I apologize for not getting an article in last week. Time simply flew and emergency situations took the time.

Most of my life I've been camping. My first memories are a flat bed truck backed into saplings, small enough to pull them over the truck bed, from each side, and fasten them to make the arc where a tarpaulin spread could make a tent. A child's old wagon bed, upside down, and placed on rocks makes a stove. Memories include a younger brother (since there is only one younger, wonder who did this) pushed me out of the “tent” into the mud. I was face forward. He did other tricks I'll let him remember and probably still laugh at!

Then, my mind goes to a little two-roomed camp in the middle of a cousin's field that was next to Kinney. No electric. No phone. It was perfect! One had to work to get there and had to work to get water, to cook or do any work. I remember it being chilly when we'd go in Fall or Spring so Mom fixed it. She simply made wallpaper paste, took newspaper and papered it several layers thick. You could then almost heat it with a Coleman lantern. We all enjoyed that little place!

One particularly funny story happened while we were there. All our mantles for the lantern broke (after you burn them, they are fragile). Dad and Roger (Roger and I had been married only a few weeks at the time.) were setting a lines across the creek which they would later bait and leave through the night to catch cat fish in particular. Mom and I were to go to Olive Hill for mantles so we'd have light. I grabbed Roger's billfold, got in the car which was still in his name only, and without another thought we were off. Almost into Olive Hill we were stopped in a traffic check. Mom got the giggles-the most I ever remember her doing. She would say we didn't have any identification and giggle. She would say I didn't have my license and giggle. She's say we couldn't call Dad or Roger and giggle. Both of us were dressed in fishing clothes. Mine were sweat pants and old torn Morehead State University shirt. Hers was a cotton dress and apron.

The State Patrolman came to us asking my license and the title for the car. We gave him our story and Roger's ID's and title. He asked for more. Mom giggled and giggled until she cried. I can still see those wonderful little hands drying her eyes with her trusty little hanky. I give her dirty looks and nudge her which causes her to giggle more.

“Where is this husband whose car and billfold you have, can you call him to verify?”, the man asked.

“No, there's no phone at our camp.” I explain while the cute little gray headed doll on the other seat giggles more.

Then he asked what we knew was coming as he peered in at Mom, “Can you call your husband and her father so he can tell me all this is true?”

With a voice that could hardly be heard over the giggling her answer was, “No, he is with her husband and there is no phone or close neighbors.”

Now the patrolman simply motioned us over to the side of the road, “You'll need to be detained until I decide what to do with you.”

As I pulled to the side, Mom laughed until she was shaking and wiping her eyes, oblivious to my stern statement of our possible plight. She just giggled more.

Finally, without her help, I thought of a possible way out. That little brother who had pushed me in the mud all those years ago was now the Kentucky State Police Dispatcher at this patrolman's base. I motioned for the patrolman and asked if he'd talk to headquarters and see if Dwight was on duty and describe us to him. He agreed. He did. He came back, giggling himself, “Dwight says you're his Mom and sister and your prosperous story is probably so. You can go.”

Our trip took only a few minutes and soon we were on the other side of the road in the same road check. Yes. She is laughing again but calmer and weaker now. I simply tell out patrolman to ask the other who'd had us before. All motioned us through. A day etched lovingly in my memory forever.

Teamwork takes the team's individual people and their skills and combines them into an effort that is multiplied many times greater than the sum of the individuals alone or their skills alone. This is called “synergy”. When you combine several people with one accord and unity of mind and purpose, you have interaction that maximizes the individual efforts, combines and enhances them to get more done, quicker and more efficiently. There is also an exuberance in the air that makes the whole effort more joyful and exciting.

To turn a wheel with metal gears, without grease, would be a grind. But, to make it work smoothly, “greases the gears”. Even this small team of metal and grease creates the synergy of teamwork.

When I was young most families raised crops for food and to sell. This could be a grind to a youth. Few of us were excited about hoeing every fifth row in a huge field or pegging out tobacco in a several acre field. We looked upon the job as necessary but a grind still the same. We would dread the days this work was done. We did the persistent repetition rather mechanically and without inspiration, many times with our eyes on the water jug at the end of the row instead of each plant we were to care for. I'm sorry to confess that too many times we didn't stoop down and remove the weed near the plant but would take a chop at it with the hoe, sometimes cutting the plant we were to care for.

But growing up with wise parents, we were treated to synergy often. How did they do it? They would work with cousins, neighbors or friends and help each other. They knew that adding a few new people into the family mix would give that little touch of motivation, talk, and the excitement of doing a good job together with others. What was a grind with just my family turned into a challenge when I was doing the same thing with the Stanley family or Aunt Ora's family were working with us. The fields were filled with laughter, talk, helping each other and even volunteering for certain jobs. Synergy!

Many times the same principal was used inside our home. Each was given a job that added together to get the entire work done in much less time. Early in life we were trained to get up, make our beds, get ready for the day, put any dirty clothes in the hamper, hang wet things up to dry rather than sour those in the hamper, and come to breakfast on time. We were trained to this and though nothing of it. When we opened a drawer to get something out, we were taught to close the drawer. I know now Mom didn't have time to pick up after each of us and training us helped her and us.

