Farm to Table Dinner

     We had a fun day on Saturday!  Two members of our community, Jason Connor and George Greenwell, with their committee of dedicated workers, planned and orchestrated a Farm to Table Dinner & Farm Tour.  I had heard earlier they had printed 60 tickets and all were sold.
     The evening included tours of 4 local gardens/food producers.  Our first stop, after meeting at Harlan Hall so we could drive in a caravan to the rest of the stops, was at the L & A Family Farms near Paris.  There we toured their poultry operation and natural foods garden.  Next we stopped at the Davidson Gardens in Marshall to see the beautiful flower gardens of Lisa Davidson.  She explained how many of the flowers and objects in her gardens came from her mother and grandmother.  Next was  Johnson Branch Produce near Martinsville where we toured the Clouds' organic garden.   The tour  ended at Buck Valley Wildlife where Jack Crumrin explained how he became interested in raising elk because of the quality of their meat.  We saw some of his elk herd and were amazed at the size of this buck.

     Later we enjoyed a delicious dinner of elk burgers, and other wonderful delights prepared from local produce in the Crumrin's new conference facility built on the site.  After dinner we were entertained by the Yellow Hammer Bluegrass Gospel Band.  It was a very special day.

A big THANK YOU to Jason & George and the rest who made it happen!

    p.s. At every stop we were reminded of how desperately everyone needs rain.  Each of the owners of the gardens apologized because their plants were not it top shape but very thirsty.  We still have received no rain and there is none in the forecast for the next 10 days.  Temperatures are forecast in the 90's most of those 10 days, with Thursday & Friday predicted to reach 101 degrees.  Unless we have an intervention from the Lord, I don't see how we will have any crops in this area this year.  I overheard one of the participants on the tour, who is a farmer, say they are considering disking up some of their early planted corn because it has already tasseled but there are no ears on the stalk to pollinate.
     Please continue to pray for our community.

Excerpt from an article by John Belt

    This is an excerpt from an excellent article by John Belt.  You can read the whole article here.  Sometimes I find myself being critical of others.  Do you?  This excerpt was an attitude adjustment for me.  I thought you might find it helpful, too.

5. The Spirit of Honor

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

     Scripture says that we are to honor all men. If this includes people outside of the faith, then how much more those who are in.

      What does it mean to honor? God gives us all opportunities to honor people. David was convicted when he cut a piece of cloth of Saul's robe. He was grieved that he did such a thing. Are you grieved when you speak ill of someone even though they may be wrong? We reap what we sow. If we sow the wind, we reap the whirlwind. Our mouths are to be a means of blessing people, not speaking curses over others. Maybe you think someone needs to repent. Did you know that it is the "goodness" of God that brings men to repentance? Try praying the goodness of God upon people's lives. Ask for God's love, goodness, and mercy to be displayed instead of gossiping about people. Or is it that people really don't want other people to change because of their own bitter hearts?

     In many cases most would rather gossip than pray for others. Some prayer groups are more like "gossip groups." People look for places to vent their opinions. If you see this happening, expose it on the spot. Whenever you presume to speak negative things about others behind their backs, you are uncovering them and dishonoring them. It is backstabbing. God is not pleased with this. Make sure you have a heart that honors people, and avoid those who talk about others in dishonoring ways. Keep yourself clean. Then pray God's goodness and love be poured out on all involved. When you honor others in private, God will honor you in public. Let your speech be seasoned with salt. Salt is a cleansing agent. It preserves, heals, and restores.

God is faithful!

John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com

Still no rain! Please keep praying!

For those of you who may not know but are interested, we still have received no rain and there is no rain forecast in the foreseeable future.  The situation here is becoming desperate.  Please continue to pray with us.

Pray with us, please.

     We are desperately in need of rain.  We have had no measurable precipitation for over a month with temperatures mainly in the 90's.  I am amazed the crops are still alive, but now the corn is coming to a critical stage.  Some of it is already beginning to tassel.  It must have rain to produce a crop.  The weather channel has forecast a 40% chance of rain today.  If it doesn't happen there is no other rain in the forecast for the next 10 days--just more 90+ degree weather.  Please pray for us.
      This is also the night (every Thursday until the event on July 7) that we pray for the Elevate 2012 concert.  We invite you to join with us in praying for rain to fall on this thirsty land, and the rain of the Holy Spirit to fall on thirsty souls.
       Please, Lord, let it rain!!

