For the last few days I’ve been pondering over situations affecting the lives of a few older friends and that of a recently deceased aunt; and wondered if any blog writers or readers have encountered similar problems.
Let me start by saying: Since this problem deals with the church, I don’t want this writing to reflect a negative image or black mark on any denomination or Christian congregation.
I know we’re all busy, but as Christians are we busy with the right things?
It seems, we as church members and church managers have become so complacent in our respective church positions, and sanctuaries that we don’t have the time or energy to minister to the aged/elderly, visit the sick/shut-in, take care of the widows, or provide for the needy.
I really don’t think God intent for us to establish so many in-house church programs that all we do is go to church, and socialize with our own church members. I was taught at an early age, as a Southern Baptist that the Mission of every Christian is to spread the gospel of Jesus and explain the way to Salvation. How do we do this, when we are always at our own church?
My saddest awakening for the last few days was when I discovered, my three older friends (ages 68, 75 and 94) who are Christians and confined to their homes – have had no visits or calls from church members, or church managers for months. My 84 year old aunt had not been to church in ten years, but continued to mail her tithes on a monthly basis. Guess what? Althought, the church received and cashed her checks, no one from that church ever visited, called or delivered Holy Communion to her. Why would a pastor or church officials act like this?
I am reminded of the following scripture:
Matthew 25 (New Living Translation)
Verse 36 – I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.
Verse 37 – Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Verse 38 – Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
Verse 39 – When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?”
Verse 40 – And the King will tell them, “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”
What about the charge that Christ gave us (Christians) when we accepted Him into our life?
As a child growing up in Georgia, I remember church deacons and missionaries visiting the sick, shut-ins, and elderly members every Sunday after church services, and I was usually in tow-mode on many occasions.
The question is: Are we really doing what God commanded us to do as Christians? Prior to this writing, I’ve returned to my childhood training and plan to stay on track. Already, I feel so much better after sharing this mental burden with you.
WHO CARES? I Do!
If you want to know more about “What Do Southern Baptist Believe?” Click on the above image.
Tags: caring for others, Christians, church officials, church within church, communion, pastors, Responsibilities, shut-ins
Today it is normal to hear about business owners filing for bankruptcy, closing the doors of businesses after years of service to the public, or down sizing operations by issuing pink-slips to employees who have spent years working for a particular company.
Let me ask you: How is your financial future looking at the company you work for?
What if I told you……you’ll never have the job security that your parents or the baby-boomer generation attained from working a twenty or thirty year career. This also means if you are younger than fifty years old – you won’t enjoy the same retirement benefits either.
I’m sure you probably know all of this by now – and that you are currently aware that you must find another way to secure your future and earn additional money to meet your upcoming financial needs.
The easiest and quickest way to improve your financial position is as follows:
- Always have a plan and another way to make money – whenever necessary
- Do something that you already know how to do such as a hobby
- Create a job for yourself using skills acquired from a previous profession
- Use self-help products to learn a new skill/trade while working a regular job
- Be creative. There is always something you can do to make an honest living.
As a matter of fact, you can start your own business by purchasing one of my business opportunity E-books. Just click on the link below and make a selection.
http://starting-a-business-how-to.com
Tags: home business, home-based business, how-to
By Edith Eveon Brown
The bachelor arrived home and walked across his front porch in deep thought. In fact, he didn’t notice the package on the floor until he opened the screen door which knocked the package against the leg of the rocking chair. The sound startled him as his eyes came to rest on the small package. He bent down and picked it up in amazement. “I haven’t ordered anything in a very long time,” he thought. Further inspection of this parcel actually showed his name and address, but no return address. He tucked the package under his arm, opened the screen door again, unlocked the front door, entered his house setting the package on the side-table where he usually dropped his mail, and went on with his ritual of settling down for the evening. He never gave the package a second thought.
