Hi Journal,

What a day of mixture. All I can say is, ‘No more cracklins for awhile.’?

My sweet Betty brought me a bag of cracklins this morning, and I set about to eat a goodly portion. Decided to? finish up the ‘bringings’ around lunchtime. Big mistake. Man, I had to wrestle with queasiness? all afternoon. Too much pig is just too much pig.?

Think I’m finished with cracklins for a while. First the buttermilk, then the pig. What is this world coming to? Next thing you know I’ll have to stop eating pickled pig’s feet. Where does my suffering end??!!

Kidding. Been working in my parsonage office off and on. The off and on is because of weakness. It really is strange. I truly feel good all the time, but, boy, do I tire easy.

Thank the Lord for Nathan. He came by to help Betty move some furniture around. Now my office has two easy chairs. Betty and I will? able to watch the church services in full comfort. Course tomorrow I am supposed to speak to the congregation via a web cam. Think I’ll let the folk see CJ. If I can get him to put his snoot close enough to the cam. Right now he is snoozing at my feet. Poor dog. He has such a rough life.

Received a good report. My brother-in-law, Reza, came through open-heart surgery with flying colors. I am so thankful. And I certainly want to thank everyone for your prayers.

Got a call from my ‘littlest’ sister this evening. Julia is not the youngest, just the littlest. I really love that girl. She is one of those ‘give-you-the-shirt-off-my-back’ peoples. It is always a joy to talk with any of my sisters. Course I was spoiled by my mom since I was an only son.

Let’s see. What else happened today? CJ and I walked up to the church this morning to get the paper. Had a light drizzle. But we’uns bundled up real good and made the trip just fine. Betty was still asleep. Naturally she did not appreciate me getting out in this weather. But since I am the boss of this house, I can pretty well do what I very well please.

You believe that? Naw. My Betty has a very special way of dealing with me when I get out of sorts. As a wonderful godly woman, she gets on her knees, and says, “Come out from under that bed and fight like a man!” (Don’t ask me to interpret that. Just ask the Lord to give you a sense of humor.)

Would it be all right if I share a bit from the Bible? Thanks. I was going to do it anyway.

Did you know that the Hebrew word for sin, that is,? chayt, simply means to miss the mark? As one rabbi said, “Sin is a matter of missing the mark of what you might have been, could have been, and should have been in your relation with yourself, in your relation with your fellow human beings, and thereby, in your relationship with God.”

That is a good definition. However, it needs one more qualifier. Sin is to miss the mark in our relationship to God through Jesus Christ His Son. I recall Jesus saying to Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:11)

Jesus actually wept over Jerusalem and over the leadership for their rejection of Him.? How great did they miss the mark of God. John said that He came to His own, and His own did not receive. But John continues with the plus side, in saying, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:11,12)

This brings me to another Hebrew word. The word for repentance in Hebrew is the word teshuvah. It comes from the word shuv. Teshuvah means to turn around, to try again, to try to improve in what you are doing. With regard to Jesus, it means that we need to turn our full focus on Jesus. And rather than miss the mark, we find ourselves in the very arms of redemption. The cross is God’s target for the whole human race.

The apostle said, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”? John also said, “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (John 2:2; 4:10)

Propitiation here simply means that the whole masses of the sins of the whole world were placed upon Jesus. He suffered in our place. So now all any person on this planet needs to do to be saved is to teshuvah, that is, to turn from the world and turn to Jesus. Receiving Jesus as our own Lord and Savior puts us square in the mark of God.

The only qualifier to be saved is to recognize? that we are lost without Jesus, and thereby, we take Him to ourselves as our Lord and Savior.

Just something to think about.

Let’s see. What else? Not much. I’ve already fallen in love with my parsonage office. Got me two easy chairs side-by-side. Now Betty and me can watch services, holding hands.

Ok — Guess that is it.

Sending much love your way.

Later.

Buddy

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Posted: December 30th, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 7

Well Journal,

Not a whole lot to report today. It’s been? quiet. But I keep this wonderful sense of ‘wellness’ about me all the time. It is as though the Lord has wrapped me in the cocoon of His love.

If you like music, here is a song that I wrote many years ago. It spells out my walk with the Lord —?

