Barbara Johnson, Author

I had not heard that Barbara Johnson, the beloved author, had recently died. I went over to The Barbara Johnson Foundation, Inc., and found she passed away on July 2, 2007.

Award-winning Christian author and Women of Faith Speaker Emeritus, Barbara Johnson died July 2nd, 2007 of cancer. Diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2001, she valiantly fought Central Nervous System Lymphoma (CNS) for six years, as well as adult onset diabetes. During her final illness, she amazed the publishing world by adding four more titles to her long list of best sellers, including a poignantly humorous book about her cancer, Plant a Geranium in Your Cranium.

Barbara was a wonderful writer, and she will be missed. But her memory, along with her books, will live on.

Linked at Pursuing Holiness
Pirate's Cove

Technorati Tags: Barbara Johnson, Author, Speaker

14th Amendment to the Constitution

I was reading blogs tonight and came upon an article at Third World County called Promoting harmful myths. And, the one thing that hit me was the myth that anyone born in the US is automatically a citizen. According to Section one of the amendment, it is not true. Please read the entire article over at Third World County.

clipped from www.usconstitution.net 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Constitution, Citizenship, Amendment

Doing it the right way

clipped from jewishworldreview.com That is a foreign concept in our day: the "right" way. Why? When I was growing up — and until recent years — most athletes played by the rules and did things the right way. Their only "enhancement" was hard work, which refined natural talent.

Cal Thomas wrote an article today about doing it the right way. When we grew up, you tried to do things the right way, and if you got in trouble, you didn't go on the radio or television and talk about it. Nowadays, it seems that a person doing things the wrong way get more media attention than those that do right. Consider all the Hollywood celebrities who have been in the news lately. Also, remember how Hank Aaron made it into the baseball Hall of Fame - with character, integrity, and sportsmanship. Compare that with Barry Bonds who is about to surpass Aaron's record.

What are we teaching the younger generations? Is it like Cal said. Frank Sinatra sang a song that said, "I'll do it my way". Is that how we are teaching our children, or do we want them to do it by the rules?

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber

Technorati Tags: Talent, Rules, Athletes, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Character

The Deadly Virus of Celebrity Christianity

J. Lee Grady, editor of the Charisma magazine, has written an article about the church of today - how some ministers are put on a pedestal. They seem to think the church owes them a huge chunk of money, among other things, to even get them to appear before a congregation.

Grady says we have fallen so far from New Testament faith, and that New Testament Christianity should be humble, selfless, and authentic. But, he doesn't see this in many of the big egotistical preachers of today who demand so much of the church. Somewhere I think I've read, "if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all." (Mark 9:35) Apparently these preachers have not read that portion of scripture yet.

clipped from www.charismanews.com What has become of the American church? What is this sickness spreading in the body of Christ? I don’t know whom to blame more for it: The narcissistic minister who craves the attention, or the spiritually naive crowds who place these arrogant people on their shaky pedestals. All I know is that God is grieved by all of this shameful carnality.

20/20 sued by preacher for defamation

Rev. Fred K.C. Price, the 75 year old founder of Crenshaw Christian Center, alleged he was defamed when 20/20 ran a clip from 10 years ago. The statement they used was taken out of context, according to Rev. Price.

Price, founder of the Crenshaw Christian Center, was featured in a "20/20" segment about well-heeled televangelists titled "Enough!" that the suit says "devastated, embarrassed and greatly humiliated" the 75-year-old. The suit also names Walt Disney Co., which owns ABC, and "20/20" co-anchor John Stossel.

In the March 23 segment, "20/20" ran a clip from a sermon Price delivered 10 years ago and displayed a still photo of the preacher as Stossel interviewed an activist who keeps tabs on how ministries spend congregants' donations. The suit calls the use of the clip "one of the most outrageous instances of 'out of context' editing in the history of television."

In the clip, Price declares, "I live in a 25-room mansion, I have my own $6-million yacht, I have my own private jet and I have my own helicopter and I have seven luxury automobiles."

