Month: February 2013

Our Pastor and his Wife

Published on by Sandie D6 Comments
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Pastor Dean, Ruth and their daughters… Dean and Ruth are in the middle…

Our church is in the middle of trying to find a new pastor. A friend of mine was asking me about our church and why we are looking for a new pastor. Easter Sunday will be Pastor Dean and Ruths last Sunday with us. After I told my friendsm, they sent their condolences, lol. Even though that got me thinking about what it means for our church and our pastors family.

We don’t have any problems with the one we have now though, but they are retiring. Retirement can be a difficult transition for all parties involved. retired pastors usually don’t stay in their communities and serve their congregations.

I asked one of our previous pastors why the retiring pastor doesn’t stick around and this is what he said.  The reason I asked him was because I wanted him to perform my daughter Jessica’s wedding. And Ellis told me that the time away from the previous congregation allows the retired pastor to continue doing the religious work they have chosen to dedicate their lives to while not interfering with their original congregations. Of course, pastors are not obligated to continue serving. If pastors wish, they can retire to houses by lakes and spend the rest of their days fishing and reading. In Pastor Deans retirement years, I can see him going to many baseball games with his grand kids and enjoying the time with his wife Ruth.

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Pastor Dean and Ruth

Pastor Dean and Ruth have been wonderful for our congregation. Our church has grown and we have been blessed in countless ways. Finding a new pastor can be an unsettling time for everyone involved because it is a period of change. And not all people handle change well, myself included. St. George Community Church must deal with the process of changing from one pastor to another–grieving over the loss of Pastor Dean and Ruth , while adjusting to a new one and to new ways of doing things. Then Pastor Dean and Ruth must give up the work at our church,  and the people who have meant so much to them. Pastor Dean and Ruth will have restructure their lives in very significant ways. I think as a congregation we should take into consideration how difficult this is on them as well as us.

It’s going to be difficult for our church to let go of Pastor Dean and Ruth, and to relinquish the way things have been done in the past. A new pastor may have a hard time becoming established as the congregation’s minister. Pastor Dean and Ruth should feel good  about retirement  and they feel good about their ministry. They are leaving our church in a much better place that is healthy and strong. Pastor Dean and Ruth have a drive for missions and building up the congregation. 

I’m very happy for Pastor Dean and Ruth though. They get to look forward to the perks of retirement–new freedom to travel and to choose whatever activities they wish to participate in. They both want to be closer to their children and how can I blame them for that? I would want the same thing. Dean and Ruth have two adult daughters that they love dearly. Those daughters gave them the most darling grand kids. Not sure if they are cuter than mine, but they are pretty close, lol. Their daughter Allison and her family missionaries in Ethiopia. I can totally understand why Dean and Ruth would want to be close by and for their grand kids to get to know grandpa and grandma.

Every-time I will hear the phrase,, “Don’t shoot the Messenger”, I will think of Pastor Dean. I could always tell that he was going to touch on a touchy topic if he was going to say that. That is one of the things I respect in a pastor though. I don’t think a pastor should be out to stroke egos of the people going to church. I would prefer the pastor to tell me like it is so then I got it right and how God wants it done.  They may bruise my ego, but better that then not having eternal life.

I’m not sure how many realize how much a pastor goes through. They put in alot of time and I’m sure energy for those in our congregation. I was thinking about how difficult it is on a pastor because they conduct weddings, do visitations, prepare sermons, and funerals. Our church has had more than it’s share of funerals this past year and it seems to be this year too. That has to be hard on a pastor. Pastor Dean is very active in our community and interfaith groups. They brought Precepts upon Precepts to our church and that lead to many Bible studies that happen through-out the week. I would say that Pastor Dean and Ruth made sure the God’s inspired word was being studied and implemented in our lives.

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Ruth

I will miss them and I will keep them in my prayers during this time of transition. It’s going to be strange to not have them around, but at the same time, God has a plan. We don’t always know what it is, but He does.

I have talked to a few people who are worried that we won’t find someone like Pastor Dean and Ruth since they are so wonderful. My thought on this is that we want someone that God chooses. There will never be anyone like Pastor Dean and Ruth, Pastor Lary and Donna, Pastor Keck and Karen. We shouldn’t expect to find someone like them. I want someone that is doing God’s will and not trying to keep up  with what previous pastors and wives have done. Each Pastor that has been called to our church has something special to bring. Well, except one, and I won’t go into that. Our next Pastor and Wife if he is married will hopefully be following God’s will.

