States of America; a Proclamation
A "Table in the Wilderness" that Feeds Thousands
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
GCF: After-Thanksgiving Poem

This is a repeat from the GCF Archives
--------------------------------------

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! A smile will enhance the quality of your life. Just send an email to: good-clean-fun-subscribe@egroups.com or visit the Good Clean Fun web site http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor/ UNSUBSCRIBE INFO for Good Clean Fun is at the end of this email. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus before it was sent.
------------------------------

I ate too much Turkey, I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie.
I'm stuffed up with muffins and too much stuffin'
I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.
But I wish I had known when to stop,
For I'm so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams
That my buttons are starting to pop!

I'm full of tomatoes and french fried potatoes
My stomach is swollen and sore,
But there's still some dessert so I guess it won't hurt if
I eat just a little bit more!
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: 12 Reasons to be Thankful You Burnt the Turkey

This is a repeat from the GCF Archives
--------------------------------------

1. Salmonella won't be a concern.
2. Everyone will think your turkey is Cajun blackened.
3. Uninvited guests will think twice next year.
4. Your cheese broccoli lima bean casserole will gain newfound appreciation.
5. Pets won't bother to pester you for scraps.
6. No one will overeat.
7. The smoke alarm was due for a test.
8. Carving the bird will provide a good cardiovascular workout.
9. You'll get to the desserts even quicker.
10. After dinner, the guys can take the bird to the yard and play football.
11. The less turkey Uncle You-Know-Who eats, the less likely he will be to walk around with his pants unbuttoned.
12. You won't have to face three weeks of turkey sandwiches.
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Grandfather Turkey

This is a repeat from the GCF Archives
--------------------------------------

Just before Thanksgiving, the holding pen was abuzz as Mother Turkey scolded her younger birds. "You turkeys are always into mischief," she gobbled. "If your grandfather could see the things you do, he'd turn over in his gravy."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Thanksgiving Recipes by Kids

This is a repeat from the GCF Archives
--------------------------------------

A Thanksgiving Cookbook
by Mrs. Geraghty's Kindergarten Class

NOTE: Mrs. Geraghty will not be responsible for medical bills resulting from use of her cookbook.

Ivette - Banana Pie:
You buy some bananas and crust. Then you mash them up and put them in the pie. Then you eat it.

Russell - Turkey
You cut the turkey up and put it in the oven for ten minutes and 300 degrees. You put gravy on it and eat it.

Geremy - Turkey
You buy the turkey and take the paper off. Then you put it in the refrigerator and take it back out and cut it with a knife and make sure all the wires are out and take out the neck and heart. Then you put it in a big pan and cook it for half an hour at 80 degrees. Then you invite people over and eat.

Andrew - Pizza
Buy some dough, some cheese and pepperoni. Then you cook it for 10 hours at 5 degrees. Then you eat it.

Shelby - Applesauce
Go to the store and buy some apples, and then you squish them up. Then you put them in a jar that says, "Applesauce". Then you eat it.

Meghan H. - Turkey
You cut it into 16 pieces and then you leave it in the oven for 15 minutes and 4 degrees. you take it out and let it cool and then after 5 minutes, then you eat it.

Danny - Turkey
You put some salt on it to make it taste good. Then you put it in the oven. Then you cook it for an hour at 5 degrees. Then you eat it.

Brandon - Turkey
First you buy it at Fred Meyer. Then you cut it up and cook it for 15 hours at 200 degrees. Then you take it out and eat it.

Megan K - Chicken
You put it in the oven for 25 minutes and 25 degrees and put gravy on it and eat it.

Christa - Cookies
Buy some dough and smash it and cut them out. Then put them in the oven for 2 hours at 100 degrees. Then take them out and dry them off. Then it's time to eat them.

Irene - Turkey
Put it on a plate and put it in the oven with gravy. You cook it for 1 minute and for 100 degrees. Then it's all cooked. Your mom or dad cuts it and then eat.

Moriah - Turkey
First you cut the bones out. Then you put it in the oven for 10 hours at 600 degrees. Then you put it on the table and eat it.

Vincent - Turkey
You cut and put sauce on it. Then you cook it for 18 minutes at 19 degrees. Then you eat it with stuffing.

Jordyn - Turkey
First you have to cut it up and put it on a plate in the oven for 9 minutes and 18 degrees. Then you dig it out of the oven and eat it.

Grace - Turkey
First you add some salt. Then you put it in a bowl. Then you put brown sugar on it. Then you mix it all together with a spoon and then you add some milk and mix it again. And then you put it in a pan. Then you put it in the oven for 15 minutes and 16 degrees. Then you take it out of the oven and then you eat it.

Alan - Turkey
First you shoot it and then you cut it. And then you put it in the oven and cook it for 10 minutes and 20 degrees. You put it on plates and then you eat it.

Jordan S - Chocolate Pudding
Buy some chocolate pudding mix. Then you add the milk. Then you add the pudding mix. Then you stir it. Then you put it in the refrigerator and wait for it to get hard. Then you eat it.

Whitney - Turkey
Cut it and put it in the oven for 50 minutes at 60 degrees and then you eat it.

Jason - Chicken Pie
Put the chicken in the pot and put the salad and cheese and mustard and then you mix it all together. Then put chicken sauce and stir it all around again. Then you cook it for 5 minutes at 9 degrees. Then you eat it.

Christopher - Pumpkin Pie
First you buy a pumpkin and smash it. Then it is all done. And you cook it in the oven for 12 minutes and 4 degrees. Then you eat it.

Christine - Turkey
First you buy the turkey. Then you cook it for 5 hours and 5 degrees. Then you cut it up and you eat it.

Ashley - Chicken
Put it in the oven. Then cut it up. Then I eat it.

Jennie - Corn
My mom buys it. Then you throw it. Then you cook it. Then you eat it.

Jordan - Cranberry Pie
Put cranberry juice in it. Then you put berries in it. Then you put dough in it. Then you bake it. Then you eat it.

Adam - Pumpkin Pie
First you put pumpkin seeds in it. Put it in a pan and bake it at 5 degrees for 6 minutes. Then take it out and eat it.

Jarryd - Deer Jerky
Put it in the oven overnight at 20 degrees. Then you go hunting and bring it with you. Then you eat it.

Christina - Turkey
Get the turkey. Put it in the oven. Cook it for 43 minutes at 35 degrees. Put it on a plate, cut it up, then eat it.

Joplyn - Apple Pie
Take some apples, mash them up. Take some bread and make a pie with it. Get some dough and squish it. Shape the dough into a pie shape. Put the apples in it. Then bake it at 9 degrees for 15 minutes.

Isabelle - Spaghetti
Put those red things in it. Then put the spaghetti in it. Then cook it in the oven for 2 minutes at 8 degrees.

Bailey - Chicken
Put pepper and spices on it. Cook for one hour at 60 degrees. Then eat it.

Nicholas - White and Brown Pudding
First you read the wrapper. Get a piece of water. Stir. Then you eat it.

Sean - Turkey
Put it in the oven for 5 minutes at 55 degrees. Take it out and eat it.

Lauren - Turkey
First you find a turkey and kill it. Cut it open. Put it in a pan. Pour milk in the pan. Put a little chicken with it. Put salsa on it. Take out of pan. Put it on the board. Cut into little pieces. Put on a rack. Put in the oven for 7 minutes at 10 degrees. Take out of the oven and put eensy weensy bit of sugar on it. Put a little more salsa on it. Then you eat it.

Olivia - Corn
Get hot water and put on stove. Wait for 8 minutes. Put corn in. Then put it on a plate. Then eat.

Siera - Pumpkin Pie
Get some pumpkin and dough for the crust. Get pumpkin pie cinnamon. Cook it for 20 minutes at 10 degrees.

Kayla - Turkey
Buy it. Take it home. Then you cook it. Put it in the oven for 1 hour. Take it out of the oven. Put it on a plate. Then you eat it.

Tommy - Pumpkin
Cook the pumpkin. Then get ready to eat the pumpkin

Wai - Pumpkin Pie
Get a pumpkin. Cook it. Eat it.
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: I Am Thankful.....

Tom's note: Many places in the world set aside a time to give thanks, usually a Fall/Autumn festival. While the customs may vary from country to country, the desire to reflect on the blessings of life is common.

Here in the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, a tradition of remembering the Pilgrims and settling in the New World. Our Canadian neighbors celebrate on the second Monday in October, giving thanks for a successful harvest. Canada is further north and thus, the harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States. As a bit of Thanksgiving trivia, the first formal Canadian Thanksgiving was held about 40 years prior to the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.

No matter where you are from, it is a time for families to get together, give thanks, and celebrate with food (turkey is one of the traditional items). And don't forget football (I bet those Pilgrims loosened their big ol' buckles and just stared at the camp fire ... until half-time).

Thanksgiving also marks the unofficial beginning of the winter holiday season. All the humor at Good Clean Fun this week will be of the Thanksgiving genre.

This is a repeat from the GCF Archives
--------------------------------------

...for the taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed.

...for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

...for the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

...for my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

...for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

...for all the complaining I hear about the government because it means we have freedom of speech.

...for the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.

...for the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.

...for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.

...for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

...for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.

...for getting too much email because it lets me know I have friends who are thinking of me.
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Dieting is wishful shrinking. \ /
\ _/ \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Far too many people spend their \ /
\ _/ lives reading the menu instead \_ /
/ / of enjoying the banquet. \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Far too many people spend their \ /
\ _/ lives reading the menu instead \_ /
/ / of enjoying the banquet. \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / Learn from the past. \ \_/ ////
\ / Live for today. \ /
\ _/ Look for tomorrow. \_ /
/ / Take a nap this afternoon. \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / A mother is a woman who can \ \_/ ////
\ / bake a cake with six other \ /
\ _/ hands helping her and \_ /
/ / still have it turn out fine. \ _ ____________________________ _
Thomas S. Ellsworth
tellswor@slonet.org
http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor
____________________________
Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
[GCFL.net] You Might Be a Redneck This Thanksgiving If...

You Might Be a Redneck This Thanksgiving If...

... you've ever had Thanksgiving dinner on a ping-pong table.

... Thanksgiving dinner is squirrel and dumplings.

... you've ever reused a paper plate.

... if you have a complete set of salad bowls and they all say Cool Whip on the side.

... if you've ever used your ironing board as a buffet table.

... your turkey platter is an old hubcap.

... your best dishes have Dixie printed on them.

... your stuffing's secret ingredient comes from the bait shop.

... your only condiment on the dining room table is ketchup.