What they did not explain was the fact that he was pointing out that there is such a thing as bad success. Without the clip being taken from the beginning, it portrayed him as a "hypocrite and thief" who financed an extravagant lifestyle with church funds, according to the lawsuit brought against 20/20.

Price does own the mansion pictured in the segment, which he bought in 1989. He does own two Bentleys, one of which was given to him by one of his parishoners, but he does not own a helicopter, yacht, or a private jet.

Congregants expressed their support for Price and disdain for "20/20."

"It's obviously so outlandish," said Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson's former sidekick, who has attended the church for 15 years. "I know the man quite well, and there's no possible way" that Price would ever dip into church coffers.

Linked at Pursuing Holiness
Cao's Blog
Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Rev Fred K.C. Price, Lawsuit, Sermon, Church, 20/20, John Stossel

Sky Angel launches Gospel Music Channel

For those of you who love Gospel music and have Sky Angel on your TV programs, you will have the opportunity to listen to GMC on August 1.

clipped from www.faithnews.cc Dominion Video Satellite Inc., owner and operator of Sky Angel, a nationwide Christian and family-oriented television service, and Gospel Music Channel, the nation's first and only 24- hour music television channel devoted to all styles of gospel music, today announced the launch of Gospel Music Channel (GMC) on Sky Angel beginning August 1.

Honor Killing

clipped from www.reuters.com LONDON (Reuters) - A Kurdish woman was brutally raped, stamped on and strangled by members of her family and their friends in an "honor killing" carried out at her London home because she had fallen in love with the wrong man.

It is hard to believe, in this day and time, that things like this occur. But, evidentially, they occur much more often than we know.

Technorati Tags: Honor Killing, London, Kurdish

Win a Fellin's Quartz Watch

Fellin's Jewelers is running a contest in which you can win a man's or lady's Quartz Watch. All you have to do to be eligible to win is to have a blog, and post about the contest. Full details about the contest can be found on their site. The winner will be picked at random.

Their sister site, Ivy Covered Halls, also has some great college graduation gifts. You might enjoy giving one of their Personalized paperweights to your favorite graduate.

Technorati Tags: Contest, Fellin's, Jewelry, Graduation, Gifts

Tammy Faye Bakker dies

Tammy Faye Bakker, the former wife of Jim Bakker, died on Friday at her home in Kansas City, Missouri. Tammy was a television evangelist. She and Jim Bakker had their own show on which she sang and played the accordion. Jim and Tammy divorced in 1992 after he had been convicted of fraud and conspiracy and was serving a 45 year term in prison.

Tammy Faye married Roe Messner, a former business associate of Jim Bakker's, in 1993. She discovered she had colon cancer in 1996, but vowed to beat it. She learned it had spread to her lungs in 2004.

She talked candidly about her illness on television and in her 2003 memoir, “I Will Survive ... And You Will, Too!”

“I want my funeral to be a real happy time,” Ms. Messner told Larry King on CNN in March 2006. “I want everybody laughing and remembering how crazy I was.”

Linked at Conservative Cat
Pursuing Holiness
Don Surber

Technorati Tags: Tammy Faye Bakker, Death, Roe Messner

My Vow of Silence - Book Review

My Vow of Silence - the roughest 3 minutes of my life
Author: Tim Steed
Publisher: Xyzzy Press
ISDN 1-60148-000-8

This book kept me in stitches as I read chapter after chapter. As Tim stated, this book is written to show us how to laugh at our imperfections as Christians. And, laugh I have!

Greater love has no one than this; that a person lay down her MoonPies for her friends. Pg 87

One chapter in particular stood out for me on Tip Jars. Most of us have come across tip jars in restaurants, the post office – you name the business and most of them have had a tip jar for some reason or another. But, Tim’s tip jar says it all!

But today, businesses take your money and give you nothing in exchange. Like coffee shops, they’re great at getting something for nothing. From big chains to the little mom-and-pop stores, coffee shops are notorious for putting out a tip jar next to the cash register.