When we played with something we were taught to put it up before getting out something else. I know now this also helped us increase our attention span since we didn't want to continually clean up something. We had to share and use fair rules also. The older and/or wiser ones were responsible to advise and help care for the younger or less experienced.

I can also remember being motivated to “up and at'em” with all that was in me. Mom and Dad would talk about taking us to Carter Caves or on a fishing/camping trip IF all the necessary work was done. And, it was amazing how the SYNERGY happened. We flat got the work done! We were packed and ready to go in less time than we usually took to get ourselves up and started.

As a Pastor I've seen the SYNERGY of heaven and humans: in unity in worship obeying The Holy Ghost and letting Jesus walk among us earthlings, building church buildings and paying for them, uniting to help someone in need, or just plain worshipping, singing, praying and Bible reading-just enjoying being Christ-like and in His presence.

Look at your life, your home, your work and your church and see if you are really “on the team”. If you're not you are probably experiencing “the grind” of repetition and uninspired efforts. Anxiously, zealously, make yourself friendly and available to the team. Feel the power of unity and the synergy it produces. It will put a smile on your face and a bouncing joy in your heart. Jesus will be pleased and so will you. Blessings on finding the blessings and SYNERGY of unity and teamwork.

I read a story the other day. It came by email and had no author credited. It brought home some very important truths. The story is about a woman married to an abusive, demanding man who was constantly demeaning his wife and family. It seems he saw himself as commander in chief and behaved accordingly. Each evening he would sit down and make his wife an extensive list of what she was to do and how she was to spend her time the next day while he was at work. He'd hand her the list and expect it done to perfection regardless of what events transpired in her daily life.

He'd return home and if the list had been completed, he would not be happy but rather tell her how she could have better done the jobs had she the “mind” to think on her own. If the list was undone, he would call her names and tell her she couldn't even manage a few errands while he earned all the money to take care of them all. He'd tell her she didn't know one thing about “getting things done right” or managing her time wisely.

All in all it was a miserable life for the wife. She did all the jobs like dishes, cooking, washing and ironing, cleaning, and rearing the children but under great duress and a feeling of forcible confinement. In addition to this she had to try to be more to the children and hope to steer them into better attitudes.

Finally the husband died. After many years the lady married again and to a kind, gentle, caring man. After many years of marriage she was one day doing some deep cleaning. She was sorting out and discarding papers that were no longer needed. She found in the papers one of her first husband's old lists. A tear came to her eye immediately.

Oh, the tear wasn't for the ill treatment of the first marriage but a wonderful fact that soothed her mind. She realized that she still did dishes, cooked, washed and ironed, cleaned and still dealt with her own generations plus her new husband's family from his first wife who had died many years before. The difference brought the tear. Now, she did all those things not because she had to or because her husband's temper would rage more if she didn't. Now, she did them because she loved her husband and wanted to please him and care for him. Wow!

This story brought to mind the plan of salvation to me. When married to the first husband, Satan, he is rough, and has the nature of kill, steal and destroy. He causes you to have feelings of hatred, anger, malice, temper and such. He makes life quite miserable for all: internally in the emotions and spirit and externally with concentrations on human wants and earthly values. He is a hard task master who cares little about those with whom he associates. He is never satisfied. Never satisfied, period. Remember, he was a beautiful angel in heaven and even God and Heaven did not satisfy him.

Then, one day he dies out of your life. You stop being married to him and choose to be the bride of Christ. He has such a different nature: caring, loving and wants the absolute very best for you, inside and out. One day you realize the difference in your life. You may still be working the same job, you still have the same problems and errands; but oh the difference. You are now doing the things of life with a smile on your face and love in your heart. It is such a great life to dwell with love.

As we start this new year it is a good time to divorce Satan's hatred, gossiping, back-biting, malice, envy, jealousy, strife, and such things that take up lots of time and hurt all concerned. Send him packing. Ask Jesus to come near. Show Him affection and concern. Draw nigh to Him. Let Him know you are interested in His way of Life. Tell Him you are sorry for neglecting Him and want to be His bride. The change is drastic. The old you dies. The new you is born.

After a period of learning how to truly love, you will find the best life! It will be much more than you could imagine. You will have Some One who truly loves you and wants to be with you, always. It is so good to have One to talk to that knows what is best, will always have time to discuss it with you, and will even help you work on anything to better yourself. He knows all about you, even the worst hidden things, and loves you anyhow. All He asks is for you to choose better things in the future. He loves all those you love. He wants to help them too.

Today my mind is on things that have happened through this past week and how good it is to be in the generation I am in. That doesn't really fit my usual positive, move ahead and improve attitude; but neither does most of what youth are experiencing today. I truly believe the majority of youth in the world are being cheated in their upbringing. Oh, yes they have better homes than ever in our history. They have advanced technology, information galore on a multitude of subjects (including adult and perverted topics), lack of chores, and freedom to choose most of what they do; but they are being robbed of the basic life skills that produce responsible, happy people.

I'm trying to find a way to bring out my thoughts without being offensive and causing you to turn me off. You see what I mean. It is hard to even convey the thoughts to this “new” world. I fear we are losing more than we've already lost-even as you read this article.

