Part 9 Picnic Panic Finally everyone got packed up and started on the min hike at about 1300 hours. Why so late says you, It’s because of the girls. It took Klaus 30 minutes to convince E that heels wouldn’t work on a hike. Cy and Mark had to empty their wives packs of 12 lbs of Chocolate. Freddy ditched his Jacket for a light Sports coat and chucked off everything else and was talking excitedly with Matt and Jay about which direction moss grew on trees. Peter, Tom, Ben, Chris were all oohing and ahing over Peter’s new GPS locater. Jared and Kayla were talking excitedly. Jared hushed everyone and then stood up on the table. “Hey! Listen up!” Jared cleared his voice as everybody quieted down. “Kayla and I are going to be… parents. The doc says it’s a boy!” Sara walked in and stopped in shock.. the Hobbit had a baby!! Wow.. What a shock. Well, was going to have a baby. What if Chad wanted a baby? Each girl was thinking the same thing, either in dread, excitement, or in envy. The midget was having a baby. Carol laughed softly until she saw Ben’s face. A look of pure pain crossed his face. Before she could talk to him they had to head out. Ben and Tom took the lead. Time seemed to pass by as the group looked at the woods and the creation. It truly is amazing to get outside and see the glory of the earth. They saw some birds feeding their young, some wildlife that resented the noisy intruders. Finally they made it up to the big clearing and everyone gathered around. As everyone unpacked the food and arranged it, Then they all gathered around and prayed, thanking God for the food, the fellowship and the fun. Then they started to chow down. Scarlett looked up from her beef sandwich and softly touched Matt who was next to her. “Hey, where’s Ben?” Matt said around a ham sandwich, “Don’t know, Don’t care” Scarlett looked around for Carol then caught her eye and they got up, Scarlett squeezed Matt’s hand b4 leaving. They started looking around the perimeter of the clearing and they couldn’t see where he left. They started asking the couples if they had seen Ben and where he went. Peter and Abi were too busy being a couple to notice that anyone left. Klaus scrolled through his pictures and noticed that someone had brought dessert, so he occupied himself. Jay said good riddance, and E wondered if Ben had even come. They didn’t have any luck until they came to Tom. Tom said he didn’t know but he’d help them find him. It was a wonder to watch Tom. He walked once around the perimeter. Then he stopped and dropped to one knee. He peered at a small twig next to a small game trial. Tom stood up. “He went this way, it goes to a small bluff with a dropoff, he’s probably there.” Scarlett was totally shocked. “How do you know that?” “If I wanted to be alone, I’d go there too.” Tom bent over and picked up the broken twig, “Anyways, no one else has left and this is a fresh snap and some of the trail grass is bent over. Scarlett and Carol walked that way enjoying the view but keeping a sharp eye out for Ben. They didn’t notice Tom trailing them behind, staying close enough to make sure they were safe. You never let a girl or girls alone in the woods.. rabid squirrels, I’ve seen em! So they walked along until they saw Ben sitting on a large rock on the edge of the bluff. “Hey Carol, Red.” They looked at him, “How did he..” Ben spoke up, “Thanks Tom, cya later.” Tom disappeared as Ben patted the rock next to him. Carol at on one side and Scarlett on the other side. No one spoke for about ten minutes. Ben whispered, “Look, a Northern Bluebird and it’s babies” Scarlett leaned over and stared at the pretty bird. Carol’s D300 hummed softly as she zoomed in on the nest. She clicked 4 times. The silence dragged on as they pointed out different birds. Carol broke the poignant pause, “Ben, Are you ok?” “What do you mean, Carol?” Ben turned his head to look at Carol. “Physically I’m fine, Mentally I am ok, but no I’m not.” Ben continued as he picked up a small stone. He studied it’s pitted surface. “I don’t want to be a party pooper, but I’m not feeling too good.” Carol and Scarlett waited as Ben continued. “it’s been really hard. I really don’t know what to do. It’s been some time, I should be over it.. but it’s been one year in three days.” Ben wiped his eyes and muttered about the dust. “Is it the girl whose picture you have in your Bible?” Scarlett asked. Ben started to nod, then he stopped. He grabbed Carol’s camera and zoomed in then got up and helped the ladies up and pulled them along. “It’s time to head back.” They headed back as quick as Ben could move them. He started quipping jokes and started them giggling. Matt scowled as he noticed Scarlett hanging onto Ben’s arm. He got up halfway but Scarlett disengaged herself and sat next to Him. Ben handed the camera to Carol and pulled Tom aside. Scarlett kept an eye on Ben though and saw them leave. Tom and Ben headed out and Scarlett got up. Matt scowled again and got up to follow her. He mumbled something about Ben stealing his girl. Carol noticed Matt’s surliness and quickly nabbed him. “Carol, Ben is stealing Scarlett from me! He’s doing it again. He publically humiliates me in the chat room and now he’s stealing the person I love. He’s a jerk! I’m going to ki..” Carol shushed him, “They are just friends, like we are, brother and sister. Ben has always been there for her, and now she needs to be there for him. But you know that she loves you, if she had loved Ben, she would have accepted him when he asked her to marry her.” Matt showed total shock and he stammered.. “he did?” Matt went and sat down in shock, Scarlett must really love him to have turned down Ben in hopes that she and Matt would work out. He really had a treasure in Scarlett. Carol sat down with Klaus and rummaged in her bag for her stash of chips. “Ben didn’t really propose to Red did he?” Carol mumbled no over a mouth of chiplets, she swallowed and ahemed. “Sometimes a little lie helps” Scarlett followed far behind enough so they couldn’t hear her. She got to the bluff and peered over. Tom and Ben were squatted around a small patch. Ben had a puzzled look on his face. Tom pulled his cell phone out and took some pictures. Scarlett shifted her weight and sent a small pebble rolling down the bluff. Tom and Ben stood up and turned sharply as a look of relief crossed their faces. Ben motioned Scarlett over. “Hey Red, What do you think of this?” Scarlet made her way down to where Ben and Tom were standing. At Ben’s feet laid a female and her three babies. The female’s head was bashed in and the babies’ throats were torn open. Scarlett looked at Ben with a question in her eyes. “You saw it when we were up there,” She pointed with her left hand. “What did you see?” Ben squatted again, “I saw them feeding and the mum, if you can call her that, turned and ripped out the babies’ throats after one of them was trying to nurse off of her when she was digging for nuts. She then went crazy when she saw the blood and beat her head against this stone here. I’ve never seen this behavior, don’t understand. It’s very freaky. Tom has never seen this behavior before either, have