For Dreams to Come True by Francis Frangipane

     This word from Francis Frangipane convicted me of letting the immediate things in life crowd out the important things and caused me to search my soul.  Do I really want God's presence?  Am I willing to make it a priority?  How?  What am I going to give up to make time to consciously be in His presence?  Am I prepared to say "No!" to some of the daily demands in my life to allow time for Him to draw me near?

Francis Frangipane:

For Dreams to Come True

      Just because we walk and talk does not mean we are truly awake. Zechariah was not sleeping when an angel roused him "as a man who is awakened from his sleep" (Zechariah 4:1). Perhaps we too need to be shaken from our slumber to possess the promises of God!

     Amazingly, in spite of all the signs, wonders, and warnings announcing that we are truly in the last days, Jesus said there will also be a mysterious drowsiness that we must discern and overcome. Indeed, immediately after highlighting the various evidences of the end (Matthew 24), He compares the Church to virgins who "all got drowsy and began to sleep"(Matthew 25:5).

      Virgins sleeping at the end of the age? It seems incomprehensible with the coming "wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below" (Acts 2:19), not to mention the powerful, worldwide herald of the Gospel of God's Kingdom. Yet, this phenomenon of spiritual slumber, of losing our God-seeking hunger, is something we must guard against.

       When this slumbering spirit approaches, it first dulls our perception. Soon, our zeal for the things of God diminishes. We still love the Lord, of course, but our vision sits in the back seat as other less important aspects of life set the direction for our lives.

       Indeed, from the beginning, the voice of satan has had this seductive, lulling effect on mankind. Eve's excuse for disobedience? "The serpent hath caused me to forget" (Genesis 3:13 Young's Literal Translation).

        This sense of spiritual forgetfulness, of drowsiness, is the cloud of blindness that we each must discern and overcome. It was in regard to this that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart through the following dream:

There was a temple standing in an open field. My view of the temple was from its side, about 200 yards away. I could not see its front, yet it must have been completely open because great light flashed out from the inside; it pulsed like lightning yet was solid like sunlight. The block of light coursed straight out, and I knew this light was the glory of God.

        The temple was so close, just across the field, that I knew with just a little effort I could enter the glory of God. His holy presence was clearly within my reach. There were others also in the dream who were directly in front of me, people I recognized from church. Each one seemed busy. And while the temple and its light were visible and readily accessible to all, every head was bent downward and turned away from the light; each was occupied with other things.

       I heard one person say, "I have to do laundry." Another said, "I have to go to work." I could see people reading newspapers, watching televisions, and eating. I was sure everyone could see the light if they wanted to – even more sure that we all knew His glory was near.

There were even a few people reading the Bible and praying, but everyone maintained the downward thrust of their gaze; they all had a mental barrier of some kind between them and the place of God's presence. No one, in fact, seemed capable of standing up, turning, and steadfastly walking into the very near glory of God.

      As I watched, suddenly my wife lifted her head and beheld the temple in the field. She stood and walked without pausing toward the open front. As she drew closer to the light, a garment of glory formed and thickened around her; the closer she went, the more dense the light surrounding her became. Finally, she stepped in front of the temple, turned, and stood in full view of the blazing glory of God. Then she entered the temple.

       Oh! How jealous I felt. My wife had entered the glory of God before me! At the same time I realized that there was nothing stopping me from approaching God's presence – nothing except the multitude of things to do and responsibilities that, in truth, ruled my life more than the voice of God.

       Pushing the weight of these pressures from me, I determined to rise and enter the temple myself. But, to my great regret, in my dream as I rose up, I suddenly woke up! The longing and disappointment within me seemed unbearable. I had been so close to entering God's presence. How I wanted to enter the temple and be swallowed up in His glory!

I cried, "Lord, why did You let me wake up?"

      Immediately, the word of the Lord responded. He said, "I will not have My servant's life fulfilled by a dream. If you want your dream to come true, you have to wake up."


