Kitty

     It seems we have been adopted by a cat.  She showed up a few days ago acting very hungry.  Country Guy fed her 3 eggs & 2 slices of ham and she still was meowing.  A couple of days ago I bought cat food which she now wolfs down with a couple of eggs daily.
      She seems to be trying to tell us she is an inside cat since she stands at the door and meows every time she sees us.  Unfortunately for her this in not an 'inside cat' house.  She loves to be petted so, of course, every time I walk outside she arches her back and twines herself around my legs.
      We occasionally have mice so I have not been adverse to the idea of a cat.  I dislike mice much more than I dislike cats, but one reason we have never had an outside cat is because we have a screened porch which I did not want cats climbing on.  This one appears to have been de-clawed so it doesn't look as if that argument will work.  Unless someone comes looking for her, or one of our grandchildren decides they want her to live with them, it looks as if she is here to stay.

What do you think?  She looks pretty content, doesn't she?

Pastor Saeed is imprisoned in Iran for His Faith in Jesus

      There are multitudes of Christians just like Pastor Saeed who are imprisoned only because they love Jesus.  We in the U.S. forget (or are unaware of this) because of the freedom to worship that we enjoy.  Many are not aware this freedom is being quickly eroded.  Because we are so accustomed to this freedom we believe everyone surely enjoys the same freedom, that we will always have it and we can't imagine otherwise.   As a wake-up call read this article on persecution of Christians throughout the world--including the U.S.

      Let us not forget to pray for these courageous men & women and their families that their sacrifices won't be in vain but that others will see their love and come to the Savior, too.  

     Don't you find it unbelievable that Islam tries to characterize itself as a peaceful religion when they persecute, imprison, torture, and murder others who don't agree with them?  How many people of other religions are imprisoned for their faith in Christian countries?  

      Hopefully, these like Pastor Saeed, who are willing to die for the Lord are a testimony to those who hate them.  No matter how many they kill to try to silence them, or how often they deny it, Jesus is the only Son of God and the only way to eternal life.  He loves and forgives these torturers, but they must see that and turn to Him to be saved from an eternity in hell.  

      Let's pray for the captors as well as the captives.

      Pastor Saeed’s Birthday in Chains for Christ

By
Jordan SekulowFiled in:
IRAN8:15 AMMay. 7, 2013

It’s the worst birthday imaginable.  Not only is American Pastor Saeed Abedini imprisoned in one of Iran’s harshest prisons for his religious beliefs, he is spending his 33rd birthday in solitary confinement.

Today, May 7th is Pastor Saeed’s birthday, and he is “celebrating” what should be a festive occasion, not with his wife and kids, but in the dark confines of what his wife Naghmeh describes as “a small dark whole.”

For 223 days, Pastor Saeed – a U.S. citizen – has had to face the harsh reality of one of the most oppressive and deadly places on earth, Evin Prison.  He has undergone beatings, physical and mental torture, and unending persecution all because of his Christian faith.

Yesterday, the day before his birthday, Pastor Saeed’s father was again turned away by prison officials, denied the ability to see his son.  There are new fears that Pastor Saeed’s health – he has for months suffered untreated internal bleeding from beatings he sustained in prison – is worsening.

Yet, through all of the abuse and torment he has endured at the hands of his Iranian captors, he remains resilient in his faith.  He concluded, his lastletter – his last communication with the outside world: “Pastor Saeed Abedini, the servant and slave of Jesus Christ in chains, with a lot of joy to see you soon.”  His faith is keeping him alive.

Naghmeh, Pastor Saeed’s wife – though she cannot see or speak to her husband – wrote him an emotional and compelling birthday message this week:

My dearest friend and soul mate Saeed,

As you turn 33 today, I am reminded of the previous years that we have celebrated this very special day together. Our house was always so full of joy and laughter as we rejoiced the day that you were born.

Yet today, there is a deep piercing pain in my heart knowing that you will spend your birthday in solitary confinement, constrained to a small room, not knowing when it is day or night. Under constant torture and abuse by radicals who are trying to break you and have you deny your faith in Jesus.

With tightness in my throat, pain in my heart, and tears streaming down my face...so very weak, I promise to stand strong in the strength of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fighting with every strength of my being until you are united to our family again.

I will be a voice, where you are being silenced. I will be hands and feet where you are being bound and in chains. That the whole world would know, that the whole world would hear that Jesus is Lord.