you?” Scarlett didn’t know what to say, as the three headed back to the group. They were each puzzled and bewildered. Was this an isolated rabies incident or a harbinger of worse things to come? Part 10 The lull As they went back they agreed to tell Frank but to keep it between themselves. The less people who knew, the better, it was Ben’s first mistake; unfortunately it wasn’t going to be his last. When Ben, Tom, and Scarlett got back, Ben noticed that once again all the guys were grouped around talking about computers, didn’t take them that long to ditch the gfs/wives. And most of the girls were grouped around, well except for Carol and Elisabeth. Carol was taking the time to show Elisabeth how some of the new features worked. Every time a new DS came out she would get it, or really Santa would get it. Santa didn’t mind his loving wife’s infidelity with cameras. For once Elisabeth was getting out of her shell. It had been a hard time for her. She was on her own, not much in the way of funds and ever since her brother had been kicked out of the house she had been trying to make ends meet. All her life she had booked on her looks, but all the good ones she turned down in hopes of finding the future President, but she lived in Oregon, pfft, what were the odds of that happening? Freddy had spent what little she had and maxed her cards out. The reunion was a last ditch shot at maybe finding some work from one of her friends. Being as independent as she was, she hated asking for help. But as she talked with Carol, she found herself opening up and telling everything. Carol listened to Elisabeth’s heart and let Elisabeth cry on her shoulder. Afterwards they all hugged and Carol pulled Elisabeth towards the group of girls, who were talking about makeup of all things. Elisabeth wiped her eyes and joined in the discussion about the latest thing in Lipstick from MaryKay, the Foobar Blossom. Carol stepped away and pulled Mark aside from his passionate discussion about Mac versus Linux. Chris is a diehard you know. Swears by his holy servers, that Linux trumps Mac. Mark was the key proponent of Mac and getting pulled out early destroyed the Mac side so Chris got to rub his hands and laugh at his fallen foes. Those IT guys… so sadistic. He was going to need all the sadism he could muster soon enough. Carol and Mark talked for a bit then Mark went back and the guys started to discuss the morality of downloading music and movies. All to soon the lovely picnic came to a cease and they packed up what little was left.. Tom and Ben lead them back and they had so much fun, already there was a touch of melancholy that time was passing so fast.. They got back to the hotel and Sarah and Tom said their goodbyes and headed out. Ben and Scarlett looked up Frank and passed the word to him while all got ready for the dance, no one wanted to go on that hike with Ben. Go figure, I guess Jay and Matt had been humiliated enough. Soon enough the girls and guys were prepping for the dance. All was going to be great!
This is purely fictional. No reference is made or intended to anyone.
No Greater Love Rights Reserved No copying w/o permission by author.
My darling Rachel, I can never express my love for you and our unborn daughter. Please do not grieve for I will be with my Saviour and I will have no worries or trouble. Turn the love which you have for me towards Nicole, my sister. Come to love her as your sister, Stephanie. My Rachel, Nicole and I started our voyage with the desire to deepen our relationship and to have God unite our family despite my past failure and horrible treatment of her. On our trip we were becalmed 2 weeks out, the radio won’t work and we have food for only one. We can’t both make it back. Don’t weep for me dearest. Only remember the first time we met. I saw you across the room with this monstrous box that dwarfed you, my love. I offered my assistance, but we didn’t talk. You were flustered from busily preparing for your children’s program. Dearest, what attracted me from the very start was the light in your eyes, the air that possessed you, the air of one who was purely living for God. I had met many young ladies that were beautiful, yet, from your countenance shined your heart. That was it for me. I had to get to know you better. I didn’t even know your name! I went and I searched for your name. That was easy. The hard part was finding your address and your dad’s phone number. You wouldn’t have believed the hours I spent talking to your father and soon to be mine as well. When at last your dad gave me his consent and I came to court you, you had no idea. You thought I was a starving employee of your fathers. I don’t blame you, considering the way I put away the meals. I thought you would have at least remembered me. That didn’t dissuade me; I kept it up until the day. You remember that?? We were in your living room when your mom and dad happened to “disappear”. You looked like the princess of my dreams. I dropped to one knee… and slipped. I smacked my head against the fireplace hearth. I passed out. When I came to, your whole family had “reappeared” again. They were standing over me checking to see if I could count to ten. Everything was fine, well except that I was bleeding onto your mom’s angora rug. As soon as I cleaned up, and your family “re-disappeared” I asked you to marry me. For me the next four months flew past seemed like an eternity. I could not believe God’s blessing on me. I had the prizes above all prizes. We had both kept ourselves chaste so we were innocents. We were in love and devoted to pursue God in our relationship. The courtship then seemed to fly by. As we studied 1 Corinthians our relationship grew deeper with each other and with God. I remember our wedding day. As I stood next to our pastor and my best man and good friend Michael, I watched your father escort you up the aisle. Your purity alone was whiter than your dress. Right then I was hit again with the knowledge that I was not fit to be your husband. We have had our rocky bumps and troubled times but they just helped us get closer together and grow in the Lord. For my sister Nicole, Treat her well, she doesn’t know what I am doing and she will be in pain. I have kept her in the dark about our current distress. Lean on her, she is strong and lovely in heart. I regret how badly I treated her when we were younger. She needed me and I pushed her away, when I could have just been there for her. God has done wonders for our relationship in the last five years. He has shown me how much Nicole really means to me. I can never say that I love you too much. Rachel, I am sorry that I will not hold our little daughter, see her grow into a young lady that is just like her sweet mother, or spend time with her. I love you so much and will see you in a twinkling of an eye. God bless you and keep you. Your loving husband, Jake
Lost at sea aboard the yacht, The Flying Duchess one Jake Montez. It is believed he slipped overboard to save another life. He is survived by his parents, John and Stacy, His sister Nicole, and his Wife Rachel. Memorial services are at First Baptist of Spurville this Monday.