We have already lost America's founding principles. The Constitution was thought to be interpreted correctly until the judges of the last thirty years or so came along and decided the last few hundred years were incorrectly decided. How did they get this idea?

Wouldn't you think if all was so wrongly being done that the founding fathers would have gone back to the drawing board? What do you think George Washington or Abraham Lincoln would think about today? Our progress would impress them I think. Airplanes, vehicles and trains running across the nation would please them. Seeing the wealth and convenience we experience so much we take all for granted would make them feel they laid a good corner stone. But, when they couldn't walk outside at night alone, would they wonder why? When they seen all the locks on everything would they ask what it all meant? When they watched ladies with actual breasts and bellies showing would they be shocked? Would they wonder at the sloppy, un-kept dress, tattooed and pierced bodies? What would they think if they saw teens playing games where they kill people as daily entertainment, spending hours watching programs where people are doing what is done on television today, and talking to their parents the way they do? What would they think when told most do not have work skills because we no longer train them to work-but just let them loaf around and occupy themselves for hours on end? What would they think about the number of adults and youth who are on drugs and cannot function in society? What would they think about us today?

My answer is SHOCK!

I am somewhat in that same condition-SHOCK. My mind cannot completely take in or accept what is and is not done by youth today. They have lots of things my generation did not have but they are not becoming the people we became. They are being cheated when they are allowed to think age 7 is a good time to begin male-female relationships and 13 or 14 is time to begin having sex with multiple partners. They are cheated when no respect for property or people is demanded of them. They are being cheated when they are not taken continually through the long range planning and working toward goals process. They are cheated when they do not learn how to manage their time daily (doing a little of a big job consistently) to end up at a later time with the job completed. They are being cheated by not earning and managing money on a budget with some for The Lord and some for future investment and some for “rainy days.” They are being cheated by thinking abusive language and physical abuse should be loosed any time to anybody that causes them aggravation- how will they ever have jobs, families and be productive if they cannot control themselves?

Oh, Wilma, what got you on this soapbox?

It was seeing more and more of our great older generation go home. They leave behind such great footprints. They leave legacies of stability, work ethic, and life survival skills. They leave behind loved people who were taught all the above and have grown up to be good people. They leave Christian paths and go home to Jesus. They rest in peace.

You've heard it before and now you are going to hear it again, “We need to search out the old paths and walk therein.”

Let's take a look at “getting high” and having endorphins racing through our bodies. Endorphins produce brain responses to stress and pain, or at least these are the two most common factors leading to the release of endorphins. Endorphins are partly responsible for the blissful feelings so many long to achieve-at all costs. In these times many have bought Satan's bill of goods that endorphins come only by ingesting some kind of drug or by doing some illicit, immoral or illegal activity. Absolutely nothing could be farther from the truth.

True, endorphins interact with the opiate receptors in the brain having a similar action to drugs such as morphine and codeine. But endorphins have always been part of the gifts God gave in our human nature. Man has the ability to naturally produce those same highs in a natural way by living life the way God gave it. Or, a person could decide to get the HIGHEST highs and let the God-nature in them reach for top most, well-being “highs”.

First let's look at the drug induced highs. One can take morphine, codeine, marijuana and many other drug substances down to the hour by hour household ingestion to create an “artificial high” in their bodies. By artificial I mean the high did not come from a good happening in the life of the person but by chemical manipulation of the body and brain. You do realize disease can do this also! Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and clinical depression is caused by the same abnormalities in the production or functioning of certain neurotransmitters. Disease and drugs can both alter how the brain operates. Even the wakefulness that follows caffeine consumption is the result of its blocking the effects of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity. “Highs” gotten by disease and drugs are real but have bad effects that become far reaching and long lasting.

Second, think about some of the human nature and things the human enjoys that give us endorphin rushes. Besides behaving as a pain regulator, endorphins are also thought to be connected to physiological processes including euphoric feelings, appetite modulation, and the release of sex hormones. Because they are naturally produced by the body, endorphins achieve natural highs in many situations. Thank The Good Lord for giving us some mighty great gifts in life to naturally trigger our blissful, peaceful feelings. Laughter, spicy food, running, goofing off, swimming, aerobics, cycling, skiing, a good hot soak in the tub and chocolate are just a few. Chocolate! It contains more than 300 different compounds that has a soothing effect on the brain.

How about the feeling of a sleeping baby! Remember the feeling when you did that good thing for an elderly person. When you and an old friend saw each other's face, shared a few memories and walked away what was that smile on your face about? That little boy ran into your arms with hands flung around your neck and your face lit up to reflect your heart. Endorphins raging for good natural reasons. The family gathering to eat together and rehashing produces warmth in the brain. There are so many more. It has even been found that all the above have a role in helping drug and alcohol abusers overcome their addiction. But on the other hand chili peppers provide a stimulating heat and “bite” that increases the body's production of endorphins. Now you know why you keep going back for those special foods. The hotter the pepper, the greater the ability to stimulate endorphin production. And while chili peppers vary as to flavor, texture and color, they all provide important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin a, calcium and vitamin C.

By the way a 10-year study involving 3500 people by Dr. David Weeks, a neuropsychologist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and author of Secrets of the Super Young (Berkley, 1999) found that indulging in promiscuous sex did not have the same benefits of enjoying loving sex in a long-term relationship. He found loving long-term relationships and the aura surrounding them were more likely to reduce the aging process rather than promote it.