... side dishes include beef jerky and Moon Pies.

... you have to go outside to get something out of the 'fridge.

... the directions to your house include "turn off the paved road."

... you consider pork and beans to be a gourmet food.

... you have an Elvis Jell-o mold.

... your secret family recipe is illegal.

... you serve Vienna sausage as an appetizer.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Black November

When I was a young turkey, new to the coop, My big brother Mike took me out on the stoop,

Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow, And he told me there was something that I had to know.

His look and his tone I will always remember, When he told me of the horrors of Black November:

"Come about August, now listen to me, Each day you'll get six meals instead of just three,

"And soon you'll be thick, where once you were thin, And you'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin.

"And then one morning, when you're warm in your bed, In'll burst the farmer's wife, and hack off your head.

"Then she'll pluck out all your feathers so you're bald 'n pink, And scoop out all your insides and leave ya lyin' in the sink;

"And then comes the worst part," he said, not bluffing, "She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear with stuffing."

Well, the rest of his words were too grim to repeat, I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat,

And decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked, I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked.

I began a new diet of nuts and granola, High-roughage salads, juice, and diet cola;

And as they ate pastries, chocolates, and crepes, I stayed in my room doing Jane Fonda tapes.

I maintained my weight of two pounds and a half, And tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed;

But 'twas I who was laughing, under my breath, As they chomped and they chewed, ever closer to death.

And sure enough, when Black November rolled around, I was the last turkey left in the entire compound.

So now I'm a pet in the farmer's wife's lap; I haven't a worry, so I eat and I nap.

She held me today, while sewing and humming, And smiled at me and said, "Christmas is coming..."

Happy Thanksgiving

Received from JaRRod DellaChiesa.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Football Announcer

My wife's family and I were at a Harding University football game. Every time someone carried the ball or made a tackle, the announcer would broadcast who had made the play.

Near the beginning of the third quarter after the announcer called a play, my niece, Madison, looked up at my wife and innocently asked, "Is that God talking?"

Received from Chad Reagan.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Thanksgiving Dinner

Little Logan and his family were having Thanksgiving dinner at his grandmother's house. Everyone was seated round the table as the food was being served. When little Logan received his plate, he started eating right away.

"Logan, wait until we say our prayer," his mother reminded him.

"I don't need to," the little boy replied.

"Of course you do!" his mother insisted, "We say a prayer before eating at our house."

"That's at our house," Logan explained, "but this is Grandma's house, and she knows how to cook!"

Received from Mikey's Funnies.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Rate this funny at http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a) Mail address: GCFL, Box 100, Harvest, AL 35749, USA
To print or email this funny to others, go to http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.

*Expecting*

A young private sought permission from his Commanding Officer to leave camp the following weekend. "You see," he explained, "my wife`s expecting."

"Oh..." said the Officer, "I understand. Go ahead and tell your wife that I wish her luck."

The following week the same soldier was back again with the same explanation: "My wife's expecting."

The Officer looked surprised. "Still expecting?" he said, "Well, well, my boy, you must be pretty bothered. Of course you can have the weekend off.

"When the same soldier appeared again the third week, however, the Officer lost his temper. "Don't tell me your wife is still expecting!" he bellowed.

"Yes sir!" said the soldier resolutely, "She`s still expecting." "What on earth is she expecting?" cried the Officer.

"Me." said the soldier simply.

(-:][:-)

*Resurrection Update*

A singing group call "The Resurrection" was scheduled to sing at a church.

Everyone was excited about the concert and looked forward to the event. We were disappointed when a big snowstorm postponed the group's performance.

To let everyone know about the cancellation, the pastor changed the sign outside to read,

"The Resurrection is postponed."

(-:][:-)

*Blah Blah Blah*

The CEO was scheduled to speak at an important convention, so he asked one of his employees to write him a punchy, 20-minute speech.

When the CEO returned from the big event, he was furious.

"What's the idea of writing me an hour-long speech?" he demanded to know.

"Half the audience walked out before I finished."

The employee was baffled. "I wrote you a 20-minute speech," he replied. "I also gave you the two extra copies you asked for."

(-:][:-)

*Moth Madness*

A man walks into a dentist's surgery and says, "Excuse me, can you help me. I think I'm a moth."

"You don't need a dentist. You need a psychiatrist."

"Yes, I know."

"So, why did you come in here?"

"The light was on..."

(-:][:-)

Eye Laugh

"Cat Fangs"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=64

"Thanksgiving Paws"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw343

"Cat Pray"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=74

"Planning a Big Party?"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw294

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Daily devotionals are available at http://link.Crosswalk.Com/UM/T.asp?A1. 39. 17757. 1. 494611 You can access more information on Crosswalk's Fun page http://www.Crosswalk.Com/fun/! Crosswalk gives credit to the author of a joke when author is known. Feel free to send notification to admin@cybersalt.org in cases where credit has not been given to the author! -SUBSCRIPTION INFO- * Copyright2004 Crosswalk.Com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights reserved. Introducing www.Crossguide.Com Where Christians find Products, Services & Ministries.
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The return of the Christmas List. It didn’t really work last year but “Hope Springs Eternal” so here again this year is an old guy’s wish list. I’m going to keep this one running here for the benefit of my family (and anyone else who is so inclined).

Rechargeable Batteries for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (9.6 volts, 600 mAh battery, 2 each (for our two radios)), Yaesu FT-50 (it takes a FNB-83 7.2V1400mAh battery), Yaesu, VX-1 (it takes a FNB-52LI 3.6V 700mAh Lithium-Ion battery).

New “Rubber Ducky” antennas for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (two radios)

Heavy Duty Back Scratcher

Basic tools of any kind

“Boot” Horn

Chair, office $49 from SAMS (5 of them)

Cordless Drill

Cordless Screwdriver

A DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20 device
A copy of DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2006 Plus
A copy of DeLorme Topo USA 5.0

Digital Video Recorder

Eyeglasses, “Computer type” to use at church (and some new ones to use at home and at work.)

Floor Mats (for the truck)

Handkerchiefs

“Happy Birthday” Jesus Offering

Hat (warm, for bald guys winter wear.)

Magnifying Glass.

New “Rain” Style Showerhead

Refrigerator Thermometer

Some Warmup Suits to wear around the house after we get that first gas bill.

Trackball for the home computer

VHS - DVD Recorder

This will continue to grow as the season approaches.
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - A Squirrely Lesson - - http://www.madkane.com/squirrely.html - - Being a feminist, even a moderate feminist like me, can make it tough to dodge duties unsuited to the squeamish. In my case, squirrel removal.

Like most people, I prefer my squirrels outdoors. So I wasn't exactly pleased when a squirrel decided to invade my turf. One morning last winter, when I was barely awake and shuffling down our basement stairs, something with a bushy tail flashed past me, mere inches from my toes. So I ask you, what's a feminist to do? Yell hysterically? Scream for help? Well, ... yes. I also scrambled up the steps, slammed the door, and told myself the squirrel would find its own way out.

For the next few hours I wondered what my squirrel was up to. I even tried to talk myself into marching downstairs and facing him down. Or creeping downstairs and checking things out. Or opening the cellar door just a crack, peering down the steps, and shutting the door fast before the squirrel became suspicious.

What kind of feminist was I, I asked myself, as I paced a floor above the intruder. Surely Gloria Steinem would stand her ground against a tiny rodent. Thank goodness I wasn't famous enough to be a Rush Limbaugh target. "Femi-Nazi hypocritical wimp Madeleine Begun Kane is ascared of a wee little squirrel," he'd surely say if he knew I existed. "It takes a tough man to dispose of a tender squirrel."

I'm embarrassed to admit I remained safely upstairs and waited for my husband Mark to come home. But when he finally heard my tale of the bushy tail, he insisted it must have been a cat. All I had to do, said he, was go downstairs, walk several yards to the cellar's outer door, and let the feline out. So would he take care of it? No, he wasn't that sure it was a cat.

Did you know it's even harder to hire a squirrel-hunter, than to employ a plumber on a Saturday night? Nobody would take the job, although one fellow helpfully furnished some do-it-yourself advice. "Just leave your outside door open, sprinkle flour near the exit, and watch for paw prints."

We did as he suggested, although we suspected that more wildlife would wander in than out. Every morning for the next three days, Mark and I reluctantly braved the basement, hoping to spot paw prints facing the right direction. But our flour remained virginal.

One day, desperation for clean underwear overcame queasiness, and I gingerly approached the washer. Not quite gingerly enough, I'm afraid, for I promptly tripped over something furry and dead. Not only had the squirrel sneaked into our cellar, but he'd had the audacity to croak. Being a mature, adult feminist, I calmly disposed of the carcass, right? Well, ... not exactly. I screamed, bolted upstairs, and left the wretched, retch-inducing chore for my mate.

I didn't claim that it's a man's job, when I asked Mark to dispose of the corpse -- I'd never do that. Instead, I argued that I'd done my share. Had I not spotted the squirrel alive and tripped over it dead? Besides, the next time Mark wouldn't claim I'd seen a cat.

We negotiated one floor away from the decomposing corpse. Finally, Mark agreed to deal with it, but not before extracting my pledge to get rid of the next dead squirrel that crossed our path. It seemed a safe promise at the time.

What I didn't know then is that squirrels enjoy doing acrobatics on branches one-gazillionth their weight. And that several months later, a chunky, failed trapeze-artist squirrel would plummet to its death in our yard. And that Mark would say "Your turn," and escape to the sanctuary of his office. I'll admit it. As I faced that second squirrel, I yearned to beg Mark to make it go away. "Dead squirrel disposal is a man's job," I longed to say.

But this time, I knew where my responsibility lay -- on a broken, bloody pile. Yes, fifty/fifty means fifty/fifty ... even when you're talking dead squirrels. So I shoveled the rodent remains into a trash bag, hosed the yard down, and celebrated with a shower.

Only one task remained; a phone message to Mark -- one that was sure to make the rounds of his office. "It's safe to come home," I said. "I've disposed of the dead squirrel."