In no case is this story meant in any but a humorous light. Hope you all enjoy and are not offended. Please do not copy without permission
There sat an old man. He sat this one, fine day just as he had sat for the last 23 years, 4 months, and 2 days. And as he sat rocking, back and forth, chewing, he'd talk of politics, weather, old times, fish bait, and the like. But on this day, something happened that changed his world forever. No, it wasn't a meteor or a lightening strike, but a bus….
The dusty Greyhound slowed and screeched to a stop. The sliding door clanged open and disgorged a group of boisterous people. The old man’s chewing stopped…… started but stopped as he saw the long skirts and long hair and shock..something he had only heard of before…horrors of horrors…the women were having intelligent conversations with some guys and the other girls… he swallowed his chaw.
Carol stepped off the bus D300 in hand, well it was a change, instead of two hands around her baby,it was one.. the other was hand in hand with Klause, and there was a huge ring on her hand, he had a matching one.. yup they were happily, no obliviously married. Klauss’ hand was intertwined with Carol’s free one.. and his other one was wrapped lovingly around Carol’s old D90, yes once his rival but no longer… just his minion.
Next was Kayla, arm in arm with Jared, Kayla was sporting an authentic edition of the hobbit in hopes that people would recognize her… not realizing that being a midget gave it all away. Jared.. well he was Jared… nothing more nothing less
The next two people who stepped off made the old geezers jaw hit the ground. A dainty foot enclosed in a spike high heel. His old eyes looked up and he gasped at the beauty that stepped out. She looked like a professional model. Her hair was done up in the most elegant up to date fashion and everything was glistening and in place. What befoggled the old man was not the sight before him, but the thought that there really were people stupid enough to travel in a bus for 1000 miles dressed so ridiculously. Right behind her came this scrawny boy/man wearing an oversized pair of aviators and a bulky leather jacket. The “Shades” were scanning the nonexistent crowds for a potential attacker or stalker.. he had a phone cord running from his collar to his ear. Despite his vigilance he missed the sign on his sister’s low backed dress.. that read FUTURE FIRST LADY.
“Kids these days,” The old man resumed his rocking but nothing would ever be the same again.
Fredster walked up to the old man who was talking to himself again.
“Where is the nearest Hotel?”
“Looks like it’s going to be a warm night tonight”
“Sir, the directions?”
“Haven’t seen a cloud formation like that since 1954, sure harbinger of rain”
“I’m talking to you old man!!”
“The wind is from the south… that is a sure sign of evil”
That stopped Freddy, well that and Klause pointed with his D90, “Look, says Old fashioned Hotel.” His heavy German accent caused Carol, his wife, to giggle; well, and take some more pictures.. of the old man in the rocking chair. Kayla and Jared were already headed down the street hand in hand… sigh, young love… well kinda young love. Epster headed down to as prettily as she could while Fredster scanned the empty shops for possible snipers. Carol shrieked.. “Look how cute that hotel is!” and promptly rattled off 23 shots. Klause took a picture of the Old Tyme Gas station.Yup.. one picture.. Carol hadn’t trained him all the way yet.. they’d only been married for 4 years. Ok, the first 3 and a half were spent training Santa to put the toilet seat down and to put his clothes in the hamper rather than as if he had been raptured.
As the couples walked in through the swinging wooden doors, well E and Freddy weren’t a couple.. they were just there, they saw a sign over the weathered hotel clerk’s counter. It read
Welcome HAS Chat! 1st annual reunion in Piccadilly MO
Part 2, Superman
The counter was vacant.. which didn’t faze Carol or Klause any.. well no need to say what they were doing. Eppie was bored and everyone could see she thought the future first lady should not be kept waiting and Freddy’s vigilant eyes had still missed the sign… Kayla was still enthralled with Jared despite his childish fascination with the little bell. From the back came a stenetorian voice.. Read the note moron! And leave that dratted bell alone, it’s an antique!
“So is everything else in this blasted town,” Jared muttered “not even a decent pizza place.
Carol snapped a closeup of the note while reading it.. “important discussion in back, keep your britches on.”
Freddy listened aptly to the conversation in hopes that it was a conspiracy…
“So if we piped the dispersion back into a loop and then put some mixing plates just after the Coag injection point on our loop, we would have optimum coagulation?”
“Yes sirrie, here let me draw it out for you.”
“IT’S A BOMB PLAN!!!! Freddy yelled reaching for his holstered Mp90, wait that part was still in his imagination, He rushed in there screaming citizen’s arrest to see a portly middle-aged man and another guy examining some plans on a table. The other guy snapped up, glanced at Freddy, snickered and turned back to his drawing.. “Make a loop there… and”
“You are both under Citizens arrest for conspiracy to commit terrorist acts!”
The middle aged guy looked up, “Sonny where did you learn them newfangled words? The Fourth season of NCIS? I’m Frank, the sheriff of Piccadilly County. And this is no bomb” He chuckled and turned back to the drawing.
“The other guy spoke up.. Freddy is that a telephone cord behind your ear?”
Freddy was struck by lightning, well just about… he managed to stammer out a reply, “What are those plans? And who is this guy who knows my name?”
Frank answered in his nasal twang, “Diagrams for improvements in our water treatment plant. We are looking at boosting our plant to once every two weeks operation”
“Wait you are the Water boy and the Sheriff? And who is this guy? Freddie’s eyes narrowed suspiciously under his dark shades.