Four days later, on a bright Friday morning after having breakfast. The bachelor washed his breakfast dishes and headed up the hallway drinking a cup of coffee, and noticed the package still setting unopened on the side table. So Horace walked over to the table, sets his cup of coffee down, and opened the package. The first thing he saw was a note, when he removed the note he noticed something else in the box. He picked it up and said, “What in the hell is this?” On closer examination he saw it was a black leather pirate-style eye patch. “Why would any one send me such a thing?” He dropped the patch back in its box and picks up the note with a shaky hand. Rather than read it, he reaches for his cup of coffee with the other hand and takes a quick sip before setting the cup back on the table. Then he opened the note and read…
Dear Horace Madison,
I hope this brief note find you well. My family is the designed executors of your family’s estate and keeper of your heritage. At this point, I am sure you are aware that male heirs are extremely rare in your family and borne every forty years. This brings me to the point of the leather pirate-style eye patch which is passed to male heirs for a purpose – I cannot reveal in this note. For now I suggest that you put the patch in a safe place.
Sincerely,
/s/
Madison’s Family Executor
Horace refolds the note and placed it back in its box with the eye-patch, and just stood where he was for a while deep in thought. He quickly recovered, grabbed the box and his coffee cup from the table, and walked up the hallway to his bedroom. He opened his closet door and put the box on the top shelf, closed the door, and walked out of his room. He walked through the kitchen, put his coffee cup in the sink; walked out the back door, across the yard to the barn. By the time Horace cranked the tractor and backed out of the barn, the package was forgotten again.
Besides, Horace Madison was a farmer and it was early spring. The only thing on Horace’s mind was getting his spring wheat, corn, and oats in the ground. Otherwise he was a deep thinker, but never shared his thoughts with anyone. And he never married because his family was knee-deep in women. His immediate family consisted of 102 relatives; one-hundred of them were females, his 15 year old nephew, and him. As a youth, Horace often wondered why his family only had one or two males at any given time. But like everything else it was just a thought. No big deal.
Horace went to bed earlier then usual because tomorrow was going to be a long day. It was time to harvest the crops and twenty-five field hands were scheduled to meet him in the field at sunrise. At dawn, Horace was jarred awake by an extraordinary pain in his right eye; instantly he pressed the heel of his right hand to the area and rushed to the bathroom. Once there, he removed his hand and his eye ball plops into the sink. In shock, Horace looked into the mirror and saw a clean shiny white eye socket. Immediately he remembered the package. He washed his face, got dressed, removed the patch from its box, pulled it over his head positioning it over the eyeless socket, and went to meet the field-hands.
Tags: Creative stories, Short Short Stories, short story by Edith Eveon Brown, stories, Writings by Edith Eveon Brown
First I must confess…I never thought much about my hometown until now. So, let’s see if I can capture a few things about my town in this article.
Upper Marlboro, Maryland became my hometown in 1988, although I wasn’t actually raised in the Maryland area. I was drawn to the area because of it’s amazing small town….country charm.
The historic township of Upper Marlborough was established in the early 1700 as a colony port and tobacco farm town. In 1721 due to the towns’ growth and popularity it became the social center and county seat for Prince George’s County. And in 1747 the area became an official tobacco inspection station. As of July 2006 the “core population” for the old township was 676 residents.
The most unusual thing about the town is it’s early morning tobacco smell, especially when the farmers bring their tobacco crop into town to sell at the tobacco barn on Marlboro Pike.
Today, the town spells its name as Upper Marlboro and remains the county seat for Prince George. However, the town is flanked by a large outer rim which is known as Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This area comprises of two zip codes which are as follows: Zip 20772 covers 75.8 sq. miles with a population of 36,621 residents, and Zip 20774 covers 31.5 sq. miles with a population of 34,064. I’m sure other zip codes are being considered as of this writing due to growth.
It’s weird to see that the actual core of the township still displays a quaint country charm. Once you enter the town and find a parking space or get off the community bus which is named “The Bus”…you can actually walk short distances to the local library, two banks, the post office, several restaurants, pubs, shops, business offices, the courthouse, and the pond where you can relax, fish, walk, run or feed the ducks. The town is also known for its well-kept Marlborough Golf Club, elegant dining, popular 18-hole and Par 71 course.
What’s amazing to me is how the town has managed to host its Marlborough Day Festival for the last 31 years….before Mother’s Day! The festival is always kicked off by a parade with clowns, drill teams, fire trucks, dancers, marching bands, local politicians, old time cars and farm tractors, and much more. The township streets are closed and walkways are covered by vendors selling all types of foods, wears, crafts, art work, drinks and other eatables. I look forward to the festival every year because it reminds me of my childhood days in Brunswick, Georgia.