                    Breaking Passivity; Setting Priorities

       Beloved, today God is awakening us to the reality of His presence. The promises the Lord gives us in the Scriptures must become more to us than dream-like realities reserved only for the hereafter. Moses frequented the glory of God. Israel's seventy elders ate and drank in God's resplendent glory (Exodus 24:9-11). Jesus unveiled God's glory to His key disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration! Paul says that beholding the glory of the Lord is the very means of our transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18).

      For this reason the Scripture says, "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you" (Ephesians 5:14). If we truly want Christ to "shine" upon us, we must arise from the distractions that entomb us in lethargy and spiritual drowsiness.

       Right at this moment, the presence of the living God is near enough to hear the whisper of our hearts. But if we want our dream of standing in the presence of God to come true, we must wake up.

       Awaken my heart, Lord. Open my eyes to all that You are and everything we can be together. Lead me to Your presence and show me how to truly keep You first in my life. Show me what will have lasting significance. I want all of You, and I want to experience Your glory!

       The preceding message is adapted from a chapter in Francis' book, And I Will Be Found By You.

Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: francis1@frangipane.org

Francis Frangipane is the founder of River of Life Ministries in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has traveled throughout the world ministering to thousands of pastors and intercessors from many backgrounds. Francis' heartfelt prayer is to see established in every city Christlike pastors and intercessors, united before God, revealing the love of Christ to their communities. Since 1985, he has written fourteen books plus a number of study booklets. Over the past decades, Francis has served on a number of other ministry boards. However, in recent years he has gradually resigned from these various boards. As of June 2009, he has also retired from his position as senior pastor of River of Life Ministries. In this more simplified life, Frangipane is devoting himself to prayer and the ministry of God's Word.

Things My Mother Taught Me

    Someome sent me this email.  I laughed out loud at some of them because I saw myself in many of the statements.  Hopefully, my children will forgive me.  :o)

  I Owe My Mother ....

 ************************************** 

1.    My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . 

     "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.. I just finished cleaning."  

2.   My mother taught me RELIGION.   

    "You better pray that will come out of the carpet." 

3.  My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. 

    "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"  

4.   My mother taught me LOGIC.  

    "Because I said so, that's why." 

5.  My mother taught me MORE LOGIC  .    

    "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me." 

6.  My mother taught me FORESIGHT.  

    "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."  

7.  My mother taught me IRONY.   

    "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about." 

8.  My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS . 

     "Shut your mouth and eat your supper." 

9.  My mother taught me about CONTORTION-ISM. 

    "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!" 

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA   .. 

     "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone." 

11. My mother taught me about  WEATHER. 

     "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it." 

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. 

     "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"  

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. 

     "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.." 

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION . 

     "Stop acting like your father!" 

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.  

     "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do." 

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. 

     "Just wait until we get home." 

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING  . 

    "You are going to get it when you get home!" 

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. 

     "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."  

19.  My mother taught me ESP.  

     "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?" 

20.  My mother taught me HUMOR. 

      "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me." 

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT  . 

     "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up." 

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.   

     "You're just like your father." 

23. My mother taught me about my  ROOTS. 

    "Shut that door behind you.  Do you think you were born in a barn?" 

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.   

     "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." 

And my favorite:  

25.  My mother taught me about JUSTICE.  

    "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you !" 

Only you folks my age understand these profound statements!!!  

But, there is one missing from this list~~My personal all time favorite!!    

My mother taught me about CHOICE.   

"Do you want me to stop this car?"

A Helpful Food Chart

      A friend sent this helpful chart recently.  I don't know who put it together, but it was an encouragement to me to eat more vegetables. I seem to gravitate towards rich foods, high in fat and sugar even though I know I need to eat more vegetables.