The Song of the Disciple

You know my heart belongs to You, Lord. No matter what the world may say or do, Lord. You are my King, my everything, whose praises I adore. There is a fountain in my life, its You, Lord

Chorus…

The? world may mock and laugh, and say, “No! Never!” “We’ll? not have this Man ruling us forever!” But as for me, it’s plain to see, I’m not my own. He paid the price. God’s sacrifice. For Him I long.

But most of all I? thank God for His presence. He’s filled my life with holy things from heaven. The Lord meets with? me every day, to share His love divine. He’s placed a seal upon my heart, yes, He is mine.

Repeat Chorus…

So when all things are? said and done, it’s simple. My heart is with God in His holy temple. I have no life down here? below that I am holding to. For all these things I freely? give, to? You, Lord.

Repeat Chorus…

If you like to hear my rendition of this song, go to our home? site ‘Jubilee CD’ and click on song #13 - The Song of the Disciple. http://www.christianchallenge.org/JubileeCD.html

It really has been a pleasant day. I received calls from three? precious brothers in the Lord, Richard Spurgeon, Lane Fletcher, and Warren Spurgeon.? The hearts of these men are so filled with Jesus. Each one had some wonders to share with me. In fact, Lane was so excited all day over the goodness of the Lord that he called me three times.

Richard simply warmed my heart. He knows about the walk with cancer. The Lord pulled him through a valley where lung cancer had to be dealt with. My brother said that he would never change what that journey did for him. His whole spiritual life opened up to a level that he never knew existed. The Lord has been letting him discover the true life that is found only in Jesus.

Warren shared something that really clicked in my heart. He talked about the apostle Paul’s hardships and how the Lord told him that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Then Warren added this thought — Had Paul not been sent to? prison, we would not have had his prisons epistles that have been absolute treasures of the church since the beginning.

Strange as it may sound, that is what seems to be happening to me. Not that I would compare myself in any measure to the great apostle. Yet it is as though? my world of writing is reaching a level that could not have happened? aside from my being where I am. Really something to think about.

Not much more to say. CJ and I took a short walk. Betty had eleven of our grandkids at the movie. (Lori was with her.) We paid for all their tickets. They had to chip in for refreshments.

Let’s see — Betty is at Shana’s for Hunter’s birthday party. CJ is laying at my feet, waiting for any kind of movement. Think I’ll ask Lori to bring Jax over for a visit. Maybe next week.

Hmmmm. Guess that’s it for now. Think I’ll go see if there is an episode of the ‘little people’ on. Maybe Andy Griffin. Man, I could sure go for? some more cracklins.? ?

Talk with you later.

Buddy

Posted: December 29th, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 2

Journal,

Not much went on yesterday so I let things slip by without talking to you. Went to Cabrini for some blood work. We stopped back by Martin’s Meat Market to pick? up? cracklins. I’ve been desiring some cracklins for the past week. You have to get them in the morning to? get the pickings. Man, do I ever love cracklins. Pretty much in the same category as buttermilk.

CJ and I went to the church office this morning. I needed to? start sorting through things that needed to come to my new office at the parsonage.? Had a lot? of personal items along with a number of my books? to be packed.? Nathan will? move into? my? office at Christian Challenge.? I’ll? be able to do my work from home. But as usual, I tried doing what I didn’t need to be doing.

Anyway, was? CJ ever? at home. He went straight to an easy chair in the corner? and plopped himself down. That had been? his spot from the very beginning.? No debate between he and I. He always got the chair.?

Problem began as I overexerted myself. I could feel myself getting? faint.? Anyway, CJ and I decided to? head back to the house. Had to take off my shirt and undershirt. They were soaked. I didn’t realize how much I had sweated because of a navy p-coat that I had on.

But now I must tell you about the dew of heaven. In the Bible the term dew is often used for things that belong to heaven, that is, things that come to us as blessings from the Lord. For example Moses said, “Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as droplets on the fresh grass and as the showers on the herb.” (Deu32:2 nasb)

Another is when Isaac blessed his son Jacob, and said, “Now may God give? you the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth , and of the abundance of grain and new wine.” (Gen 27:28 nasb.)

But my favorite reference to ‘dew’ has to do with God’s children. David gave a prophecy concerning the Messiah, saying, “Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; in holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew.” (Psalm 110:3)

The reason I draw attention to what David said about God’s youth, is because I saw the dew of heaven in our young people today. Our youth pastor, Jon Martinez, rallied up a call to our youth to help move my office things from Christian Challenge to the parsonage. And rally they did.