ImageI know that Pastor Dean and Ruth are retiring. But at the same time, I know that whatever door opens to them will be God’s calling. Just because they won’t be pastoring at a particular church, doesn’t mean they are leaving the ministry. When you choose to follow Christ, it is a lifelong thing.  Well, unless you are Marilyn Manson and that is a whole other topic.  Whether a person follows Christ as a church leader, congregational member, board member or what ever, they should understand it is a lifetime commitment. Pastor Dean and Ruth understand this and I’m sure they are very excited to see what God has in store for them next. They will always be in my thoughts and prayers and hold a special place in my heart. One of the greatest things I think we can do is to pray for our pastors.

If you guys happen to read this Pastor Dean and Ruth, remember to keep my email handy… Enjoy your grand kids, retirement and traveling and most of all being ready for that next door to open. You both have worked your entire lives and deserve this more than anyone I can think of.  I will miss having that one of a very few people I trust personal things with in the same town though. Thank you for being our pastor and friend…

The End of the World- Apocolypse

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment

ImageMatthew 24:36 (NKJV) “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only”.

I think I need to stop watching movies about the end times and videos. These movies tug at my heart and my dreams. Right now I’m watching this movie called the Apocalypse. A meteor the size of Texas his about to hit the earth and people are vanishing left and right.

I can’t help but think about what it will be like when Christ comes again. What will it be like for those who are left standing there wondering what is going on? What about those who thought they had it covered and they had a strong enough faith to be saved. There was a video that my daughter Jessica sent me that was about this girl that had a practical joke pulled on her and she thought she was left behind. She was in tears and scared to death. She knew about the end times and is a believer in Christ. I don’t think I could handle it if I was left behind knowing that all I had to do was accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

ImageThen as I watch some of these shows, it brings home the thought that even though you go to church, that doesn’t mean you are saved. They had a scene in one of many movies where people are sitting in a church and those all around them are gone and members of the church are still sitting there along with church leaders.

What I find sad is that so many people hear the truth and have been given chance after chance and they throw it away because they chose to do that. After people are raptured those who heard what the Bible has to say is kicking themselves because they missed it. This is something I would not even want to begin to think about when it comes to missing out on the rapture and having to be left behind.

There are so many theories out there about what it will be like when Christ comes again. All, I know is that whenever and however, I want to be sure I’m ready. I don’t want to be the one left there standing, knowing that I missed it. I wouldn’t want any one that I care about or loved to have to endure that. For those who don’t know what it would be like, you don’t have to look very far. You can read all about it in Revelations.

Luke 21:25-28 (NKJV) “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;  men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

I’m not going to get preachy, just saying that we don’t know the day nor the hour and that no matter when He comes we need to be ready for his return. And I can tell you this, I sure am hoping it is going to be where the rapture happens first and then the tribulation begins. I don’t want any part of the tribulation or being left behind.

I do want to leave you with this thought. And this is what my hopes are when it comes to the End Times.

When the Rapture occurs, what happens to those who are in Heaven?; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52( NKJV) “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

When we are caught-up or raptured, what will we experience in Heaven while those who do not
know Christ are left behind?

We will have seven years in Heaven where we will be judged, rewarded and celebrate as the
Bride of Christ in the Marriage of the Lamb and after that we will return with the Glorious
Appearing of Christ:

The Encounter

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment

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The Encounter Movie

Revelation 3:20 – Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.

Last night I started to watch a Christian movie called “The Encounter”. For those who haven’t seen it, it is about 5 people who get caught in a storm. They come across a diner called “Last Chance”.

My friend Shirley was telling me about how good this movie is and it was a very good movie. There was a couple things that got me thinking though. As a Christian if I knew for sure the person standing before me was Jesus Christ, I would faint, lol.

This is how the story line goes. There is a teenage girl hitch hiking on a seemingly deserted dirt road. A few cars pass her including a young black couple. The wife refuses to let her husband stop and pick up the hitchhiker  Then another gentleman almost runs over her and keeps on going. Finally a young lady picks her up just as the storm is about to hit.

Eventually they come to a road block where an officer tells them that the road is washed away. I won’t go into details, but he was not a good person at all.

encounter-movie-still-1The young lady that picked up the hitch hiker remembered seeing a diner a couple miles back and they all turn around and go into the diner as they wait the storm out.