The man stood up revealing a tussled shock of hair above two gray eyes perched above a mischevious smile. Freddy gulped as he noticed the muscled torso barely concealed by the vivid shirt. “Superman?”
No Freddy, I picked up the shirt at Walmart. I’m Ben. “
Part Three, the meeting
Carol promptly rattled off 30 pictures and ran up and hugged Ben. Kayla came up and vindictively poked Ben in return for the midget jokes and all the cyber pokes. “My finger went in this much!” “Fat Check!” Elisabeth sneered as dignified as she could… Jared and Klause gathered around the drawing and proceeded to make educated comments. 8080 port, 15 degress, round about turn, their boy talk was interrupted by a dignified fashionable lady poised in such a way that outshined Epster..“We are meeting here in the conference room, of you would like to come in or you can stay with Ben and the dear sheriff. The sheriff smiled as Carol rushed over and hugged Sara then took pictures of Sara in her stunning outfit. Sara was wearing knee high boots, and a white wrap dress,and a silver necklace with a black diamond pendant. Her hair flowed loosely in wild curls. Freddy’s mouth dropped open in shock… as E got a jealous look in her eyes… All of them filed into the conference room leaving Ben.aka superman and the sheriff behind.
There was Eric, Carrie, Matt, Scarlett, Jay, Chris, Bekah, Chad, Abi, Michael, Peter, Mark, and Charlyn. Haha, now I have to say who is married to whom or who is bf/gf with everyone…
First Carrie married to Mark… I know what a shock, Carrie was perfectly happy eating chocolate…. Scarlett was hand in hand with Matt, they were bf and gf, I know, another shock, Jay was single.. no surprise there, Michael and Bekah were hand in hand, Abi and Peter, Eric and Charlyn, and Chad was Sara’s husband. Eric was kissing every girl he could.. to the annoyance of all their bfs or husbands. Scarlett had grown into a lovely young lady and Matt was mature and talking about computer stuff with Chris, Chris was single along with Kim.. who was drawing guns and knives on the tablecloth, Abi and Peter were kissing.. Michael and Bekah were talking with Charlyn, the they all got up and mingled and said howdy and shook hands and had a lot of fun.. Jay was asleep on the couch. After about 15 minutes of talking Sara started handing out sheets of paper with a schedule on it.
Friday night-games and mingling, midnight walks included
Saturday morning, bfast at 10, for those interested at 6:30 Ben is leading a run… he should be around. But meet him outside the front door at 6:30 sharp. A little hike not led by Ben happens at 12 and will include a picnic.. then a hike led by Ben happens at 4, dinner and dancing starts at 6. Make sure to wear appropriate attire as it is a medieval dance. Sunday Morning we will have a group church then start leaving. Hope you all have a blast! Enjoy the local attractions.
A game of spoons started up… Chad was spanking everyone of course.. Kim ended up throttling him cause he stole hers. The little game of dutch blitz was won by Scarlett.. E sat and looked with disdain at all the trivial games.. there were charades… Whoever said Homeschoolers couldn’t have fun… oops Fredster dragged out the pinko.. the party was going downhill fast. They got together for a big game of signs.. and Scarlett noticed Ben was gone.. said something to Carol, and Carol went to get him. She saw him outside with something in his hand. The moon was out in full strength. Scarlett whispered.. what is he reading?They tiptoed outside.. Ben had his Bible open.. and there was a picture of a lovely girl there and Ben was crying. Carol coughed.. and Ben shut his bible fast and stood up, and quickly said… Pretty ladies in the moonlight.. flatters you both to the best.. but they didn’t laugh. They smiled and each of them took an arm and dragged him in.. then made him join in signs.. after about ten minutes… Carol and Scarlett walked aside.
“Carol, did you see what he had his bible open to?”
Carol swung her head in a no, Scarlett continued. “Psalms 51”
Part 4.. More surprises
The party progressed as Carol kept a watchful eye on everyone and took pictures..but she didn’t see the dashing Chad slip out, nor Ben’s halfhearted attempts to play..nor the upset look on Sara’s face.. Honestly she tried but Klause was too busy chucking her under the chin while gobbling up goodies and half heartedly taking pix.
Sara waited until no one was looking or so she thought and headed out. Ben however noticed… and from what he knew already, he figured he had better tag along. Ben was great at sticking his nose where it didn’t belong.. but then again so did Superman. If you haven’t noticed it Ben had an ego issue.. just cause he was the most fit person in hsachat didn’t give him room to be superman…
Ben followed Sara to the front of the hotel and watched as Sara stepped out and looked both ways tehn sighed and hung her head. Ben coughed delicately and Sara looked at Ben and nodded. Yes, I don’t know where he is.. but I’m sure he’s at it again. Ben nodded. Sara asked.. Can you help me? I don’t know where he went. Ben stepped outside and looked at the dirt. “He went that way.”
“Wow, I didn’t know you could read signs”
“I can’t” as they walked towards a building that had a light on. Sara’s puzzled look disappeared as Ben explained.. “this is the only building in the town that has a light on.”
Ben stopped outside and watched through the window as Sara walked in. There were 3 men and Chad seated around a card table playing poker. Sara kicked over the table sending the marked cards flying then grabbed Chad’s arm and pulled him out. Ben disappeared quickly as they came out. “You promised you wouldn’t! I make enough that you don’t have to gamble, besides you have been losign steadily for the last 4 months! You have to stop!”
Chad kissed her, “Hun, I was winning, my luck has turned, it’s ok, I won’t do it again, sweetie.”
You could have knocked Ben over with a feather.. this dude was more bulked than him. Tom opened the door and they walked into the hotel. As they walked into the conference room, the noise subsided, all the girls looked in awe at Sarah’s man, and the guys looked at Tom’s muscles in envy. Sara came up first and introduced herself to Tom and the ice quickly broke.Carol took dozens of pictures again as she asked Sarah how she had met Tom.