Besides Jon, we had David Stellwagon and this three sons, Joshua, Daniel and Andy. (David was our missionary to Japan for 12 years. His three sons were born there.) Then we also had D. J. Barlett, Andy Barton, Joy Martin, Christina Murphy, and Tasha Murphy. These kids worked so hard. As I looked at these volunteers hard at work,? what David said came to my mind. “Your youth to You area as the dew.”

These young people are so caring. They were instructed not to get? close to me, but you could see the questions in their eyes. Tasha looked at me in my mask,? and asked? how long would I have to be as I was. Her concern was so obvious. Yes indeed. God’s holy children are like the dew of heaven. Just give them a chance and you’ll see what they are made up. These kids all love Jesus.

Course that is not the end of things. Nathan? worked all afternoon getting my computer set up. He wants me to speak to the congregation via a web cam this Sunday. Hmmmm. I’m not so sure about that. I look like someone had hit me with an ugly stick.

Think I’m kidding? Here’s what happened. This morning after CJ and I? made it back to the parsonage, I went to change my shirt and undershirt. Then I ran a comb through my hair, and guess what. My hair was coming out. That’s what they said would happen and it happened to the day.? I look at the comb. It was filled with a spattering of dark brown hair, and an abundance of? grey hair.

Mom gets the word to Shana. “Please bring your clippers over this afternoon. Daddy wants his head cropped to the scalp.” And sure enough, that is what happened. But I wanted my little buddie, Jared to see grandpa get scalped. So Jared became party to the moment. Wouldn’t you know it. Nathan was there with a camera to document the ritual. Poor CJ. He didn’t know what was going on. He kept trying to get in my lap. I guess to protect me. You would think that dog was human.

Anyway, now you know why I look like I’ve been smacked with an ugly stick. Boy am I ugly. My ears stick out from my head.? My eyes look like a chicken hawk who has just spied his prey. But Betty just kisses me on top of my head and tells me how handsome I really am. Says that I look like the young man she married. Boy, that girl must have really needed some better glasses when we met.?

What else? Let’s see. Andre and Judy are in South Texas, doing some deer hunting. They’ll be back tomorrow or Saturday. Betty talked with our brother-in-law, Reza this afternoon. She wanted to encourage him concerning his open-heart surgery tomorrow, and let him know of our prayers.? When you pray, please ask the Lord to help? Karen and? Reza through all this. They need some special blessings from heaven. ?

Guess that’s about it for? now.? But I really am excited. Tomorrow I begin my work in my new parsonage office. Nathan has done a bang up job. I think Betty is taking? grandkids to a movie tomorrow to celebrate Hunter’s birthday.

Ok, rambling time is over.

Love all of you more than life can tell.

Buddy

Posted: December 28th, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 9

Journal,

Now that I am better composed thought it would be good to share a bit more about Snickers and among? other things.

Snickers Duke of Martinville met a young pug lady that he simply fell in love with. Her name is Reina Isa Bella. (Reina is Spanish for Queen.) Bella belongs to my daughter-in-law, Lori, Nathan’s sweet wife. Anyway, for Snickers and Bella it was love at first sight, so they got married.

The wonderful side of all this that Snickers and Bella started a family. They had a? son and a daughter. The daughter went to live with a family in DeRidder. The son stayed at home with Bella. His name is Captain Jack “Jax”. And Jax is the spitting image of Snickers. (In my opinion. Course as a grandfather I think all my grandkids are the grandest to be had.) Whenever Betty and I get lonely for Snickers, we’ll just pay a visit to Bella and Jax.? (By the way we will purchase a small head stone for Snickers.)

I’ve really felt good today. The morning was a bit sad but CJ perked me up. I set about to dismantle Snickers home place. Packed his cage up and set it in the garage. Actually I gave it to Lori this afternoon for Jax. Jax will now sleep in his dad’s bed. Isn’t that great. It warms my heart to think about it.

Betty had to do some church work and then a bit of grocery shopping. I went into a cleaning stage. After cleaning up Snickers area and sweeping off the back porch, I gathered up boxes and Christmas wrappings and took them to the burn pile. CJ and I watched everything burn up. CJ just loves to roll in the grass. He is such a charmer. General Claudius Josephus is really my sidekick. He always keeps me in sight. All I have to do is clap my hands or call his name, and here he comes. I really love CJ a lot.