They enter the diner and the only person standing there is a guy by the name of Jesus. Eventually they find out that this guy is really Jesus. They order their meals and He knows exactly what they like and He talks to them as a friend. Even though there is one guy who thinks he doesn’t need Christ. I don’t want to go into to much detail.

What stood in my mind though like I said at the beginning is that they all believed that they were talking to Jesus. He was offering them shelter in the midst of the storm and speaking to them about their life. What I loved about this movie is that they showed how loving and compassionate Jesus really is. He weeps with us and is heart broken when we choose to turn our backs on Him. He knew these people inside out. If I was the one in that diner, I don’t know if I could sit there so calmly. I would be awe struck and on my knees, lol.

I did like how he talked to them as a friend and one on one. He listened and cared about them. He gave them a chance to accept Him as their savior and to truly repent. They were very calm and I don’t know if that is how anyone would be knowing they were talking to Jesus Christ, lol. At-least I wouldn’t be.

This movie touched on real questions that everyone faces and the hard choices God makes so that we might ultimately be saved. There is also Encounter “Paradise Lost”. These are really good movies and it got me thinking that no matter where or what is going on Christ is there and He may be standing in front of me.

Click here to watch a small snippet of the show

The makers of the movie Pure Flix also has a Facebook page. Click Here to get there…

Philippians 4:13 – Being Content

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment
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In your life experiences, good and bad, you have a choice to be content, you have a choice to trust in God and His strength. Many times we feel that we are powerless victims of fate. Our attitude is “I can’t” endure, “I can’t” overcome, “I can’t” make it, but Paul reminds us that in Christ our “I can’t” becomes “I can!” What’s important to see is that this “Can do” spirit is “learned” (v.11), which means to “learn by experience.”

I know in my own experience, there have been times when I tried to handle everything. I let God know that I had it covered. He let me try and I failed of course. But then, I was thinking if I really trusted Him, then why didn’t I just let him have it from the beginning? I think that is my stubbornness and strong will to control my life and all things in it. 

I started thinking about this topic and I figure that if God gives me strength to do all things, then I should be able to do all things. I guess that was the control freak in me thinking that. When Paul says all things, does he literally mean all things? Does it mean you can go outside and jump over your house? Of course not. Paul says, “I can do all things in Christ”—that is, in the context of the will of Christ for your life. Whatever Christ has for you to do, He will supply the power. Whatever gift He gives you, He will give the power to exercise that gift. A gift is a manifestation of the Spirit of God in the life of the believer. As long as you function in Christ, you will have power. Paul ism’t saying that I can do all things. I can’t run faster than a speeding bullet or leap tall buildings like Spiderman can. When I was in school I could do long lump and other track and field events, but nothing like Spiderman or how I use to be able to do that. You see, I can’t do all things, but I can do all things which God has for me to do from the time He saved me to the time I no longer breath.”

Philippians 4:10-13– I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (NIV)

Here is a Story about Charlie: 

A baby was born to slave parents, and he too was a slave. This little baby never knew anything other than getting up and being in the field before sun up and watching his parents work until sundown. From his earliest remembrance all he could remember is the sound of the whip slicing through the air and into someone’s flesh. Can you imagine what it was like to have someone say they owned you and could do anything they wanted to you. When this little boy was five years of age, Charlie’s, (the boy’s name), mother did something to anger one of the plantation bosses. No one knew what it was. A man took a whip and began to administer a cruel beating to his mother. Charlie went and held his mother’s head in his lap and within the hour his mother died. I wonder how you would feel if someone whipped your mother to death in your presence and then you held her head while she left this life? The next morning the plantation master was so mad that she died that he took Charlie’s father and sold him to another plantation. The boy never saw his father again. You are five years old and your mother is beaten to death and your father is sold never to cross your path again.
 
This plantation forbid the education of the slaves and forbid them from going to church. Up until age 15 all he did was work seven days a week and he could not read a single word and he had never been to church. His back was carved with scars from the bottom of his heals to the top of his head. The back of his head was so beaten that hair would never grow. At age 15 he is freed by the War Between the States and now he still works in the fields, but at night he is free. They said to Charlie, “What do you want to do the first night of your freedom?” Charlie said, “I want to go to church for the first time in my life.” He walked 12 miles to church and he heard for the first time that there was someone who loved him. Charlie said, that cannot be right, I am a former orphan slave . . . nobody loves me. The preacher told him he was wrong, God loved him so much that he sent his son to die for him. Charlie trusts Christ as his Savior and Lord. They gave him a Bible and Charlie said I cannot read. The ladies in this church taught him to read the Word of God. 
 