We are so proud of you. Hang in there. Hold on tight to Jesus. You have many brothers and sisters praying for you and standing with you.

Love
Naghmeh

Thousands of others have also engaged in a letter writing campaign for Pastor Saeed’s birthday.  To date, 52,501 letters have been written to Pastor Saeed at SaveSaeed.org.  These letters show the impact that Pastor Saeed’s case is having in people’s lives.  One letter reads, “Your Message of forgiveness is an amazing Testimony and actually helped us realize there was some one in our life we needed to forgive, thank you.”

We are in the process of literally printing out and delivering each one of these more than 50,000 letters to Evin Prison.  If you have not already done so, write Pastor Saeed a letter of hope and encouragement today.  Let him know he is not forgotten.  Let the Iranian officials know that no one should be imprisoned because of their religious beliefs.

Though his spends his birthday in the confines of a lonely, dark prison cell, he should know that hundreds of thousands of people all over the world are standing by his side, praying for him, and demanding Iran cease its human rights abuse and release him so he can be reunited with his  his family.

Wild Turkey Nest

    Have you ever seen a wild turkey nest?  When Country Guy and I were mushroom hunting yesterday we almost stepped on the hen turkey who was sitting on this nest.  I couldn't have been 2 feet away when I noticed the ground looked unusual in her direction--sort of mottled brown & white.  Just as she was coming into focus and I began to recognize her as a turkey she jumped up, greatly startling us, and flew/ran away.  Hopefully, she'll return.  We left right away so as not to disturb her any more than we already had.
    Of course, since I had my phone along I thought I might as well share a picture of what her nest looked like in case you've never seen one.  I noticed she tipped one of the eggs out of the nest in her haste to get away, so it looks as if she was setting on 11 eggs.  You may not be able to tell from the picture but they were about the size of a kiwi.
    This is only the second wild turkey nest I've ever seen.  The other one was a couple of years ago under similar circumstances.  It had 18 eggs in it!

Dallas Willard

      I just learned that Dallas Willard died this morning.  What a loss for the world.  He was one of the most humble, Christ-like men I've ever met and yet brilliant.  Just like Tommy Tyson.  They were great mentors whose lives made me want to know Christ as they knew Him.
     I will sorely miss Dallas, as I do Tommy.  

The Master's Potter by Bobby Conner

Bobby Conner:

The Master's Potter

       The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Jeremiah 18:1-2

This passage has become a living verse in my life. More than 40 years ago, I was a young pastor living in East Texas. A few miles from my church nestled in the rolling hills was a small, unique village where many hippies and artists from around the world lived. Somehow they had found their way to this tiny Texan hamlet. Among them were famous knife makers, artists working with brush and canvas, sculptors, and other gifted artisans.

      One spring day, I was working in my study, preparing to tape some radio messages for our local radio station. While I was busy setting up my brand new tape recorder, pondering what I would share with my listeners, I felt a strange stirring within my spirit. The Lord was moving my heart to drive to this small town of wonderful eccentrics. At first I objected, explaining that I was too busy, but then I realized that one should never be too busy to obey the Lord!

      Little did I know that I was on a divine mission and was about to learn a very important message concerning the wonderful works of God. Arriving in town, I went to a small café I knew of where I would find many of these artists, and indeed, many were gathered there. On several occasions I had preached in open-air meetings in the area, so they knew me. Many of them liked me and the Gospel message I preached. Not really sure of my assignment from the Lord, I was simply open to do whatever He instructed.

On this day, the local potter was in the café and he asked me if I wanted to stop by his potter's house. I gladly agreed! As I walked alongside the potter to his studio, these verses from the Word of God began to stir within my spirit: "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.' Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold, he was working at the wheel. And the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me: 'O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?' says the Lord. 'Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel'" (Jeremiah 18:1-6).

       Arriving at the potter's house, I was truly amazed at the beauty of his pottery. I admired the deftly crafted plates and cups, the exquisite vases and flowerpots – hand-crafted yet perfect. The potter then asked me if I wanted to see how his creations were made. I told him, "Yes, absolutely!" The potter picked up a lump of clay, moistened it, and began to roll the clay into a tight ball, which he then placed onto his wooden potter's wheel. He sat down in front of the wheel on a wobbly little stool and started the wheel spinning. His hands were strong yet delicate as he caressed the clay, molding it gently between his fingers. Before long, an exquisite goblet began rising from the middle of the wheel. I was amazed to witness how that unformed lump of clay was being transformed into a beautiful work of art!