Had a funny memory come to me today. In checking my Carver family forum, a cousin wrote about his mom who had just turned 91 this November. Aunt Cleola is one of my mom’s sisters. She is just like every one of the Carvers, just full of fun. Anyway, Eddie went over to fix Aunt Cleola’s breakfast this morning and he begins singing to her that old dittiy, ‘Sally Mae going to play in the hay. She was hiding in the hay and when they put the pitchfork in, they hit her? in the rear end.’? Said Aunt Cleola would laugh and laugh every time he sang it to her. (She lives in a trailer home beside Eddies.)

I couldn’t help but smile to myself. My mom taught me a song many years ago. Later when I would sing it, she’d get on to me. Here’s? how part of it goes…

Mama don’t allow no low down hanging around here. Mama don’t allow no low down hanging around here. Well I don’t care what your mama don’t allow. I ain’t gonna marry your mama no? how. Mama don’t allow no low downs hanging around here.

You’d have to know my mama. She was very much a dignified lady. In fact one of my sisters always said that mama was a queen without a country. But no matter, a bit of country would slip in from her every now and then. But mama was like all her family. To be upfront I’ve never seen a family like the Carvers. They may have their fuss on occasion, but don’t let anyone outside the family put one of them down. That is when there is war to be had.

Nathan brought the family by to show me Lori’s new (for them) suv. What a great looking car. (Course I was masked so no? hugging was allowed.) After looking the suv over they brought it around back so we could load up Snickers things for Jax. Also had a barbeque pit for them to load. We bought each of the kids one but they had to come to pick theirs up.

Next came an awesome treat. Warren, Lori and the boys swung in the drive. Warren got out and had a special meal that Lori had prepared for me. Man, that girl can cook. Betty and Shana were out running around, but I just helped myself to an awesome? meal of gumbo and rice, potato salad, and tamales. Poured me a big cold class of milk. What can I say? Our Louisiana girls can prepare a meal that will make a cow kick her calf.

You know, there is a point I would like to make about my health. You’ve heard me say several times that I never feel bad. That is true. I feel good all the time. Course I know my limitations so slowing down is very important. And Betty takes real good care of me. In fact all my kids watch over me like hawks.

What I want to talk about has to do with spiritual life. The apostle Paul said, “…though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” He went on to say, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who? raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom 8:10,11 nasb)

This Scripture has our resurrection in view. The idea is that in our? human spirit we have an? eternal? possession, that is,? the? undying ‘quickening’ life of Jesus Christ. Certainly our bodies are not? exempt from death, but death has no part in our inward man. No child of God ever experiences death in the sense that those of the world experience death. The reason is because we have already passed out of death into life. (According to the gospel of John.)

But I still need to make my point. The reason I feel so good all the time is because my spiritual life is strong. And the life that I have from Jesus literally ministers to my physical life. Here’s the issue at hand. Every morning I spend time with the Word of God. (A habit of many many years.) I read and meditate until I sense it is time to do other things.

To carry this on — Throughout the day I maintain a close check on my spiritual life. There are certain TV programs that I simply will not look at. Certain worldly programs allow the world to feed into your spiritual nature. The programs that I do view are? relatively few. (I don’t watch much TV. Boooring.) I do enjoy good wholesome Christian based programming, such as Andy Griffin and such like. Watch some news. Also love some of the learning channel programs like ‘The Little People.’ This one is a reality program about a? Christian dwarf family in Oregon. They like to be called ‘little people.’

Sorry for rambling so much. Guess I’d better get on down the road. Had some calls today. My granddaughter Jade called from Washington State. She is so homesick for Louisiana. My buddie Lane calls me at least twice a day. He is another one of my mother hens. My sister-in-law from Houston, Betty’s sister Karen, called. I enjoyed talking with her. She is married to a gentleman from Iran. Reza is facing open-heart surgery this coming Friday. We had really hoped to be with them. Under the circumstances that can not be. Finally I got a call from Jaune. She is another sweetheart. She just wanted to check? on me and to let me know of her prayers.

Ok — Enough already. My brain is getting fuzzy.

I’ll talk with you later.

Buddy

Posted: December 26th, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 6

Posted: December 25th, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 2

Journal,

This has pretty much been a mixed day for the Martin plantation. We’ve had both sorrows along with joy. Let me share the sorrow part first.

