CYCLE


When summer's burning heat at last is over,
and autumn rains again refresh the earth.
There is a burst of life which like a nova
hurls out the light that precedes icy death.

The wind boils leaves in heaven's flashing cauldren
an endless stream of color swirls and falls,
and reveals Seurat's dappled vision,
a patchwork quilt that flows and covers all.

That which spring began and summer nurtured,

at autumn's end must safe be stored inside.
With winter's cold the cycle's finally ended.
Tender life digs deep, flies south, or dies.

At last comes winter's quiet time which brings
All life's return in resurrection spring.

             G.W. Bill Miller

PARKING LOT DUST-UP


The other day I was sitting in my car waiting for my wife to  return from the shopping mall. As I watched, a drama began to unfold just one lane over.

A little blue Honda approached a handi-capped space in the crowded lot. The driver had a handicapped parking sticker hanging from her rear view mirror. Just as she began to turn into the parking space a large green van nosed in front of the Honda.


“This is mine,” snarled the lady in the van, “I saw it first.”

“No,” said the Honda lady, “I was here first, and I have a handicapped sticker. Besides, you are going the wrong way. You will have to back up to pull in here and by then I will be parked.”

“You better back up and let me in there or I will get out and kick your butt,” the van lady shouted. She appeared to be very angry.

The lady in the Honda thought to herself. “If I can get into the parking spot it will be very difficult for her to extract me. I can honk to make noise, and if she keeps yelling we should attract some attention. With enough people watching I don't think she can do much to make me move.”

The Honda lady cracked her window and said. “OK, move back a few inches so I can get past you.” The lady in the van gave a little smirk of victory, slipped her car in reverse and backed up just enough so that the Honda whizzed into the parking slot with a blast of her horn. Grabbing her purse, she locked her doors and limped off toward the mall with her cane flying.

The van lady roared her disapproval. Honking her horn she began to curse loudly. By this time a few people had stopped and begun to watch the angry woman who shook her fists and shouted a barrage of insults.

She turned to the laughing crowd to direct her anger at them and noticed that a police car had just pulled up to see what the ruckus was about. “What seems to be the problem ma'am?” the officer asked.

“That little witch just stole my parking place.” she whined, as the crowd burst into laughter.

“I see.” said the policeman, “Would you care to go down to the police station to make a complaint?”

“Uh, no, no that's OK,” she said with a scowl, and began to back away.

Meanwhile, from a short distance away the Honda lady watched with a smile and shook her head. “Thank you Lord.” she whispered.

           G.W. Bill Miller

CANADIAN COUNTRY SPRING

Spring time at the Barn
The sight of the Lake is grand.
All the Flowers' colors so beautiful
Just makes me want
To hold them in my hand.

Will this be the
Season of Corn or Bean seed?
The Farm already is ploughed-land
Waiting for the rain
To quench its thirst.

Trees stand firm,
Mighty, tall and green,
Swaying from side to side,
Dancing to the wind.

The Farmhouse overlooks
And soaks it all in the Neutral.
Chicken-house,
Right by its side
Almost as if
Holding its Hand.

          Patrick Cheptiony

IT COULD BE WORSE


are you seeing a nurse?

is there something you must rehearse?

just remember this verse'

it could be worse



over the ages people have feared

what shouldn't be so highly revered

they run and hide or shout and curse

but it could be worse



disasters will always happen

as long as this earth is here

but we must always stand firm

let there be no fear



so even when you face death

and being whisked away in a hearse

just be thankful

it could be worse


Vaughn

SCROOGE


darkness surrounds me
i'm not a merry stooge
watch out world, don't get in my way
i've become a scrooge
don't ask for money
because i don't even care
you won't get one red penny
and i don't have time to spare
don't hassle me with your deluge
i've become a scrooge

don't ask why
because you won't get a word from me
in my darkest hour
you couldn't set me free
i spent three years in a strange city
and each day i thought of you
i planned to return
as soon as my plans went through
most people would appreciate
someone being so true
but not you
so i've stopped wasting my time with you
and everyone else
and if you ask me why, i'll tell you
you've created a scrooge

Vaughn


THE GREAT CHEESE BLUNDER

     President Obama invited both the Democrat and Republican Members of Congress to share the one-thousand-four-hundred pounds of cheese that he received from Chicago as a gift for winning the last election. The cheese measured three feet thick and five feet in diameter.