In addition to counseling, support and 12-Step programs, people who are alcohol-dependent need to address problems linked to nutritional imbalances, like food intolerance, hypoglycemia, stress and thyroid dysfunction in the treatment of addiction. The use of vitamin and mineral supplements, especially vitamin C, E, selenium and amino acids like glutamine, taurine and tyrosene may be helpful as well

Several popular healing modalities have been found to stimulate the body's production of pain-killing endorphins. They include acupuncture, massage, local electrical stimulation, chiropractic and hydrotherapy, which can involve underwater massage with jets of water, alternating hot and cold showers or baths, hot and/or cold compresses, steam baths, colonic irrigations, or applying jets of water under pressure to various parts of the body.

Research has found that powerful laughter triggers the release of endorphins which not only relieve the pain of accident or illness, but can actually enhance the healing process by helping us develop greater optimism and joy. Think about it. You got to laughing about silly things in the intensity of the dying and or death in your life. The manifold implications of this research highlights the body's psychosomatic network and its potential for healing. Pain clinics use creative visualization and deep breathing to increase the body's endorphin production for pain-relief.

Music is another great God-given gift. Music has always exerted powerful physical and psychological effects on humans, but scientists have only recently made the connection of different types of music with the production of endorphins with physical and psychological effects. Choose the music you most enjoy and enhance endorphin production in you everyday lives.

And, now to the third way to get that “HIGHEST high”. It's been known since Adam and Eve found the soothing of being in God's presence and hearing His voice in the garden. Now, scientists have recently found that in addition to calming the nerves and reducing blood pressure, the regular practice of meditation help the body produce endorphins for a feeling of well-being. There is nothing so fulfilling as being at one with Christ! Ask a hundred long-time Christians (the ones that have always struck you as truly believing and doing what they believe) about their lives and notice their euphoric high. They may be eighty-nine, on a cane and knowing death is near but listen to their deep inner fulfillment. They are peaceful and content believing that even death will succumb to their Lord's power. They smile when others are complaining. They find the courage to encourage the Doctor who has to tell them life for them could be short. They wrap their arms about Jesus and let all else come second to Him. They can sit quietly and watch birds, squirrels, or deer and smile through to their brain stimulating more endorphins. They light a candle, read the Christmas story and count it better than any gift they received. They have a peace that is the missing piece in so many lives. Their peace is the much-craved peace of those about them. Amazing Grace can still bring tears to their eyes as does The Old Rugged Cross. They can enjoy the children doing the Christmas story, the choir's cantata and the buying of gifts for the less fortunate or nursing home resident. They put their Bible near them in times of dire circumstances and let it's endorphins producing bliss kill their fear and pain.

The scientists may now be discovering the use of meditation but John used it on Patmos. Jesus used it in Gethsemane and found His second wind to face the cross. Paul and Silas let a song and prayer get them out of prison. On and on the list goes. Myself, I've been using God's natural and Spiritual gifts to bring a purposeful high into my life since 1975 when I met Christ as my personal Savior. He keeps teaching me new ways to get HIGH and I keep learning them. They are too good for me to need (much less want) the outside chemical manipulation of the body and brain by drugs.

This Christmas season would be so much better for so many people if they would bake a few food treats, give gifts to some who need them, meet with family and friends, laugh, exchange good memories, eat together, read Luke 2 with family in front of a lighted tree or candle, go to church and enjoy every song and prayer, get alone with Christ and talk to Him and just naturally seek to build a good life with those you love and with heaven. Let's all go get that kind of high. Children would have better lives. Elders would have better lives. We all would have love, joy and peace. Amen!

Faith in the Bible and The Lord of The Bible is quite public knowledge; but there is a lot more of living with Jesus than people see or hear from newspapers or radio programs. Many people think that what happens in the public arena is what happens most. They think what time you are preaching, teaching or “on stage” is the bulk of your time with Jesus. This simply isn't true.

It is in the daily life that relationships are forged, the twenty-four hour “doing” and not the few minutes in public. Think for a moment about an earthly husband-wife relationship. One sees them in public together for a few minutes at a time. Perhaps you see them at a restaurant, in church, or shopping. Those few minutes they are in full public view and all know they are. Most public appearances present them as happy, loving and caring. But, it is in the daily living together where the truth comes out. The public impression may or may not represent the truth.

My mind can remember several things that fit here. One memory is a man who jumped out and quickly ran around the car to open the door, help his wife out, take her arm and escort her into church. They seemed to my then novice young mind as the perfect couple. My bubble was burst. One dark evening I was sitting, obviously unobserved, in a vehicle waiting on my parents, when they came into the parking lot thinking nobody was present. He did not have her arm. He did not open the car door. Rather, he was yelling at her and telling her he wasn't going to stay around much longer for she just wasn't as good as he deserved. Later he did leave her and took another woman within days of leaving. My mind took a new picture of what a good marriage looked like. The appreciation for my parents' steady, consistently good marriage rose considerably-even if Dad didn't open the car door for Mom.

