Isaiah 49:24-25

"Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, 'Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children.' "

I chose this version of these verses because of the term "lawful captive", which my other version did not include. "Prey taken from the mighty" , brings to mind those who did not choose their circumstances, like young children sold into brothels; while "the lawful captive delivered" brings to mind those who chose to sin and so brought themselves into captivity, such as addicts. Either way deliverance is possible! What an encouraging word from the Lord! I am so thankful.

KDR

"The Undefeated"

Jose' and I have been watching John Wayne movies lately. Don't ask me why. I think it began when we caught "Rio Bravo" on a movie channel one evening. Though I have to admit that the highlight of the movie for me is Dean Martin's singing. Rick Nelson joins him and sings one verse while Dean whistles in the background. Rick has a good voice, but still, Dean can even whistle better than Rick sings. I stole that comment from Jose'.

Anyway, we recently watched "The Undefeated" starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. Until then I wasn't a Rock Hudson fan. I liked it because both men were strong-willed, yet very gracious. (I'm rereading this, does it sound as hokey as I fear it does?) I really don't want an answer to that.

But the best scene by far is the opening scene. John Wayne is Col. Thomas fighting with the Union. They are bombarding a small band of Confederates with cannon balls. The Col. rides onto the battleground to survey the damage. A courier rides up with the news that the war's been over for three days.

Col. Thomas rides up to the surviving Confederates under a flag of truce and asks who's in charge. An unknown major responds. The conversation goes something like this:

Col.: "The war is over."
Maj. "yes, sir."
Col.: "You mean you knew?"
Maj.: "Yes sir, we got news two days ago."
Col.: "You mean you knew and you're still gonna fight?"
Maj.: "Haven't we just proven it?"
Col.: "But why?"
Maj.: "Because it's our land, and you're on it."
Col.: "But we're all Americans!"
Maj.: "Yes sir, thats always been the saddest part..."

The guy acting as the major says his lines with such humility and such resolve. We think he should've won an award. Maybe he did.

On a lighter note, Jose' thinks Rock Hudson's looks and mannerisms in this movie resemble Bruce Campbell's. When he said this to me, I was appalled! I only know Bruce Campbell from the "Army of Darkness". I thought he was comparing the character of the two roles. He explained that He's seen Bruce in other things and was simply comparing looks and mannerisms. He thinks theirs are similar. Well, that's better, I guess...I'm definitely NOT a Bruce Campbell fan. And he is definitely NOT gracious in "Army of Darkness" ...I think he's a jerk!

KDR

The Cul-de-Sac

For some time it seemed that my life was in a negative cycle. I mean, certain negative things would happen that I had no control over.

Some dear friends of mine referred to this cycle as a cul-de-sac. Theirs was an accurate analogy. I would go down a road, thinking I was making progress, only to find that I was once again going around that same circle.

I determined to seek God diligently. I wanted out of this cycle! And at first, I was alarmed as one such event happened again. But, because of my time spent seeking God, I found myself responding differently! How wonderful to know that I don't have to be a slave to circumstances.

"...and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

KDR

Everyone born on Earth has sinned
Our hearts have harbored pride
Everyone would be doomed to hell
But Jesus suffered on the cross and died
For all sin He was crucified.

He felt the horror of the whip
He tasted the bitterness pressed to His lips
But He didn't beg for mercy or cry out to them for help
He listened to the crowds' cruel cries
With a gentle look of love in His eyes.
He didn't say "I hate all of you"
But..."Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

...then the depth of His pain while on that tree...
"Why have You forsaken me?"

He could have called on angels to take him away
But to please His Father, He chose to stay.
He is truly God's own obedient Son
"Not my will but Yours be done."

We are under a curse because of the Fall
This second Adam can redeem us all
His death set us free from the penalty
His love fulfilled the Law.

His resurrection, Death's defeat
Our redemption, now complete.

TRADE DAY

WHAT A DAY!

I've been wanting to go to Trade Day for a while now. Denise has been wanting to get a couple of ducks to accompany the duck that we have at the barn (at Denise's dad's house). Today seemed like a good day to go.