I never said feminists can't be braggarts.

http://www.madkane.com
http://www.madkane.com/notable.html (Notables Weblog)
http://www.madkane.com/bush.html (Dubya's Dayly Diary)
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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AskOxford.com - - http://www.askoxford.com/ - - Searchable online version of the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, as well as thesauri, quotations, foreign language dictionaries, a word of the day, and games.
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Seven Wonders of the Modern World - - http://www.asce.org/history/seven_wonders.cfm - - As a tribute to modern society's ability to achieve the unachievable, reach unreachable heights, and scorn the notion of 'it can't be done,' in 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers sought nominations from across the globe for the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The chosen projects pay tribute to the greatest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century. Related sites: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World / Seven Wonders of the World.
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American Rhetoric - - http://www.americanrhetoric.com/ - - Index to and growing database of 5000+ full text, audio and video (streaming) versions of public speeches, sermons, legal proceedings, lectures, debates, interviews, other recorded media events, and a declaration or two.
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Library of Congress: Panoramic Photographs - - http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/panoramic_photo/ - - The Panoramic Photograph Collection contains approximately four thousand images featuring American cityscapes, landscapes, and group portraits. These panoramas offer an overview of the nation, its enterprises and its interests, with a focus on the start of the twentieth century when the panoramic photo format was at the height of its popularity.
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Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids - - http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ - - This site provides learning tools for K-12 students, parents, and teachers. These resources will teach how our government works, the use of the primary source materials of GPO Access, and how one can use GPO Access to carry out their civic responsibilities. And, just as GPO Access provides locator services to U.S. Government sites, Ben's Guide provides a similar service to U.S. Government Web sites developed for kids.
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How Thanksgiving Works - - http://people.howstuffworks.com/thanksgiving.htm - - Thanksgiving stands out in the holiday season because it is open to just about everybody. It isn't tied to any specific religion, and you can pretty much celebrate it however you want. The only essential traditions are to enjoy a meal with friends or family and to give thanks for what you have. Have you ever wondered where the particulars of this story and the other details of Thanksgiving actually come from? In this HowStuffWorks article, you'll learn the origins of the many things associated with Thanksgiving Day. Related site: Epicurious.com: Thanksgiving Recipes and Cooking Tips.
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Congress Votes Database - - http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/ - - Every vote in the U.S. Congress since 1991 has been gathered at this site by the Washington Post. Check out the outcomes of the latest bills, see how senators and House members vote, and sign up for RSS notification on individual members of Congress.
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Safety from the Heart
-----------------------------------------------------
November 20, 2006

Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Slade Shealy.

The weather is getting colder and soon enough there will be ice on the ground. These icy spots will create dangerous slipping hazards.

A couple of years ago I almost hit the ground coming out of the hallway where HR is located. When these cement steps get a layer of ice on them, they are very slippery. Yet, these are the same steps I walk on at least 1000 times a year with no problem. But now that I've almost fallen once, I think about it whenever it's cold. I'm sure that this is an everyday issue this time of year at some of our plants in colder regions, but in South Carolina it can take you by surprise.

Please be aware of this hazard as the temperature drops.

Slade
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Our Church, Magnolia Christian Center, has the following mission statement. Our purpose is to build a great church for the glory of God through the great commission and the great commandment. MCC' Vision - That MCC will be a place hopping with children, energized with teenagers, balanced with diversity and transformed by the power of God! We want to turn uninterested people into interested people and win the lost to make fully devoted followers of Christ. www.mcc2000.net
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Magnolia Fire Fighters Killed in the Line of Duty
Carl Wallace Magnolia Fire Dept. September 21, 1944
Gaston Walthall Magnolia Fire Dept. September 21, 1944
Ollie Ware Magnolia Fire Dept. September 21, 1944
All died at an Oil Well Fire.
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A REAL FRIEND

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself (and doesn't feel even the least bit weird shutting your 'beer/Pepsi drawer' with their foot!)

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend, comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after they've gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend calls you after you had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them (That's why he or she's not my friend anymore!!!).
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

Thanks to David Kirkpatrick
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Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Thanks to Paul Vaughn
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Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive and some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, THAT is the source of your problems and stress."

"Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and then began eyeing each other's cups."

"Now consider this: Life is the coffee . . . and the jobs, houses, cars, things, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups.

Enjoy your coffee!"

Thanks to David Kirkpatrick
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A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. "

The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly.

They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, "You have seen Hell." They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-
handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand." " It is simple" said
the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed
each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of you!

Thanks to David Kirkpatrick
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Activities and Events of Interest
~~~
The Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the Clinton Library September 22-25, 2007.
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"September 11 WDYTJWD" W. P. Florence
Justice first, then peace."
"September 11" Never forget.--Tony Moses
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD ...the only way"--Phillip Story
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Keeping my head down but face toward Heaven" - - Jody Eldred, ABC News Cameraman in Kuwait
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - - George Carlin
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!" - - Queen E. Watson
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NEVER FORGET! We're listing the names of our soldiers killed weekly. These records can be found at http://www.defenselink. mil/releases/

01. Cpt. John R. Dennison, 24, of Ijamsville, MD, died on Nov. 15 in Balad, Iraq, as a result of small arms fire. Dennison was assigned to 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

02. Lance Cpl. Jeremy S. Shock, 22, of Tiffin, Ohio, died Nov. 19 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Perrysburg, Ohio.

03. Spc. Bradley N. Shilling, 22, of Stanwood, Mich., died Nov. 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Shilling was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), Big Rapids, Mich.

04. Spc. Eric Vizcaino, 21, of New Mexico, died Nov. 21 in Balad, Iraq, of injuries suffered Nov. 20 in Samarra, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident. Vizcaino was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

05. Lance Cpl. Joshua C. Alonzo, 21, of Dumas, Texas, died November 22 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

06. Sgt. James P. Musack, 23, of Riverside, Iowa, died of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident in Samarra, Iraq, on Nov. 21. The incident is under investigation.
Musack was assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

~~

Soldier Missing in Action from the Korean War is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Pfc. Charles H. Long, U.S. Army, of Durand, Ill. He will be buried Nov. 25 in Durand.

Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

On March 24, 1953, Long was one of four men from L Company,3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, who was declared missing in action after engaging enemy forces north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on what came to be known as Pork Chop Hill. The bodies of two of the MIAs were recovered and a third MIA was returned alive during Operation Big Switch after having been captured by Chinese Communist Forces. Long remained unaccounted-for, and was eventually declared dead on March 24, 1954.

In 1993, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) gave United Nations officials 33 boxes with human remains of alleged U.S. servicemen who were unaccounted-for. The DPRK recovered the remains near Komsa-ri in Kangwon Province, which was near Long’s last known location. Also included in one of the boxes were Long’s social security and identification cards along with identification tags.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169 .

http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq. Times have been and are very tough and it would be nice if you would all just say a prayer for their safety and for their families.
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Scheduled Activities
~~~
Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
~~~
MCC - "Faith Builders" Small group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
~~~
MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
~~~
MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
~~~
Men's Prayer Breakfast held every Tuesday morning at 6 AM in Miller's Cafeteria. If you aren't a regular participant at the Men's Prayer Breakfast, you're missing some great food, fellowship and inspired teaching of the Word. Hope to see you there.
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Emergency Phone Number 911
(Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sheriff, etc. )
Central Dispatch 234-5655
(Non - Emergency Number)
Direct Numbers
Ambulance - 234-7371 (24 Hour)
Jail - 234-5331 (24 Hour)
Poison Control - 800-222-1222 (24 Hour)
http://www. aapcc. org/
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"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
"Laugh whenever you can and cry if you need to." -- "Bug"
"I read the end of the book. We win!" -- "Bug"
"We may not be able to cure the world, but we don't have to make it sicker." -- "Bug"
"There just ain't enough fingers for all the holes in the dike." - - "Bug"
"It's no big deal doing what God tells you to do. A big deal would be NOT doing what God tells you to do. Just ask Jonah." - - Paul Troquille
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." - - Tony Blair
"Information is the currency of democracy." - Jefferson
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Psa 107:1-2, 21-22, 43 Psa 27:1-3 Psa 27:1-3 Psa 106:42-45 http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful
CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

P. S. If you'd like to be added to the distribution, just drop us E-mail at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com. We offer "Da Bleat" as text, a "Blog" and as a newsletter with pictures in Word and PDF format. The latest issue is usually updated sometime Saturday. For the "Blog" version just go to one of the several addresses on the web. For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com or http://www.bugsbleat3q06.blogspot.com. Older issues can be found at http://www.bugsbleatfirst.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat3q05.blogspot.com, and http://www.bugsbleat4q05.blogspot.com. We also have a site [http://bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com/] where we post photos that I like.
Let us hear from you if we can switch you over to the "Word" or "PDF" version of "Da Bleat".
If you'd prefer to read "Da Blog" version, just drop us a note at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com and we'll switch you from e:mail delivery to "Da Bleat" Blog. We appreciate your encouragement. We also appreciate your communication when you desire to be taken off our mail list. If you are on this mail list by mistake or do not wish to receive "Da Bleat," please reply back and tell us to discontinue service to you. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2006 before it was sent. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Hospital Information - - Photos

David Kirkpatrick, John Kennedy, and Jim Ford adjust the pump on "Unit 911" during our Mutual Aid Training November 14th.
David Pry and Bud Horne "Debrief" the trainees from several local fire departments. 

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Hospital Information - - Photos

John Kennedy and Bubba Whittemore "break down" our "Crossfire" monitor after Mutual Aid Training on the 14th.
Dennis Elledge Secures "Unit 911" 