Or what if the person who does your taxes put out a tip jar? What if your mail carrier put out a tip jar? What if the school crossing guard put out a tip jar?

Tim says that the difference in the coffee shops and God is the fact God always gives you everything back.

From back to front, you will find yourself laughing at little anecdotes that the author combines with something from scripture. I believe God has a sense of humor and meant for we Christians to have a sense of humor as well. And, this book is a great example of Christian humor at its’ best.

Tim Steed lives with his wife and daughter in Brentwood, Tennessee. He is a speaker and inspirational humorist, combining his business leadership and entertainment background to offer spiritual guidance and encouragement to people of all ages.

I was sent a free copy of this book by the author for review. I give this book a five out of five.

Technorati Tags: Book Review, Tim Steed, Christian, Humor, Inspirational, Encouragement

Are Good Manners Dead?

Sometimes common courtesies seem to be a thing of the past. In my younger years, you constantly saw a man opening a door for a woman. He would help her in and out of a car. That is a rare thing these days. My husband continues to hold doors for me, if I give him a chance. We’ve advanced beyond my requiring him to hold the car door for me, but he does occasionally. And, on one of those occasions, a friend commented to her husband how nice my husband was. Seems hers never held the door for her.

I happened upon Jay Adkins' post No Time To Be Nice in which he talked about observing people in a coffee house. People seemed never to notice others. Men would walk out the door in front of women, never offering to hold the door. And, he said others even did this to older people. Our society seems to be too busy to notice others. They don’t have time to do the little things that manners/etiquette require. Or, perhaps they have never been taught the little things that matter in life like manners. Are we failing our children in these areas?

I hear young children speaking to their parents or older people in ways that would have gotten me a spanking! My own children would not have gotten away without telling someone thank you. No Sir/No Ma’am, Thank you/Please and a host of other niceties seem to have slipped through the cracks. Older people are called by their first names. To me, even at my age, that is a no-no! I was brought up to respect the elderly, and one way of doing that was to address them as Mr. Or Mrs, or Miss, whichever was appropriate. But, how do you address that with so many parents letting their own children call them by their name, rather than Mother/Mom, or Dad?

Perhaps schools need to have a class on manners that children need to pass before graduation. I’m not talking about just learning manners, but practicing them in every day life and being graded on their performance. Wonder if that would pass the test with parents, or would there be some that would see it as invasive on their parenting skills?

Linked at Conservative Cat
Woman Honor Thyself
Church and State

Technorati Tags: Manners, Courtesy, Parents, Parenting Skills, Children, Society

Today in History........

Lest we forget:

1969 Mary Jo Kopechne & Sen Kennedy plunge off Chappaquiddick bridge

1986 Videotapes released showing Titanic's sunken remains

Technorati Tags: Mary Jo Kopechne, Ted Kennedy, Chappaquiddick, Titanic

J.A.M.

This post is not about jam that you put on your peanut butter sandwich. And, I am not in any jam (traffic jam, etc.) I’m actually speaking about Jesus and Me. However, I have been known to pray to Jesus when I’ve been in a traffic jam. I want to know the easiest way out possible (get me to the nearest exit).

Last night, my 13 year old grandson brought up Jesus. He had seen a small magnet on my refrigerator that says ‘God couldn’t be everywhere, so he made grandmothers’. He took the magnet and came in the Den where I was and asked, “Do you believe God can be everywhere?” Of course, I answered “yes, he’s everywhere – in your heart, if you believe in him.” So, we got into this long conversation on Jesus and God.

The conversation went to what he believed and his misconceptions. We got into evolution and I find science has made an impression on him – too much of one! He got onto the subject of man evolving from monkeys. I explained to him that it did not matter what science said; it matters what God says in His Word. And, Genesis 1:26 says “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. I dare say God is not a monkey. In the passages before, he talked about bringing forth every living creature after ‘their kind’. It is hard to explain away scientists’ ‘findings’ to an impressionable child, but hopefully, I made a better impression on him. A child’s mind is so bendable when they are young, and hopefully I have nipped in the bud the wrong impression of where we came from.