I love my adopted hometown of Upper Marlboro. It offers easy access (10 to 30 minutes) to metropolitan areas to shop, entertainment, sightseeing, work and other activities; but affords me the luxury to live in a small community, surrounded by trees, nearby forests and parks.
Checkout the following snapshots:
Post Office
Lane to Annex
School House Pond
Darnall's Chance House
This Meme is hosted by Robert Hruzek of http://middlezonemusings.com/my-home-town-a-new-meme/
Tags: meme, My Home Town - Meme, Township of Upper Marlboro, Upper Marlboro, Upper Marlboro Township
It’s a fact of life. Each of us currently knows, or will know someone in the future who has cancer, diabetes, mental condition, aids, had a heart attack, stroke, or other life-changing diseases. These diagnoses and occurrences bring horror to patients and family members; as well as create an immediate need for information, affordable health care, accessible supportive services, and financial support for research.
I became involved in the cancer community as a fundraiser and event participant in 1999, before anyone in my family was diagnosed with the disease. Since that time, I have had two siblings, two aunts, and three uncles diagnosed with various forms of cancer such as colon, breast, prostate, lung, liver, virginal, and skin cancer. As I write this article, I am reminded that I have lost one aunt, three uncles, my oldest brother, and father to cancer.
This brings me to the point I want to make: There is a great need for public involvement in all charity programs. Sometimes we are turned-off by media reports of dishonesty in the ranks of mid – upper level managers hired to oversee and manage fundraising organizations. However, I do hope you realize the majority of managers and staff working in the fundraising industry are trustworthy and do what they say – they’ll do with our donations.
The achievements of these organizations are powered by commitments made by “regular” people. Meaning you and me! In fact, we do not have to be rich, have a college education, own a big house, drive an expensive vehicle, be an athlete, or be a certain age in order to get involved. All we really need is the heart and desire to help someone else.
I assure you; the benefits you’ll gain from your involvement with charities will be HUGE and could last for the rest of your life! How you ask?
On regular bases, our mailboxes are swamped with fundraising campaign letters and request for event participants. Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day, National Race for The Cure, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk, The Aids Ride, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are the ones that come to mind because of my personal involvement. You may have stood on the roadsides and cheered or clapped for runners, walkers, or cyclist as they pass-by. You may have shared the road with me and other participants during these events. If no one has ever told you, let me be the first to say, “Your involvement and efforts were appreciated.”
The reality of you being a walker, bicyclist, runner, swimmer, or event worker during charity events is greater than you can ever imagine. Once you sign-up as an activity participant – you’ll never be the same. The benefits are as follows:
• You’ll be invited to meet other participants for training sessions
• You’ll have access to other participants in/or near your residence
• You’ll have a coach
• You’ll get fundraising training
• You’ll make new friends
• You’ll lose-weight and increase your overall well-being
• You’ll learn to eat healthier
• You’ll be a part of a movement that’s greater than you
• You’ll raise & contribute more funds than you could donor via personal check.
In 2000, I signed-up as a walker for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk event, and raised lots of money due to donations from friends, co-workers, church members, associates, and strangers. Contributions were incredible! In return I walked for 3-days! This was the most rewarding and challenging commitment I had ever tackled in my life. It was truly amazing!
The preparation for this event helped me discard one-hundred pounds and improved my overall health. I also made lots of new friends and are still connected to them. Event workers are “crew members” and are not required to raise funds, although some do it anyway. Crew members are usually “event repeaters” and sign-up for the same team year-after-year; often a few become regular buddies to you during and after events. I still have crew friends and look forward to spending time with them, annually.
I hope this article inspires you to get involved with one or more charities. I guarantee event organizers, coaches; team leaders and participants will welcome you with open arms and make you a part of their fundraising community. Here are a few links to help get you started:
http://www.aidslifecycle.org
http://www.nationalraceforthecure.org
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
http://walk.avonfoundation.org
Tags: aids life cycle, Aids Ride, Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day, bicyclist, Cancer, Charity programs, commitments, Donations, eat healthier, Friends, Fundraiser Events, Fundraising, get involved, Helping others, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, life-style change, lose-weight, National Race for the Cure, Raising Funds, runners, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk, volunteer, walkers, well-being
After months of saying, “We are retired. We need to do something exciting!” It finally HAPPENED.
