Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road

Whatever your politcal views--it is an historical day for our country!! We need to continue to pray for our country. In the midst of so much trouble and uncertainty--for many--today is a day of hope, a day of new beginnings.

I came across a story that I thought was hilarious. Forgive me, if my sense of humor offends you:

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?
BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change!
JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.
HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One! that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.
GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.
DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?
COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.
BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.
JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.
AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.
DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other
side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.
OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and
not live his life like the rest of the chickens.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.
NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty ! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.
PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.
MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.
DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.
GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.
BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.
ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.
BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 2008, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken 2008. This new platform is much more stable and will never crash or need to be rebooted.
ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?
COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

It's a Brand New Year

2009--So far--no mistakes and no triumphs. But what will a year from now look like? I hope Jesus will have split the skies by then and we will all be in glory!!

People are talking about how hard this year is going to be--economically and politically. Remember the bright light shining in a dark world?! Wow--Jesus will have many opportunities to shine brightly in a very dark place. Look for ways to spread His light.

Bill brought the New Year in by taking care of very sick people. Maria and I spent it with a neighbor--Ms Nell. Christy movies were on the agenda.

In Tiny Tim's words--"God bless us all."

Merry Christmas

A Merry Christmas to all of you!! We are have a lovely first Christmas in our new home in North Carolina. Bill will need to go to work this evening, but we will first eat Christmas dinner with our lovely neighbors.

I have sadly neglected this blog the last couple of months. It is not because there was nothing to write about. In fact, there were many things to write about--I was quite busy.

One of the big things on my mind has been my mother's health. She was in the hospital about a month--during November and December. She had an aortic valve replaced and also had a by-pass done. We wer there for about a week over the time of the surgery. PTL--she is making progress--a bit slower than we had hoped, but nonetheless, progress.

The thing I have been thinking about a lot this Christmas season is Jesus being the light of the world. Have you ever noticed how bright one little light is in a very dark place? Somehow, this world feels darker all the time. But Jesus' light shine brighter--the darker the surroundings!!

May you feel His light and love and direction in 2009!!

Our Healer

Our sovereign God is the ultimate Healer!! We are so grateful to Him for showing us His healing powers this past weekend. On Saturday evening Ken, my brother-in-law, suddenly collapsed. Since his breathing stopped, CPR was performed several times before he was air-lifted to a hospital. They fully expected to find a blood clot, but none was found. They finally concluded that he had an anaphylactic reaction to a mimosa tree he was cutting down. It still about gives me goose bumps when I think of how many times in that scenario he almost died. We were all pleading with God for his survival. He walked out of the hospital on Monday afternoon!!

As I am writing, Jeremy is in surgery, having the part of his brain removed that has caused him countless seizures and lots of misery. In his early twenties, he is unable to drive, hold down a job, operate any tools, etc. because of his seizures. His family and friends are praying for a miracle so that he can lead a normal life. I am so glad that God is a Healer!!

As I think of others with complicated and sometimes devastating illnesses, I simply must trust in God's grace, sovereignty, and healing abilities. If God does not choose to heal in this life, may He send immeasurable grace to persevere.

This and That

The gas shortage continues in our little town. Bill is able to get gas in Asheville, however, so we are okay. If any station has gas, there are usually long lines. You just hope that the station doesn't run out of gas just before you get there after waiting in line for maybe an hour. I saw an interesting sight the other day. The poor "smuck" waited a little too long. He and a buddy had to push his vehicle through the line . At least he made it into line.

Bill's truck let him down. He got to work, but couldn't turn off the key. Since he just filled it up with gas, he really didn't want to leave it running until it got empty. So he drove another hour home, disconnected a wire, and then took the van to work.

Have a blessed day!!

Gas Shortage

On Bill's way home from work, he noticed only a couple of gas stations with gas. Those stations had long lines of people waiting to fuel up. He didn't see any stations with gas in our town of Brevard. He told me not to go anywhere unless it is necessary. They hope the fuel shortage will be alleviated by the weekend. We need to save our gas so Bill has enough to get back and forth to work--a one hour drive each way.

I guess the pansies I was going to buy today and the gallon of milk we need can wait until we need to go out for something else. It feels kind of weird, this is the first I can remember a fuel shortage. I think it is good for us, but if it keeps up indefinitely, people won't be able to get to work, and transporting goods will come to a halt. I'm glad that God is ultimately in control!!

Idyllic Camping

UCMC--the church we are attending, went camping this weekend. The weather could not have been more perfect. It was cool enough that you could enjoy sitting around the fire, but warm enough that a light jacket could keep you warm in the evening and early morning.

We stayed in a cute little cabin--basic but clean. Wonder of wonders--the showers were relatively clean and private.

Backs rubs and foot rubs by Ada, paddle boating, fishing, canoeing, wading in the creek, and just a lot of shooting the breeze took place. A talent show provided us with fun evening entertainment. A "gorilla" suddenly appeared--much to the terror of some of the children. Even when the head piece was removed, and they saw Paul's smiling face, it didn't calm them down much. They begged him not to put it on again. "Henrietta"--a very tall midwife showed up, with her medical bag under her arm, inquiring if Cindy was around. Cindy was there--that day was her due date. In "her" real life he goes by Henry--(also Cindy's father).

We came home by way of a folk art festival. It was fun to see folk artisans at work--carvers, weavers, spinners, etc.

The mess of getting ready to go and coming home and unpacking is always the least favorite part of the whole experience, but it too must be done. I spent most of the morning putting things away and doing laundry. It was, however, well worth the effort.