To the many this is a day of rest...church, lunch out, or the smell of chicken frying in the kitchen. To others maybe some of the above, or none of the above. Maybe a little fishing down at the river, and later getting the barbecue going. But I think for the most part on Sunday its a day where family really matters. And with these things in mind, once again I realise just how blessed we are as a nation. Not having to worry about a missle blowing up our home and our families. Here we still have the freedom to worship God in the manner which we feel inclined to do so. And our neighbors to the North and South of us have those same freedoms. How I wish our distant neighbors (those on other continents) had the same priviledges. And whether you choose to talk with your God in English or one of hundreds of other languages, he knows what you are saying, and is glad that you have remembered to do so. I hope your day is filled with love, friendship, gratitude, and a hand holding walk with the love of your life.

Whew!!! I don't know about over there, but over here it is hot!! When the temps go up the way they are here, I go down. It's like my brain shuts down and so does my body. How in the world did our fore-fathers manage to get across places like Death Valley on horse back and in those covered wagons? And many actually walked across it. The weather news posted a 134 degree day for Death Valley one day last week, and that was not a record for that particular day. The record for that day is 139 degrees. How in the world would you possibly survive a day like that? I would think that with the temp gauge that high even an air-conditioning unit would be having a hard time of it. Which reminds me of a story in the Bible about a character (and I don't remember his name)and the Lord having a little conversation about this characters complaints in his life. Seems as though this individual could not find one thing in his life to be grateful for. It was a very hot day, and he was sitting under this bush, when the Lord asked him if he wasn't greatful for the shade he was sitting in. You probably would want to be very careful about your answer in a situation like that...don't you think? Thank you Father for shade.

Here it comes, the train bound for the promised land. whoo..whooooo. Can't you hear the diesels humming? Hear the big steel wheels clicking on the tracks? See the big plumes of white smoke rolling from her stack? Smell the beautiful fragrances coming from the flowers the Angels have tucked behind their ears? What a wonderful sight! I cannot imagine any one person not wanting to get on board. What a wonderful trip that would be. Traveling with the Angels headed for our gloryland home. Now don't get me wrong, I am in no hurry to get on board, but when it's my turn I know that I don't have to have a ticket, thanks to our Lord.

God Bless our Stars and Stripes, our people, and anything else that is American. Here we are at another July 4th--well, almost. As we celebrate another day that the father has given us, we have laid special recognition on this particular day. It is still a day "with bombs bursting in air" and the struggles that go into gaining freedom in many parts of the world. Our cemeteries, our books, movies, the almighty "TV", newspapers, etc., remind us of the struggles that early day Americans went through in order for those of us that live today in the wonderful USA, to have the freedoms that we now enjoy. God has truly smiled upon this great nation. All you have to do to become completely aware of this is do a 360 where ever you are, and every thing you have seen is a blessing from our Father in heaven. And that includes your mate and your children. Pretty generous Father we have, would'nt you agree? Have a wonderful holiday, and we thank you Father for your many wonderful blessings.