A true relationship with Jesus is lived in life, everyday. He IS present and sends His love in ways much like we do as humans. After all aren't we made in His image. He lives with us and knows our needs, wants, desires and every little thing that lies on our heart or mind. We just have to be aware of Him and what He sends into our lives, just as we do with the humans who are closest to us.

My birthday this year was especially tender to my heart. It's hard to explain to some and needs no explanation to others. Let's set the scene. The past fifteen months has been one of many deaths in our families and very close friends. We've simply said “Goodbye” over and over again. That fact leaves a few more holes in any celebration and my birthday would be no exception-or would it?

My friend, Jesus, took the time in His busy heaven to make my day special and include memories of many other special birthdays and people of my yesterdays. The day started with Aunt Ora, Mom's sister, calling and singing Happy Birthday to me. Roger gave me a new sewing machine because I've been wanting to try that skill again. I received “Touch-Me-Not” seeds. Mom seemed close in the happening.

Church officers and friends, family friends and family called through the day. My sister gave her usual birthday gift-pajamas which I look forward to each and every time. I like wearing them and thinking of her and the rest of our family. My heart was reminded to call each brother and sister the day before my birthday to “touch base”.

Then, arriving at the church where I was in Revival several things happened. One, a good friend remembered Dad giving me tomato plants and brought me several big beautiful plants just like Dad and Lena would have hand picked. Another gave me seed beans of the big pole bean Dad used to grow. When the service started a song was sung to honor my birthday. Yes, they later sung Happy Birthday, but not at first. They chose the song about The Shade At The End of The Row. The song is about life at home when farming days are hot and the shade at the end of the row is appreciated and comparing it to the time of life when the days are done and we go to The Lord-the shade at the end of life's row. They sang it in memory of my Dad, for my birthday.

Do you see what I see? The Lord moved in people's hearts to give the gifts that let me enjoy the present and touch the past at the same time. He let many of those I love be near in the things given. Only a heavenly bridegroom would so tenderly care for His earthly bride to be. Knowing my tender spots He arranged a healing day of inclusion of people and things from a good time in life.

It is this kind of daily living with Jesus that is enjoyed by those who truly “know” Him. A special scripture is read that fits exactly with the day. A certain song is sung that drips ointment onto the spot needing the balm. Sometimes when I've prayed for people, churches and such animals play in and around me. Birds come by the hundreds and His hand is seen all about me. It is a daily living with Him and in His Word that makes the moments in the pulpit, in the paper or on radio worthwhile. Without time with Him, what could be said?

One more example and I'll quit for the day. As Easter and new life came so did special happenings around the farm. A new buckskin colt arrived with an inquisitive nature and inspiring spirit. The flowers began sending up their greenery followed by beautiful colors of flowers. Red and blue birds joined the squirrels that play out back. All these things make picking up the Bible and asking for messages a lot easier. As His creatures play and rejuvenate, He comes with thoughts to encourage people to see and claim the resurrected life provided especially for them. The preaching and teaching is the outflow of life lived with Him and His world. Happiness is knowing the Maker and being able to live daily life with Him. Blessings on your everyday life being excitedly, passionately lived with Jesus and all He gives into your world.

Ecclesiastes 3:5 “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together…” I watch as the “stones” and other parts of the cabin are cast away and this Ecclesiastes scripture is fulfilled. My mind is visiting a different time and place. Though not present then and there, I'm able to piece together a fairly good picture, since they were part of my childhood.

The year they themselves aren't sure of anymore. It must have been early 1950's the best they can figure. They didn't actually build the cabin but bought it from others at the Conference Camp Ground at Mt. Vernon between Morehead and Flemingsburg.

Their family then consisted of Lloyd, Ruth, Dorse, Wayne, Roger and Mildred. They went each year to camp and conference and a cabin would provide a home of sorts-like a motor home or camper would now. Roger can't remember much of the details since he was only seven or eight years old. Mildred, the only other one of them now living, was younger still. They don't actually know the gathering of the stones that built the cabin. They do remember a lifetime of going there and the changes it brought.

First, brother Wayne left, in his late teens, by drowning in the Ohio River while searching for another man who likewise had drown. The next year an accident took their father, Lloyd. He was crossing the road from Bentley's Grocery to drive his bus at Garrison Elementary when a driver picked him off the road and carried him to a devastating landing. A few days later he was gone.

The rest of the family journeyed on together. Through all the years she was able, their Mom made the pilgrimage to the cabin and camp and conference. Mildred had gone with her and many of the later years enabled their Mother to be there. Roger and Wilma and family usually stayed in a camper nearby. The cabin began showing wear and tear but nobody wanted Mom to know just how bad it was getting. Dorse and family would journey most years to the Sunday School Rally and join the family for the day and a meal on the campgrounds. Then, in the last two years, Mom went home, then Dorse.

In those decades grandchildren were born and great-grandchildren for Lloyd and Ruth.

Now, here we are casting away stones, siding, nails, boards, rafters, and all else that remains of half a century of life in this spot. The Ecclesiastes writer for all practical purposes could have been standing in this spot when he penned those words-though it was millennia ago. His point was that there is a time for everything under the sun , including a time to get and a time to lose. What was new and full of promise for great-grandparents is worn, weather-beaten and needing torn down by the great grandchildren's age.