Charlie was in church one day, and he announced that God had called him to preach. The church said what? That cannot be. Charlie said, “He did.” One of the men said, “Charlie, you have forgotten you are nothing.” Tears begin to flow down his checks and he said, “You are right, you know I am nothing and I know I am nothing and God knows I am nothing. But if the one who is everything wants to use the one who is nothing, that is His business.” He said, “Pray for me, I want to preach the Word of God.” They said, “You will fail.” He said, “If it is up to me you are right, but if God is in this, He will make it happen.”
 
He went over 250 miles to Cape Main, New Jersey. There Charlie announced he would be preaching. No one came, so he stood up and preached to himself. Had his second service and third same thing. Always preached an hour. They said, “Why do you preach an hour?” and he said, “Because I need the preaching.” He kept preaching to himself. Word got out that there was a nut preaching to himself. People started coming to hear this guy who had that much commitment. His messages were always the same, “He is everything and I am nothing”. And you will be amazed at the One who is everything. What He can do if someone will just admit they are nothing. People started getting saved and coming to church. The church went to 100, built a building, tore it down and built another. Pretty soon, the largest church in the state of New Jersey was pastored by Charlie.
 
Charlie then stood up and said, “God is calling me to Philadelphia.” Philadelphia was the second largest city at the time and the intellectual center. They said, ”You can’t go there.” Same story. No one came for several services. Same message. Folks started coming. One year running twenty, two years running a hundred. Ten years after he arrived they built a building that would seat 600 and it was full every service. 15 years later they had an auditorium that seated 3000 and they filled it 6 times every Sunday. And the largest church on the Eastern Seaboard was pastored by Charlie.
 
ImageThe man’s name was Charles Kindley. He wrote many songs. “How do you make sense out of losing your parents” and he wrote the Song, “We Will Understand it Better By and By”. They came to him and said, “What do you do with your burdens?”, “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.” At the end of his life they said, “What is the secret of all God did in your life.” He said it is simple, “He’s everything, I’m still nothing. And all I got to be sure is, There is nothing between my soul and the Savior”, (he wrote this song).
 

 

 

Problematic Port a Caths and my day…

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment

This is kinda how my day has gone so far. And some of this may be a bit squimish for those who can’t handle medical things…  This is a little 101 on port issues and how much of a pain in the nect this one has been to me since I got it.

My day didn’t start out too bad for the most part. But I knew today was going to be a busy day because I had to get hubby on the road to California, meet with my home health nurse, go to a funeral and get food. Later on Chuck calls me and wanted me to pick him up because he didn’t end up going out after all .

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Port Dressing Kit

The taking and dropping off hubby went without much fan-fair. As soon as I got home my home health nurse was there. She showed up about 20 minutes early. Which turned into a good thing. The reason why is because they had to change the needle for my portacath. Each week they have to do a dressing change and change the needle.

I try not to go into my medical stuff unless people know me really well. But today was one of those frustrating moments with this port business. Thanks for letting me vent.

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This is where they put a piccline… And where mine was

My home health nurse Janelle was telling me how much I will love this port because there is less of a chance for infection and it is easier to use then the piccline and yada yada yada. Well, let me tell you this, she LIED. With a huge capital L-IED. This port has been nothing but a problem for me. She didn’t LIE on purpose, but still.

They put it in and it took the Dr’s and nurses a couple hours to decide if it was safe enough and I was stable enough to have the port put in. But the piccline had to be changed because of the Sepsis. This is not a good infection. Anyhow! They decided to put in the port after much hesitation. They did’t leave it accessed and just bandaged it up for my home health nurse to come and access it. May was that a pain for her and me. But they release me after doing vitals and all the fun stuff.

When they put it in, it didn’t really bother me since I have had central lines in the jugular and in the chest wall, picclines and such. They give you happy medicines, so that was the only easy part. Usually I’m not a woose and try not to complain. I just deal with it. My main this is that, this was suppose to be easier and something is telling me it won’t be.