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Hospital Information

Volume 8, Issue 46 Friday, November 17, 2006

Hello All,

The election is over, Thanksgiving is coming. I guess most everyone has plans. We’re going to Jimmy and Vanessa’s for Thanksgiving in Cullen, LA.
Every year I like to try to thank the people who made and make our lives special. This year I’d like to start with Corky at Miller’s cafeteria. He greets his customers with a terribly rendered song and charges Annette whatever he feels like. Some days she pays a dollar for her lunch, some days a little more. He hosts the weekly men’s prayer breakfast and always has a smile for us.
Of course, I have to say special thanks to Glenda, “Linda”, Shelley and Dr. Murphy for taking my blood every week as well as Nancy for giving me my weekly shot and encouraging me to keep on keeping on. Dr. Rushing and Dr. Mendelsohm are vital to us also. And we can’t forget Don Dumas who give us drugs when we need them as well as a smile and a kind word.
Jackie Bridges and Ricky and the other folks at Bridges Auto who keep our vehicles running are also important. Having them takes a lot of stress out of our lives.
Our Magnolia Christian Center family is very important to us. They’re too many to name but Sim and Traci, Robert and Kelley, Ann, Tommy, Leslie, Pastor, Jim and Shirley, Royce, Verna and Gary, Brandon, Stephen, Jules, Ronnie, Matt, Joe, Donna, Pattie, John, and, of course, Keith.
After trying to name people at church, I’m wising up and will just say that I couldn’t make it through the day without the help of the people I work with. Their kindness, consideration and patience with me are more than I deserve.
This isn’t all, but you get the idea. Our lives are richer because of you.
~~~~~
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without remembering our military and civilian forces in the Mideast as well as around the world. These folks are on the line for us back home.
Please remember to pray for them. If you know a family with a soldier in harms way, call them this holiday and tell them you appreciate their sacrifice.
~~~~~
We called Ted and Debbie Sigman in Danvers, MA. I was best man at their wedding many years ago. They have two grown girls who are teachers like their dad. We hope to see them in a couple of years when Ted retires or we go up northeast to see the fall foliage.
~~~~~
MCC is taking family photos to raise money for a new TV Camera. Annette has been there day and night helping register families. We got all the kids in and took a big family photo.
~~~~~
WEE Care Daycare at Central Baptist Church is having a fund-raiser.
It is a Grilled Chicken dinner with potato, green beans, roll, and dessert.
It will be held from 5:00-6:30pm on Tuesday, November 28th.
Drive-thru pick-up at Central Baptist Church on Madison Drive.
Tickets are only $8.00 each.
A delivery can be made to the plant at 6:00 if anyone working that night would like it.
Please call Chris McCook at x6215 on B Crew in the lab, or at home at
901-0004.
~~~~~
The Razorback’s are still in the quest for the SEC title.
~~~~~
Columbia Christian School Fruit/Meat Fundraiser
FRUIT / MEAT FUNDRAISER
Cause: Columbia Christian School
Contact: Paula Mosier at ext 6514 or 234-5112 or come by my office
Deadline: November 28, 2006
Make checks payable to: Columbia Christian School
Delivery: Scheduled week of December 11, 2006
To view the Fruit and Meat that is available, go to www.riverstarfarms.com
and click on fruit products or meat products
~~~~~
Our sincere sympathy is extended to I.J. and Cindy Borne in the death of I.J.'s mother
~~~~~
The Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Christmas parade on Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 4:30 pm. The parade will once again kick-off an evening of Christmas festivities hosted by Southern Arkansas University for the community’s enjoyment. The theme for the parade this year will be A King is Born, Christmas 2006. Parade Chairs are Kelli Souter and Charles Tripp.
~~~~~
The photos on the front of this weeks “Bleat” are from this year’s “Mutual Aid” fire training at Albemarle. David Pry and Bud Horne exhort the participants. Jim Ford, John Kennedy and David Krikpatrick adjust the fire pump. Dennis Elledge secures the monitor discharge. John Kennedy and Bubba Whittemore secure the portable monitor.
~~~~~
Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
~~~~~
We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com or http://www.bugsbleat2q.blogspot.com. Older issues can be found at http://www.bugsbleatfirst.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat3q05.blogspot.com, and http://www.bugsbleat4q05.blogspot.com. Our photos are posted at http://www.bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com.
~~~~~
Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
www.aaa.com Regular - -Current Avg. $ 2.06 - - http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - We’re sharing recipes from Shannon Voigt’s Taylor Recipe Book
Coach House Chicken - - Uncle Ben’s Rice
Ingredients:
1 (2 cup) bag Uncle Ben’s Boil in Bag Rice
4 Tyson Holly Farms Chicken Breasts
¼ cup butter
12 green onion tops, chopped
1 ½ cups shiitake mushrooms, cut in half
½ tsp. salt
¼ pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
2 Tbsp. white wine or vermouth
1 Tbsp. olive oil
4 artichoke hearts, quartered

Method:
Prepare rice according to package directions and set aside. Rinse chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut into strips. Melt butter in large fry pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. Add green onions to pan and sauté about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, salt, pepper and garlic and continue to cook, stirring about 2 minutes more. Add wine, olive oil and artichoke hearts; simmer 2 minutes. Return chicken to pan and stir gently until heated through. Serve chicken and vegetables over rice.
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson

Sleazy-Chic
By Mark Earley
11/17/2006
A Remedy for Raunchy Teen T-Shirts

Note: This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley.

If you spend any time near a mall or a high school these days, you’ve probably seen them: provocative T-shirts. Young girls walk by wearing tight T-shirts reading “Your boyfriend is a good kisser,” or “Yes, but not with U!”, or, “I am too hot to handle.”

Good grief! Whatever happened to those T-shirts with the smiley face—the ones that said, “Have a Nice Day”?

Washington Post writer Ian Shapira says T-shirts today are “blatantly sexual . . . and often loaded with double meanings.” The shirts are “emblematic of the kind of sleazy-chic culture some teenagers now inhabit.” It’s a culture, he says, “in which status can be defined by images of sexual promiscuity.”

Teens in Washington-area high schools told Shapira that they wore the T-shirts, in part, to rebel against school dress codes that they felt were too restrictive. Others wear them to give themselves “a little edge.”

Parents don’t like the shirts, but they say they’d rather pick other battles with their daughters. One mother acknowledged that her daughter’s racy T-shirt might give people the wrong impression about her daughter, but says: “I know that she is not sexually active. Who cares what [other people] think?”

The article caught the eye of several bloggers on BreakPoint’s new blog site, The Point. The writers—some of whom have daughters of their own—tore into the piece.

Regarding that mother who didn’t care what people thought about her daughter’s raunchy T-shirt, blogger Catherina Hurlburt wrote: “Oh, Mom, you should care very much what people think . . . actions are birthed in thoughts and imagination. . . . The message invites a conversation. The conversation leads to flirting and suggestions. . . . [which] lead to, ahem, after-school activities—and I don’t mean football practice or band,” she wrote.

She’s right—but unfortunately, “There are few alternatives to the dirty T-shirt trend,” said blogger Christina Holder. For instance, abstinence groups design apparel “as political billboards,” but they have little appeal “to adolescent fashionistas.”

While fashion may not seem important to you and me as adults, it is to kids. While Christian daughters may agree that vulgar T-shirts are out, they still want edgy, fashionable clothing.

As Holder put it, “Ever since the fall, when Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves into clothing, fashion has been part of our world—whether we like it or not. Reaching the culture with the Truth means we have to find channels through the culture. Fashion is a channel in a teenager’s life”—which means fashion is a field some Christians ought to enter.

What might be an “edgy” T-shirt for Christian girls? How about “Pet Your Dog, Not Your Date”? Or, “He’s Leading You On,” a T-shirt citing Hebrews 12:2, about how Jesus guides us. Both of those are available through Christian-run companies. Better still, mothers and daughters could get out the glitter and design their own T-shirts.

Shirts with hip, edgy messages about Christ just might attract the right kind of attention from the kids at school—one that allows teens to share, in a sleazy-chic world, the cleansing and life-changing power of a holy Christ.

And while you’re at it—have a nice day!

For Further Reading and Information

Today’s BreakPoint offer: Subscribe today to BreakPoint WorldView magazine! Call 1-877-322-5527.

Ian Shapira, “Teens’ T-Shirts Make Educators Squirm,” Washington Post, 27 September 2006, A01.

“Teens T-Shirts Too Tantalizing,” CBS News, 28 September 2006.

Stephanie Hayes, “The New Retail Branding: Instant Sex Messaging from Kids’ Chests,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 21 October 2006.

Catherina Hurlburt, “Another Reason for School Uniforms,” The Point, 27 September 2006.

Travis McSherley, “Re: Another Reason,” The Point, 27 September 2006.

Christina Holder, “Re: Another Reason for School Uniforms,” The Point, 3 October 2006.

Paul Mitchell, “Faith and Fashion: The Power of T-Shirt Evangelism,” BreakPoint Online, 1 June 2005.

BreakPoint Commentary No. 031128, “Image Is Everything: Losing Identity at the Shopping Mall.”

J. Budziszewski, How to Stay Christian in College (Th1nk/Navpress, 2004).

The BreakPoint Web site and BreakPoint WorldView Magazine feature Colson’s commentaries as well as feature articles by other established and up-and-coming writers to equip readers with a biblical perspective on a variety of issues and topics.
© 2004-2006 Prison Fellowship
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
turgid: swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous.
idyll: a poem or prose work depicting rural or pastoral life; also, a carefree episode or experience.
ab ovo: from the beginning.
gauche: lacking social polish; tactless.
inexorable: unyielding; relentless.
putative: commonly thought or deemed; supposed.
dotage: feebleness of mind due to old age.
bootless: unavailing; useless.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"Most of us probably feel we couldn't be free without newspapers, and that is the real reason we want the newspapers to be free." - Edward R. Murrow

"Looking at yourself through the media is like looking at one of those rippled mirrors in an amusement park." - Edmund S. Muskie

"All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." - Leo Tolstoy

"O what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!" - Sir Walter Scott

"All that matters is love and work." - Sigmund Freud

"Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration" - Thomas Alva Edison

"Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak." - William Congreve
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Pro-Life Doctor Chosen to Oversee Federally Funded Programs that Include: Teen Pregnancy, Family Planning and Abstinence
America's Youth Don't Care About Cultural Relevancy as Much as Knowing What They Believe — Emphasis Back on the Word of God
Report of Post Election Peace in the Congo

Scientists Develop E-Coli Killing, Natural, Edible, Antibacterial Coating for Fruits and Vegetables
A Thousand Accept the Lord, and Many Are Healed in Himalayan Healing Festival
President Bush to Visit Church in Hanoi While in Vietnam: Presses Communist Leader on Religious Freedom
Zondervan's Audio Bible Experience a Huge Hit

Australian Churches Unite to Pray Against Deadly Drought
"God Gives Hope" is a "Hit" in Times Square
U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Program Has a Change of Heart — Accepts Jesus Dolls
Archbishop of Canterbury Defends the Church and Constitution Against Prince Charles' Reluctance to be "Defender of the Faith"

Turnout at Franklin Graham's Crusade in Japan Astonishes Local Pastors
Chuck Colson Defends President Bush against Pre-Election False Accusations
History Buff Pastor Wants to Correct Misinformation at Nation's Historical Sites Regarding Influence of Christianity in Founding of U.S.
Iowa Church Takes Students to Facing the Giants — "It Was an Awesome Thing to Behold" as Students Were "Captivated" From the First Scene

The Needs of Christian Wives—New Study Finds Church-going Couples Less Likely to Divorce
The Nativity Story—Miraculous by Hollywood Standards
Study Shows Dangers of "Life threatening [heart] rhythm disturbances" Produced by Unchecked Anger
Segments of First Handwritten English Bible in 500 Years Now on Display—Entire Work to be Completed in 2008

An Appeal in the Jerusalem Post for Jews to Appreciate Christians and Accept Their Help
Israeli Prime Minister Meets with President Bush: Thanks America for Friendship to Israel and Bringing Better Stability to Middle East through Operations in Iraq
Healing Rwanda—One Coffee Grower at A Time
Dancing Your Way to Good Health

For First Time Ever, Vatican to Premiere a Movie: The Nativity Story
China Changes Death Penalty Policy
Rugby Players Talk Publicly About Praying Before Games
Mr. T Shares Some Words of Wisdom on His Christian Faith, and Why He "Pities the fool..."
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GCF: Hospital Information

Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website: Subscribe

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! A smile will enhance the quality of your life. Just send an email to: good-clean-fun-subscribe@egroups.com or visit the Good Clean Fun web site http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor/ UNSUBSCRIBE INFO for Good Clean Fun is at the end of this email. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus before it was sent.
---------------------------------

A friend of mine was in the hospital awaiting the arrival of her first child. When I telephoned the hospital to see if the baby had arrived, Dr. Wilson said it had. I asked if it was a boy or girl and was told that it was against hospital policy to give this information over the phone.

