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From The Front Porch
Another year has come and gone by [2009]. Last December 28, 2009, my beloved wife of 50 glorious years went to be with our Lord. I miss her so much and the front porch will supply my troubled thoughts and be a place of meditation of our time together. It is now May 18, 2010. It will likely be some time before I will be able to write my concerns, celebration and meditations.
Another year, another 4th of July, and I mostly celebrated it on The Front Porch. Had a lot of good thoughts today and recollections of days long gone by. Times when we would pack up the 65 Ford and take the boys off to either VA Beach or Nags Head, NC. We had no plans for this day and felt that it was unlikely we would go anywhere. Yes, we have family here in Hampton Roads, VA., but one never knows about them. Sometimes we get a call to go to their place for burgers or ribs. We knew Roger wouldn't be calling. He is going through a 'mid-life crisis' and has his own problems to work on.
Roger has a on-going problem in life. If it breaks, don't work on it or try to fix it. Don't even throw it away. He's had several nice cars and when something goes wrong he parks it, lets it rust away and try to get another. Same with his wife. She got sick awhile back and had to have surgery on her back among other things. Roger, instead of feeling sorry for her and doing what he could to help, demanded she find work and get back on the job. As it turns out she is still suffering, and because she is broke, he decides to drop her, walk away from his home and everything else and find another. I don't understand it.
Over the years I have enjoyed a vice. It is the flavor and pleasure of a good cigar. In Jeff's home one doesn't smoke. I recall my Grand Father, Blair Fleming, and how he enjoyed a good cigar. Mom detested smoking of any kind but when Harry Blair came a'calling, all rules were set aside. Grand-Dad sat right next to his daughter, my mother, and enjoyed his cigar. I can't quote exactly what he said one time, "If you want me to drop by accept the fact that I must have my cigar." I loved him for that -- among other things.
I received an Email from Carolyn with the minutes from the 19th Craig Family Reunion. As I was reading it I thought it would be good to link the names of officers to our Family Tree Maker site -- so that others can find out who they are and what relationship they may be.
Saw a news report on TV the other day . . . about all those Moslem children we are bringing to the US. We give them medical care and all sorts of good will. Made me stop and think for a time. Wonder how many years it would take for them to live in America, enjoy every bit of hospitality we had to offer . . . let them enjoy the freedom we do. Give them citizen ship, educate them, let them raise family here . . . how long would it take for them to leave their entire childhood behind and become a full fledged patriotic, freedom loving Americans?
I'm afraid that it would likely take more years than they have left on earth. The hijackers that killed 3,000 of our innocent citizens lived freedom in America and they did not change their minds. They went ahead and drove plains into the twin towers and pentagon in their flame of hate. From the early years of their lives they absorbed the fanaticism of Islam taught by dedicated Imams. They will never change. Think about that! Their minds were poisoned and we will suffer the full fury of their teaching.
How can we possibly believe that our military can go over there and feed them, educate them, rebuild their infrastructure, build them new homes and then think their gratitude will cause them to love America? How can it be. Friend, I think we lost the war when their best military people left the battlefield, abandoned their weapons and melted into the population. They are still warriors and we will face them again, and again, and again. We just as well leave Iraq, retreat back into our borders and brace ourselves for the inferno to come. It will be a time when they introduce their kind of war (terror) in America. We are going to loose George W Bush as president and John Kerry will hand the United States of America over to the clueless United Nations and freedom will be no more.
Think about it.
Bob C
Nothing worth writing about came to mind today as I sat on The Front Porch. Don't know why. Just the way it was/is.
Bob C
From The Front Porch
Instead of talk radio, and in a effort to save energy, . . . I listened to All Christian Radio 365 today. The music was inspiring (how I need inspiration these days) and the experience refreshed my soul as I sat there on my Front Porch.
The day was quite uneventful, other than the time I spent working on my SUV . . . getting it all cleaned up and ready to go. While I rested for a moment from my activity with the SUV, I again listened to Radio 365. One song stood out and was written and sung for folk just like myself. I only recall two sentences of the song: the first and the last. It started off (the quartet singing) with words like these, "It seems as though things are moving mighty fast . . . or am I just moving slower?" Golly, I can really identify with that!
I reflected for a bit on how it was that all my life I so much wanted to be part of a Gospel Quartet. After my childhood days with The Rev. Walter G. Yeager as my pastor at the Calvary Baptist Church at Buck Run, PA, and our involvement in a quartet . . . I simply just knew that it would be my goal to someday be the Bass singer in a quartet. You know, life passed me by concerning organizing a Gospel quartet. Even though I became a minister of the Gospel and served churches in three different states . . . there was simply no opportunity and there was never three other men in any of the churches that could carry a tune. I find that quite amazing. I am simply using the "I" word too much! But, after all, it IS about my "Front Porch."
Well, that water has long passed under the bridge. However, it doesn't keep me from quietly humming along when I hear a good Gospel Men's Quartet!