Today Snickers Duke of Martinville went to doggie heaven. Snickers our pug actually belonged to? Betty.? General Claudius Josephus is my dog. We call him CJ for short. CJ is our? Great Dane.

Anyway Snickers has always been fiercely independent. Once he gets out of the house or our backyard, there is no coaxing him back.? This was a third time? Snickers made his escape.? To make the? story short this time it was disastrous. In his exploring the area two large dogs overtook him. Betty later found him near our church sign. We brought him home and I held him in my lap and talked with him. Afterwards I placed him in his doggie bed and prayed over him. When I? went to check on him a bit later, Snickers had passed.

I am so happy that Andre and Judy were with us. We buried Snickers on a beauiful knoll between two pine trees just outside our fenced in back yard. But I feel so sorry for CJ. You can tell that he misses his little buddie. The odd side of this is that Snickers use to worry the warts off of CJ. But that is what buddies do.

May I add a juncture to this? Could there be a lesson involved for any of God’s people who get so independent that they refused to be harnessed? Just something to think about.

On the joyful side — In spite of our sorrow this has been truly a wonderful day by way of the family getting together.? Our plans were for the family to meet at Nathan’s this afternoon and enjoy? opening gifts. Shana and Tim were in Mamou to meet the Tim’s family. Andre and Judy came by the house. We had such a wonderful time visiting. Had a late? lunch. Betty and I shared gifts. Then we all sallied over to Nathan’s.

What a wonderful Christmas. I was given a special place to sit. The grandchildren were instructed not to hug grandpa. So there I sat with my facemask on simply absorbing all the love that was flowing through the room. To watch the eyes of children light up over their gifts is such a treat. (Course I know that all of you also had a wonderful time with your families.)

Finally we made it home. It’s been tiring. But you know, I really do feel good. I feel good all the time. The only real problem I have is with weakness. And the real big plus in all this is that I have lost several pounds. Of course I made a decision when all this came down. I decided that I was going to lose all my ugly fat and just keep my good looking fat.? ?

I was asked to tell about? ‘The cat that wasn’t happy.’ I think that right now is not a good time for that.? We are still mourning the loss of Snickers. I’ll get to the cat tale before long.

Well, Snickers was such a sweet little fellow with those big brown eyes. Every evening he would jump up in my lap or Betty’s lap and just nuzzle. We will miss that part. But to be totally upfront, Betty and I had already talked about finding Snickers a good home. As much as we loved him, Snickers could be? pretty difficult to deal with at times.

Well, from now on only one dog at a time.? General Claudius Josephus will fill that bill very well. He is truly a treasure. Course CJ is beginning to show his age. He is graying around his whiskers. Wish I had time to tell you more about CJ. All I can say is that he picked me to be his master. And that is a story of its own.

But on a subnote — I finally had to stop taking CJ to the office with me simply because of his size. Folks did not realize how gentle he really was and you could tell that a few felt uncomfortable with CJ snoozing nearby while I counseled with them. Shucks — CJ could care less. He just loves to sleep and eat.

Ok. That’s it for now. Talk with you later.

Love all of you.

Buddy

Posted: December 25th, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 4

Journal,

The precious times continue. Last evening the phone rang and I recognized a voice from the distant past. Charles Meyers was passing through Pineville and decided to give me a? call.? (Oh yeah? The Lord decided for him.) Charles and I were the best of friends? back in the 60s. Actually I brought him into the insurance business and helped train him. Our families? became? close.? It was such a pleasure to share with my old? friend from long ago. Charles is now 63. Still rough as a corn cob. (He? knew nothing about my condition. Isn’t God good!)

Guess what? Right behind that call came another call out of the blue. One of Betty’s classmates from her High School Class of ‘61 phoned her from Nevada. They had a wonderful time of sharing. Isn’t the Lord good!

But that’s just a scratch on the goodness of the Lord. This was the first Sunday for me to be in church services in my pajamas. Yep, me and my sweet thing just made ourselves comfortable. Didn’t care what anyone thought. Course we were in church via the? computer.?

I? was simply awed? by the morning service. Worship was beautiful beyond words. And when? Jessica Hazmark? sang, it was like listening to the voice of an angel. What a beautiful and wholly consecrated young woman. I’ve deeply admired the Hazmark family from the first time I met them.

Startled is not the word for it! As the camera? panned the congregation during greeting time, Betty said, “Isn’t that Alan Stroud?” “Sure looks like him.”? “Can’t be.” “Must be someone else.” But Alan Stroud it was. Right beside Alan was his son, Benjamin.

