ABOUT MY HEALTH

   In the fall of 2016, I was diagnosed with C.O.P.D. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
   Since the beginning of 2017, I have experienced a total of seven compression-fracture ribs, an infectious cat bite, a stroke, and three back surgeries.
   Additionally, I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis in my femurs (leg bones) as well as diagnosed with an enlarged aorta near my heart.
   The past two and a half years of my life have not been easy, especially when my life has been connected to an oxygen tube 24/7 because breathing is difficult.
   Let me tell you, however, that my faith in God and in Christ and in the Bible have never changed even though my condition is getting progressively worse.  Even though I have often prayed to God for a miracle, that He would restore my health to where I was prior to 2016, the Lord has not answered my prayers; instead, He has continuously nudged me to believe:  "My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (Second Corinthians 12: 9)
   Neither do I have fear of dying:  "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."         (Second Corinthians 5: 8)
   In this time since 2016, I have drawn closer to the Lord and Him to me, and He has revealed things to me that quite possibly I would have never known had I not been stricken with this disease.  For that, I am thankful.

"For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand at the latter day

upon the earth:

And though after my skin 

worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold, 

and not another;

though my reins be consumed within me."

(Job 19: 25-27)

 
   

The Heart of Christmas, by Billy Graham

A NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION

Billy Graham - Is the handwriting on the wall, America?

John Denver signs The Lord's Prayer

KNOWLEDGE

"But thou, O Daniel, 

   shut up the words, and seal the book, 

even to the time of the end:  

many shall run to and fro,

 and knowledge shall be increased." 

 (Daniel 12: 4)

   It is my belief that knowledge has increased more since the year 1900 up until today than knowledge increased from the time of Adam's creation up until the year 1900.
   Do you suppose this is a fair and accurate assessment for the increase in knowledge.
   Even as early as 1900 the horse was still the number one method of transportation worldwide; but because of the increase in knowledge in the 20th century man was able to mass produce automobiles and the horse was returned to pasture.
   Then, too, consider the impact of computer technology in addition to the increase in knowledge in medicine and science, which has enabled people to live longer and healthier lives as well as harness diseases before they spread.
   After all, the Bible says "knowledge shall be increased,"   and the Bible has never been wrong.
   Read the Bible:  and your knowledge shall be increased in the knowledge of God.

PADDLE TALES

There were six of us in all---
   marveled that we survived;
Not one perished in the flee.

Walking in ankle-deep water,
  we struggled and strained
  tugging our boats ashore;
   we fell on the ground
   to rest there for a spell.

Needing a fire,
  we gathered sticks and twigs
  and a few dry bones;
  striking rocks to get a blaze going.

Everything we had was wet---
  our clothes, food, harps still in tune---
  from not knowing the swelling currents
  in downstream water this time of year.

We hung our possessions in the trees
   to hopefully dry before the dawn.

Should we go or should we stay?
   we asked ourselves in the night.
'Tis better to die on a desert island,
   than return to Babylon,
   to its misery and darkness.
 
Zeke said we should look to Zion,
   for a sign we should see there,
   as a prophet of God
   he breathed no lies.

Pushing north
   we paddled upstream
   toward the destination
   we had chosen.

The days were long,
   the nights longer,
with fear on every side
   and in the boats with us.

And there it was
   as clear as the moon!

A cross stood in Jerusalem.