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This is how they did mine… Through the Jugular, and to the right atrium in the heart. Fun stuff

With this port tubing is in the jugular vein in the neck and then the port is a few inches below that and then to the heart. The good thing about it being like this and not the central line is that you can’t really tell that it is there unless you look or if it is accessed.

A couple days later, the nurse comes out to access it for the first time since I needed my medications. I’m not sure this was a good moment for her, me or the hospital people. As soon as she started to access the line, something went wrong and freaked her out and me out It felt like someone kicked me in the chest for 4 hours. She turned pale white, which kinda made me wonder what was up with that. She got on the phone in a panic trying to reach anyone and everyone she could. Almost had me go to the ER because she was scared. Eventually, after a couple of hours she left and I told her I would call if things got worse. Well! If anyone knows me, I have to be close to dying to go to the ER.

The following day we make an appointment to have the port checked out and that is another 4 days away. I go to the hospital where they put it in at and they have to move it a bit because it crossed over where my pacemaker wire was and that was NOT fun at all. It was like HELLO! But they fixed it and got it accessed. For those who don’t know what that means, it means they have to stick a needle that goes into a special port that goes into the jugular vein and they have to do this each week until I don’t need meds, and then it goes to once a month or so to flush while I’m off IV meds.

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This was one of the failed attempts… That looks like a bee stinger, not cool!
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Numbing Cream to use 30 minutes before

So, now it is two weeks after they accessed the nurse comes out and she opens the dressing change kit with the new needle. For the first kit, they missed and it had major issues and they couldn’t get it to work. Now, they bring out a new kit since they have to have a sterile kit and new needle. On needle two, they hit the right place, but it didn’t go down fur enough so it stopped working. Now, both of the kits to change this dressing and needle are used, so they have to run back to the hospital and they figured out that they needed the longer needle. So now the 22 Gage needles come out and they get the needle in, but when they push fluid in, it isn’t going where it should be going. So I was less than impressed. We have one needle left and finally they get that. The nurses are flabbergasted and tell me that they have never seen this happen before and that they change port needles all the time. My thoughts right now is, ” I do NOT believe that this is easier than a piccline”. My guess they are thinking the same.The one good thing is that they have a cream that is suppose to numb it. It works for the most part if you get to use it. I finally got to on the 4th needle since the skin was tender.

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The finished bandage and accessed port…

But this whole thing took a couple of hours to change one needle and a dressing. It should have only took 15 minutes and maybe 30 minutes for the whole visit. But nope, 2 hours. I’m trying to be patient, but I had to let them know that we have to hurry, because I have a funeral for a dear sweet lady at my church that is about to begin and I need to leave. They got it in and dressed all up. I leave as they finish. They are still talking outside about how difficult this was. I had to pick up my brother in law for the funeral and we got there just as they were beginning.

I try not to grumble and it really isn’t their fault. I’m just thinking this isn’t easier and what a pain in the neck. I feel so horrible for these young kids that have to deal with this and so much more on a daily basis and put their trust in the Drs, nurses and their parents. I am blessed because at-least there is medical care and there are medicines and there are needles that I can complain about that help me do what I need to do. But dang it, they need to figure out a way to know what they are doing. So this is my vent for the day.

There was one funny thing. Not everyone may think so and the nurses were dumbfounded on this one. But when they pulled the previous needle, each time they tried to put saline into the line, it would squirt out of the previous hole. I was telling them that water was running down my neck and they couldn’t figure out why since they were just using saline. Then they noticed it and didn’t know what to think about that. I was just thinking it was a me thing. I told them leave it up to me to have water squirting out of holes in my neck, lol. I think they were more concerned then I was, I was thinking it was the only funny thing happening.

Suicide and Heaven

Published on by Sandie D1 Comment

One of my friends posted a comment on her status on Facebook about if a person commits suicide, will they go to heaven. I think that is a hard question to answer. When I try to reason this out in my brain it is conflicted.

brian2It isn’t because the person will go to hell. It’s a personal question for me for a number of reasons. I have a very dear friend that was like a nephew to me that committed suicide. He was an awesome kid, but he had many problems and they consumed most parts of his life. His name is Brian. I remember when he was born, this little boy with the most beautiful eye lashes that any girl would love to have. He had green eyes, dark hair and an olive complexion. Brian grew into a handsome young man who any girl would love to have escorting her around town. Brian loved muscle cars and his family. Most of all, I think he loved his little daughter Sarah and his Camaro.

brian

Brian made a horrible choice to take his life and that left a void in his family’s life. There isn’t enough good I can say about Brian. As I said before, Brian was like a nephew to me. I knew his mom since I was very young and our families were always close. His family is my family and it will always be that way. Hopefully his mom and dad and brother and sister doesn’t get upset with me on this post.