My girlfriend (Franle) and I left our men at home, loaded up my Ford F-150 Super Crew Pickup Truck, and hit the highway on August 4th for our three State road trip. The only requirement was that I had to be back in Maryland by August 15th to attend a business trade show.
Since we are motorcycle riders and vehicle drivers, we are often on the highway. Our men swear – we drive like we don’t have any sense! WHO CARES – we get where we need to be without mishap. This trip was no different.
We covered the first 333 miles of our trip in five hours, and arrived at my deceased aunt’s vacant estate house in Craven County on the outskirts of New Bern, NC.
We unloaded the truck, we each claimed a room for the duration of our stay, unpacked a few belongings, and left the house to spend time with adopted family members. Knowing we didn’t have any time to waste, our visits with friends and family were brief. If we didn’t return to the house before dark – we might encounter black bears, foxes, and deer along the country road or while accessing the property from old highway 70 west.
We returned to the house as planned without incident and prepared for the night by watching a few movies and later went to our respective rooms around 11:00pm.
Sunday morning, as I gathered my clothes to get dressed, I noticed a long belt-like strip on my bedroom floor which stretched from under my bed to the television stand. Knowing, I didn’t have a belt like the one on the floor, I took a few quick blinks and refocused my eyes to get a closer look at this thing on the floor; it turned out to be the skin of a snake. My mind kicked into over drive, and mentally screamed RATTLE SNAKE.
The skin had similar markings as a Rattle Snake, but these types of snakes don’t usually come into houses that are occupied by people. I wasn’t sure since I couldn’t see the skins’ tail, and didn’t want to frighten my girlfriend who was in the next room. I grabbed my cell phone and called my adopted father (Pops). I quietly and quickly told him what I discovered in my bedroom. He said, “It’s probably a Rat Snake. I’m on my way. Don’t touch the bedding, just back out of the room.”
I pondered if I should tell my girlfriend about the snake skin or not. After looking in the parlor, the family room, the hallway, the kitchen, the bathroom, the den, the spare room and not seeing any sign of the snake. I concluded the snake could still be in one of our bedrooms – if he was still in the house; and I couldn’t check Franle’s room without telling her what I was looking for.
I didn’t want my girlfriend to freak out but I needed to alert her of the situation. So I went to her room and gently said, “Franle, I don’t want to frighten you, but we MIGHT have a snake in the house.” She seemed pretty calm when she asked, “How do you know?” I said, “He left his skin in my room. Come on, I’ll show you.” Franle followed me to my room, saw the snake skin, and FREAKED OUT.
Now, you are wondering how I knew she freaked.
Let me put it this way. Do you remember the Hokey Pokey dance we did as kids? Well, Franle did the “you put your whole self in and you shake it all about” quick version; turned on the balls of her feet, raced to her bedroom, grabbed all of her luggage from the floor, threw it on the bed, and simultaneously zipped both bags up. Then she ran out the back door to the field, still shaking her hands as she went. Franle didn’t return to the house until Pops arrived.
As I stood near her room door watching her zip up her luggage – I’m praying, “Lord please don’t let the snake be in there!”
When Pops arrived, he and I went into my room to look for the snake. The snakes’ skin was the only sign of his visit to my bedroom and it measured 5 1/2 feet long. I learned from recent research that Black Rat Snakes rarely grow beyond 6.6 feet long, therefore this snake was pretty big already.
I must confess: I’m so proud of my girlfriend Franle. She turned out to be a real trooper once she recovered from the shock of seeing the snake skin and Pops presence on the property. My girlfriend faced her fear of Rat Snakes, and held the flash light as I pulled furniture from walls, and turned them over to make sure the snake had not found a new hiding place within the underlining and framing of the furniture.
Once it was determined the snake was gone, I made it a point to be more attentive and vowed to kill the snake if it returned to the house. It never did return during our three day stay.
The fourth day, we left the residence and traveled to Brunswick, GA. A few days later we were on our way to Gaffney, SC; returning to Maryland on August 13th.