Never underestimate what a small magnet on your refrigerator can do. And, never underestimate the thoughts of a child (teenager in my case). J.A.M can help both of us out of a difficult situation. And, Jesus can help you and I explain to these thinking teenagers (and children) what His Word really means and how it contradicts what man has to offer us from ‘his way of thinking’ or perhaps even ‘his findings’ (evolution, for example).

Linked at Don Surber
Third World County
Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: JAM, God, Jesus, Teenagers, Youth, Truth, Bible

Lady Bird Johnson dead at age of 94

The former first lady, Claudia Taylor Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, died at her home in Austin, Texas on Wednesday. She was active up until her death her daughter, Luci Baines Johnson, said.

Mrs. Johnson's funeral will be held today at The Riverbend Centre. Her casket will lay in the same place in the Johnson Library as her husband's did after his death in 1973. I remember when he died but did not realize it had been 34 years since his death. The funeral will be attended by Laura Bush, our first lady, her mother-in-law, Barbara Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, and Nancy Reagen.

Lady Bird Johnson was known for her Highway Beautification Act. She wanted America to have a clean environment, free of trash and unsightly billboards.

"My mother had 94 delicious years. She lived them to the fullest," daughter Luci Baines Johnson said Friday. Despite her mother's medical problems, she said, Lady Bird Johnson recently toured a university art museum and delighted in wildflowers in the nearby Hill Country.

"As long as she drew breath, she was wanting to discover and make an impact on beauty," her daughter said.

Mrs. Johnson will be buried at the LBJ Ranch next to her husband on Sunday.

Linked at Conservative Cat Church and State Don Surber

Technorati Tags: Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady, Austin, Texas, LBJ Ranch, Funeral

When none would take a stand.....

Three 'Christian patriots' interrupted the Hindu prayer in the Senate yesterday. They were identified by the police as Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn Pavkovic and Christan Renee Sugar.

"Lord Jesus, forgive us, Father, for allowing the prayer of the wicked, which is an abomination in your sight," said a male protester.

"You shall have no other gods before you. … "

The Hindu cleric, Rajan Zed, was the first of his religion to ever give the opening prayer in the Senate. He was invited by Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid. Rajan Zed is from Reno, Nevada.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Blue Star Chronicles

Technorati Tags: Senate, Prayer, Hindu, Christian, Patriots, Harry Reid, Democrats

Please........

Take Me Back To The Sixties

Technorati Tags:Sixties

Recommended Reading

I just finished the third in a series of three books by Lori Wick. The following books are from The Tucker Mills Trilogy:

1. Moonlight on the Millpond (Tucker Mills Triology)
2. Just Above a Whisper (Tucker Mills Trilogy)
3. Leave a Candle Burning (Tucker Mills Trilogy)

The setting for the books is in the 1800's, traveling by buggy and train. They are so well written I found myself seeing right into their lives as though I was right there. You travel in time with the lives of several families, watch the children grown up and some of the older ones dying. Lori also provides the spiritual side of their lives, as well. These books are all well written and kept my interest right up until the last word. I found myself wishing she had provided us with another book and a look into the lives of the younger children.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Lori Wick, Trilogy, Tucker Mills

I am the recepient of

I was given the Blogger Reflection Award by DK Raymer of A Flyover Blog. DK and her husband, Mitch, are both writers. I first learned of her blog through Thursday Thirteen. And, I've enjoyed reading it ever since.

I am to pick 5 bloggers who for this award - 5 bloggers who have given me encouragement, been a source of love, impacted me in some way, and are a Godly example. I am happy to know the following 5 bloggers and call them friends, because it is a joy to read their blogs.

Rules for Participants:

1. Copy this post.
2. Reflect on five bloggers and write at least a paragraph about each one.
3. Make sure you link to this post so others can read it and the rules.
4. Go leave your chosen bloggers a comment letting them know they've been given an award.
5. Put the award icon on your site.