So this morning we get up and head out to Collinsville Alabama. It was a nice drive...the weather was so wonderful......an excellent morning. To make a long story short.....we left Trade Day with no less than 3 baby ducks, a kitten for Carolina, a saddle for Rosie, an owl call, a Bama bird feeder for Denise and a Pygmy goat. Her name is Cleopatra.....Cleo for short.

She is so small. We fell in love with her when we first saw her. Denise saw her first.

Collinsville is so cool. You can buy just about any kind of livestock there. Llamas, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, quail, rabbits, geese, pigeons and the list goes on. It's a regular flea market......with so much more.

Cleo is pretty close to being full grown. We thought she was small, but it wasn't until we got her down to the barn that she looked so tiny in comparison to the other goats. She's smaller than the baby goats currently down at the barn. The guy who sold her to us said that she might even be pregnant......we hope so!

We decided to get 3 ducks hoping that one of them would be a male and would provide some companionship for Dixie, our duck of 2 years at the barn. Originally we bought 2 ducks. Carolina named them Winn Dixie and Opal (you'd have to watch the movie Because of Winn Dixie to understand). It just so happened that Denise picked out a boy and a girl. The girl stayed around.....the boy left. So now Dixie is down at the barn......among the chickens, goats and horses. Denise felt strongly that she needed more of her kind. It works for me.



Carolina ended up with a kitten. At first we weren't going to get her one because her Memaw said that she couldn't have one. Denise had called to check. As they were walking around Carolina came across a couple giving away kittens.......and they had one left. This time Carolina called herself and well........she now has a kitten. Plus the couple gave her $2 dollars to boot! The $2 bucks were for cat food. Now that's smart! I'll have to remember that.



I bought Denise the bird feeder and the owl call because we love all the birds that come in and out of our yard. We love owls too. Right now we only have one bird feeder and a bird bath in the front yard.......and they get action! At one point.....we'd fill up the bird feeder and within a few hours it would be empty. Finally we caught a squirrel who was basically hogging the bird feeder all to himself. That cool with us.....we like squirrels. Anyways......I thought it would be nice to have another bird feeder in the yard. The owl call is cool. It's carved out of wood in the shape of an owl.......and it sounds awesome!

Denise and I both agreed not to go to Trade Day again at least until next summer. We couldn't believe that stuff that we bought. I got a good deal on the saddle. I've been wanting one for a while to start training Rosie with. It's a small saddle (13 inches) mainly for children and small teenagers.

So this was our exciting morning at Trade Day. The rest of the day was spent with Cleo. It took her a while to calm down and get comfortable being around us. I guess it was a bit traumatic being hauled up to the flea market and being around all those people. Then being carried to a truck and transported 30 minutes away and tied up in the front yard only to have a neighborhood dog scare you.......running loose in the neighbor's yard and having Denise and myself chase her down. It was quite a day. Cleo got better once we got her down the barn and fed.
This photo is in our front yard.....after the altercation with the dog. Cleo is resting.......enjoying the safety of my beautiful wife. Today was a good day.

A LONG WEEKEND

Coming off of several days of rest and relaxation.......I'm now looking at a busy work day ahead of me. But I know I'm not the only one.

Carolina starts back to school today. All summer long she wasn't looking forward to going back to school......then all of the sudden.......last week......she's all about school. Some new clothes.....a new back pack.....new lunch box......she's excited. She's looking forward to seeing her friends again. A new teacher and a new class of kids to be with. She's really a 'social-bug'. She's going into the 2nd grade.

Today my works basically consists of finishing up an estimate for a remodel and doing some work on a rental property. I don't expect to finish the rental property work. One thing about rental properties....the work never ends. As long as people keep moving in and out......things are going to be broke and in need of repair. It's a good thing I enjoy this work......