       Suddenly, however, the potter stopped the spinning stone, his seasoned fingers detecting a tiny piece of non-pliable aggregate beneath the clay's smooth surface. He deftly removed a piece of grit from the clay that was marring its perfection. Once again, he slowly began spinning his wheel, which allowed him to smooth out the scar from the imperfection he had just removed. Suddenly the stone stopped again. The potter removed yet another hard object from the goblet's side, one that was imperceptible to my untrained eye. Once again, the potter left a mark in the vessel's smooth clay. I watched the patient expression on the potter's face. Each time his hands discovered an unworkable piece within the clay, he would calmly and carefully remove it, scar the clay, but then repair the vessel. Once again, for the last time, the particles of grain within the cup resisted the potter's hands and would not respond to his wishes. Quickly the potter squashed the goblet form back into a pile of clay. Now, instead of the beautiful goblet, the artisan formed the material into a crude, simple, finger bowl.

      Consider this Scripture from Romans 9:21: "When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn't he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?"

      Sometimes the creation that a potter sets out to create doesn't cooperate as he would like it to, and this inability of the clay to be pliant and workable forces the potter to settle for crafting a lesser vessel. This same principle holds true for you and me. How often have we resisted the Master Potter's hands as He works to make us into a beautiful and useful instrument of His will?

       "...We are the clay, and You are the potter. We are all formed by Your hand." Isaiah 64:8

       God has unimaginably wonderful plans for each and every one of His creations, but for Him to accomplish those plans, He needs our pliability. When we fight the Lord's hands on our life, we force Him to change His plans for our future. How much better to allow Him to work so that we may become all that we can in the Potter's mighty hands?

        Ponder these truths revealed in Romans 9:20-23: "But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him that formed it, 'Why have you made me thus?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use? What if God, although fully intending to show [the awfulness of] His wrath and to make known His power and authority, has tolerated with much patience the vessels (objects) of [His] anger which are ripe for destruction? And [what if] He thus purposes to make known and show the wealth of His glory in [dealing with] the vessels (objects) of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory..."

       In 1907, Adelaide A. Pollard was disappointed and saddened that she was yet unable to raise the funds to serve in Africa as a missionary. Ms. Pollard attended a small prayer meeting where a dear old saint prayed these words, "Lord, even if I don't understand, have Your own way!" Going home that night, Adelaide penned the words of this great hymn, "Have Thine Own Way!"

      Meditate on the lyrics of this most beautiful hymn (with music by G. S. Stebbins):

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

      In what ways have you felt the tender hands of God shaping and molding you? How many times have you resisted His attempts? What can you do to remain pliable, moist and soft, yielded to the Master's hands?

      Ephesians 2:10 states that:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

       This Greek word translated "workmanship" is poiema, or the "work of God as creator." We are God's masterpiece, His work of art! We are destined for beauty and purpose – if we will submit and yield our will to the will of our Father: "Not my will, but Thine be done!"

Amen!

Bobby Conner
Eagles View Ministries
Email: manager@bobbyconner.org
Website: bobbyconner.org

There is Hope

Faith and Family from The Patriot Post email  (5-6-13) "If we believe America was founded on timeless principles that God wove into the fabric of human existence, then we must put our faith in them and believe they still ring true in good hearts. Secondly, we must employ the mechanism designed to be the most effective for passing them along, namely, small groups. The smallest living organism is the cell; as it divides it multiplies so that within a very short time a single cell has become a tissue, a tissue an organ, multiple organs with specific functions form a body, that is life. So then let us commit to forming these associations, first within our own families, our neighborhoods, our communities. Get a good study guide on the essentials of liberty to guide the discussion. Emphasize action. To ensure success keep Faith In God at the center; more specifically let Jesus Christ be the nucleus of the group to use each individual as His hands, eyes and mouthpiece to bring healing and hope. As you grow in wisdom, action and numbers divide the groups and continue to grow your influence. We didn't get here overnight and we won't get it back any faster. Difficult times are ahead; we will need each other and Him now more than ever." --Patriot Post Grassroots contributor Charlie Lyon

It's for us, too!