“it’s really sad though, Tom was an Army Ranger in Iraq and was injured when an IED went off, the shrapnel damaged part of his brain, the social area incidentally. For a couple months he recovered then went to School at Letourneau to finish up his degree in Bioscience, where he met Chris, a fellow introvert. They became friends and Tom wanted to get out and meet more people so Chris helped him out and created Cricket, who we all thought was a bot. Because I was so nice to him, he wanted to meet me. Chris gave me a call, which I couldn’t believe him doing, and told me about Tom and how Tom wanted to meet me. Now Tom had done some film stuff as well so we met up at a film festival, and it was love at first type.. We are getting married in 3 months. And you are all invited! Especially Kim and Ben.” We have to leave tomorrow afternoon though.
Kim was so shocked. You could have taken all her knives away, all 12 of them, and she would have never known it. Matt, Jay, Freddy and Elisabeth looked like they had a stroke and Ben looked sick. Chris had an evil grin on and was laughing his head off while rubbing his hands back and forth. The others rushed to congratulate Sarah and Tom, the real lucky one, and Carol took more pictures, and then hugged everyone.
Everyone got together for a huge game of spoons till you pee. It got down to the two famous singles, Kim, and Chris. Kim won of course, after planting one of her knives in the last spoon. Chris liked his fingers in one piece. Chris drank the cup of water and then had to excuse himself. People started breaking apart and headed out to enjoy the moonlight and the warm, gentle breeze. Finally they were all gone leaving Ben behind. Ben started to clean up but Carol and Klaus popped back in, “Come on Ben, Don’t be an old fart!” Klaus said affably, “You can tag along with us; Scarlett and Matt are with us as well”
Ben noticed Matt’s scowl, and agreed. As they walked outside Klaus linked arms with Carol who linked arms with Ben. Scarlett grabbed Ben’s other arm and Matt, still scowling. They started skipping and soon passed Abi and Peter, and were joking and having a blast. Klaus said something about his belly and a bowl full of jelly when they heard a piercing howl. It was unlike anything any of them had heard before..it was a sound of anger and terror, like a wail torn from an eternally damned banshee..
Carol and Scarlett hugged their special somebodies closer as Carol asked, “What was that?”
“Probably a wolf” Klaus answered as he hugged Carol.
Scarlett and Ben looked at each other and whispered at the same time. “That’s no wolf”
Part 6 Fun and Pain, Aren’t they the same?
The howl dampened the merry spirit of the homeschoolers and in unison they headed back to the hotel, Kim clutching her two biggest knives nervously.There was little chatter on the way back. They went to their rooms and bedded down, even Chad, who seemed to lose his draw to the poker game.
The sun rose too early for most of the late nighters.. shining it’s gentle rays upon two men in a dead sprint towards the hotel. The tall one was in the lead by 10 feet when the short one sprinted and barely beat him to the hotel. Then they started walking around the small city block and the smaller one looked at his Casio G-shock, solar powered baby and remarked it’s 6:25.. no one’s coming I guess.
Tom gasped.. “Gee, youare a fast little bugger. Where were you trained?”
Ben gasped back, “I cut that corner back there, you had me dead to rights.”
Tom slapped Ben on his back. “Ha, it’s not cheating to use available resources! I need to run more.”
“Me too” Ben leaned over in the rag doll
The old wooden hotel doors swung open as Carrie, Charlyn, Chris in suspenders and shorts, Sara wearing the latest Underarmor running outfit with matching water bottle, Sarah, and last but notleast… Carol, camera in hand.
“Carol you can’t run and take pictures!” Chris laughed.
“Watch me!!” They started stretching. Well Carol was taking pictures while stretching… some of the shots which nobody should ever need to see or would see. They did some warm ups and cast aside all the gear that was unneeded. Then they set off. Tom had the fast group and Ben had the slow group.
Elisabeth regally looked out her window and watched, as she put it, the rustics in their morning silliness. She was very upset that she been so rudely awakened by Klaus and Carol speaking German in the other room. As Ben’s group faded off into the distance, she heard a knock on the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Frank,” the guy waited, “Oh, I reckon you don’t remember, I’m the hotel manager” She thought maybe Freddy had ordered room service and opened up.. but it wasn’t room service.
The portly man stood there in his faded clothes, his head downturned and twisted his battered hat between his knurled hands. He looked up with a bashful look on his face. “Ma’am, I don’t know how to say this, and please don’t take this wrong or as an affront again ye, but your credit card is overdrawn. I have a living to make and a family. Unless I have some form of payment, you and your brother will have to leave.”
Elisabeth gasped.. “What about this card?” Pulling out her other credit card, the only one she thought wasn’t maxed out; she handed it over.
Frank bobbed his head and headed downstairs. The stairs creaked as he tottered down, putting his hat on. He desperately hoped there was some credit to this card.. but the credit check he had done said that she had a very low score.He put the card in the reader and he sighed as the red letters flashed at him like the lights of a Police cruiser. NOT AUTHORIZED
Frank’s hat was being twisted in nearly about half as he headed back up the rickety old stairs. He made his way to the Beauty’s door. His knurled fist was about to knock on the door when a portly, bespectacled, red suited chap with a red nightcap paused him. “Sir.. Can I have a word with you?”
Frank stepped aside with the fat furry fellow. “This may be a guess but is Miss Elisabeth Starr short on funds, and is in danger of eviction?”
“Yes, She is.. I don’t want to do it, and I know it sounds corny, but I need the money.” Frank’s wrinkled face grew red with embarrassment.
The Santaish figure held up a plump finger. “Whatever it is that they need, any expense at all, put it on my tab.” He put a Visa card with a St. Nick on it in Franks hand. “Not a word to Ms. Starr of course, she’s most insistent about these things, gotta have a sense of dignity and all.”