     Obama had the movers gently place the "cake" of cheese in the basement to age.  Any time anyone would open the door the smell could only be described as horrendous.  "Someone played a trick on us," an elder staff member would bellow.  The house keepers tried their best to keep the smell at bay, and keep it from rising up into the living quarters, and away from any "unsuspecting" guests.

     One day the local shops and officers declared a special Holiday, and twenty thousand cheese "Connoisseurs" stormed the White House shouting at the top of their lungs, "Where is the cheese?"

     The guests ate the cheese until it was all gone.  After they departed, the Senior Cleaning staff called the "Cream of the Crop Cleaners" to come rid the Oval Office of the horrendous scent.  Even after their very best attempts the smell still lingered for many months!

          Teresa Robey

Prayer: MAY WE LEAVE AN ETERNAL LEGACY

Guide us Lord Jesus, that our pens may inscribe
words arranged in a pleasing manner that your
message might be widely known.

Heavenly Father, May the daily message we are
developing in our lives translate our beliefs into
actions and leave an eternal legacy to those
who follow after us.
                                             Amen

          Jackie Goodman

THE GRAND CANYON VIA WHEELCHAIR

     My husband and I were traveling west to meet my brother and sister-in-law. .  They were in Phoenix, Arizona to attend convention and we agreed to meet them at the Skybridge at the Grand Canyon.  Because of my physical "condition" we try to make the inaccessible accessible.

     We drove up and checked out the gift shop.  An employee there said they could arrange a way for me to see.  (I weighed many many less pounds than I do now).

     Two young men walked over and to my amazement picked me and my manual chair up as if it was lighter than a feather (it was not), and set me down at the beginning of the glass overhang.  A lady in front of us was on her hands and knees sobbing uncontrollably.  She was helped off the enclosure.

     We marveled at the beauty and remarked after seeing the glory of the Grand Canyon, "How could someone not believe there is a God?"  One thing that truly surprised us was that there were no massive gates around the exterior to prevent people from falling, either accidentally or on purpose.  We were told the latter does happen on occasion.

     Our trip was as GRAND as the Canyon itself.

          Kathy Hobby Lewis


WHERE'S MY BAR OF SOAP?

My early years - a bar of soap was large and Heavy!
Two fisted - a cleaning product and "MANLY"  scented.

Recently found remains from the latest bar -
Surprised how quickly freshly unwrapped soap
Could so quickly decompose to uselessness

Today I hold a new "unwrapped" bar of Dial -
Contoured to fit a dainty ladies hand or palm.
The product - a molded, carved, gouged, fitting young lady.

Holding toward the light - like church "stained glass"

          Jerry Letzkus


JUST AS I AM

Just as I am
How I feel today
Knowing God is with me
As I travel along the Way

This journey is rough
This life is hard
It can be made easier 
By following the Lord

          Geneva Warren


MISSING YOU

To My Love - Far Away
Sitting by the Shining Sea,
Wishing your arms
Were around me.

On the beach ...
Looking up at the Sunrise
Wondering if you are laying, watching
The Moon rise in the sky.

I close my eyes and you are there
You pull me close -
And hold me, Dear.

In between and halfway there
Though our Souls will meet
With every night and morning Prayer

          Delora Ettinger


SPEAK NOW

A thought not shared is lost
No telling what the true cost.
To feel the need, don't question how
Open your mouth and speak now.

We live in the land of the nega-inch
That which we loose can not be unclenched.
Silence is the real censor now.
Protect the difference and speak now.

So many died for us to be free.
I respect you, and you me.
A spark of dissent is the sacred cow
So do what is right, and speak now.

We are judged by what is correct
This is a recipe for a major wreck
It all seems so wrong by me,
Speak now, have peace, be free.

           Will Watson

MIKEY

     It all began eight years ago when we lived in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  I awoke to a beautiful day, happy because I would be adopting a dog for "safety."  I read an ad in the News Herald that read "free puppies for a good home" in San Destin.  I called the phone number listed in the ad, and asked, "When can I come see the puppies?"  He said, "now is a good time." 

     I asked for directions, and proceeded to jump in my car and merge onto highway 98 by the ocean.  I began to see sea gulls drifting on the warm currents while calling to their mates.  Although it was still early in the morning I could see people playing on the snow white sand and splashing about in the warm Gulf water.

     After driving forty-five minutes I arrived at my destination and knocked on the door.  A gentleman answered and I asked to see the puppies.  He opened a bedroom door and out ran four solid black puppies and a single blond one.  I was surprised when the owner said "you know, they are pit bulls", but I was already in love with the little blond one.