"Fine," I said. "I can understand that. But can you tell me what she didn't have?"

"It wasn't a boy," replied Dr. Wilson.
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Man of the House

Emailed to me another humor list (Good Clean Funnies List) -Tom To subscribe The Good Clean Funnies List, (not to be confused with this list, which is Good Clean Fun) send an email to: gcfl-request@gcfl.net with subject = add
---------------------------------

A man had just finished reading the book "Man of the House" while riding the commuter train home from work.

When he reached home, he stormed into the house and walked directly up to his wife. Pointing his finger in her face, he said, "From now on I want you to know that I am the man of this house and my word is law! You are to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, I expect a sumptuous dessert afterward. Then, after dinner, you're going to draw my bath so I can relax. And when I'm finished with my bath, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"

His wife thought for a moment and responded, "The funeral director is my guess."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Dining Problem

Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website: Subscribe
---------------------------------

Everyone had weighed in, and our diet-workshop leader began her lecture on the week's topic - the problems of dining out. She talked about alternatives, such as requesting diet sodas and dressings, and having meat broiled instead of fried. Finally she turned the question over to the group for discussion. "What is the greatest problem you encounter when going out to eat?"

Replied one woman quickly, "Running into you!"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: At the Movies

Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website: Subscribe
---------------------------------

A famous football coach was on vacation with his family in Maine. When they walked into a movie theater and sat down, the handful of people there applauded. He thought to himself, "I can't believe it. People recognize me all the way up here."

Then a man came over to him and said, "Thanks for coming. They won't start the movie unless we have ten customers or more."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Remembering Dates

Emailed to me from another humor list (Marty's Joke of the Day) -Tom To subscribe to Marty's Joke of the Day, send a blank email to: martysjotd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
---------------------------------

Because I had forgotten the dates for the birthdays and anniversaries of a number of my friends and relatives, I decided to compile a list on the computer and have the dates highlighted on screen when the machine was turned on. I went to a number of computer stores to find a software program that would do the job but had no luck at the first few. I finally found one where the clerk seemed experienced.

"Can you recommend something that will remind me of birthdays and anniversaries?" I asked.

"Have you tried a wife?" he replied.
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / If you think nobody cares, \ /
\ _/ miss a couple of payments. \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Experience is what you get \ /
\ _/ when you don't get what you want. \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / We can't control the wind, \ /
\ _/ but we have the power \_ /
/ / to adjust the sails. \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Growing old is mandatory, \ /
\ _/ but growing up is optional. \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Dieting is wishful shrinking. \ /
\ _/ \_ /
/ / \ _ ____________________________ _
Thomas S. Ellsworth
tellswor@slonet.org
http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor
____________________________
Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
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[GCFL.net] Little Leroy

Little Leroy came into the kitchen where his mom was making dinner. His birthday was coming up, and he thought this was a good time to tell his mother what he wanted.

"Mom, I want a bike for my birthday."

Little Leroy was a bit of a troublemaker. He had gotten into trouble at school and at home.

Leroy's mother asked him if he thought he deserved to get a bike for his birthday. "Of course," he said.

Leroy's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted him to reflect on his behavior over the last year. "Go to your room, Leroy, and think about how you've behaved this year. Then write a letter to God and tell him why you deserve a bike for your birthday."

Little Leroy stomped up the steps to his room and sat down to write God a letter.

Letter 1: "Dear God, I have been a very good boy this year, and I would like a bike for my birthday. I want a red one. Your friend, Leroy."

Leroy knew this was not true, so he tore the letter up and wrote a new one.

Letter 2: "Dear God, I have been an okay boy this year. I still would like a bike for my birthday. Leroy."

This letter was no good either.

Letter 3: "Dear God, I know I haven't been a good boy this year. I am very sorry, and I will be a good boy next year if you just send me a bike for my birthday. Please. Thank you. Leroy."

Leroy knew this wasn't true, and now he was getting upset.
He went downstairs and told his mother he needed to go to church. She thought her plan had worked and told him to be home in time for dinner.

Leroy walked into the church and went to the altar. He looked around to see if anyone was watching. He bent down, picked up the statue of the Virgin Mary, and slipped it under his coat.

Letter 4: "Dear God, I got your mama. If you want to see her again, send the bike. Signed, You know who."

Received from Cathy Gilstrap.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Piranha Spell

While my third-grade class was completing a writing exercise, one of the students asked me how to spell "piranha."

I told him I was unsure. To my delight, he went to the dictionary to solve his problem.

That's when I overheard another pupil say to him, "Why bother to look it up? She doesn't know how to spell it anyway."

Received from Thomas S. Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Truthfully Speaking

A cowboy went to an insurance agency to buy a policy. The agent asked, "Have you ever had an accident?"

"Nope," replied the cowboy. "Last summer, a bronc kicked in two of my ribs, and a couple of years ago, a rattlesnake bit me on the ankle."

"Wouldn't you call those accidents?" quizzed the puzzled agent.

"Naw," the cowboy replied. "They did it on purpose!"

Received from Thomas S. Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Rachmaninov

Driving my seven-year-old to school today, I was plugging in my iPod, and she said, "I want to hear Back in Black," from one of the Men in Black sound tracks.

I said, "No, I'm in the mood for something classical."

"But I don't want Mozart," she replied.

"How about Rachmaninov?" I suggested, but she remained silent.

The Best of Rachmaninov started playing and she objected, "I said I don't want to hear Mozart."

"It's not Mozart -- it's Rachmaninov," I replied.

"Well," she said indignantly, "I don't hear the 'rock' part."

Received from James Callahan.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] How True!

A boy who was a witness to a crime was called to testify in court. He was approached by the defense attorney who asked, "Did anyone tell you what to say in court?"

"Yes, sir," answered the boy.

"I thought so," said the attorney. "Who was it?"

"My father, sir."

"And what did he tell you?" the attorney asked accusingly.

"He said that the lawyers would try to get me all tangled up, but if I told the truth, everything would be all right."

Received from Thomas S. Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Rate this funny at http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a) Mail address: GCFL, Box 100, Harvest, AL 35749, USA
To print or email this funny to others, go to http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
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The Sheriff and the Lawyer .......

A lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a sheriff's deputy. He thinks that he is smarter than the deputy because he is a lawyer and is certain that he has a better education. He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the deputy's expense... Deputy says, "License and registration, please."

Lawyer says, "What for?"

Deputy says, "You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign."

Lawyer says, "I slowed down, and no one was coming."

Deputy says, "You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and registration, please."

Lawyer says, "What's the difference?"
Deputy says, "The difference is, you have to come to complete stop, that's the law. License and registration, please!"

Lawyer says, "If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration; and you give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket."

Deputy says, "sounds fair. Exit your vehicle, sir."
At this point, the deputy takes out his nightstick and starts beating the ever-loving daylight out of the lawyer and says, "Do you want me to stop or just slow down?"

Thanks to David Kirkpatrick
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The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is At the Pearly Gates, met by St.Peter himself. However, the gates are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper.

St. Peter said, "Well, Forrest, it is certainly good to see you. We Have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get nto Heaven."

Forrest responds, "It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But Nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was."

St. Peter continued, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only Three questions.

First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?

Second: How many seconds are there in a year?

Third: What is God's first name?"

Forrest leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next day And sees St. Peter, who waves him up, and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers."

Forrest replied, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begins with the letter "T"? Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow."

The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, "Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How about the Next one?" asked St. Peter.

"How many seconds in a year? Now that one is harder," replied Forrest, but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve."

Astounded, St. Peter said, "Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's Name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?"

Forrest replied, "Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd... "

"Hold it," interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind....but I will have to give you credit for that one, too. Let us go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name"?

"Sure," Forrest replied, "it's Andy."

"Andy?" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter.

"Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first Two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?"

"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Fo rrest replied. "I Learnt it from the song, "ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN. "

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates, and said: "Run Forrest, run."

Thanks to eddie wilson
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YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2006 when...

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.

Thanks to David Kirkpatrick
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.

*Bananas*

As part of the admission procedure in the hospital where I work, I ask the patients if they are allergic to anything. If they are, I print it on an allergy band placed on the patient's wrists.

Once when I asked an elderly woman if she had any allergies, she said she couldn't eat bananas. Imagine my surprise when several hours later a very irate son came out to the nurses' station demanding, "Who's responsible for labeling my mother 'bananas'?"
(-:][:-)

*Hand Signals*

A Florida officer pulls over an eighty-year-old teacher because her hand signals were confusing.

"First you put your hand up, like you're turning right, then you waved your hand up and down, then you turned left," said the officer.

"I decided not to turn right," she explains.

"Then why the up and down?" asks the officer.

"Officer," she sniffs, "I was erasing!"

(-:][:-)

*PTA Speakers*

As a traffic safety consultant, I often gave talks to organizations on accident prevention. One night after I spoke to a PTA group, the program chairperson thanked me profusely and gave me a check for fifty dollars.

"Giving these presentations is part of my job," I said. "Could I donate the money to one of your causes?"

"That would be wonderful," she gushed. "We have just the program that could use it. We're trying to raise money so we can afford better speakers."

(-:][:-)

*Top 10 Things You'll Never Hear Dad Say*

Top 10 Things You'll Never Hear Dad Say 10. Well, how 'bout that? I'm lost! Looks like we'll have to stop and ask for directions.

9. You know Pumpkin, now that you're thirteen, you'll be ready for unchaperoned car dates. Won't that be fun?

8. I noticed that all your friends have a certain hostile attitude. I like that.

7. Here's a credit card and the keys to my new car. GO CRAZY!!

6. What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating's not good enough for you, son?

5. Your mother and I are going away for the weekend. You might want to consider throwing a party.

4. Well, I don't know what's wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey thingies--ya know--that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a mechanic and pay whatever he asks.