As Frank went about his other morning activities in the hotel he saw the groups come in from their morning exercise. Most of them were puffing, and blowing, except the 2 buff guys. They looked fresh and as if they had joined the old man in the rocking chair and talked about the weather for the last hour.Frank shook his head as he reached beneath the counter and put on his mayor hat and headed out to check to make sure that all the public services were working.. the one fire hydrant, the one public bathroom, the one water fountain, and the one and only fire truck/police car/ dog catcher vehicle. In a one horse town, one man is the horse. And he carries all the burden. Not much goes wrong in a small town, and when it does, one man can handle it. But what happens when everything goes wrong?
Part 7 When it starts going wrong.
Most people were getting cleaned up for the fun picnic party and/or seeing the local sights and having a general fun time. Chad was pacing the street. He wanted to play so bad.. It was in his blood. And he was good. But he was addicted. He thought back to when he first started to play. It was easy at first.. he won and he won and he could control how much he played.. but then it seemed to get the better of him. He played off and on, trying to control his urges. He got so addicted that he seemed to lose his whole soul. One day.. Sara came and pulled him out of a game.. She helped him recover and they got married. Ever since then he had been not playing.. but the pull was too much. He looked down at the old time Saloon as the doors swung open revealing the beefy guy he bilked of 800 dollars last night. “Beefy” walked over and spat a brown stream between his missing front teeth hitting the
“You going to let us try to get our money back? It’s only fair.” Chad grinned sickly. Now what was he going to do?
“Chad!” Chad turned to see the superman reject come up. “Hey, wanted to ask you if you are game for the hike this afternoon after the picnic?”
“Beefy” spoke up, “Take a hike Kid! This is Business!” Then the guy turned to Chad.. “You playing? Or are you some yellowed, no good, city slicker?”
Chad knew it had gotten worse.. really worse. This guy was nuts. “Ben, would you leave us?”
Ben was no dumb bunny.. and He owed Sara big time anyways. “Hey! You! Lard brain! Did you lose those front teeth naturally or did you try to eat a cue ball?”
Beefy blinked slowly. “Naturally?”
“Yes Dumb bucket, what your mum never taught you how to brush those brown babies?” Ben grinned evilly.. so cruelly.. Sara was right. Ben has an evil grin.
Beefy gasped.. the punk insulted his dear deceased mum! Brown babies! What did he think he was saying? Beefy took a swing at the evilly grinning head and the lights went out.
A poof of dust arose from where beefy laid. All 6 and a half feet of him. Chad blinked owlishly.. It happened so fast! Ben dusted off his hands and looked at Chad. “Dumb bunny swung from the shoulder. Never do that. Over extends yourself and throws your balance off.”
They heard someone clapping. Tom ,standing beside the hotel door, called out, “Well done! You are the hero of the day!”
A scream arose from the hotel, startling Ben, Tom, and Chad.. They quickly turned to see the Halfling running out of the hotel screaming like a banshee. The door swung open again as Cy was chasing her. It’s just a kiss, Come on Ka” His repertoire was cut brutally short as Tom stuck out a leg tripping Cy and sending him sprawling into the dirt.
Cy sprung up. “What’s the Big idea?!?” His face grew red as a beet. His hands curled into fists and a blood vessel started out.
Tom looked apologetic, as he mumbled, “I’m so sorry Eric, I wasn’t paying attention. I just am a klutz. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Cy uncurled his fists and walked back into the hotel as he yelled. “Just make sure it doesn’t happen again or else!”
Kayla ran up and hugged Tom. “Thanks sooo much, you are the Hero of the day.” Tom and Ben looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Midgets are sooo emotional . Kayla, fitting in that category, missed what was happening in the big world.
Everyone headed back inside as Ben and Chad dragged Beefy into the saloon. Gee He was heavy. Back inside the hotel, Tom and Kayla walked into the room. Cy and Charlyn were cozy on the end couch. Jared and Peter were shooting pool. “Eh, why are you two so cosy now?”
Kayla quickly stuck out her midget tongue and walked over and hugged her dashing husband. “Cy tried to kiss me and Tom saved me.”
Tom shrugged as Jared first looked at Tom, then at Cy. Cy shifted gingerly as Jared gave him the eye. “It was just a kiss”
Jared cleared his throat, “Cy, kiss my wife again and I will beat you down.”
Cy got up and stomped off in a rage as Charlyn bashfully apologized for Erik’s bad behavior. “He’s been losing customers and clients and it’s been hard for him at work. I’m really sorry Jared and Kayla.”
Kayla went and hugged Charlyn, “I’m sorry, that must be hard.” Kayla handed Charlyn some chocolate as Ben and Chad walked in. Then they heard shouts of anger. They all huddled around a window as angry noises filled the air. Was the whole town going mad?
Part 8 A Bet
Then the noise subsided. It was quite a shock.. the homeschoolers all looked at each other in puzzlement. “is it the Angry Hour for Piccadilly?” Ben quipped.
Jared laughed, “Probably the local tradition. Instead of howling at the moon, they yell at each other.” Chad snickered.
“Hopefully the girls didn’t really hear that.” Kayla said.
Ben , Chad, Jared, and Tom looked at Kayla. “You are a girl Kayla.” All four chimed in.
Kayla was set back temporarily. A shocked look washed over her face as the dismal truth set in. She almost cried as she thought. “They don’t think I’m one of the guys?” Yet she didn’t think that because Jared didn’t think of her as a guy was a very good thing. It’s usually hard for a manly man like J-bob to fall in love with a girl that he thinks is a real ‘ol pal. And Jared is very much in love. Then Jared leaned over and kissed her on her wrinkled forehead. “Ah smooth out those wrinkles Kayla, you are much more lovely than any guy could be.”