Back to the song. The last phrase or sentence of the song went like this: "I don't feel any older, but I am one step closer home." That says it all. Friend, if you read this within the next 66 years, and you know this song and the words, would you please drop a line to this 66+ year old man and let him know? I would be so grateful. I don't feel 66 years old . . . when I was 56 years old I felt like a young man! Isn't time strange? My dad died at 58 years. It will be so nice to meet him again . . . and some day I shall, as I meet my Saviour face to face.
Bob C
PS: A thought from the June 26th article submitted by Marty Palmer: I was musing today that every thing that goes UP also comes down. Example, we awake and get UP in the morning . . . only to lay DOWN at bed time. There is not a great deal of difference in the two words. Other than, I reckon, one has only two letters and the other has four. I guess it is much like "Black and White," "Salt and Pepper," or, if you think about it, "Right and Wrong." This is where the thinking on The Front Porch gets a bit sticky! Some think there are really three words in reference to one's judgment or morals. We are argued with that "There is White, Gray and Black." There are no absolutes in life. Everything is relative. All I will say in closing this day on The Front Porch is this: It is either "UP" or "DOWN." And your choices in life will determine which place is right and created just for you. OH! Another thought: The two words, "Right and Left" are quite fascinating as well. Wonder what the alternative would be for those? Guess we will take that thought up another time while we sit on The Front Porch.
From The Front Porch
Musing about yesterday's subject, "UP," I looked UP as a robin swopped down on a black bird and un-merciously clawed at it. It seems Mr. Robin was guarding a nest in the tree and it seems like the "black birds" love to eat little chicks. A few moments, still looking UP, the robin swooped down again. This time there were two black birds crouching within the robins view and they were chased off. I don't know how one robin can fend off so many enemies. It would seem that our military might look UP and observe Mr and Mrs Robin and how they react to terror attacks.
Of course, many these days, don't really care much about the young (humans). They seem eager to idly stand by and let life slip away from millions of babies a year. Yet, this robin is empowered to spare nothing to save the life of every chick in the nest.
Over the Front Porch innumerable black birds swarm here and there. I have witnessed a robin on the lawn catching worms, breaking them apart, and catch another and then another -- all to feed to her Brood. In a reversal of the pattern black birds have swooped down and caught the robin off guard and stolen her catch of food. I seldom see the black birds forging for their own food. They would rather scavenger from others. They even attempt to steal from each other. One black bird will have found a morsel of food and can be seen flying like a bat followed by a swarm of other black birds.
Today, from The Front Porch, I found out what has been happening to my tomato blossoms. I plant a healthy tomato plant and it grows strong vines and bushy leaves. However, soon after the little yellow blossom appears, it looks as though something has simply cut the blossom off. I have tried all sorts of poison in an attempt to kill the bug or worm that would do such a thing. Everything I have tried has been to no avail.
Today while observing the warfare of the one robin against a hoard of these black birds, one black bird left the group, landed on a branch at the edge of the lawn, then swooped DOWN and landed on the rack I use to support my tomato vines. Yep! The black bird pecked off one blossom, then grabbed one that had a tiny tomato and was off. Black birds are eating the blossoms off of my tomato bush! One just can't have anything when there are so many out there willing to take or destroy everything one has.
So is life. Power over others causes so much difficulty in the human race. The Socialists Party in the United States Of America would like nothing more than to use class-ism to separate people by so many hyphenated American names. It would seem that everyone is ashamed to identify themselves as simply, "An American!" We have all sorts of groups of folk out there that are allowed to hyphenate themselves and gather into a minority group and call themselves one thing or another, and because of PC*, we allow them to get away with it. Just suppose a group of our Congressman would get together and vote to call themselves, "The White Caucus." Wonder how that would go over?
Three things have been taken forcibly from us and our American Heritage. Borders, Language and Culture. Our borders are no longer closed. One can no longer buy anything that doesn't require the intellectually handicapped such as myself to leaf through several pages of foreign language instructions to find the directions. Our culture is under attack much like the robins nest of chicks. If God is not a huge part of our culture . . . then nothing is. It has all been stolen from us buy those that would use it for their deviant devices.
So ? I've figured out two problems today. I have wondered for some time why there are so few robins around the forest near my Front Porch. I have also wondered what was eating my tomato blossoms. Both are being attacked by the enemy of both, the black birds.
*Politically Correct
~ Bob Craig
PS: Yesterday I received a pamphlet called "CONNECTINGS" from The United Methodist Church. On the cover are these three little ideas, "open hearts, open minds, open doors." Now at first glance this can't be bad . . . unless one understands what is meant. Open hearts, minds and doors means everything secular. One needs to have an open mind so as to open one's heart to allow the open door to Homo Sexual Ministers, black ministers pastors in white churches, and therefore open the door to anything our lack of culture brings along.
Today on "The Front Porch"
The big news today is that there is going to be an Space Elevator to the stars! What a marvelous idea. It came to me that one might wonder if that is what the people of Babel had in mind when they attempted to build a tower reaching to heaven? Oh, yes, I know, that story is only a fable (some would say). Something about the languages getting all mixed UP! Up? Up! You say. This little two letter word has more meaning than we recognize. This evening, with the help of an E-mail forwarded to me by Marty Palmer, we shall attempt to get this little insignificant word, "UP", the credit it deserves:
Ever stop to think about UP?
