On the Road Again

After a few weeks in Arkansas, visiting with family and friends, attending church at our home church, making arrangements for 30,000 pkg. of lentils and rice to be delivered to Texas for the colonias, packing the vehicle again, we leave tomorrow for Wisconsin, to visit friends in Oxford, WI and then on later in the week to our daughter's home in Wausau, hopefully to be there when our great grandson, Milo, will be born. It has been cool and rainy most of the time we were here, including a few days of flooding and severe thunderstorms, but luckily no tornadoes.

One day our daughter and I went exploring - exploring to unique stores. Hill City Popcorn - popcorn in many flavors, colors, and mixtures. Red Hot Hog - the best - a red popcorn that tastes like red hots. We then searched out and found a vinegar and oil shop. Many different flavors of vinegars and olive oil. Wild mushroom and sage oil, a garlic infused oil, blackberry infused vinegar, mission fig vinegar, even a hot, spicy oil. We had the garlic oil over asparagus with salt and pepper, baked in the oven - yummy. The blackberry balsamic vinegar was awesome over a salad. Have you ever seen a Pieology eatery?? Like a subway, only for pizza. You choose your crust, sauce, and many toppings to add, with pesto added after baking. All for the same price. Christine and I enjoyed it outside on the patio of the restaurant in the Arkansas sun. I love unique, quaint places to explore. We also went to the admin building of the Fayetteville School District where I had worked before retiring. There were a few loyal, mature folks  that worked when I did. So nice to see them and also all the changes to the building, which had just been built when I worked there almost 13 years go. .

Church services this morning were very different - instead of a sermon we had a special guest, Sheriff Tim Helder of our Washington County. As this past week was Law Enforcement Memorial week, it seemed appropriate for him to give his testimony and explain law enforcement. Sheriff Helder has been in law enforcement for 38 years, and sheriff for 13 years  . It is our duty as Christians to respect authority. Authority was established to maintain order in our world.  For most people law enforcement is a calling, just as ministry is a calling. "As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1. We are so lucky and proud to have Sheriff Helder serving in our community, a Christian man called by the Lord to serve us.

Remember to thank a law enforcement office, even if you have been pulled over for any reason. Thank him for helping you to understand that perhaps your actions put others in danger. "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free of fear from the one in authority? Then do what I right and you will be commended. Romans 3:3.". Respect the authority

Farmer's Market and Cowboy Cookout

A pretty much beautiful week in NW Arkansas, despite the rain and cooler weather. Lots of gardens producing small shoots of veggies and flowers, farmer's markets in full force, and cook-outs all over. Saturday our youngest daughter and I went to the Farmer's Market on the Fayetteville Square - I have mentioned it before as absolutely amazing. Not only a farmer's market but a place for folks to display their talents in wood working, spinning, soap making, wooden utensil crafting, as well as fresh bakery of all kinds. I bought some lovely fresh asparagus, radishes, a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and patchouli soap (for myself) A wonderful pace to just get out and enjoy the day, although it was very crowded. Everyone and their dogs were there. I was strolling along when this huge dog was behind me and started growing and snarling. I was startled - the owner apologized saying her dog did no like other dogs. Hmm, why was she there with any other dogs and their owners?

Gorgeous sunflowers

a spinner spinning some beautiful soft wool - I keep practicing and maybe I can perfect it

lots of veggies - many different colors of cauliflower

a local banjo player playing "Old McDonald's Farm" for the kids

strolling the square - the site of the old post office

making wooden utensil's from logs!

Saturday evening we went with friends to a relatives home where there was an afternoon trail ride (we did not indulge in that) after which was a cowboy cookout with bar-be-que brisket, ribs, (sooo good), hot dogs, cornbread, onions, beans, and many other side dishes. The dessert table was groaning with cakes, cobbler's,  cookies, and other calorie free items (ya right).  Afterwards we were treated to some very talented guys playing and singing country music. It was amazing to see the men just decide on a song and play it without music. If you check my face book page, I posted a video of one of the songs, but the highlight of it all was a tiny guy (about 18 mo old) dancing and "Swinging" to the beat of the music. It was a beautiful evening in NW Arkansas in the early dusk with the sun shining on the hay fields and mountains

pickin and singin on the porch of the cook shack

Our daughter and her husband are so crafty - they have made their patio chairs, benches, tables, etc, as well as doormats - you name it, Anyway, Christine panted her herbs in an old step ladder - so cool.