3. No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring. Now quit your belly-aching, and let's go to the mall.

2. Whaddya wanna go and get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend.

1. What do I want for my birthday? Aahh, don't worry about that. It's no big deal. (Okay, they might say it. But they don't mean it)

(-:][:-)

Eye Laugh

"Widows MLM"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw285

"Car Dish"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw286

"Funny Feeling"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw290

"Sorry Sign"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw287

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Daily devotionals are available at http://link.Crosswalk.Com/UM/T.asp?A1. 39. 17757. 1. 494611 You can access more information on Crosswalk's Fun page http://www.Crosswalk.Com/fun/! Crosswalk gives credit to the author of a joke when author is known. Feel free to send notification to admin@cybersalt.org in cases where credit has not been given to the author! -SUBSCRIPTION INFO- * Copyright2004 Crosswalk.Com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights reserved. Introducing www.Crossguide.Com Where Christians find Products, Services & Ministries.
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/insomnia.html - -

How To Become An Insomniac

Becoming an insomniac isn't as easy as it might appear. But with the help of these guidelines, dark circles and a cranky disposition will soon be yours.

1. Be born into a family of worriers. (Certain ethnic groups have the advantage here, but won't be identified for obvious reasons.)

2. During your infancy, become accustomed to dozing in serene silence, a state you will never encounter as an adult.

3. Have parents so desperate for peace and quiet, that they routinely send you to bed hours before you feel even a hint of fatigue. This will allow you to develop helpful habits like gazing at the ceiling, counting sheep, and plotting revenge.

4. Cultivate your neuroses. A dedicated would-be insomniac will work on this throughout the day. But if time is limited, performing any of these activities right before bedtime should do the trick:

a. Review local crime statistics.

b. Read your favorite medical journal.

c. Phone a friend who just had major surgery.

d. Think about your boss.

e. Argue with your spouse.

f. Pay bills in bed.

g. Watch some Stephen King.

5. Rent an apartment with walls the consistency of cardboard. If you select your building with care, even a whisper will hold sleep at bay.

6. Reside on a busy street populated by pricey, alarm-protected cars. Preferably within blocks of a firehouse. Seek out colorful neighbors, such as unemployed rock musicians.

7. Always eat your main meal as late as possible. Be sure it includes lots of garlic, spice, and food that repeats.

8. Avoid decaf and drink vast quantities of fluid shortly before retiring. Intestinal irritants such as coffee, wine, and colas are best. Anything but milk will do.

9. Do aerobic exercise right before bed. Tone those muscles. Work that heart. And whatever you do, don't forget to warm up. Simply clutch your hands to your chest and inhale in sharp, shallow gasps.

10. Turn in at a different hour every night. Sleep until noon on Sundays. Have fun with your internal clock.

11. Acquire a spouse and/or dog who snores.

12. Be sure to have several children. Infants and teens are best.

13. Keep your bedside radio tuned to the loudest talk show host you can find. Preferably one with whom you always disagree. Spend hours trying to call him and vent your spleen. If you have a teenager, pick a station that runs public service ads about drunken drivers and drug-induced deaths.

14. Install a telephone by your bed. You wouldn't want to miss those three a.m. callers who don't know how to dial.

I could probably come up with some other helpful tips but, frankly, I'm not in the mood.

I have to get some sleep.

http://www.madkane.com
http://www.madkane.com/notable.html (Notables Weblog)
http://www.madkane.com/bush.html (Dubya's Dayly Diary)
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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Viewer's Guide: The 2006 Leonid Meteor Shower - - http://www.space.com/spacewatch/061117_leonid_guide.html - - Mid-November brings us the return of the famous Leonid meteor shower, which has a storied history of producing some of the most sensational meteor displays ever recorded. The time of this year's encounter is predicted for Nov. 19 at 4:45 GMT. Related site: How to Hear the Leonid Meteor Shower. - - http://www.space.com/spacewatch/061116_leonids_listen.html
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America's Most Generous Donors: How the Wealthy Give - - http://www.philanthropy.com/free/articles/v18/i09/09000601.htm - - America's most-generous donors contributed a total of $4.3-billion to charity last year, a sharp drop from 2004, when the top donors gave more than $10-billion, a new Chronicle survey has found. For the first time since 1998, no gifts of $1-billion or more were donated to charitable causes. The median amount the donors on the list gave in 2005, including pledges, was $32.5-million, meaning that half gave more and half gave less.
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The National Science Digital Library - - http://nsdl.org/ - - The National Science Digital Library (NSDL) was created by the National Science Foundation to provide organized access to high quality resources and tools that support innovations in teaching and learning at all levels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. NSDL is the Nation's free online library for education and research in: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
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Audubon's Birds of America - - http://www.audubon.org/bird/BoA/BOA_index.html - - Audubon would like to thank Richard Buonanno for compiling the content for this online version of John James Audubon's Birds of America, now available for display on Audubon.org. It is from an 1840 'First Octavo Edition' of Audubon's complete seven volume text, and presents Audubon's images and original text descriptions. Bird species can be found listed alphabetically, or categorized by family. Audubon's drawings of some species' anatomical features are also included in the 'Figures' section. The list of species that have gone extinct since Audubon's time was provided by Mr. Buonanno, as was the list of State Birds.
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Exploring Space: The Quest for Life - - http://www.pbs.org/exploringspace/ - - Our galaxy alone contains hundreds of billions of stars, giving scientists a vast cosmic frontier to search. Could alien life be looking up at its own sky and asking, 'Is there life out there?' Learn from this PBS site about the amazing quest for life that begins on Earth and extends into the heavens above.
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Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) - - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/oldindex.html - - The OWL at Purdue offers online writing, research, and MLA and APA style help to the world. Now celebrating more than ten years of operation, the OWL at Purdue receives over 50,000,000 visits per year, with usage increasing steadily each month.
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The Columbia World of Quotations - - http://www.bartleby.com/66/ - - The 65,000 essential quotations by 5,000 authors that constitute this authoritative collection represent the research of 154 experts and are divided into 6,500 subjects.
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Safety from the Heart
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November 17, 2007

Today's Message is from Doug Thompson (a Houston Albemarle employee).

What is Illegal Dumping?

Illegal dumping and litter are the unlawful disposal of trash. Illegal dumping is a cost that everybody pays for. Your tax dollars are spent to clean up somebody else’s garbage. The cost gets passed down to you! It is illegal to dump garbage anywhere other than a legally authorized location.
Dumping garbage in places such as along a roadside, in a ditch or on vacant property is illegal. Punishments can include hefty fines and even jail time. Illegal dumping spoils the appearance of your neighborhood. Illegally dumped garbage can present health and safety concerns, as rotting garbage attracts rats, flies, snakes and other pests. Children playing around illegally dumped garbage can also injure themselves on broken glass, metal and other materials. Be responsible for your garbage and set a good example by disposing of it properly.

What is wrong with Illegal Dumping?

• They think someone else will clean up after them.
• They don’t care about the place, and don’t feel it belongs to them.
• They litter where somebody else has littered.

What should you do if you see somebody dumping?

Watch carefully, do not approach the illegal dumper and remember: Report all illegal dumping to the proper authority

• What color is the vehicle?
• What kind of vehicle did the illegal dumper drive? SUV, Truck, Van, Dump Truck, Station Wagon, Moving Truck
• What is the license plate number of the illegal dumper’s vehicle?
• What did the dumper look like? so you can describe the person to the police
• How many people were in the vehicle?
• What age were they?
• When did the dumping occur?
• Where did the dumping occur?

Additional information, and a Spanish translation, are included in the attached file.

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Safety from the Heart
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November 17, 2006
Prepared by Glynn Hill, Avonmouth employee

Tumble Drier Fire at home

On Friday 3rd November at about 9.15 I had the misfortune to experience a tumble drier fire in my newly decorated utility room the following is my account of what happened, my actions and my recommendations to anyone else who may ever experience something of this nature.

After having breakfast on Friday morning and dropping my wife off at work I put on some washing and drying, as is normal when I am on standby or rest day from my shifts. The washing machine was working fine and the Tumble dryer was going well. A little later I heard the Tumble drier stop and make an unusual sound. So as I was alone at home I went to check it out. The tumble drier had stopped and was still part way through the timed period.
The drum was very hot so I decided to turn off and unplug the Tumble drier and take out most of the clothes to allow the drier to cool down. I proceeded to find the manual to check the troubleshooting section and establish where the reset button could be found. On my return to the utility room I could smell smoke and could see some small flames in the air intake grill at the base of the Tumble drier. I now had a dilemma. (Bearing in mind it is a utility room with loads of drying and washing in and we have a treadmill in there too) Do I - - - - ????
Get out and leave the thing to burn and call the Fire Brigade ?
Find the fire extinguisher and attempt to put it out ?
Try to smother the flames ?
Try to get the Tumble drier out of the house to minimise the damage ?

I had a split second to make my decision. Rightly or wrongly I chose option 4. I covered the Tumble drier with a towel to try to protect my hands. Then I was somehow successful in getting the Tumble drier out onto the patio, moving it about 3 or 4 metres and closing the door behind me to minimise the amount of smoke in to the house. I then called the Fire Brigade and alerted my neighbours of the fire and treated my burnt hands by running them under cold water for quite a while. The Fire Brigade took about 5 - 10 minutes to arrive.
I was then administered First Aid by them and treated for smoke inhalation and then passed on to the Medical crew of an Ambulance and sent to Hospital for further assessment. I was treated for superficial burns to both hands and had Oxygen for the smoke inhalation. I was also assessed at the hospital for decreased Oxygen levels in the blood stream and had an ECG to check out my heart condition. All were deemed OK and I was allowed to go home.

If I had chosen option 1 I may not have had a kitchen and dining room as they are all interlinked to the utility room by archway and window space.
If I had chosen option 2 I may not be here writing this article as the fire produced a lot of acrid smoke in the short time that it was in the house. During the redecoration the extinguisher had been moved to somewhere else.
If I had chosen option 3 The act of TRYING to smother the flames would have fuelled the fire causing it to accelerate so a similar outcome could have happened with option 2.

The Fire Brigade said I was extremely lucky to have got away without setting fire to any clothing I was wearing and as I acted so quickly I had managed to minimise any damage to the rest of the house and myself.
Ultimately their advise is in the case of ANY fire. "In the event of a fire what ever the cause if you think you can deal with it with the equipment you have, try once only. If there is ANY element of doubt - - GET EVERYBODY OUT AND CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE OUT and then STAY OUT."