So many people think that if a person commits suicide they go to hell and I don’t believe that. Brian was baptized and he was far from perfect. But aren’t we all? And haven’t we all done things that we regret and wish we could take back? I know I do. I have made my share of mistakes to last me three or four lifetimes. I do believe that Brian is with the Lord now and that God takes into consideration what is happening in our lives. He picks us up when we fall. I miss seeing Brian when I go to Phoenix and see his family. It breaks my heart that his family is hurting as they are. I know one day that they will be back in each others arms though. I don’t doubt that at all. Brain was and is a wonderful man and it’s sad that his daughter won’t get the chance to know how special he was.

heavenFor anyone who thinks there is no other choice but to end your life, please talk to someone. I know I have had many dark days where I can’t figure things out. But God does have a way of bringing the light back into your life if you allow Him to. Things won’t be perfect and we shouldn’t expect t that. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world looking forward to a perfect life with God. This isn’t our home and it is just temporary.

Then I think of another friend of mine. I won’t go into names because that wouldn’t be right of me. But, anyhow, this person was a very spiritual person. She and I would have long conversations before she passed. She read the Bible and knew Jesus, but not in a way I would say a Christian would know Jesus. She thought he was a real person and that he was a great teacher. But that we could change our destiny if we were good and did good for others. There were other ways to get to heaven.

My friend and I are talking about this right now and she brought up the point that even if she only believed that Jesus was a teacher and not the son of God then she was not saved. Even atheists read the Bible Sandie. Some atheists know the Bible even more than we do but they still are atheists. I can’t argue with her there. And my point is that even Satan believes in Jesus Christ since he was once and angel and he was booted from Heaven.

But not in the way I would say a Christian would know Jesus. She thought he was a real person and that he was a great teacher. But that we could change our destiny if we were good and did good for others. There were other ways to get to heaven.

teenage_angst__suicide__by_saccharinesmile_smallThen just yesterday country singer Mindy McCreedy committed suicide. She left her two young sons and a family that loves her. There is no way to know what was going on in her heart and mind and that isn’t for me to say. She was involved in drugs and alcohol and those where bad choices for her. This is not saying she was a bad person, because I don’t personally know her.

My thoughts and prayers and with her family and I do pray that she was right with the Lord. When I have friends that I know haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, I usually tell them that they are in the hands of the Lord now. And that is because the Lord only knows what their future is and what the true conditions of the heart is. Sometimes we can’t tell by good deeds because even those who don’t believe can be good people. Being good doesn’t get us closer to Heaven, it just gives us feel better while we are on this earth, but is it really a true feeling of feeling good, or just is what it is.

In closing I would just like to say that I don’t have all the answers. But I can tell you who does and where you can get those answers. That would be the inspired Word of God called the Bible. It’s up to each person to read the Bible and decide for themselves. Nobody can do it for you. It isn’t hard and if you anyone needs to have someone to pray for them and with them, don’t hesitate to ask. I know many prayer warriors including myself that would be happy to pray with and for you…

Duck Faced Girls- Drives me Nuts

Published on by Sandie D1 Comment

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I’m guessing most people will know what I mean when I talk about duckface lips. Out of respect for my friends and family on Facebook, I won’t post their pictures on here. But I had a hard time not doing that. Here is what the definition of Duckface.

ImageDuckface is  that face you make when you’re about to take that perfect picture of yourself for the internet? It is the pose where you push your mouth out in that sort of weird half-kissy-face to make it look like you’ve got big pouty lips, a super-defined jaw line, and model-quality cheekbones?

it’s called “duckface.”

I hope this blog posting doesn’t offend anyone. But it absolutely drives me nuts when I see girls doing this thing called Duck Lips. First of all, in my opinion it makes the person look like they are stuck on themselves and it looks fake. Maybe they think it makes them look hot or sexy.