 a great idea

This morning found us back in Prairie Grove Christian Church I love Pastor Vance's sermons - cannot explain it but they keep me mesmerized. His sermon this morning, taken from Luke 8:40-56 talks about two desperate people: a synagogue leader, Jarirus, with a dying daughter and a women shunned by society because of her bleeding problem. The leader's daughter was 12 years old, the woman has had this problem for 12 years. Jairus knew Jesus had returned to preach and heal others  and perhaps heard Him preaching in the synagogue, while the woman should not have even been in the crowd as she was deemed unclean. Both needed Jesus to perform a miracle for them: both had faith. No one is to powerful to need Jesus, no one is to bad that Jesus cannot change their lives. As in the woman's case, we also cannot let anyone keep us away from Jesus. Many people are casual about Jesus, but not intentional. The woman took the risk of being in a place where she was unwanted to be able to ask Jesus to heal her. She was intentional. Jesus is more interested in  relationship with you than just fixing your problem. We need to expose all of our sins to Him and we will be free. He wants us to tell others what He has done in our lives When something unclean touches something clean, it becomes unclean. But when Jesus touches our unclean humanity, we become clean. Come to Jesus in your desperation. Let your desperate situation turn you toward Him - build that relationship. Read the verses to see all of the story.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers, Grandmothers, etc. And Happy Mother's Day to all those puppy mothers, and those who have no children of their own but are indeed mothers to all.

Arkansas Summer

We arrived safely in Arkansas after another day's delay in Joshua, Texas, as a result of the flooding in Arkansas. We left Joshua early Tuesday morning and made a stop in Checotah, Oklahoma, to visit former Chaplain Dennis and Sally Maloney, who minister to those in that area. Quite a surprise when we saw Dennis with a mustache and full beard!!! I kept looking at him as if he were a stranger because he looked so different.  Sally was as beautiful  ever - it was so good to see them both. We had a great visit, threw around a few ministry ideas, thoughts to pray on, and promised to keep in touch. When we arrived in Arkansas late afternoon, the wet was almost all dried up and things looked fairly normal. It was a bit cool the first couple of days but now I think I am acclimated and it is gorgeous. We visited with a few friends upon arriving (we always make our first stop at the CARQUEST store in Prairie Grove to visit friends, then church, then Life Ministries resale store to say Hi to everyone).

We enjoyed a great Saturday afternoon with our two daughters, Brenda and Christine, just enjoying the day on the patio and having a delicious pizza made with a cauliflower crust - hey - don't knock it until you try it. It was awesome. Our son-in-law, Scott was smoking meat, as usual. He made venison jerky, beef roast, an unbelievably delicious venison ham, and some small birds. We also sampled his smoked bacon, which again was wonderful. Scott loves doing this and does such a good job. wW plan on making sausage and brats again on our return from Wisconsin in June.

Sunday brought a warm, cozy feeling as we attended church back at our home church, Prairie Grove Christian Church. It was as if we had never left! Our JOY Sunday School class was a lively as ever with lots of discussion. After church we visited with our grandson Seth, Page, and their girls. Remember the twins we all prayed for 4 years go??? They are healthy and beautiful - a true miracle from God.  

After just relaxing on the patio for the rest of the afternoon, I decided I had better write this blog, although just vegging out was so tempting.

We do not have to worry about the folks in the colonias, as Cy has everything under control. There was an abundance of fresh produce last week, so we know that they are being well taken care of. This is the time of year that they need the most food supplements, as the kiddos are home from school and need extra meals. Thank God for His provision, both for the abundance of produce and the commitment of Cy to continue on while we are gone.

No pictures this week as we have just jumped into the 21st century and gotten rid of our old flip phones! Lots of learning to be done, how to take pictures and send them to the computer to be posted. Be patient, geezers are slow learners.

A very dear friend of ours passed away this week. Margie a beautiful lady on fire for the Lord, who was involved in our church, and our personal small group studies. If some of you ladies may remember one of our past GWW conference, we has Stacy Smith as a presenter - a chaplain in the same prison in which she was incarcerated. It was Margie who first introduced me to Stacy and got me interested in prison ministry.  Margie's husband, David, is an excellent carpenter, and fashioned the most beautiful casket for her out of red cedar as a final gift to his wife who has fought a courageous fight with cancer for many years. I would post a picture of it, but out of respect for the family, I choose not to do so.

As I said, coming home to PGCC this morning felt so very comfortable and normal! As usual, Pastor Vance presented a stirring sermon as only Vance can do.  Based on Luke 8:26-39 it is the story of
the man possessed by many demons. I still believe he was the first disciple, as Jesus told him to go and tell others about what happened (previously He told those who healed to tell no one). Your personal testimony is the best way to tell others about Jesus. Before you met Jesus, your life was a mess. The demon possessed man (we will call him Legion) was an extreme example. We do not have the same quantity of sin, but we have the same quality of sin. We are surrounded by folks with no hope at all. We have hope. When we met Jesus, He changed everything! Just as He changed Legion from a wild demon possessed man into a normal person, He has the power to change our lives. After we meet Jesus, our life will never be the same. You need to go out and tell others what Jesus has done in your life in order to show them who you are now. There are those who will believe you, and perhaps many will not. But don't give up. You need a vision in your life to continue in God's way. He can take our mess and make a message out of it. After Vance's sermon, a young man presented his testimony - how his life was such a mess, even though he was married and thought everything was OK. The change in his life did not happen overnight - it took a long time and lots of hard work on his part, but God changed his life and his marriage.

Pleas pray for all of those who have lost loved ones this past week - especially the mother in Arkansas whose two small children were washed away in the flood. Her grief must be immense.