Newsworthy?

I live in small-town, our population is currently around 2600, but fluctuates with the rise and fall industry. We have two stoplights, a small police force, a newspaper, and a volunteer fire department. I wouldn't trade my town for any other.
I enjoy reading the newspaper every Thursday. There is always plenty of bad news, but sometimes it's enjoyable to read about somebody missing a bull, or the police/sheriff's department assisting somebody who has locked their keys in the car. Not that I want someone's livelihood adversely affected, or somebody in a tight spot to not get help, but that it's rarely about extreme violence or missing people.

There is always good news in the devotional written by Grace Curby. She offers a Bible Scripture and follows it with real-life experiences that relate to her chosen Scripture. I don't know for certain, but I'm assuming that she receives no compensation (here on earth) for her efforts. I am certain that Grace is laying up for herself treasures in heaven.

Her Devotional Message is sponsored by individuals, businesses, and churches. I'm Very Thankful that those people have invested in something that shares the "Good News".

As happens with all good things, at times they will be misused. I make it a point to look at those who contribute and only on a couple of occasions have there been additional contributors. One of those was during a local election. Someone thought it would be good PR for a candidate to support the devotional message and they did so for several months leading up to the election. Shortly after the election, their name disappeared from the list and has never been on the list since.   Coincidence?

I never like to end my posts without something positive so here's another attempt at humor.

I was visiting my daughter this week and asked her where her newspaper was. 
 She laughed and said, “Dad, it’s the 21st century. We stopped buying newspapers years ago. It saves trees. But you can borrow my iPad.”

Okay, fine, whatever. 
But that lousy housefly never knew what hit it.

Much love, Dennis

Bible Reading

I have just finished Leviticus in my daily Bible reading. It is about the covenant that God had with Moses. I didn't count, but I've been told that there are over 600 laws in addition to the 10 Commandments that the Jewish people were to follow in order to maintain a pure relationship with God. I've read through this before, but I never actually put myself in their shoes.
I now have a different perspective on the covenant that I live under as a Christian, Grace.

Romans 10: 5-10 (amplified Bible) 

 5 For Moses writes that the man who [can] practice the righteousness (perfect conformity to God’s will) which is based on the Law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it.

6 But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down;

7 Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved by our own efforts].

8 But what does it say? The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach,

9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.


 It is so simple to understand and many people still think that living a good life will get them into Heaven. I do believe that as Christians we should strive to do good things and show unconditional love to everyone. I know of someone who expresses this well.

Here is something that concerns a law, but it is a law that we live by today.

Slow or Stop

A guy blows a stop sign in Philly and gets caught by a policeman. Cop says, "License and registration please." Guy says, "What for?" Cop says, "You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign." Guy says, "I slowed down, and no one was coming." Cop says, "You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and registration, please." Guy says, "What's the difference?" Cop says, "The difference is, you have to come to a complete stop. License and registration, PLEASE!" Guy says, "If you can show me the difference between slow down and stop I'll give you my license and registration." Cop says, "Okay, exit your vehicle sir." At this point, the cop takes out his Night Stick and starts beating the crap out of the guy and says, "Now sir, do you want me to slow down or stop?"

Much Love, Dennis

A New Season

Now that flu season is winding down, my Dr. and Nurse are allowing me to venture out into public settings.

 Saturday evening was the annual Valentine celebration hosted by the Methodist Mens Group at my church. 

They had several different entertainment portions during the evening,

here's a link to the skit that I enjoyed the most.

http://youtu.be/GhQvSirjCsI?t=1m30s

I could have made a small contribution to their skit.

I was able to attend church for the first time in many weeks.

 Another public event that I have been missing but made it on Monday evening was the Fairview High School basketball games. Since I am a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, I know most of the athletes on both teams. I am partial to one particular person, my niece Karly Boyer #12.  It was Parents Night and as you know, everyone in the gymnasium from Fairview knew there was a VIP not physically in attendance, my sister-in-law Gretchen. I know there were many tears shed before the game and a few during the Parents Night celebration. I'm very thankful for the support given to Alan, Gavin, and Karley (through God)  by those that truly care for them. 