I hope this short story motivates you to get out of your comfort zone and do something exciting with your friend(s). It’s funny NOW, but then it wasn’t so funny!
To learn more about Rat Snakes click the below link:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/pages/rat.htm
Tags: Funny, Girlfriends, New Bern, North Carolina, Rat Snake, Road trip
The first day of spring was March 20, 2010, but the season seems to be throwing fits or going through an unpredictable syndrome - like menopause.
Guess what! Although, we’re in the month of April National Meteorologist indicate a few regions will deal with winter conditions a while longer.
Meanwhile, some of us (including me) had to pull the old lawn mower out of the shed last week - April 5th to do the first lawn-cut of the season. I did the initial check and refilled the gas tank prior to pulling the start cord. The mower finally started on the third pull of the cord! As I fell into the mode of Human Push Machine, I remembered: I sell a how-to guide about starting a landscape business, and now was the perfect time to promote it.
Did you know the average homeowner spends one to two hours per week mowing his/her lawn? It’s a job most people don’t look forward to, and it makes the job even harder if your lawn mower engine has not been maintained properly. However, if you love the smell of fresh cut lawns and hedges – you can start your own small business with the equipment and tools you use to do your own lawn maintenance.
Learn more about this inexpensive step-by-step E-book by visiting: http://starting-a-business-how-to.com/?page_id=15
Tags: how to landscape, how-to, Landscape business, landscaping, start a business
Living a healthy life has more to do with simplicity and unity rather than cut-throat tactics involving conquer and destroy whatever crosses your path or hinder your progress.
A few years ago while pondering what new challenges I might want to tackle, volunteer efforts I might want to join, or social activities I wanted to participate in and so on, I received an email entitled, “40 Ways to Live a Healthy life” which hung on my office bulletin board until I redecorated the board and filed the document in my file cabinet.
I never thought about 40 Ways again until I came across it in my file cabinet while searching for other items a few days ago. As a result, I decided to share this information with you by posting only Twenty Ways here and the other Twenty on MySpace Blog at http://myspace.com/1999intruder. I hope you find the following steps useful.
• You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
• Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
• Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
• Ladies – go on and burn those “special” scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear your fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special!
• No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
• Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
• Forgive everyone for everything and move on.
• What other people think of you is none of your business. What you think of you is important.
• Time heals almost everything – when given enough time.
• Good or bad situation always change.
• Your job won’t physically take care of you when you are sick; but your friends will so stay in touch with them!
• Get rid of the things or people in your life that isn’t useful, beautiful, joyful, loving, or supportive.
• Envy is a waste of time. You already have all that you need.
• The best is yet to come.
• No matter how you feel. Get up, dress-up, and show up.
• No matter what – always do the right thing!
• Call your family often.
• Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: ‘I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.’
• Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
• Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” –Michael Landon
Tags: Be kind, Enjoy life, Friends, Healthy, Heathy Life, Keep living, life, Lighten up, Live, Live life, Make Friends, move on
By the way, you’re looking at Cloud, my white German shepherd. His mother and father are white shepherd breeders, his grandfather an award winning show dog, and grandmother a Tracker.
I’ve been around dogs all of my life and highly recommend them as faithful companions. Gosh, I have so many FUNNY dog stories that I can tell you, but I’ll leave that for a future article.
Cloud turned three years old on June 23, 2007, and he is my BABY! I have learned many things from him during our three years together such as:
- How to forget and forgive: He may drop his head in shame as I scold him…but he still loves me
- How to be supportive: Early in the morning I may look frightful…but he’ll nose me until I’m awake and stay nearby until I’m looking presentable
- How to live in the moment: He may be home alone all day…but greets me with excitement when I return
- How to be a companion: He’s always ready to camp, hike, run, walk, ride or rest beside me. Although he may occasionally sigh and look up at me as to say, “Is this all we’re gonna to do today?” So, I’ll avoid direct eye contact him because he’ll jump up — ready to play
- How to show compassion: He’ll rest his head on my knee and look into my eyes when I’m sad as to say, “I’m here for you…just rub my head!” All I know is — I feel a lot better after rubbing his head.
This is What I Learned From Cloud.
http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-anything-at-all/