Thankgiving Day

Not just a food or football day but a day to remember to be thankful for what God has giving us. A free country, job, good kids, good church, and good friends. God has even helped our prayer lives. He has allowed a socialist, baby killing, business hating, military hater, reward people who hate to work, and big government person the presidency. If that doesn,t help your prayer life nothing will.
If you have ever tried to do anything with the government, from getting a loan to doing business, to trying to make sense of the regulations to talking to a official about something, it is a nightmare. They are paid to make life miserable for all people. And do a good job of it. But there is nothing you can do about it. just live with it and go on. That is what America whats. And boy do we have it now. Of course if all you want is a hand out this will be a great time for you. Just stand in line and plead your case and the money will come. Your not responsible for your decisions or the way you act. Just do what feels good no matter who it hurts and the government will give you a hand out. This whole process works better if you know all the ins and outs of welfare, food stamps, Workman's comp, or the disability system. You have a leg up on all the rest of the folks who are going to stick there hand out. But everyone will eventfully learn how to get some free money. This includes businesses who went brain dead and made bad decisions and want government money and are going to get it.

Politics

Right or wrong we have a new president. I have not met someone one who is indifferent to that fact. Plus the whole power thing has shifted. Anti war, abortion, big government, anti business, liberalism, give outs, all will become a way of life now. But the republican way got old to. And wore people out. So here we go down a anti christian, humanistic, meism way of life. I hope everyone is happy with this mess. We just had to have change. O boy have we got it.
But God knows all of this. We will soon find out who beleives this and who just runs there christian mouths. I know my prayer life has taken a big jump. Thats the good side of all this mess. When we as a people get away from God as far as we have, these things happen. God uses many different thing and people to get out attition. And bring us back to Him.

Wedding

It all started in Feb when Michael asked me if he could marry Lisa. He is 35 and she is 35 so were not talking about 2 naive kids here. So I said yes you can. Than he asked what does he need to know about Lisa that would help. I looked at him, though a minute, than told him if a decision is important to him make it and make it quick. Or she will make it for him. So the adventure started.
The date of the wedding was set on 9-21 in Wis. With a reception up there and one down here at our church and another in MN at Michael's old church. So the planing started and the money began to flow. In Aug Sandra went to spend a month before the wedding to bring all the planing together. And do the final planing. Lisa's brother's family came up from TX and was in the wedding. 300 people were at the wedding and 270+ were at the reception. It was a great day and a lot of fun. It went well all day. Nothing went wrong, all came off without a hitch, thanks to Sandra's and Lisa's planing. And a lot of money. But it was all worth the time and money.

Long Time

Lets see since I have last done this I have been to WI twice, last time to marry my Daughter, been to TX once and have had a lot of fun between all that.
My daughter got married on 9-21, you talk about fun that was a fun time. Me and her always did have a special relationship. On her wedding day we toke a walk and just talked and laughed had a great time. Of course it always helps if your daughter is marrying a good man. And my daughter did just that. Lisa and Micheal have been married 6 weeks and are adjusting to marriage well or at least I think so, of course I'm 700 miles from them so what do I know. When you consider that they were 35+ years old when they got married and nether one of them were ever married before, its not going bad. A lot of adjusting to do but they will do just fine.
Sandra went up the last week of August to help Lisa with the wedding plans. Came home for 10 days than went back up to help Lisa move into Micheal's house. Than she toke a plane to TX. I drove down to be with her and the kids. Had a great time with the grand kids and there parents.
That's all for now I'll talk more about the wedding in later posts. This is just a brief outline of the last several months.

Ice-Water-Basketball and mickael

Since the last time I blogged there has been a ice storm, 5" of rain and NCAA basketball games going on. My daughter [Lisa] and her boy friend have been here. It's looks serious between Mickael and Lisa. And that is a good thing. Seems to be a fine young man.
The ice storm broke a lot of tree branches down, made a mess of the yard. Power went out for 36 hours. I got frustrated and went out and bought a 5ooo watt generator, electric start, 30 ft power cable, worked great.
Than the rains came. Good grief 5" of the stuff. Flooded the yard, made a mess of everything.
But I don't know what I'am crying about a whole lot of people had a whole lot more problems than I ever though about.
In the middle of watching a whole lot of basketball. Men and women's NCAA games. Great time killer but a lot of fun.
Great Easter service. Just another reminder of what Christ did for us.

Bill Gathard

IBYC In 1973 that is what the seminar was called. I went to my first seminar in Indy IN. 7000 people there, red note books, hand outs every break it was something. No matter what anyone says about the seminar content or how cult's it became [and it did] I grow more in Christ going thur the seminar than anywhere else. When the seminar came to Dayton in 1976 I was the materials leader for 10 years, set up leader for 3 years, than usher leader for 8 years. My wife and I have been to all regular seminars in Dayton [21]. All the advanced seminars [approx 12]. [2] Husband and wife seminars. I worked 14 pastors seminars. Bill was live at all the advanced, husband & wife, and pastors seminars. It was a great time, a spiritual growing time. Many lessons learned and Life style changes made. Now having said all that I realize He had Brother problems, big time Brother problems. His ministry was flawed in some of the insights he had into what the bible really said. [He liked to interpret it to fit his way of thinking sometimes] He had and still does a huge home schooling base of parents, who follow him colt like. He does not have any big seminars anymore [I was one in Detroit 15000 people, 6500-7000 in Dayton for years]. Nor to my knowledge does he have any advanced or pastors seminars anymore. He started a ministry in Russia, Singapore, New Zealand, and some other fortune countries. Have no idea if he is still going or not. Haven't seen anything on his ministry or what is happening there for years. When He started having all kinds of problems and the people I knew started leaving I lost interest in it. Its a real shame to see it go down hill but all things change and move on. O ya they they even changed the name to IBLP.

Wisconsin

I spent the last weekend in northern Wisconsin. Rib Lake to be exact. Now lets back up, my daughter [Lisa] lives there, has for 14 years. She is the food service director at camp Forest Springs. Its a year round Christian camp. You have to be called of God to be there. Its just plan c0ld and snowy. I never go there between Oct. and March, weather is just to nasty for me. I've been there at Thanksgiving -26 wind chill. 25 Th of March 8 inches of fresh snow to go with 12 already on the ground. You get the point. But Lisa needed some stuff for her new house and I needed to get some stuff up for the big sale they have every year in the barn. O ya Lisa has a new boy friend who wanted to talk to me also. So up I went, sure enough its as cold as it has been for 10 years, and record amounts of snow. I'am driving my truck [3/4 ton pickup] gets 13 miles to a gal. 1400 mile trip at $3.10 a gal. do the math. All this for my 35 year old daughter. Don't tell me kids don't keep on costing you. But I'am glad I can do it.
Met her boy friend Mickael hes is a good guy. Loves the Lord and Lisa, can't ask for anymore. He is the same age as her, never been married. So we will see how this all works out. They both want Gods will in there lives so I'am sure it will work out good for both of them.
You have to have a certain mind set to live up there. Lisa was asking someone on staff if the camp would be open on a certain weekend. He just looked at her and said Lisa its only -22 and walk off, several people did show up.