Food for Thought

Wood Stork 

It has been said there are only two seasons here, wet and dry.
There are more than two seasons.
One must learn from nature to properly identify them.
We are entering the fall season. This is the time when the migrating birds return.
Two days ago I saw some wood storks. They herald the coming of fall.
The swamps, ponds, and ditches are getting smaller now, and the food is more easily obtainable. Two weeks ago there was too much water.
All summer long the fish, crayfish, frogs, and whatever else, have been re-populating.
Now, as the bodies of water get smaller, prey is easier to obtain.
The wood storks feed by swishing their large open beaks in the shallows. When their prey enter, the beak snaps shut and "dinner is ready, dear."
I have seen storks stir the water with one foot while standing on the other, in order to encourage the small fry to action which results in some of them being transferred from water, to beak to.................
They are spectacular in flight, have a five foot wing span and come here to breed.
If there is too much rain, or too little, the parents abandon the nests and few fledglings survive to maturity.
I hope they do well this year and return again and again to entertain me as they soar above, and swish their beaks in the shallows.

Shalom Y'all and God Bless
Charlie

Life isn't fair.
Thank God!

Shalom Y'all
Charlie

"I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." Psalms 62:5-6

Many years ago there was a phrase in a TV ad that started: "Mother, please. I'd rather do it myself."

Do I really wait quietly?......................
Is my hope really in Him?......................
Maybe I'm impatient and am too ready to do "it" myself.

Lord, Make this psalm real in my (our) hearts.

Shalom Y'all
Charlie

Today was an awsome time of praise and worship.

Afterward Memaw and I took favorite 13 year old Max to lunch and bowling.
It was a lot of fun.
After that I took Max to buy some horticultural products for a school project.
We stopped at TCBY for frozen yogurt on the way to his house.
The little girl who waited on us had really beautiful eyes.
I decided to test Max and I mentioned those pretty eyes and that he probably did't notice.
He became rather nervous and admitted he had.
It was a "cool" time.

Shalom Y'all
Charlie

More than half the congregation (and their children) went to the beach! 
It was a good weekend, but I was a little “bummed.”
Hurricane Katrina had done her thing along the Gulf Coast and people were cueing up to buy fuel before the imagined shortage.
Favorite oldest daughter decided not to come. She and her hubby were afraid they would not be able to get fuel for the return voyage or for work the next week.
I was soooo looking forward to time with my favorite seventeen year old, fourteen year old and nine year old.
Robert brought is new boat, complete with radar and two big engines and used it to tow people on a big tube!
Rick Jackson brought his Hobie cat and it was well used too.
Brad brought his jet ski and had to be rescued by my favorite thirteen year old. Since Robert and my favorite daughter in law were scheduled to go out to dinner, Max took Mark, a licensed captain, with him for safety, and off they went to the rescue.
While that was happening, Memaw and I played a board game with favorite seven year old and settled in for the night.
Saturday night was barbeque night. Some of the fellows cooked a tank full of pig. When the obligatory afternoon rains came they moved the tank to higher ground and held up a large umbrella over it.
The barbeque was very good. Everyone contributed to the meal and we all had a great time feasting and enjoying the company of our brothers and sisters.
Look below for more photos of the event.
Double click in the photos to make them bigger (if you want to.)
Shalom Y’all
Charlie

Labor day Weekend, Vineyard Christian Fellowship 2005 
To view an enlarged photo, double click on it.

Dr. Don Colbert, in his book “The Bible Cure for Heart Disease” has a discussion about relieving stress. He quotes comedian Lily Tomlin; “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” This, in regard to type “A” personalities.
I just kind’a like the quote.

The good Doctor also quotes God’s word. “Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction. Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.”
Proverbs 18:20-21

Shalom Y’all
Charlie