       I was listening to a talk by Mario Murillo yesterday.  He was describing the Spirit-filled life which the Bible says is to be the normal Christian life.  Signs, wonders, & miracles are to follow the preaching of the Word.  (See Mark16:15-18).  Mario talked of T.L. Osborn who, once he understood this, determined "not to wait for a word from God but to take God at His word."    
        Many miracles occurred through T.L.'s ministry (& Mario's) because he stepped out in faith believing what the Word says.  I wonder what would happen in our lives if we did the same.  How many miracles have not happened because we haven't taken God at His Word?  How many people have been lost because we have not shared with them the Good News that God loves them unconditionally--so much so that He sent Jesus to show us how much?  We live in a hurting, dying world that is waiting for the children of God to be revealed--those who will step into their inheritance,  believe the Word and 'set the captives free.'  When are we going to realize that as Psalm 115:16 says, "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men"?

       We are to rule and reign on the earth as God's representatives, bringing His kingdom to earth.  That is what the Normal Christian Life is to look like!  Anything less is not living the whole gospel. 

We had a very successful mushroom hunt yesterday

      What a fun mushroom hunt we had yesterday even if it was raining!  It started when Country Guy & my sister, Barb, found a huge patch of yellow mushrooms and called me & my brother, Dave, to come see them.  We found 137 on the morning hunt and then went back for another look in the afternoon.  By the end of the day I think the total reached nearly 200 as our grandson, Daniel, joined us for the afternoon hunt, and then other family members went again later.
    Daniel found one that was 7 1/2 inches tall.
    Last night we fried enough to feed about 20 and still had some left!  Here are a few pictures to whet your appetite.

Dave with some from 'the big patch'

The Linn Park Progress

      The property given to the City of Martinsville by the Linn Charitable Foundation has a new look.  The buildings have been removed, the foundations filled with sand & clay, and the surface has been prepared to be planted in grass seed.  We are excited to see the improvement.
      The Festivals & Events Committee of Martinsville on the Move has been conducting an engraved brick fundraiser to build an amphitheater on the site.  So far we have raised over $62,000 and hope to begin construction as soon as possible after the architect presents us with his plan.
      I'm posting a few pictures so you can see the changes.

Old Barn 

The Reed House on the corner of Cumberland and Mill

Reed House from a little different angle showing 2 garages that were removed

The site viewed from the corner of Mill St. & Cumberland with all buildings removed.
The building near the center of the picture is the Public Library.

Doug Casey: The US Is Now the United (Police) State of America

     This interview with Doug Casey, a financial consultant, is thought provoking.  He has an eye-opening perspective--even if it is gloomy--and one you don't hear much (if at all).  The article was first published as a free email newsletter in November.  To read more of Doug Casey's articles, or to subscribe to the newsletter click here.

Doug Casey: The US Is Now the United (Police) State of America

Doug Casey, Chairman

November 29, 2012 8:35pm GMT

Louis: We often get letters from angry readers who accuse you of hating America, disloyalty, and perhaps even treason. These people don't know or understand what I do about you – that you love the idea that was America. It's the United State it has become for which you have nothing but contempt. Perhaps we should try to explain this to them?

Doug: I doubt it would work. It's a tough row to hoe, trying to explain things to people who are so set in their thinking that they truly and literally don't want to hear anything that might threaten their notions. A person who feels threatened by ideas and who responds with emotion is acting irrationally. How can we have a discussion with someone whose emotion trumps his reason? How do we even begin to untangle the thinking of people who will gather this week to give thanks for the bounty produced by freedom and hard work – the famous puritan work ethic – by eating a turkey bought with food stamps?

But we can outline the ideas, for the record.

L: I'll bring a copy if they ever do put you on trial for thoughtcrime – which is frighteningly close to being real these days and called treason to boot.

Doug: It's not just close; it's here. Just try telling an unapproved joke in a security line in an airport these days.

L: True enough. Where to begin?

Doug: At the beginning. America was founded as a confederation of independent countries – that's what a "state" is. Or was, in our language. The original United States of America was a confederation of countries that banded together for protection against larger and more powerful countries they feared might be hostile. This is not a disputed interpretation of history, but as solid a fact as the study of history produces – and yet a largely neglected one.

L: We did cover this ground briefly in our conversations on the Civil War and the Constitution.

What has happened to our world!!