What a? special treat.? Alan was one of? our? early disciples. He was sort of? my right hand man for eleven years. (I’ve had several right hand men at the same time.) Alan later became a pastor near Anacoco. (Pastored his first church for 12 years.) He is now? assisting a new church in San Antonio, Texas. Nathan handed the mike to Alan. He and I both wept a bit. (Me at home.) This brother has always had the heart of a true disciple of Jesus.

Wish there was another word besides ‘awe struck.’ When Nathan took the pulpit, I heard the most marvelous sermon that I? have ever heard concerning God’s Lamb. As I listened to Nathan, my thoughts were, “I could never do that. That boy took the? heart-message of the Bible and left the congregation stirred to the deep of their soul!? ” I continue to stand amazed at Nathan’s ability to preach the word of God with such clarity and with such passion.

Back to Alan - Well, I couldn’t let Alan and Benjamin leave without a personal visit. Put on my mask and invited them in for a bit. Benjamin is the youngest son of Alan. He is now in the marines. What a handsome young man. He carries himself with plenty of dignity. I am so proud to see him in the military. (During the service Nathan? let the congregation see a video clip with a greeting from a? Christian chaplain in Iraq. It fit the service wonderfully, especially with Benjamin being with us.)?

I’ve always had a special love in my heart for Alan and? his family. I asked Benjamin if he remembered my final words to the three boys before they left Christian Challenge to pastor Beech Grove Congregational Methodist Church. He said yes. “You told us to change our underwear.”

(Sorry - Its that Carver blood again.) Yes, I did tell them to change their underwear every day. Then I pointed to each one in turn, and? said, “You change with him. You change with him. And you change with him.” (Now folks, if you are offended by my? humour, all I can say is? ‘too bad.’ I’m 66 years old and I’m gonna say just about what I please.)

If you will remind me, I have a true story to share. Most of the old timers have heard it, but I think it will make you laugh. It’s about my days of faith and? power. Anyway just remind me to tell the story of ‘The cat who wasn’t happy.’

Guess I’d better close. Is it alright if I share a joke? Good. I didn’t think you would mind. Here goes — “The prospective father-in-law asked his daughter’s fiance, ‘Young man, are you able to support a family?’ The surprised groom-to-be replied, ‘Well, no. I was just planning to support your daughter. The rest of you will have to fend for yourselves.’”

See - That didn’t hurt did it.

Love all you guys.

Buddy

Posted: December 24th, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 7

Journal,

What sweet peace. I got out of bed about 7:30 a.m., which a bit later than usual. And on top of that I had a dream from the Lord last evening. (God has often dealt with me in dreams and visions. Guess it goes with the turf of being a servant.)

Anyway, I saw peoples streaming into Christian Challenge. A number of them were people that I had been witnessing to of late. One thing that stood out was when I saw Greg Frick, one of our wandering lambs, making his way (at a run) towards the congregation. He? simply dove into a baptismal pool that we had in the midst of the flock. (Greg also had a friend with him but I knew in the dream that the friend would need further instructions in the way of the Lord.)

I called Tina at Bud’s and Bloom’s to share my dream. Ask her to pass it on to Greg.

Tis been a wonderful morning. The phone rang and my favorite uncle in all the world, Uncle Cullen Ray Carver, was on the other end. (He is not a favorite in the sense of loving him more. All the Carver family, which is my mother’s people, are loved equally.)

Uncle had just returned from a voyage. He had to battle a sickness all the while at sea. (Not sea sickness.) Was he ever glad to be home. While we chatted, his bird in the background tried to horn in on the conversation. Can you imagine having a bird for a buddy? That’s the way it goes with the Carvers. Very unique, interesting, mysterious, and loving people.?

(If you don’t have a sense of? humor, don’t read what follows.)

Guess I’d better share this with you. I am chief of a little known Indian tribe, called ‘The Shiney-Hiney Suc-a-Tashe Indian Nation.’ My first cousin’s wife had been after me to make her a deaconess of this austere nation. So? I drawn up an official document that must be signed by two of our chiefs. Another chief, Lane Fletcher, will present it to her this weekend. Here’s how it reads…

Official Document of the Shiney-Hiney Suc-a-Tashe Indian Nation

Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! (I mispelled ‘hear ye with ‘here ye.’ What a bummer.)

