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