The little meeting broke up as they all headed up to their rooms to get ready for the afternoon. Bekah, Carrie, Kim, Matt, and Jay came down the stairs. The girls began to make the picnic dinner as Matt and Jay teased them, made disgusting noises, and pinched the girls. Now if it had been 5 years earlier Matt and Jay would have died slowly by Kim. However, Kim had been saved and therefore was trying to be nice. Carrie was making ham sandwiches, some were chocolate filled, Kim was putting the mayo and mustard on, and Bekah was bagging them. Matt finally cut to the chase and grabbed one of Carrie’s sandwiches and proceeded to eat it in right next to her ear. Jay put his finger about an inch from Kim’s ear.
“I’m not touching you!!!” Jay was having more fun that a dog that was chasing a running pole cat.
Matt was making more noises than a wood chipper that was being fed ironwood. Finally Carrie snapped and palm struck Matt in his solar plexus. Kim immediately grabbed Jays out stretched finger and pushed it up, making him squeal like a stuck pig. Matt doubled over and barfed the stolen sandwich out. Kim forced Jay to his knees as he began blubbering. Kim hollered “I won!!”
“Of course you won, Please let my finger go.” Jay blubbered
“Not you doorknob, I beat Carrie. Now pay up.” Matt gasped for air as Carrie glared at Kim. “Ok, but later, tonight at the dance.”
Carrie sighed, “Fine”
She glared down and the wheezing Matt. Matt got up and walked out. “I need some fresh air”
Jay moaned as Kim put more pressure on. “Please stop”
“Please what?” Jay moaned.. what did she want now?
“Please stop, I shouldn’t have teased you, I was wrong, Please Stop oh your highness!!” The last part was a scream as Jay believed his finger would be ripped off by this killer Kim.
“Ma’am would have worked,” Kim sneered as she let the blubbering baby loose.
Jay left as Abi and Epster walked in. “Girls we have to go soon, these sandwiches are overdue!”
The 5 girls toiled away and got them all packed up and bagged. Bekah pulled Kim and Carrie aside.. “Kim won what?”
Kim laughed as Carrie groaned an answer. “I said I had more self-control than Kim did.. I didn’t, now I have to Kiss Matt tonight at the dance. For 5 seconds!!:
Honestly, I have been having a massive struggle.. I wanted to do something I knew was not right.. and I tried to do it.. but I couldn't... yah God wouldn't let me.. after a good night of sleep and some home cooking.. :P Yes I cooked, I see things a little more clearly. I need to be a witness as a Christian. Some people I have come in contact with could say that I have not acted as a Christian. That's a shame.
Romans 13: 1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Honestly I don't trust our leadership. I tend to trust only the people I know. I don't trust those in leadership I don't know them and I don't trust them to take care of me when they are so crooked. Cops, politicians and everyone thrown in. I don't and have a hard time to put my trust in them. I have to be subject to them though. I need to respec them. I do respect the cops and the president and those in authority but I don't trutst them.. I may not be doing what is right.. but I don't like the system. It's hard to see that they are the ministers of God.
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. This is my Mom. She isn't the prettiest lady out there but her heart. I have seen her show compassion to people at the grocery store that she barely knows. She takes time to cook, clean, and care. She has run alot of our dog business. She is going to be married to my dad for 25 years and people do envy my dad. SHe sews, and does alot with her hands. My mom is this. New years Resolutions.. the things we all make.. and all don't do them.. so I'm going to make some and keep them. This year I want to eat.. sleep and do some workouts... Ha, no I want to do something more.. I want to do pt every day.. better get on it... ughn :P I want to live holily and justly and unblameably b4 man and God. I want to get PTx twice this next semester. so on and so forth. The thing is that you can make all kinds of resolves and decide to make new choices.. but unless you really deeply throw out the things that pull you away and make a heart change, you aren't changing.. so don't make superficial changes.. they won't last trust me.. It's like ALERT.. we learn all these disciplines... and we look like the best thing since buttered bread.. now look at us 5 years later.. the only ones who look the same are the ones who took them to heart. Let us take God to heart and do His will this year. Pray for your loved ones and friends that they will do the same. 1O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.3When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Let us Praise Him... go outside and take some time to worship the Creator. Psalms 11:1In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. When all around my soul gives way then he is my hope and stay. it seems that there are those out there who would want me to stumble and fall. I need to put my trust in God and live for him... How will you live? I think I live more trying to please others than living my life in God's will. Psalms 16:1Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; 3But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Who is our focus? Do you make God your focus? At any part of the day... or even at all? Or do you set aside a little "God time" and the rest is yours? You pray some... read some, talk some, maybe witness some... but do you live Him? When you do, others can tell it. Think of your friends.. is there one who seems to always be God focused? Not that they sit home and fold their hands in their life.. but that they have more to thme, that you can see the passion. I can think of several. Honestly I think I set aside "God time" Let us live all For Him..
Psalms17: 6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. 7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. 8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Do you have problems? Like.. serious problems...... that you can't seem to shake.. Well good news! I'm selling something that fixes all your problems.. you can reach me.. it's only 75.99.... plus 15$ for S&H..
Well haha, don't really buy it... When you have problems, what do you do? Do you turn to yourself? or others.. maybe you tell people, we should all at the first sign of trouble turn to God. He happens to be a good fixerupper.
Psalm 19:
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
This is it. Oh I want to keep away from sims, I want that badly.. if i didn't sin I wouldn't have any problems at all. But I need to focus on God and seek his will. I want to move on from my faults both public and my secret ones. Even though I do like them for a little bit.
Romans13:11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Here's one of the most important passages I think in the new testament. Knowing the time it's time to WAKE UP, the day of His return is near! Our leisure time is nearing the end, throw off our sins, our comfortable, little sins. Let us not live as sinners, worldy people.but as men and women living anew.... not wasting our time away but making the most of it. Let us put on God and crucify our flesh.