Standing and watching as the building's skeleton is loaded on a trailer for transport, my mind visits the many times, places and people who had this as a “significant place.” Much of their lives were intertwined with mine. The passage of time has not just happened to the building; but to us. We've come full circle. Though passer-bys can only see an old building needing destroyed, we see with different eyes.

We can flip a few decade pages and see Martha Kamer and Ed coming out of their cabin and heading toward the cafeteria speaking to all as they go. We can see Aunt Virgie Jordan come out of her cabin, hop to the car and ride to the cafeteria, perhaps with a verse of “I've Got A Mansion” filling the campgrounds. We can see the rows of cabins and their occupants, full of “Hello”, “Good morning” and similar greetings. We can feel the love and depth of emotion as old friends gathered to worship, a week, in camp together.

We can even see the young sinner couples, like Roger and Wilma, sticking their heads out of the tented top camper where they and little son, John Lloyd, stay. We can think of how it felt to watch people spend their lives to support what they saw as the most important thing on earth. We can sit in the back part of the Tabernacle and picture all the happenings in our mind. We can enter this little cabin between services and be once again offered the extreme hospitality of its occupant who wanted more than anything to feed you something, give you a drink or serve you in someway.

Back to 2004 and the cabin. It is gone now, all gone. And a vision exists in its place. The two great granddaughters simply love this campground and all it stands for. They don't see all the past but they feel the special Presence that lives here. They feel the generational love for these grounds and the peace that exists here. They see different things as they look at the empty space. They see concrete poured big enough for the camper and a porch. They see a closer spot to the showers than where their camping is now. They see neighbors they love to be around. Young people from other church families who will be around to share time together. They love being with Grandma and Grandpa and all the others. They see new stones being gathered.

As my friend Charlie, whom my heart trusts and loves, would say, “Full circle.”

Yes, the writer of Ecclesiastes had taken a good look at what was going on around him and saw truth. He penned it. And it, like all truth is still truth. Truth always goes full circle.

Blessings on your circles. May they always go 360 degrees and maintain what is best.

Some time ago I wrote a “Treasures” for Sis. Wilma about some giants I have been blessed to have known in my lifetime. Those giants were a generation ahead of me. I would now like to give some honor to the generation behind me.

We hear so much negative news about this generation. There are many fallen, so called “heroes”. We hear of famous sports figures, movie stars and politicians who seem to have fallen off the good morals wagon. We could all name people in many fields whom we feel have let us down, not to mention letting themselves down. Even in our great military there have been many who have not held the honorable high standard that we expect.

Today I would like to direct attention to some good news. For sometime now I have been taking mental notes of the aforementioned generation that follows me. I am very pleased to say that in my opinion there is still a lot of hope for us and for our future.

One day I had taken one of the grandchildren to their T-ball game and I must say there was a real variety of conversational topics available for the hearing. But the one I tuned in on was some parents trying to schedule their games around Bible Schools and Prayer Meetings. I don't know about you but that really lifted my spirits.

There is a lot of good out there to see. I see many families in restaurants with heads bowed in prayer, giving thanks to God for His blessing of food.

Some of this generation of giants behind me are parents, some are even grandparents, some have no children of their own. You can see them all doing family things. Daddies are still teaching their little boys to fish, hunt, play ball, golf and do many other fun things, plus teaching duties and responsibilities. Daddies and Papaws are still putting the fishing worms on the hook for their little girls.

I see mothers and their little daughters having a girls' day out. They go shopping,. They go out to eat at that special place. They may go see that movie the little girls have been waiting to see. There are still Mommies teaching little girls how to do so many important things. They both put on aprons, they cook, wash dishes, they play house and have tea parties. Mommies are still teaching little girls how important it is to be little ladies.

Daddies and Mommies are teaching the children how important it is to pray, read the Bible and attend church and Sunday School. There are several of this generation that I know that have no children of their own, but they are still teaching and caring for that generation that is behind them.

There are many fine young people stepping into leadership rolls-rolls that make a difference, not only now but through eternity. Just recently at one of our church services. I saw at least 8 of this next generation who had accepted the call of God into the ministry. I think this is really great news! There are young men and women who teach Bible School, Sunday School, midweek classes and are answering the call to many other positions in the churches.

Some of these young leaders have been on “the road” for sometime. Some started on this road a little later but their dedication has one thing in common, it is genuine.

Have you ever really watched a young family going to church and when service ended, watch them leave? First of all, let's think of the real effort it takes to get a family to church on Sunday night. This is not a task for the weak or faint of heart. The kids have played all afternoon. Everyone has to be fed. They all have to have a bath. Mom or Dad or both have to search for misplaced shoes or jackets. About 10 minutes before time to leave someone will say, “Dad, can you help m e with my homework project, I have to turn it in tomorrow.”

Now if you have 2 or 3 babies, that's a whole other ball game. It has been my experience that baby has to have its diaper changed again just as you start to go out the door. Well, they all make it to church, as they go in the door, some shirt tails still out, some hair not combed, some milk on the face or the baby has spit up on somebody. But they came together to worship in God's house. During the service at least one, sometimes two kids have fallen to sleep and when service is over you can see parents and grandparents carrying these sleeping bodies to the car for the trip home.