On the Plus side - No one was seriously injured, my house is still in one piece and I am now back to work after only a couple of days off as a precautionary term to enable the skin on my hands to be kept dressed and clean.
I still don't know how I managed to lift the Tumble drier clean out of the utility room and throw it out onto the patio. It must have been the adrenaline and the sheer brute force of knowing I needed to get it outside.

My Personal Recommendations;
NEVER leave a Tumble drier or Washing Machine on when no-one else is at home.
ALWAYS get Washing Machines and Tumble driers serviced regularly.
ALWAYS clean out the filters and condensers regularly.
FIT in or near to Utility rooms A SMOKE ALARM and THE RIGHT FIRE EXTINGUISHER (Electrical Fires)

Submitted by; Glynn Hill.
Phosphates Operator,
Avonmouth.
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Safety from the Heart
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Submitted by Tracy Rabb, from XTREME JAKES MAGAZINE.

One slip is all it takes.

"Just ask DeeDee Garvin. He was 40 feet up in a pine tree during the South Carolina rifle season when a cross-threaded bolt on his climbing stand slipped and sent him plummeting backward to the ground.

A veteran hunter for more than 35 years, he wasn't wearing a safety harness at the time, and when he hit the ground, the impact crushed bones in the entire right side of his body. The miraculous fact that he was still alive after such a fall didn't quite set in, even as he crawled a quarter of a mile, licking water from the dew-soaked leaves on the ground, cut a hole in a wire fence with his utility knife for his body to slide through and then passed out just shy of the road. The reality of the accident didn't hit until he was in the hospital and realized that this one little slip could have cost him his life.

Now, 10 years later and after a full recovery, Garvin, a regional coordinator for the NWTF's Wheelin' Sportsmen program, is a vocal advocate of tree-stand safety and teaches children and adults the importance of wearing a safety harness.

'Like people who hunt all of their lives, you often take things for granted. you feel invincible,' Garvin said. 'Safety is something you never take for granted; instead, it's something you should put first in every thing you do, whether it's driving a car or climbing a deer stand.'

'In a matter of 35 minutes from the time I got out of the bed that morning, I came to the realization that hunting, fishing or anything else, for that matter, is not worth risking your life for.'"

Dressing for Safety.

Putting on a safety harnesses takes only a few minutes, and using one while climbing to your hunting position adds only a few seconds to the whole process and could save your life or prevent a life-changing disability.

According to Jim Barta of Hunter Safety Systems, a manufacturer of easy-to-wear safety harnesses, people often are more concerned about their personal safety.

"At one time, I gave a lot more thought to my hunting gear than my own safety while hunting from tree stands," Barta explains. "As long as my broadheads were sharp, my camo was scent free and my arrows perfectly balanced, what more could I possibly need, right?"

A fall that nearly took the life of one of his friends made him stop and think. "While hunting 25 feet above the ground, John Wydner's tree stand slipped and left him hanging from a limb fighting for his life."

After that accident, Wydner and his brother founded Hunter Safety Systems and have become dedicated to tree stand-safety education. "Research shows that more hunters are injured from thee-stand-related falls than any other type of hunting accident." Barta said. "Five times more hunters die from falls than gun shots!"

Education! Responsibility!

So why don't more people take precautions before climbing into that treestand? Primarily, a lack of education and hunters rushing to get into the stand are to blame. To answer this important educational need, Treestand Manufacturers Assoc. an organization comprised of various tree stand and safety harness manufacturers, formed to regulate this portion of the industry. The goal is to produce only safe, reliable equipment and to promote tree stand safety to hunters. Safe equipment only works if the hunter takes a responsible approach to using it, Barta explained. Guys, especially, seem to have a thing about not reading directions," he said. "We tend to open the package and head for the woods." "Read the instructions! That's why they're there." he implored.

Common Safety Devices

Hunter safety instructors agree that hunters should wear a fall-arrest system when climbing and in the stand. There are many different types of safety devices designed to keep hunters safe in the tree stand. The most common are full-body harnesses, torso harnesses and safety belts. Though simple to use, the most dangerous,, Barta says, is the single safety belt or strap, which goes around the waist or chest, and people should avoid wearing this type of system, Barta explained.

In recent years, most major sporting goods stores have refused to carry single-strap devices in favor of full-body harnesses," he said.

A full-body harness is designed to distribute the weight of the falling hunter to different parts of the body. Full-body harnesses also help hunters recover from the fall quicker, keeping their bodies upright so they can climb back in the stand then descent safely to the ground.
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Safety from the Heart
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November 16, 2006
Holiday Safety

Today's Message is from Dick Waller (a Houston Albemarle employee).

OK, If you decide to buy a real tree this Christmas, make sure you keep it watered so it doesn't dry out so quickly. Be extra careful with candles and please blow them out when you leave the house and or when you go to bed. Don't overload the electrical outlets with your lighting.

If you live in Pasadena.....I'll come by on a fire truck dressed like Santa and give you candy...... If you don't do what I said, I'll come to your house on a fire truck dressed in bunker gear to put the fire out.
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Safety from the Heart
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November 14, 2006

Today's Message is from Chet StRomain (a Houston Albemarle employee).
Seatbelts - Don't Leave Home Without Them!

I recently had the importance of seatbelts demonstrated by my 16-year-old son. A couple of weeks ago, he and 3 of his friends were out in our SUV. He was driving thru Friendswood and an animal darted in front of the car. He swerved to miss the animal, lost control of the car, and ended up rolling the vehicle. All 4 of the occupants had their seatbelts on and all came through the incident unharmed. So.....no matter how far you're going, no matter how experienced a driver you are, no matter where you're sitting in the car - always wear those seatbelts!!!
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Safety from the Heart
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November 10, 2006
Today's Safety From the Heart message is from Ron Kneisler.
Massive Recall of Acetaminophen Underway
Please view the following links to determine if you have any Acetaminophen that has been recalled due to potential metal contamination.
News Story on Acetaminophen Recall -->
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_he_me/drug_warning
List of Retail Stores with this product -->
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigocustlist.html
List of batch #'s in the recall -->
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigobatchlist.html
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Safety from the Heart
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November 8, 2006
Today's Safety From the Heart is from Allen Smoak.

Today's topic is 'defensive driving'....

This past Friday, I narrowly avoided a head-on collision.

I turned right off Glover onto the Hwy. 21 By-pass, had crossed the railroad tracks. I checked my speed moving down the hill into the first curve, 42 MPH. I checked my rear view mirror, four vehicles behind me, no approaching autos. As I moved into the second curve, which bears to the left, I noticed several cars traveling in the opposite lane near the old skating rink intersection. I checked my rear view again and when I looked back at the on-coming traffic, the first vehicle, a small pick-up truck, was entering my lane.

I focused, to verify the driver would compensate and move back into his lane. That didn't happen. The driver continued to hold a straight line in the curve. I proceeded off the road onto the shoulder and prepared for the collision...I could not get out of the way. The driver, at the last moment, whipped his vehicle to the right...I recovered my vehicle to the highway while the trailing autos slammed on the brakes.

Hey , you guessed....the driver was on his cell phone....We know .....that marvelous invention to keep us connected with our Fab Five or our Buddies?

Listed are a few defensive driving tips:
Check approaching traffic.
Look for erratic drivers.
From time to time ask yourself the ' what if? question and think about responses to different scenarios.
Slow down in inclement weather conditions.
While approaching an intersection and you have a green light, are the approaching vehicles in the dissecting lanes stopping for their red light?
Make sure the car with the blinking signal light is actually slowing to turn in the direction indicated.

And please don't drive while talking on a cell phone.
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Our Church, Magnolia Christian Center, has the following mission statement. Our purpose is to build a great church for the glory of God through the great commission and the great commandment. MCC' Vision - That MCC will be a place hopping with children, energized with teenagers, balanced with diversity and transformed by the power of God! We want to turn uninterested people into interested people and win the lost to make fully devoted followers of Christ. www.mcc2000.net
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3900 Saturday Mornings

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it:

I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's "dance recital" he continued. "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part.

It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays." "I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear."

"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.

There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time."

"It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter.

Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles.

A friend sent this to me, so I to you, my friend.

And so, as one smart bear once said..."If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." - Winnie the Pooh.

Thanks to David Lamb
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Psalm 55:22 — "Friends are God's way of taking care of us."

This was written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician.

I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, wh o attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and sai d a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"

This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...

Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Thanks to Waneta
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I thought this was a very moving tribute to some genuine heroes.
Sam

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Thanks to Sam Boggs
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Reading The Bible
The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson, who wanted to be just like him, tried to imitate him in any way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water." The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little fas ter next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. "Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.
That is the work of God in our lives, to change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His Son. Take time to read a portion of God's word each day

Thanks to David Kirkpatrick
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Not really sure that Paul Harvey actually said these things but they were definitely things that needed to be said.

Keep this going around the globe.....read it and forward every time you receive it. We can't give up on this issue.

Paul Harvey says:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome.

But what about the atheists? is another argument.

What about them?

Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand.

Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

God, help us.

And if that last sentence offends you, well .. just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long.. It's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority don't care what they want. It is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right.. But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back.

God bless us one and all ... especially those who denounce Him.

God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all.

God bless our servicemen who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

May the silent majority stop being silent and put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

Keep looking up.

Thanks to Waneta
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THE OLD PATHS
I liked the old paths, when
Moms were at home.
Dads were at work.
Brothers went into the army.
And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;
Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;
Dads would work;
Children would behave..

Husbands were loving;
Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry;
And Men wore the pants.
Women looked like ladies;
Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.

People loved the truth,
And hated a lie;
They came to church to get IN,
Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;
Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal;
And cr ying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked;
Drinking was evil;
And divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored;
America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;
Prayed in school;And preached from house to house
To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called a Christian was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!

Sex was a personal word.
Homosexual was an unheard of word,
And abortion was an illegal word.

Preachers preached because they had a message;
And! Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!
Preachers preached from the Bible;
Singers sang from the heart;
And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life;
Salvation meant a changed life;
Following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible;
Homes read the Bible;
And churches taught the Bible.

Preachers were more interested in new converts,
Than new clothes and new cars.
God was worshiped;
Christ was exalted;
And the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians
On the Lord's day, rather than in the garden,
On the creek bank, on the golf course,
; Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

"The Old Paths" was written by a retired minister who lives In Tennessee.

Thanks to Greg McDaniel
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The Budweiser Story

How Budweiser handled those who laughed at those who died on the 11th of September, 2001...Thought you might like to know what happened in a little town north of Bakersfield, California.