God bless you all and may you live for the morning. Psalsm 22:1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. 29All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
It really looks like David had his hands full. He had all these people out ot kill him yet you see his response. Lord I am weak, my enemies are many but you are strong. Lord Help me. No problem, we all pray when we are in trouble eh? However, David does something extraordinary. He praises God for all he has done and will do. God has saved us before,God will save us, let us declare His name. If we let our problems dictate what we think about God. Our smal problems, we have a small God. David had a big God. His problems were in GOd;s hands. When we say we can fix our problems or we worry and don;t trust God with our problems we have a small God. How big is your God?
Psalms 23:1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Is your God big or little? My God is big enough, He loves me, satisfies my needs, gives me rest in abundance, keeps me physically safe, spiritually sound, leads me in His path. When death is near, God is nearer. You give me sucess over those who try to destroy me, you bless me beyond words. As Long as i stay in Your will and your ways, true peace is with me.
Proverbs 5: 1My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. 3For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 6Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 7Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 8Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 9Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:10Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; 11And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! 14I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. 15Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. 18Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Back in the day.. oh 1945 or so even as late as 1970, when you said strange woman, every knew you ment a certian type of person.the distinction is not so clear now.Who is a strange woman? who is the seductress portrayed here? Those of you who are girls.. I got bad news. It could be you. I am by no means saying you actually say or do these things portrayed here in Proverbs. But you don't have to say anything to lure men aside. I bet most of you when you read this are thinking.. Oh no..is he actually going to give advice to girls on clothes? Yes I am. It's very important how you dress. A picture says a thousand words, what you do and wear says more than your words. I am not saying that if a guy has problems that it is just the girls faults. We as men are responsible for what we say, do, and think. You could make it easier for us though.
Romans 13: 8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. This is very key. Why does God say do this do that? In the OT there are so may rules you can't swing a dead cat. Literally. What is the point of all these laws? We hear alot, oh that's OT, I'm living NT. No, it shouldn't be that way. We need to be the whole bible. It is important to obey the spirit of the Bible. The spirit of the law is the same as the spirit Jesus was talking about... it's about love. May you love oneanother as we love ourselves. God bless Today is a milestone. Today something changed and I started something new. What am I going to do that is different this time. What can I do differently. So like any other time I need direction I look to the map.
Romans 14: 1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
You've seen him.. we all know him, the brother who is so sensitive. He shrinks at what most of us are comfortable with. what do we do? Often we continue doing what we want w/o thought of others. I need to focus on loving others more than I love myself. then as Christians do we point and judge our weaker brethren? Or do we help others?
Psalms 31: 22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 23O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Be of Good courage, God rewardeth the faithful and the proud doer.Too often I give up easily. May we stay the course.
Psalms 32:1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. 10Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. 11Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
The strength of sin is in its secrecy. You can move on from your sin in your past.. but only after you confess it and repent.You can't ask God's pardon if you don't admit you did it in the first place and that it needs pardon.
Psalms 34:12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Let us seek peace with our mouths.. It's too easy to stumble in that area for me. Well maybe most of yu don't have any problem with your mouth but I do... it says the stupidest things sometimes.. almost all my problems have come from my mouth. Hebrews 2: 1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews:4: 8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
I've done this b4... I have neglected what I know is right because I like to do other things.. prayer for example. It's easy to let it slip aside in search of more entertaining things. However if we neglect the most important things.. such as belief, your faith, your salvation, you stand to lose so much. Live For God, trust Him, learn to depend on Him day by day. Don't harden your hearts when trials arise.. get on your knees, let us learn from the Israelites. God is so merciful to us.. we live with so many blessings, ;et us look past the stuff to Him.
Psalms 38: 1O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. 21Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. 22Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
I heard a preacher on the radio.. what is repentance? What is remorse? Remorse is loving your sin and hating yourself for doing it. Repentance is hating your sin cause you love your Saviour. David hates his sin. I need to hate it too. The only way I can start to hate my sin is to grow closer to God. As I grow closer to god I hate what He hates, love what he loves. Part of that is to Focus on Him. talk about Him, read his word, meditate on it, Listen to it. I want to be a Christian 24/7. Not just on Sunday and Wednesday night and when I am sleeping. Let me be a light on a hill.. May you all be a light on a hill, I sure can see it.
Psalms40:1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
What do you do when you get in a fix? I tend to try and fix it my way.. to pull myself out by my bootstraps.. part of being a man is being capable and wanting to fix stuff. One of the downsides is that i am impatient and I rush off halfcocked. Wait on the Lord and he will renew your strength, you will run and not be tired... you will soar on wings like eagles. God is better able to pull us out of our fixes than we are.. he establishes out paths and all we have to do is follow his guide like a sheep follows his shepherd. I have been memorizing 1 Thessolonians. As I go through it alot stands out.
I Thess:1Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. 7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 2:1For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 14For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 17But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20For ye are our glory and joy. As I go over this I see the love that the believers have for each other. They long for each other, they are encouraging each other. Despite the persecution, they stand strong and remind each other of the Faith and example of Jesus. All around us people are needing aid. They are weak.. suffering and need much aid. What is sad is that they are our brothers and sisters. To often we forget that they need s or we ignore them. Can you encourage those around you? Can you say that other Christians are your glory and your joy? I can't. I'm trying.. but I am not. Let us lift up our brothers and sisters and stand triumphant. We may lose some battles.. but we have won the war! DO I have character? I am afraid I have far less than I should. I do not do the right thing because it is the right thing, I do what I do because I want to do it. I do not Love God and Hate evil. I truly need to seek God and grow close to Him. Proverbs 9: 9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Do I fear God? DO I even love Him? Or is he soem vague entity that has insured my eternal salvation... Psalm 42:1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Do I seek Him? Do I want him? Is knowing and being with God a need? What do I put first in my life? What do I spend the most time doing?
Hebrews 4:1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
I may be wrong.. but what I think this is saying is that God didn't take away his salvation from the Jews.. but that he has opened it up to all of us. But it's not a punishment to the Jews, they are still his beloved. Therefore we have an eternal hope! THis is truly awesome. God is never going to take away our rest. I sure need one