     I arrived home not having a clue as to what to name him.  To my surprise that night the cute little angel chewed on my socks and my favorite shoes, and then proceeded to chew on my new shirt.  He would also pick a toy out of his box that was filled with soft squeaky animals, and try to pull the stuffing out of it..  He would also explore any cabinet door that had been left open just like my son would do when he was between two and three years old.  So I decided to name the puppy after my son, Mike.  I smiled and said "you have earned your name -- you will be called Mikey."

     The next morning I loaded him into the car and drove him to the vet.  I asked him if he could tell me two things; first, the dogs real age?  "Six weeks" was the answer.  The second was, "Is he a pit bull?"  "No, he is a golden retriever/chow mix."

     Mikey loves to play with  a ball and a toy squirrel.  While he is playing, and he wants my attention he will make a deep "woof" sound, as if to say, "come play with me."  Now that he weighs seventy two pounds, he wants to be a lap dog especially when I am watching TV.  He is my faithful companion and a great source of entertainment.  He is a great guard dog and will bark with a loud growl if someone comes to the door.  Mikey is the best four-legged buddy I could ever have asked for.

          Teresa Robey

THE ROAD TO FREEDOM: A Place to Begin

Accepting Challenges

Walking Ever Forward
Rewards the Faithful
That Finish the Race

Facing Challenges

Walking Through the Gate
Onto the Narrow Path
Always Looking to the Goal

Overcoming Challenges

Walking in the Light
Into the New Day
With Lives Fulfilled

Rewards to the Faithful!

          Teresa Robey


CONSEQUENCES

I am a thief
It is my way of life

I know no peace
I have no rest
Because I need to plan
Who to rob
Where to do it
What to steal
When to execute

It does not matter 
How my actions affect myself and others
What are the consequences?

For the victim it means
Loss of life, being traumatized or maimed

For the perpetrator this depends on
Where he lives
It can be a public lynching
Execution by a squad
Incarceration in jail
Killed by the victim

These do not deter me
I am told the best or worst is yet to come
There is the final Judge, the God of creation
Who will reward those who love him
And dispense punishment to the disobedient

Decide now where to spend your eternity
In heaven or in hell?
Thief, liar, adulterer, murderer, anyone not living by
God's law of holiness and has not repented of his sin
Has condemned himself to eternal separation from God

Those who live according to God's law will please Him
By His grace they will live forever with Jesus in heaven

I praise God for the gift of salvation
Through His son Christ Jesus

          John K Cheptiony


A DOG'S WISH

Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, and give their home and all they have to all they leave behind.  If with my paws I could do the same, this is what I'd ask.


To a poor and lonely stray, I'd give:

*  My happy home
*  My bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow and all my toys
*  The lap which I loved so much
*  The hand that stroked my fur and the sweet voice that called my name

I'd will to the sad scared shelter dog the place I had in my human's loving heart, of which there seemed to be no bounds.

So when I die, please do not say: "I will never have a pet again for the pain is more than I can stand."

Instead, go find an unloved dog, one whose life holds no joy or home, and give my place to him.

This is the only thing I can give, the love I left behind.

           Author unknown


A SHIP SO FRAIL

So many souls out on Life's sea,
      once in their ships they sailed.
Until the day the storms arose
      and sank their ships so frail.

Some proud captains went down with their ships
      for that was all they knew.
They had been warned against life's storms,
      but thought alone they'd make it through.

So even as their vessels sank
      they acted as asleep,
and clung fast to their shiney crafts -
      and slipped away into the deep.

Now there were other wiser souls
      who knew life's sea was rough.
That to survive dark storms and raging seas
      alone was not enough.

And so they took another,
      a stronger one than they.
For He had guided many ships amidst life's storms
      to a calm and peaceful bay.

This man did not know what fear was:
      for He was sleeping on the day
the storms came down upon my life
      to wash my ship away.

Life's raging seas and awful squalls
      had all but sunk my craft.
In fright I cried, “I need you Lord”,
      and He stepped up from the aft

He smiled at me, a smile so warm,
      and brushed away my tear.
He said, “Oh ye of little faith,
      I won't always be here.”

Then He looked to Heaven, raised His hands,
      and calmed the raging sea.
He stilled the fury of the wind
      and set my vessel free.

I knew that if I trusted Him,
      He'd guide me to that distant shore;
where golden streets and happiness
      abide forever more.

I was so very thankful for what He'd done for me,
      that I told my fellow travelors of my Lord above.
And took my name from off the bow:
      and renamed my ship “God's Love”.

            Michael McKnight