On September 11th, a Budweiser employee was making a delivery to a convenience store in a California town named McFarland. He knew of the tragedy that had occurred in New York when he entered the business to find the two Arabs, who owned the business, whooping and hollering to show their approval and support of this treacherous attack.

The Budweiser employee went to his truck, called his boss and told him of the very upsetting event! He didn't feel he could be in that store with those horrible people. His boss asked him, "Do you think you could go in there long enough to pull every Budweiser product and item our beverage company sells there? We'll never deliver to them again." The employee walked in, proceeded to pull every single product his beverage company provided and left with an incredible grin on his face. He told them never to bother to call for a delivery again. Budweiser happens to be the beer of choice for that community.

Just letting you know how Kern County handled this situation.

And Now The Rest Of The Story:

It seems that the Bud driver and the Pepsi man are neighbors. Bud called Pepsi and told him.

Pepsi called his boss who told him to pull all Pepsi products as well!!! That would include Frito Lay, etc. Furthermore, word spread and all vendors followed suit! At last report, the store was closed indefinitely.

If you can read this...Thank a teacher... If you are reading it in English.... THANK A SOLDIER!!! God Bless America !!

Thanks to David Kirkpatrick
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Activities and Events of Interest
~~~
The Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the Clinton Library September 22-25, 2007.
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"September 11 WDYTJWD" W. P. Florence
Justice first, then peace."
"September 11" Never forget.--Tony Moses
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD ...the only way"--Phillip Story
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Keeping my head down but face toward Heaven" - - Jody Eldred, ABC News Cameraman in Kuwait
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - - George Carlin
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!" - - Queen E. Watson
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NEVER FORGET! We're listing the names of our soldiers killed weekly. These records can be found at http://www.defenselink. mil/releases/

01. Sgt. 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido, 31, of Ontario, Calif., died on Nov. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, after an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy vehicle. Salcido was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1114th Transportation Company, Bakersfield, Calif.

02. Staff Sgt. Richwell A. Doria, 25, of San Diego, Calif., died on Nov. 7 in Kirkuk, Iraq, after being struck by small arms fire during an air assault mission. Doria was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Regiment, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov. 9 after an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. Both soldiers were assigned to the Army's 410th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. Killed were:
03. Sgt. Courtland A. Kennard, 22, of Starkville, Miss.
04. Staff Sgt. Gregory W. G. McCoy, 26, of Webberville, Mich.

05. Sgt. Bryan K. Burgess, 35, of Garden City, Mich., died Nov. 9 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Perrysburg, Ohio.

The Department of Defense announced the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 11 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. All soldiers were assigned to the 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Giessen, Germany. Killed were:
06. Staff Sgt. William S. Jackson II, 29, of Saginaw, Mich.

07. Staff Sgt. Misael Martinez, 24, of Chapel Hill, N.C.
08. Sgt. Angel De Jesus Lucio Ramirez, 22, of Pacoima, Calif.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 12 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Killed were:
09. 1st Lt. Michael A. Cerrone, 24, of Clarksville, Tenn.
10. Pfc. Harry A. Winkler III, 32, of Clarksville, Tenn.

11. Lance Cpl. Kristopher C. Warren, 19, of Resaca, Ga., died Nov. 9 from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 4th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Chattanooga, Tenn.

12. Lance Cpl. Timothy W. Brown, 21, of Sacramento, Calif., died Nov. 14 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

13. Lance Cpl. Michael D. Scholl, 21, of Lincoln, Neb., died Nov. 14 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

14. Lance Cpl. Mario D. Gonzalez, 21, of La Puente, Calif., died Nov. 14 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany. Killed were:
15. Pfc. Daniel J. Allman II, 20, of Canon, Ga.
16. Pfc. Jang H. Kim, 20, of Placentia, Calif.

17. Sgt. 1st Class Tung M. Nguyen, 38, of Tracy, Calif., died Nov. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. Killed were:
18. Col. Thomas H. Felts Sr., 45, of Sandston, Va. He was assigned to the Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
19. Spc. Justin R. Garcia, 26, of Elmhurst, N.Y. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

20. Spc. Eric G. Palacios Rivera, 21, of Atlantic City, N.J., died Nov. 14 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 15 in Baquba, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. They were assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Killed were:
21. Sgt. 1st Class Schuyler B. Haynes, 40, of New York.
22. Spc. Mitchel T. Mutz, 23, of Falls City, Texas.

23. Capt. Rhett W. Schiller, 26, of Wisconsin, died Nov. 16 in Balad Ruz, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq. Times have been and are very tough and it would be nice if you would all just say a prayer for their safety and for their families.
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 12, Number 18 --- 14 Nov 2006
Tourbus Home -- http://www.InternetTourbus.com
+---------------------------------------+

TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: Ready for Firefox? / Lost Myspace Password

Maybe a better question to ask would be "Is FireFox ready for me?" About a year ago, I wrote about my reasons for NOT switching to Firefox, and generated a bit of a firestorm. Today's TOURBUS will revisit the Firefox vs. IE debate, and I'm looking for YOUR input! I'll also reveal a little-known trick to retrieve a lost Myspace password. Read on!

--------------------
Ready For FireFox?
--------------------

Some of the problems I whined about last year still remain, but I'm happy that Firefox now allows me to combine toolbars and maximize screen real estate. But as I predicted, the rising popularity of Firefox did shake loose plenty of security issues. The Mozilla Security Advisories page at http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce lists several DOZEN flaws of High or Critical severity discovered since last September.

Even so, I decided to give Firefox another chance, and began using it on a regular basis to see if I could make the switch from Internet Explorer. I do like the tabbed browsing feature, and the ability to easily clear the browser history, cache, cookies, etc.

But the new Internet Explorer version 7 has those features too, and a bunch of new privacy and security tools. So what's a user to do? I'd like to hear why YOU prefer Firefox, especially if you've tried the new IE7. Post your comments here:

http://askbobrankin.com/is_firefox_for_everyone.html

...and maybe you can convince me to make the switch!

---------------------------------
FireFox Extensions and Security
---------------------------------

One thing I *do* like about Firefox is the open source nature, and the fact that it was designed to allow third-party add-ons. But one reader wrote and asked about security issues with Firefox extensions:

"I switched to FireFox because I like some of the unique features it offers. I've heard people talk about Firefox extensions that sound really cool, but I'm not sure if they are safe to use, given all the concerns about spyware now.

It's wise to be concerned about browser add-ons and the possibility they might contain spyware or other nasties. There have been cases of spyware and viruses masquerading as Firefox extensions, and any time you place new software on your computer, there is a risk.

But there is a place to look for Firefox extensions that have passed the test of public scrutiny and can be regarded as safe to use. Read on for a list of recommended Firefox extensions, and the pros & cons of tricking out your browser:

http://askbobrankin.com/firefox_extensions.html

-------------------------------
Forgot Your Myspace Password?
-------------------------------

Lately I've been getting a lot of "Help, I forgot the password for Myspace!" emails, so it must be a common problem. If you have lost or forgotten the password to your Myspace account, you can send a password retrieval request to Myspace. Right below the Login prompt on Myspace, you'll find a "Forgot your password?" link. Click it, then enter the email address that you used to open the account, and Myspace will send your password to that address.

But what if you forgot the email address too? Or perhaps it was a "throw-away" email account that you can no longer access. Don't despair... if you don't have the Myspace password OR access to the email address associated with the account, there IS a little-known way to get back that erstwhile password. Here's the secret...

http://askbobrankin.com/forgot_myspace_password.html

+---------------------------------------+
That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin
+---------------------------------------+
==[ Tourbus Rider Information ]==
The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-2005, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Tourbus News Service - http://tourbus.com/news.html Subscribe, Signoff, Archives, Free Stuff and More at the Tourbus Website - http://www.TOURBUS.com
========================
.~~~. ))
(\__/) .' ) )) Patrick Douglas Crispen
/o o \/ .~
{o_, \ { crispen@netsquirrel.com
/ , , ) \ http://www.netsquirrel.com/
`~ -' \ } )) AOL Instant Messenger: Squirrel2K
_( ( )_.'
---..{____} Warning: squirrels.
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Scheduled Activities
~~~
Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
~~~
MCC - "Faith Builders" Small group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
~~~
MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
~~~
MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
~~~
Men's Prayer Breakfast held every Tuesday morning at 6 AM in Miller's Cafeteria. If you aren't a regular participant at the Men's Prayer Breakfast, you're missing some great food, fellowship and inspired teaching of the Word. Hope to see you there.
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Emergency Phone Number 911
(Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sheriff, etc. )
Central Dispatch 234-5655
(Non - Emergency Number)
Direct Numbers
Ambulance - 234-7371 (24 Hour)
Jail - 234-5331 (24 Hour)
Poison Control - 800-222-1222 (24 Hour)
http://www. aapcc. org/
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"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
"Laugh whenever you can and cry if you need to." -- "Bug"
"I read the end of the book. We win!" -- "Bug"
"We may not be able to cure the world, but we don't have to make it sicker." -- "Bug"
"There just ain't enough fingers for all the holes in the dike." - - "Bug"
"It's no big deal doing what God tells you to do. A big deal would be NOT doing what God tells you to do. Just ask Jonah." - - Paul Troquille
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." - - Tony Blair
"Information is the currency of democracy." - Jefferson
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
John 20:6-10 Mark 14:50-54 2 Cor 11:3-4 Job 23:1-9 Josh 10:8-9 http://www.e-min.org/ God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

P. S. If you'd like to be added to the distribution, just drop us E-mail at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com. We offer "Da Bleat" as text, a "Blog" and as a newsletter with pictures in Word and PDF format. The latest issue is usually updated sometime Saturday. For the "Blog" version just go to one of the several addresses on the web. For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com or http://www.bugsbleat3q06.blogspot.com. Older issues can be found at http://www.bugsbleatfirst.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com, http://www.bugsbleat3q05.blogspot.com, and http://www.bugsbleat4q05.blogspot.com. We also have a site [http://bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com/] where we post photos that I like.
Let us hear from you if we can switch you over to the "Word" or "PDF" version of "Da Bleat".
If you'd prefer to read "Da Blog" version, just drop us a note at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com and we'll switch you from e:mail delivery to "Da Bleat" Blog. We appreciate your encouragement. We also appreciate your communication when you desire to be taken off our mail list. If you are on this mail list by mistake or do not wish to receive "Da Bleat," please reply back and tell us to discontinue service to you. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2006 before it was sent. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>