If we take another good look around we can see this same generation taking care of sick parents and helping care for grandparents. You can see some of them caring for people who are alone and have no family to do the things for them that children and grandchildren are to do. They can be seen mowing yards, washing cars, cooking and carrying in food, pulling weeds form flower beds and many other things that no one else sees except the giver and recipient of those great gifts.

We have seen so many young men and women serving in the armed forces away from family and home. They volunteer to leave behind children, husbands, wives, parents, brothers, sisters, and friends to fight and sometimes die that we may enjoy the freedom that we have and so often have taken for granted.

You can find these high caliber people in just about all honorable walks of life. Just take a good look around you, they are in our school, our places of business, factories and health care, you meet some of them on the road everyday.

Living in the world today we can't help but see and hear a lot of bad things happening around us, but I would just ask for you to focus on some of the many, many good things going on.

So to this next generation behind me, I would like to say, “Keep up the good work”. I, for one, think you are doing a great job. There is another generation behind you and I see a great hope in them also.

God bless all of you who are raising families according to God's plan, caring for parents and grandparents, grandchildren and doing all of the wonderful things that you do.

Some skeptics may say, “What world is she living in?”

Well, I'll tell you. I'm living in God's world and with Jesus in my heart I choose to look for the good. Please join me.

Last week we visited a young minister and an elder at camp meeting this year. This reminded me of how terribly frightening those “first” things can be. My mind goes back to 1982 and the first funeral I was the presiding minister. Before that my mentor had been the speaker, with me assisting. Following like Joshua with Moses, is a comfortable position. One knows that the experienced leader can and will handle all problems. The load will not fall directly on them. Bro. Maggard had been this “pillar-like” structure support holding bad things off my shoulders.

Then in an instant he boarded heaven's jet sent directly for him. With a breath caught in mid-sentence he was gone. His house still sat before us but he was, in a breath, gone!

As shock of his death rang through the country an even greater shock fell upon me. The family wanted me to preach his funeral. Me!

My mind goes back to that place as this article is being written. The first thing that jumps out at me is being with Lena and the family at her home in Carter County. The crowds kept coming to offer their sympathies and it seemed to me each one brought a ham or meat and cheese tray along with other food. Roger was taking care of burial details. I was in the kitchen trying to put food away and let the family visit with their friends. My mind remembers the total overwhelming of the situation. Lena was devastated and unable to make any decisions. The family was pretty much the same. But, here was all this food and only one refrigerator and one freezer which “Ma” always kept full. My heart was broken. My mind was overwhelmed with trying to preach a funeral with such magnitude. And, my daily task was to do SOMETHING with all that food. I was in a total tizzy. My nervous excitement and confusion was TOTAL. “What am I going to do?” ran through every fiber of my being.

Then, as The Lord always does, He sent help. My sister appeared with daughters in tow and took over that kitchen. I'm never sure how she handles those things when they totally have me baffled; but she does. Where she put all that food I've never figured out, but she put it somewhere. They greeted the people, took the food, answered the phone and God only knows what else. A good lifetime friend showed up at the door to get me out for a walk and talk. She too seemed to know this was a mountain for me.

The visitation night finished scaring out of me whatever thread of confidence was left- any confidence that I could do this job of preaching the funeral. The people were lined up for hours at the funeral home. My mind could picture the crowd that would be present the next day at the funeral. I was simply scared beyond words. How does a preacher speak if words won't come out of the fear?

Funeral day arrived and so did the crowds along with a new fear. The funeral chapel was filled with ministers, dozens of them. My feet were walking, my hand was shaking other hands but my mind was numb. Inside it kept screaming, “We canNOT do this!”

As the time grew near, my mind came upon a solution. Quit. Just let one of these more seasoned ministers take the stand and let me OUT of this mess. I started back to the funeral director's office to get loosed. In the hallway I heard footsteps behind me and soon felt familiar hands catch my shoulders and indicate silently for me to halt. His voice whispered in my ear, “You can do this. The Lord has groomed you for years for this day. He will be with you. You can do this. Trust Him to do His part, you just supply the woman and let Him do the rest.”

Twirling about and hugging my Daddy my voice found the words that had been hiding from my mouth, “Dad, I just can't do this. Did you see all those ministers in there?”

“I saw them, but the family asked you. If Bro. John were here, he'd crawl to do your funeral if it took it. Are you going to let down on all he and the rest of us have believed you for? Don't let fear of man steal from you who you really are. Only you can know, if who you've said you are, is right. Here is the full proof of your ministry.” he stated.

For a moment we were frozen in time. He was right. Here and now was the test of what I'd claimed the last four years. Was I, or was I not, called to this job? Did I, or did I not, believe Jesus would be there when the time came? Just who was I and what did I believe when the tough times came? The best way I know to tell you what happened next is like the old toy the “Jack in the Box”. Remember there was a time when the handle cranked up enough force to push Jack out of the box? Well, the preacher in me came up and out of my fear and overwhelmed state. I squeezed that wonderful fatherly hand, “Dad, I can't do this but you are right, Jesus can do it through me. I know that now. Thanks for always being there when any of us have needed you.”

