RIVER MONSTERS

I've started trying to watch a new show that comes on Animal Planet on Sunday nights called River Monsters. Basically the host travels the world in search of legendary freshwater river fish. This particular episode he's in Europe searching for a catfish that attacks humans. I was shocked at the size of this fish (being that he caught it on a rod/reel). Other episodes he caught a 100+ pound Alligator Gar....swam with piranhas....caught a 100+ pound catfish in South America.....etc. Personally I don't think that I would want to catch a fish of this magnitude. Probably freak me out and I'd never fish again or I'd get grossed out (face it.....fish tastes good but isn't always pretty out of the water).

1982

1982.......just a year after the debut of Mtv.

I remember that.....most people do.

Back in the day when Music Television played 'Music Videos'........(now a thing of the past). I think the last time I watched Mtv was in the 90's. Anyways.....it's 1982 and I'm watching music videos. Men Without Hats had their only chart topping hit (that I know of)......

To me it was a fun song. A silly song. Made me want to get up and dance. The songs no Beethoven's Fifth.....but that's ok.....it's just a fun song. Enjoy.

"Tilly"

"Tilly" is a book written by Frank Peretti. It is not a long book, but it is a powerful one. In it, a woman is somehow translated inside her home to heavenly realms. She is married and has two living children. But, during her experience, she meets Tilly, her aborted daughter. Tilly is overjoyed to spend time with her mother, but is also hurt and confused that she was not allowed to experience life on earth with her family. The book is about forgiveness, healing, reunion and reconciliation.

Some of my friends had chosen abortion and were remorseful; other friends had experienced the sorrow of miscarriage. I had never thought of these little ones as being in heaven; it had just never occurred to me. This book was encouraging and hopeful.

Later on, a friend related her story to me. With her permission, I am relating it as best I can, as it is along this theme.

The woman had borne two children. She had also had two abortions. One was at the urging of her doctors and her husband, as, because of some complications, it was doubtful if either she or the baby would live. The other was because, during a time of separation from her husband, she had an affair. She had reconciled with her husband, not realizing she was pregnant.

Years later, when both children were grown, the woman begin to experience health problems. She was scheduled for a delicate surgery in which the odds were, by no means, certain. In talking inwardly to God, she felt He asked her if there was anything she wanted as she prepared for surgery. She responded that she wanted her children with her. Her request was granted as they were both able to be there and at her side in the hours preceding surgery.

After they were asked to leave and she was given anesthesia she had another experience. There were two strong, young men in the room beside her. She thought they must be her guardian angels. She spoke to them; one was responsive and friendly while the other turned his head at her greeting. "Why are you mad at me?" she asked, as the anesthesia took its full affect.

After a successful surgery, she often thought of this encounter, and would frequently ask God, "Why wouldn't the one angel talk to me; why did he seem to be mad at me?"

Tears streamed down her face as realization struck full force, and remorse, love and gratitude filled her heart. Those weren't angels. God had fully granted her request.

IT'S BEEN 3

People have their song......their movie......and even their restaurant.

We have our tree.

Three years ago today Denise and I were married under a Dogwood tree at Noccalula Falls. It was about 2 in the afternoon.......we were married by Richard Trader. It was a beautiful day. I know many of you guys have been married years...maybe decades longer.......but 3 years have flown by so quickly. One thing I can say about being married.......there are no voids in my life. Everyday is full of life. Nothing like being happy and having a good wife!

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.

HOO-RAH

HEROES

There are still heroes out there. Most real heroes are never awarded medals.....never recognized....but they are heroes none the less. I'm not talking about those on TV....in Hollywood.....but real men and women working 9 to 5 and serving others with a passion in their heart. I was inspired by Capt. Richard Phillips heroic sacrifice for his crew. How he was held hostage for days and had a nation behind him...praying for him. We were so happy this afternoon when we heard of his daring escape and freedom from pirates. Real heroes.

KEITH GREEN

THIRD DAY

EASTER AND TAXES

Coming upon Easter I reflect on many things. This year Easter, taxes and our anniversary fall within a few days of each other. With taxes behind us now.....I'm thrilled to be able to focus on the other two.

This year (on the 15th) it will be our third anniversary. I can't believe it has been that long. Time has flown and I could not have been happier.

Growing up I was a fan of Easter because of the candy and the candy. It wasn't until I got older (in my 20's) that I started attending church regularly. I never fell under the conviction of having to dress up on Easter (suit and tie) in the church I was attending. I'm thankful for that. Now being in my 30's I can enjoy the kids who love their candy on Easter, see them dressed to impress (they are really cute) and appreciate the real reason for Easter. Without the Resurrection.......we'd be lost.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live:

John 20: 1-18 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

I believe at that particular point Jesus made a bridge between us and the Father. Forever making us apart of His Kingdom.

The Sea Declares His Majesty

"Who shut up the sea behind doors

when it burst forth from the womb,

When I made the clouds its garment

and wrapped it in thick darkness,

when I fixed limits for it

and set its doors and bars in place,

when I said, 'This far you may come
and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt'?"

Job 38:8-11

"They that go down to the sea in ships,
that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the Lord, and
his wonders in the deep.

For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,
which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again
to the depths:
Their soul is melted because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
and are at their wits end.
Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves therof are still,
then are they glad because they be quiet;
So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Psalm 107:23-30

The Right Kind of People by Edwin Markham (1852-1940)

Gone is the city, gone the day,
Yet still the story and the meaning stay:
Once where a prophet in the palm shade basked
A traveler chanced at noon to rest his mules.
"What sort of people may they be," he asked,
"In this proud city on the plains o'erspread?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the packman scowled; "why, knaves and fools."
"You'll find the people here the same," the wise man said.

Another stranger in the dusk drew near,
And pausing, cried, "What sort of people here
In your bright city where yon towers arise?"
"Well, friend, what sort of people whence you came?"
"What sort?" the pilgrim smiled with lifted head;
"Good, true, and wise."
"You'll find the people here the same,"
The wise man said.

EAST WEST

Another mp3 tread mill song.....

I've only seen these guys once in concert....and I have to say that they were among the nicest guys I've ever met. Don't let this song fool you.......these guys are screamin' metal heads. This is a good song......

OLD SCHOOL METAL

Another song I listen to on the tread mill.....

SAVIOUR MACHINE

THE CHAMPION

TWINS

Wednesday our pygmy goat Cleo had her babies. We've been waiting for a while for her to have her kids. She had gotten so big and seemingly uncomfortable.......we expected them a month ago. According to a site search I did on Google.....a pygmy goats gestation period is about 5 months. Both kids are male and mostly white. I honestly didn't think that she would get pregnant because she's so small and the billy we had was so tall............I guess where there's a will....there's a way! We also worried about the size of the babies......again because she's so small and Boer babies are larger than pygmy babies at birth. We're proud of the babies. I'm going to try to play with them a lot as they are growing so they'll make good pets. Being that they are both boys.....we won't be able to keep them. We'll enjoy them all that we can.

The Beauty of Submission

John 13:2-5 "The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him."

Matthew 26:36-39 "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' Going a little further, he fell to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.' "

Philippians 2:1-8 "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing; taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and become obedient even unto death-the death of the cross."

1 Coritnthians 6:7 "The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you have been competely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?"

Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

The willingness of my heart to submit, to what degree; the level of maturity.

kdr