5 Bloggers of my choice:

1. Peggie at Peggie's Place. I first met Peggie about 10 years ago, having found her web site. We became acquainted and almost instant friends. I have had the privilege of meeting her, her husband and one of their sons several times when I made a trip to Missouri. She has truly been an encouragement to me through the years and is a dear friend.
2. Cindy at Notes in the Key of Life. I was hooked by Cindy's blog title when I first came across it. She is a writer and a radio announcer. And she likes to write about a variety of things on her blog, which certainly interests me. She is a proud grandmother, also, to which I can relate.
3. Barb at A Chelsea Morning. I was cruising around on the Internet and found Barb. And, I have been entertained ever since by her warm writings. She writes about her family - most recently, the marriage of her daughter, Mandy. And, she gives recipes. And, unlike me, is a perfectionist,when it comes to housekeeping. She is such a loving person, too. It has certainly been a joy to know and communicate with her.
   
4. Carol at She Lives. I first began to come to Carol's blog when it sported the beautiful Bluebonnets of Texas. I fell in love with her blog then and how she writes, and have kept coming back. She is a lovely person, a loving Mom, and also has time to play in a band!
5. Neil at Neil's Notes. Neil is an associate pastor in Florida. I enjoy his blog posts, especially about his family and the mission trips he occasionally takes. His blog is just a friendly and enjoyable place to visit.
   

Technorati Tags: Award, Blogger

Five Things I Dig about Jesus MEME

I have been tagged by Grams at Talk to Grams for the Meme "Five things I did about Jesus". So here goes.......

Rules: Very simple.

1. Those tagged will share 5 things they did about Jesus.
2. Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers.

So here are my 5 things I dig about Jesus.

1. He gave His life for me, even before I was ME.
2. He is all-knowing, all-seeing, and He still loves me.
3. No matter how hard life gets, He is still my Provider, my Healer, my Attorney (never know when you might need one now days!)
4. He is my Shepherd and leads me into places I need to go, not where I want to go, and provides me with necessities of life. He takes care of me.
5. He will never forsake nor leave me!

My 5 Bloggers to pick are:

1. Cindy at Notes in the Key of Life
2. Carol at She Lives
3. The Random Yak
4. Barb at A Chelsea Morning
5. Stacy at Active Christian Media
   

Anybody is welcome to do this Meme and tell us the 5 things you dig about Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Technorati Tags: MEME, Jesus

Home is where the heart is

Yesterday was our 43rd anniversary. So, we had planned on going on a 4 day vacation. We left Thursday morning. We didn't call ahead and get a motel because usually we have no problem where we usually stay. BAD mistake this time! This is the 2nd time we've wound up with no motel in the city where we wanted to stay on an anniversary trip. Won't happen again.

We had to stay about 20 minutes from where we really wanted to stay, closer to coming home. We spent Thursday night, very unhappy with what we had in the way of a motel and it's amenities (the Internet hook up was a farce! - almost non-existent) It was too far from places we wanted to see and things we wanted to do, having to go through 5 lane Interstates filled to the brim, accompanied by road work. That's not fun, even where we live.

So, guess what. We packed our bags and came HOME yesterday. Then, we treated ourselves to a great meal at OutBack Restaurant for our anniversary. It was nice to come home and be lazy (we slept in our chairs for hours) and then crawl into our own soft bed with our own pillows. You don't realize what you are missing, until you do get away from home and have to put up with such soft pillows that you don't know you have one under your head. What a relief to get one that was already accustomed to my head!

We realized it is easier to cut a not-so-exciting trip short and come home (where the heart truly was) than to stay around and spend money when we could have a good time at home. We will go another time when it is cooler and we have planned ahead (my husband said he'd never go off without making reservations again). The only problem was we didn't know if he could get off work until the last minute (they didn't work Mon-Weds because of the 4th), so he asked off for the rest of the week. He know wishes he had worked. We woke up to rain this morning which was badly needed, but it looks like mostly rain all next week. Anyway, we are home now and enjoying being lazy for the rest of the weekend.

Technorati Tags: Home, Heart, Anniversary, Trip