     This is shameful, but they have no shame!  How have we let this happen?  I am outraged at the state of the moral climate in this nation!  Since my only platform to be heard seems to be this blog,  I will continue to speak up as best I can.  This must be stopped!  Did you see the Military is considering court-martialing those who profess their Christianity openly?  I thought this was a free country.  We had better wake-up and take a stand before all our freedoms are lost!

Brennan Manning quotes

    Brennan Manning was a humble man of God.  He died a few days ago leaving a legacy of grace for those who knew him.  His book,  The Ragammuffin Gospel, was a breath of fresh air for those caught up in condemnation.  It changed many lives.  I thought you would be encouraged by some of his thoughts, so here are a few quotes.

    "How I treat a brother or sister from day to day, how I react to the sin-scarred wino on the street, how I respond to interruptions from people I dislike, how I deal with normal people in their normal confusion on a normal day may be a better indication of my reverence for life than the antiabortion sticker on the bumper of my car."  ~Brennan Manning in the Ragamuffin Gospel

      "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."~popularized by the 1995 dc Talk track “What if I stumble?”

       "Because salvation is by grace through faith, I believe that among the countless number of people standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands (see Revelation 7:9), I shall see the prostitute from the Kit-Kat Ranch in Carson City, Nevada, who tearfully told me that she could find no other employment to support her two-year-old son. I shall see the woman who had an abortion and is haunted by guilt and remorse but did the best she could faced with grueling alternatives; the businessman besieged with debt who sold his integrity in a series of desperate transactions; the insecure clergyman addicted to being liked, who never challenged his people from the pulpit and longed for unconditional love; the sexually abused teen molested by his father and now selling his body on the street, who, as he falls asleep each night after his last “trick”, whispers the name of the unknown God he learned about in Sunday school.

       “But how?” we ask.

        Then the voice says, “They have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” There they are. There we are – the multitude who so wanted to be faithful, who at times got defeated, soiled by life, and bested by trials, wearing the bloodied garments of life’s tribulations, but through it all clung to faith. My friends, if this is not good news to you, you have never understood the gospel of grace.” ~Ragamuffin Gospel

C.S. Lewis Quote

From another blog--so true!

From EscapeToReality (written by Paul Ellis):

Good News!

The gospel is good news, but what is the news and what makes it good?

Much of what is sold as “the gospel” is an inferior substitute for the real thing. Don’t be fooled by cheap knock-offs! There is an easy way to distinguish the authentic from the counterfeit. The true gospel is 100% good news. There’s no bad news in the good news. If the gospel you’ve bought into makes you feel insecure, anxious, guilty, and condemned, then it’s no good. Discard it before it kills you!

The original gospel signaled a great joy for all people. It was, and remains, an announcement about a Man. This Man has done not one, but two deeds of supreme and eternal significance. If you have not heard of this Man and His deeds, then this will be good news for you:

1.    Jesus died for you. In the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever seen, Jesus gave His life for us. We had chosen independence from God and reaped the whirlwind. But God loved us so much that He sent His Son to ransom us from the power of sin and death. The Son of God became a son of man and took the punishment that brought us peace. He was rejected that we might be accepted; wounded that we might be healed; cursed that we might be blessed. On the cross He carried our sin and gave us His righteousness. Through Him we have been reconciled to God and our sins are no longer held against us. In the grip of death Jesus cried, “it is finished.” His rescue mission complete, Jesus committed His spirit into the hands of His Father and died.

2.    Jesus lives for you. The ransom paid in full, Jesus rose triumphant from the dead. He now sits at the Father’s right hand, a perfect High Priest who ever lives to speak for us. If you believe that Jesus has saved you, then believe that He will keep you for He will never change His mind. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith and His blood has obtained your eternal redemption. Jesus is not alone in all this. Your heavenly Father loves you with an everlasting love and saving you was His plan all along. In order that we might have a firm and secure hope to cling to, God the Father has sworn a covenant of peace with the Son of Man and neither will ever break it. He has also given us His mighty Spirit – the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead – as a deposit guaranteeing all that He has promised. Through our representative Jesus, and as an expression of His enduring love, our heavenly Father has joined Himself to us, promising never to leave nor forsake us. We stand secure, not on our feeble promises to Him, but on His unconditional and unbreakable promises to us.

The gospel is Jesus and He’s the greatest news in the world!

What should I do in response to the good news?