Much love, Dennis

Old Friends and New Friends

It's been a good week, I've had several visitors and as always enjoyed each one. A longtime friend and Christian man, Vinton Baker stopped by for a short visit. He would have stayed longer, but unfortunately I had a doctors appointment in Enid. I went to school with his daughter Delia.

My mother-in-law and I both had appointments dam the St. Mary's medical complex in Enid on Thursday. She got a very good report on her shoulder and they are just continuing with rehab for now.
I am down to one skin breakdown on my left ankle. It is slowly healing and I'm looking forward to the day that those pesky breakdowns are a thing of the past.

On Friday Dan and Gwen Willits stopped by and brought with them Mike and Patty O'Brien. Dan and Gwen are part of my group of special people, and my Brother and Sister in Christ. It was an honor to meet two of their good friends. Those four were on a tight schedule and so they were unable to spend very much time here. I did manage to brag about my computer and coax them into a picture just before they left.

I have a group of "Special People" and I love them dearly. They know who they are because over the last 7+ years I have learned to tell them. It was not something that I was accustomed to or comfortable with, but I have changed a lot over the years. Saying  "I love you" is much easier than putting it into practice. Right now the Lord as been teaching me to practice love. I'm not talking about the easy kind of love, but kind of love that we are to have for those that we don't even like.


Matthew 5:42-48  Amplified Bible 
42 Give to him who keeps on begging from you, and do not turn away from him who would borrow at interest] from you.
43 You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy;
44 But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?
47 And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that?
48 You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Here is a quote that I think my friends understand about me. :-)

 "A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Much love, Dennis

Cheri's Birthday

Happy Birthday to my Attractive, Awesome, Amazing, Alluring, Affectionate, Active, Agreeable (sometimes), Attentive, Wife. Cheri Olson Boyer. As you can see she earned straight A's on her annual review.

I'm thankful that God gave me the ability to lip-sync.

A husband and wife were golfing when suddenly the wife asked, "Honey, if I died would you get married again?"  The husband said, "No sweetie."  The woman said, "I'm sure you would."  So the man said, "Okay, I would"  Then the woman asked, "Would you let her sleep in our bed?"  And the man replied, "Ya, I guess so."  Then the wife asked, "Would you let her use my golf clubs?"  And the husband replied, "No, she's left handed."

Much Love, Dennis 

Just Another Bump in the Road

1st Peter 4: 12-13
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Winter has been rough so far and we are still barely into February.

Satan has tried to steal the joy from myself and my family. We are learning to resist him, standing firm on our faith in God.

No sooner did I get through two months of powerful antibiotics, than my power chair broke down. That only lasted about six days, but I do appreciate being mobile again.

 Four days ago I went through some sort of stomach bug that tugged downward on my attitude. I have decided that I will choose JOY. Today I am feeling about 90%.

Thursday morning my dad called and he was also not feeling well. Cheri has had to do double duty pretty much on her own because Darla is still doing rehab on her dislocated shoulder.
Garen, fortunately (for our credit card) Cheri and Jana did not get to attend the Affair of the Heart show! :-)

John 10:10  Jesus said
10 The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they (Me) might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I remember that Jesus also said, " In this world you will have trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."

JESUS AND SATAN ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION...
Jesus and Satan were having an ongoing argument about who was better on his computer. They had been going at it for days, and God was tired of hearing all of Satan complaining.
Finally God said, "Cool it. I am going to set up a test that will run two hours and I will judge who does the better job."
So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away. They moused. They did spreadsheets. They wrote reports. They sent faxes. They sent e-mail. They sent out e-mail with attachments. They downloaded. They did some genealogy reports. They made cards. They did every known job. But ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, the rain poured and, of course, the electricity went off.
Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld. Jesus just sighed. The electricity finally flickered back on and each of them restarted their computers.
Satan started searching frantically, screaming "It's gone! It's all gone! I lost everything when the power went out!"
Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours. Satan observed this and became irate.
"Wait! He cheated, how did he do it?"
God shrugged and said, "Jesus Saves."

Much Love, Dennis
much love, Dennis

much love

much love