Apples	Protects your heart	Prevents constipation	Blocks diarrhea	Improves lung capacity	Cushions joints
Apricots	Combats cancer	Controls blood pressure	Saves your eyesight	Shields against Alzheimer's	Slows aging process
Artichokes	Aids digestion	Lowers cholesterol	Protects your heart	Stabilizes blood sugar	Guards against liver disease
Avocados	Battles diabetes	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stops strokes	Controls blood pressure	Smoothes skin
Bananas	Protects your heart	Quiets a cough	Strengthens bones	Controls blood pressure	Blocks diarrhea
Beans	Prevents constipation	Helps hemorrhoids	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	Stabilizes blood sugar
Beets	Controls blood pressure	Combats cancer	Strengthens bones	Protects your heart	Aids weight loss
Blueberries	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Stabilizes blood sugar	Boosts memory	Prevents constipation
Broccoli	Strengthens bones	Saves eyesight	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Controls blood pressure
Cabbage	Combats cancer	Prevents constipation	Promotes weight loss	Protects your heart	Helps hemorrhoids
Cantaloupe	Saves eyesight	Controls blood pressure	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	Supports immune system
Carrots	Saves eyesight	Protects your heart	Prevents constipation	Combats cancer	Promotes weight loss
Cauliflower	Protects against Prostate Cancer	Combats Breast Cancer	Strengthens bones	Banishes bruises	Guards against heart disease
Cherries	Protects your heart	Combats Cancer	Ends insomnia	Slows aging process	Shields against Alzheimer's
Chestnuts	Promotes weight loss	Protects your heart	Lowers cholesterol	Combats Cancer	Controls blood pressure
Chili peppers	Aids digestion	Soothes sore throat	Clears sinuses	Combats Cancer	Boosts immune system
Figs	Promotes weight loss	Helps stops strokes	Lowers cholesterol	Combats Cancer	Controls blood pressure
Fish	Protects your heart	Boosts memory	Protects your heart	Combats Cancer	Supports immune system
Flax	Aids digestion	Battles diabetes	Protects your heart	Improves mental health	Boosts immune system
Garlic	Lowers cholesterol	Controls blood pressure	Combats cancer	Kills bacteria	Fights fungus
Grapefruit	Protects against heart attacks	Promotes Weight loss	Helps stops strokes	Combats Prostate Cancer	Lowers cholesterol
Grapes	Saves eyesight	Conquers kidney stones	Combats cancer	Enhances blood flow	Protects your heart
Green tea	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Helps stops strokes	Promotes Weight loss	Kills bacteria
Honey	Heals wounds	Aids digestion	Guards against ulcers	Increases energy	Fights allergies
Lemons	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Controls blood pressure	Smoothes skin	Stops scurvy
Limes	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Controls blood pressure	Smoothes skin	Stops scurvy
Mangoes	Combats cancer	Boosts memory	Regulates thyroid	Aids digestion	Shields against Alzheimer's
Mushrooms	Controls blood pressure	Lowers cholesterol	Kills bacteria	Combats cancer	Strengthens bones
Oats	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	Battles diabetes	Prevents constipation	Smoothes skin
Olive oil	Protects your heart	Promotes Weight loss	Combats cancer	Battles diabetes	Smoothes skin
Onions	Reduce risk of heart attack	Combats cancer	Kills bacteria	Lowers cholesterol	Fights fungus
Oranges	Supports immune systems	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Straightens respiration
Peaches	Prevents constipation	Combats cancer	Helps stops strokes	Aids digestion	Helps hemorrhoids
Peanuts	Protects against heart disease	Promotes Weight loss	Combats Prostate Cancer	Lowers cholesterol	Aggravates  Diverticulitis
Pineapple	Strengthens bones	Relieves colds	Aids digestion	Dissolves warts	Blocks diarrhea
Prunes	Slows aging process	Prevents constipation	Boosts memory	Lowers cholesterol	Protects against heart disease
Rice	Protects your heart	Battles diabetes	Conquers kidney stones	Combats cancer	Helps stops strokes
Strawberries	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Boosts memory	Calms stress
Sweet potatoes	Saves your eyesight	Lifts mood	Combats cancer	Strengthens bones
Tomatoes	Protects prostate	Combats cancer	Lowers cholesterol	Protects your heart
Walnuts	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	Boosts memory	Lifts mood	Protects against heart disease
Water	Promotes Weight loss	Combats cancer	Conquers kidney stones	Smoothes skin
Watermelon	Protects prostate	Promotes Weight loss	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stops strokes	Controls blood pressure
Wheat germ	Combats  Colon  Cancer	Prevents constipation	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stops strokes	Improves digestion
Wheat bran	Combats  Colon  Cancer	Prevents constipation	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stops strokes	Improves digestion
Yogurt	Guards against ulcers	Strengthens bones	Lowers cholesterol	Supports immune systems	Aids digestion