We turned. Dad, the pall bearer, and me, the minister, walked together into the chapel to do their duties of the day. That day changed me for the rest of my life. I now knew the power that comes from heaven to help mortals do that which seems impossible.

Ending now twenty-five years in the ministry can I tell you it's grown easier. Lord, No! But, each and every time there is more to do than can be done within human, my trust has been that Jesus would make a way. He always has!

As new ministers begin their roads, those who have traveled it before them know the tests will come. They know the tests must be faced with faith if success if to be had. Ministry is never within humans. They are only, always, the glove into which God puts His hand, the lips into which He puts His words. It works. It's heavens way. Our new ministers this years, as in all the years of the past will have to learn they are simply messengers. The message and the courage to deliver them comes from beyond their reach.

Blessings on each and every one of you !

Since the ministry stories seem to have taken on an interest to many, we'll continue. Go back to the year 1979 and hear the commotion as I've announced my call from God to preach The Gospel. Many were shocked and scared my mind had taken it's leave. Around me though was a few faithful who had put up with me during the torture of my call. My parents and husband were seemingly never uneasy although having now helped rear a few ministers I'm sure they were praying hours for wisdom to settle upon me.

Anyway, the year was eventful. My answering heaven's call had taken nine months-seems fitting doesn't it? The wrestling like Jacob of old or Paul at Damascus was over. The announcement had been made. Contrary to what Satan had assured me in my darkest decision hours, Roger didn't leave. He was the calmest of all, assuring me he'd always known there was a job for us to do. The catch-he wasn't even a Christian at the time.

By the time I admitted the call there had already been many “speaking” engagements in many different denominations and churches. He had from the first been by my side. Then, as soon as I spoke the words, “I am called to preach God's Word,” a Revival at Kibbey Chapel in Carter County was scheduled. Off to our first taste of evangelist!

Roger bought a camper so we could stay at Carter Caves camping area and get some rest as we scurried about to fulfill our duties here and there. The Revival went great! The number who came to Christ in that meeting went into the teens. Roger was not yet one of them when the meeting closed on Saturday evening. Then, Lena, then Kibbey Chapel's Pastor's wife, asked if the church thought it would be good to have me back for Sunday morning. All agreed and one more service was called.

That morning was eventful! There was in the congregation a young woman who had been in an accident and a coma like state resulting from it. She was not able to move herself about even in a wheelchair; but her parents had her in the service that morning. She was seated in the wheel chair about two thirds of the way back in the church in the aisle.

At the end of the message, the invitation was given. Several came to pray. Then, my eyes caught her hand moving toward the wheels of her chair. Her mother caught it also. We were both stopped from helping her, seemingly knowing this was her “walk” to Jesus. All who were not praying with those knelt at the altar were frozen with eyes popping. Bro. Ott Kibbey could sing with a big, congregation leading voice that was superb; but Patty's moving that chair changed his voice into a weeping, sniffing version of whatever song he was using to invite people to Jesus. Praise The Lord! We were all crying and rejoicing at the same time. It was a spectacular moment in Christian heritage!

When arriving at the altar she pushed, for the first time since the accident, herself out of the chair to fall on her knees at the altar. I knelt to pray with her along with much of the crowd. As I knelt down, my eyes glanced at Roger. He was standing at his seat yet, but weeping unlike anytime I'd ever seen. My heart wanted to go to him but The Spirit urged me to the duty at hand. I turned to Bro. Kibbey, wanting to extend Roger another verse of invitation I said, “Sing one more verse, please.”

Bro. Kibbey, weeping, called back at me, “I can't sing.”

After I was praying a few minutes with Patty, Bro. Kibbey touched my shoulder and said, “Look who is praying at the other end of the altar.”

There was Roger. He prayed and wept until he actually wet a pool on the carpet below him. At the end of that service, the end of my first Revival, Roger, my husband was a Christian. And a miracle had been given to Patty McGlone and her family. She continued to improve until able to walk about with an arm to help support her. She was given back a voice to speak. And, she is still on duty most every service at Kibbey Chapel today! She and Roger were born the same day, in the same service and have both been faithful workers all these years.

My mind often thinks of that day and how Satan was so defeated and Jesus proved Himself to me in a way nothing could ever make me doubt. He is an awesome Lord and friend! I too think of Lena asking for one more service. What if she hadn't been faithful to her Lord's urging for just one more service?

The Lord will ALWAYS work things out if you let Him lead and work in His timing. Remember the children who bring things to you to fix and don't want to take their hands off and let you fix it. Take your hands off and let The Lord fix your life. Hands off. Yes. Hands off and let Him work.

Have you considered just how fast your life is moving? On vacation this year there were those usual times of flash back to earlier times. Now, we are grandparents of one teenager and another to arrive there in January. But for a few seconds as we were packing at the beach, my mind flashed back to the time when the girls were left sleeping to the very last moment. The grandfathers would scoop them up and carry them to the car to sleep on until the airport. We grandmothers would pack their change of clothes and keep them snoozing as long as possible. That way they could enjoy their flight and ending ride home more. This year as we packed two young ladies were packing along beside us. One of the grandfathers has took his flight heavenward. The other couldn't possible carry either of the girls. Their other grandmother and I couldn't pick out what they “wanted” to wear and