This is to declare that on December 22nd, in the year of our Lord, 2006, by full consent of the official tribal elders, one Bernett Fletcher was honorably decreed to be Head Deaconess of this austere nation. (Not to be confused with the Shiney-Hiney Suc-a-Squash Indian Nation.)

Signed by two chiefs…

Now, we are accepting new applicants to the tribe. You simply need to let it be known that you will be a faithful member of the Shiney-Hiney Suc-a-Tashe Indian Nation, and be willing for me to give you a new name; something like ‘Fuzzy toes’ or whatever.

Sorry folks - I just had to do that. I think it is the Carver blood in me.

Let’s see, what else? My whole morning has been pleasant. Got to visit with my buddy, Warren Spurgeon on the phone. If there was ever a sweet brother in the Lord, it is? he. Warren has such a tender heart. Talk about a man in love with Jesus, he is the man.

My sweet Betty got a case of cabin fever. She’s on the road again. Course I think she has a bit of Christmas shopping on her mind.

That’s it for now. Love all of you.

Buddy

?

Posted: December 23rd, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 6

Journal,

Last night was pretty rough. My temp went to the level where a trip to the emergency room was necessary. Got released around midnight after they had stuffed me with? antibiotics. This morning I had to check back in with my doctor for additional antibotics. Now I feel like a pincushion. Not really. All I can say is that all the people at Cabrina hospital are jewels. Even had a chance to do some serious witnessing to my nurse. She promised to be in church with us this Sunday. along with her four beautiful daughters. (Her husband is a doctor. Just a matter of time and he’ll peek around the corner. Gotcha!)

The problem likely began at our Thursday family luncheon. Not listening to my doctor, ole independent Buddy Martin went out in public. Probably picked up some germs while there. Course that is in the past. I actually got the? manager’s promise that he will be in church with us Sunday. Now is that what you call ‘pestering people into the kingdom of God?’

But I also have another idea on where the fever came from. Good old independent Buddy Martin does not always follow instructions. There are certain foods that I am not suppose to eat. My steak must be well done. No shellfish. (I’ll save the last one for last because my entire case rest upon a suspected ‘it looks like a suicide attempt’ that can only be accrued to my sweet Betty.)

Anyway I ordered a steak with shrimp. Remember the song, ‘Good golly, miss molly.’ That’s me? — Herr Stupid. Course the doctor discounted any food that I ate as the cause for my fever spike.

Now here it is. There are certain kinds of cheeses I am not to eat, and buttermilk is a great big no-no. I think this is drawing lines just a bit far. Anyway, yesterday here’s my sweet Betty with a half-gallon of the sweetest butter milk this side of the Sabine River.? Unsuspecting as I was, I poured me a big cold glass and down the hatch it went. Wow, was that ever delicious. (Actually you aren’t a fully-grown man until you can drink a full of buttermilk and a mess of cracklins.)

Then it dawned on me. Hey! I says to myself. Something don’t smell right and it ain’t the buttermilk. Hmmmm. I’ll have to investigate further. (All in fun folks. All in fun.)

I slept well. And then I had a most refreshing morning when two of my original? elders of Christian Challenge came by for a visit; Joe Garlington and James Dauzart. Although I have to keep visiting to a minimal, these two brothers are more than extra special. We shared memories from the early days of Christian Challenge. We laughed plenty. They were with me three hours and it seemed like just a few moments of time. Don’t know when I’ve felt more refreshed from a visit as I did this? morning. These two men are my comrades in arms. I would not be surprised at how we may get to work together again in the vineyard harvest of the Lord.

One other thing I did this afternoon. I realize that so many good friends would like to come by for a visit. Wish I could open my arms and say, ‘Come in friend. I am happy to see you.’ But I can’t do that. In my case it could be a disaster.

So, as much as I hated to do it, I designed a sign for our front door. This is what it reads:

Friends: I am taking chemotherapy. Therefore, my immune system has shut down. So, if you have a cold or any other “bug”, please postpone your visit until you are well. Thank you for caring. Then in big letters I have, No visitors - Please call first.

Well my sweet Betty is trying to take a nap. She is so tired. So when you pray, please lift up my darling lifetime companion. Don’t know where I would be without her.

Love all of you. Once again I am feeling really great.

Posted: December 22nd, 2006 under NHL.
Comments: 9