I've finished up the latest book that I've been reading, PAGAN CHRISTIANITY, by Frank Viola and George Barna. It was an interesting read. Denise read the book as well. There's so much to talk about. Mostly right now I'm just 'chewing' on some stuff. Denise and I talked about the title of the book....we think it's more of a shock factor than anything. We are not church bashers or do we condone any of that. The book is about where the traditions of the average church service come from. The origin of what most people have grown accustomed to seeing every Sunday. The book talks about a biblical view of the Church and what it's supposed to look like. Of course....there are a few topics that I am not so sure of. But overall the book is a good book.

Right now I'm starting on a book called, THINK LIKE JESUS, by George Barna. I'm just in the beginning. I'll post about the book once I finish reading it.

HOME SWEET HOME.....

What pops into my mind initially is the adage 'Home is where the heart is'. And you know....I believe that. For me (and I preface my comments often) home is where life happens. I go out and work (some days longer than others) and most of it is a blur. I vaguely remember the specifics of any given work day, which is why I try to keep a work journal. When I get home, it's like I'm apart of something bigger than myself. And I am.



Denise and I have been reading two books for a while now. One of them is 100 DAYS IN THE SECRET PLACE, a compilation of writings arranged by GENE EDWARDS. I was really slow to start on this book. Denise had been telling me how great it was and how God had been using it to change her. Gene Edwards compiled the writings of seventeenth century writers Molinos, Fenelon and Guyon. It's amazing how relevant it is to me (today!). It's not hard to read at all. The book could be treated as a daily devotional. One thing that I've gotten out of this book is we (as Jesus followers) all experience the same feeling and emotions. I can relate to all 3 writers in this book. Their situations and discussions have really helped me 'walk' out my life. We all know that God is eternal....and I guess that's why the book is so relevant to me today.....these guys have been there and done that. Glad that they wrote it down!



The other book that has really helped Denise and I is called DECISIONS BY THE BOOK, written my JOHN DEAL. I met John Deal several months
ago at a conference that Bobby Sparks invited me to. He was a speaker. I was really taken by what he had to say.......hard truth....but truth none the less! You can treat this book like a daily devotional as well. It's packed full of wisdom (practical and spiritual). Everything from being a Christian businessman to treating your wife right. Good stuff.



Denise and I have been reading both books together. There is some kind of synergy between 100 DAYS and the DECISIONS book. Both books encourage the reader to seek God deeper and deeper.......focus on what's truly important and to love like Christ loved. I can really only scratch the surface here.....and I know that I'm no wizard when it comes to writing......but the synergy that was created between the study of these two book with my bible reading has been life changing. It's almost as if God flipped the light switch on in my head and my heart. It's not a method or a formula.......it's a life change! -JGR

First Friday

Every first Friday of the month, the city of Gadsden blocks off parts of Broad Street downtown. They call it "First Friday". I think it begins at 6:oo pm, but maybe earlier. Jose' and I went last night around 7:30. The weather had cooled from lava hot to sauna hot and the sun was no longer blazing so it was really nice. We enjoyed walking, looking at older model cars, listening to various musicians and just relaxing together. And the smell of food! We both forgot to bring the camera. Jose' bought me a few cheap books at the bookstore. They were fictional but historically accurate books. One is "Sitting Bull" and one is "Jedediah Smith." I don't remember the name of the other, but it's about the real-life guy who was called "Uncle Remus".

It doesn't appear that I will be teaching at Donehoo this year. I was grieved about it for awhile, but now I am joyfully anticipating God's next step for me. I always wanted adventure. Finally, it occurred to me that true adventure is not just celebrations and fun, but also includes pain and hardships. My life is an adventure right now! I am so thankful that God is good. " I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14. KDR

Should I have put a period after "14"? Did I spell "occurred" correctly? Why is the "h" in "he" sometimes capitalized in the Bible and sometimes not? (when referring to God) Because of different writers? Does it matter? (these are just things going thru my mind as I blog, I usually don't include them and probably won't again.)

"...the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." That just sounds good. Isn't it part of a Waterdeep song?

Love to all...KDR


"...the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Thank you, Lord.