I have a few girls/ladies that do it on Facebook and I want to hit delete every-time I see their Imagepictures pop up. Why can’t they just be who they are without all the stupid duck lip thing going on. Then I was thinking, maybe they think it makes them look skinnier. Maybe they are all Angelina or Marilyn Monroe wanna be’s or is it their way to emulate the collagen-mutilated celebrity plastic surgery victims.

I have asked a few guys that I know what they think the duckface craze is all about and how they feel about it. One guy thought that it looked like they were offering a sexual act and that they would do what he would want him to do. But he said beyond that, “it is not sexy”.  Another guy said it is a “turn off to him when girls do that and that he would rather see the true smile and beauty than something fake.” This other guy said “A lot of my friends make duckface in their pictures and I don’t understand it at all. They must think it makes them look cute, more appealing, etc but I wish they would realize how ridiculous and stupid it looks.” And finally, the last guy said. “It doesn’t make anyone cute or attractive.  It makes people look drunk and ready to lose their inhibitions. ”

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I came across this website called Antiduckface and it shows how ridiculous it really is. And those who do it would be taken much more serious if they were being themselves.

The only ones that should be doing duckfaces are ducks and cute little kids. Other than that, it looks stupid. And if someone is saying it looks cute or pretty, they are stroking your egos and lying to you.

Sorry if I offended any of you duckfaced girls out there, but someone had to be honest with you and tell you the truth. It looks fake and immature. It isn’t cute! The only ones who would like that face is if a guy was hoping for something and he is only interested in that one thing.

So be true to yourself and get real…

Diet Soda Obsession?

Published on by Sandie D2 Comments

ImageI don’t know about anyone else, but when someone tries to tell me that drinking Diet Pepsi is bad for my health, I half heartily listen and continue drinking my Diet Pepsi.

Today on Yahoo they were once again saying how bad Diet Pepsi is for a person and that they stand a higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes.  This is what they had to say about my habit of drinking my diet soda of choice. “Yet another study confirms what people have been saying for ages: Stop drinking diet soda. Like, right now. Drinking just one 12-ounce can of an artificially sweetened fizzy drink per week can increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes by 33 percent, French researchers found. And given that most people don’t stop at a single weekly serving, your real risk for diabetes could actually be much higher.”

OK! So my thought on this is that I don’t drink, smoke, swear or take drugs. But they still want to pick on my consumption of Diet Pepsi. I know it isn’t healthy, but I can come up with a whole list of things that aren’t healthy that we do every day without thinking about it. The first thing I would put on the list is Imagebreathing. Have you seen what is in the air you are sucking into your lungs? Now, lets’s think about the cars we drive or have to sit by at a light that stink to high heaven. Do we really know what is in the exhaust that goes into the air? Food! Yep, we all need food to live, but even the freshest fruits and berries may have some unseen horrible agent on it that is left over residuals from pesticides. Strawberries and other yummy fruits has been on the hit list of bad things to eat. The picture to the left shows field workers spraying what we think are sweet, plump red strawberries.

What I’m getting at here is that there are a lot of things that we do that we know are bad for us. I have been trying to cut down on my soda consumption though because I don’t like the heartburn I get at night and the bloated feeling. But I like my Diet Pepsi with all it’s not so good ingredients. I don’t like the sweetness of regular soda. I have also started to drink more water each day and will drink tea.

ImageOh! Another warning they say about my soda of choice and my partner in crime when it comes to doing bad things for my body is that they say it will make you obese. OK! This statement gets me every-time  Even though I have to say I have more weight than I would like to have. But anyhow! First they market it under Diet Drinks. In my brain, diet means to loose weight right? So how can it cause me to gain weight? Then some genius was saying how eggs were bad for us and now all the sudden they are totally awesome because of the proteins.

I’m not going into the logistics of what is so bad about diet soda, because you can Google it and find the answer by following links to hundreds if not thousands of sites as to why you shouldn’t drink Diet Soda. Now Diet Coke, I can see, it tastes nasty, lol.

ImageI do want to say one thing in favor of cutting back on diet sodas. I have a friend in Phoenix that would only drink Diet Coke. Every where he went, he had a 44 oz cup in his hand. He didn’t drink water or anything else that anybody could tell. One summer, he became so dehydrated from drinking nothing but Diet Sodas. I say that if you are going to drink diet soda, do it in moderation and make sure you drink plenty of water. I love my Diet Pepsi, but I try not to be stupid about drinking only Diet Pepsi.