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meaning than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP."
It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we waken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
We call UP our friends And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.
And this UP is confusing:
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.
We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!
To be knowledgeable of the proper uses of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary. In a desk size dictionary, takes UP almost 1/4th the page and definitions add UP to about thirty.
If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP.
When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP.
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so............
I'll shut UP !!!!!!
Regards,
Bob C
The Front Porch
What Oil Shortage
Printable CopyThis thought has entered my mind often in recent days:
If we are having such a short supply of refined fuel, and was really of a mind to correct the situation, we could approach it by seriously going forth with a radical change in our Educational program and the way it is set up in America.
If we were serious about changing the way our children are being taught. And if we were serious about lowering the price of fuel we would become activists involved in restoring “neighborhood schools, the gasolene that propel all of those school buses up and down all the roadways of our country. The cost of the present day school buses would go a long way in paying for local, in-community, walk to school, school houses.
On “The Front Porch” I observe each day of the school year at least 10 school busses speeding up and down the road. Installed on the road are two speed-bumps approximately 200 yards apart. These 11 school busses, have to slow down to the posted speed of 15 mph and reach nearly 40 mph before they have to stomp on the brake to cross the next bump. The gas and diesel, the maintenance and the labor has to be out of sight – much less the cost of the busses themselves. They all seem to have these convenient automatic transmissions so all these, mostly young black women drivers, have to do is stomp on the gas and stomp on the brakes. The thought of these people driving such a massive vehicle and having to share the road with them boggles the imagination. It is beyond comprehension how much money and resources would be saved by simply reestablishing local neighborhood schools!
Again, we must realize that our country has been taken over by the Socialists. It is these people that call themselves Democrats who have dictated such radical ideas as grouping all our children into tightly fitted massive school encampments and forced our children, not only to crawl on a buss to get to school, also, it is a convenient way to bunch them all together so as to feed them with propaganda preventing them from being taught the things older citizens learned in our school days.
Today’s education system no longer teach three “R’s.” History has been re-written and most of our children couldn’t identify photos of our elected officials in government. As they approach voting age they have difficulty understanding the simple directions on how to fill out a ballot. Yet we spend millions and millions riding their worthless anatomies up and down the highways and byways of our country. Wouldn’t it be nice if the teacher lived in the same community and occasionally a parent could meet with that teacher in the grocery store and share passing small talk – rather than having to attend a PTA meeting! Wouldn’t it be really swell to have our heating and gasolene prices cut by at least 1/3. Stop and think just a moment of the wonderful possibilities that would be employed to supply buildings in the local area in which you live that could be turned into schools! If this were done we would have less trailer classrooms strung up and down and around school houses. The possibilities are innumerable.
By far, enough! What a subject we’ve chosen to broach this Memorial Day! The discussion is an important one, though, as we ponder what it is that our children are being taught each day of the school year. They are being drugged by people we’ve never met. Is it any wonder that children grow up today with the alternative act of suicide as an option many consider and way too many achieve? Is it any wonder, after all is said and done, our children have lost the instinct of respect for others? And amazingly we are not alarmed at the number of these children that have grown up to accept a Bill Clinton for two terms for the presidency of these United States of America. And, as though that wasn’t a disaster, these young men and woman, now of voting age, are likely to replace a dedicated and godly man such as George W. Bush with a John Kerry. I am simply amazed that at least 50% of the voting public are leaning to vote for Kerry. How can this be? In a time of war, (much less, the greatest campaign of warfare America has ever been involved in) how can our nation be so divided? The answer lies in the state of our school system and the results from the slack educational system in the past 10-30 years.
Back To Basics
After a day of meditation and remembrances it has suddenly dawned on my heart and mind that what it is Christians need to do is return to the basics. It is obvious that the war we fight today is against an enemy that knows the basics of the Islamic fundamentals. And . . . unfortunately, they are prepared and ready to die for what it is that they have had drummed into them from their earliest years.
Occasionally we get a glimpse of children on their knees bowing up and down learning the Koran front to back. At the same time, their Imams are burning into their soul that they are on Earth for one reason, and one reason alone: To find and destroy the Infidels. Friends, their Infidels are us – Western Culture, Jews and most but not least – all Christians. That means you and me!
What you will find in the paragraphs below are The Basics of Our Survival. If you are one of those who are not concerned about where you will spend eternity, when they kill you (Cut off your head, burn your body and hang the parts from a bridge) you will find that your rejection of Jesus Christ only makes things worse for you in Eternity than anything they can or will do to your body.
It is those who are called by the name of Christ that I am writing to!
2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Corinthians 1:26; Galatians 1:6; Galatians 1:15
"Patton" is being shown on The History Channel tonight and a quote he said, “I can’t see why such fine men are being killed, but there are so many bad ones we must fight.” Again, the word “violence!” We have to understand that had it not been for the resistance of violence over the years, Christianity would not have survived. Violence can only be overcome by overpowering violence.
So it is with much prayer that I call upon all who read these words will humble themselves and go back to the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don’t let ANYONE cause you to repent or pull back of become slack in living the Gospel to everyone you know or meet. Especially those of you that have children God has given to your care. Please teach them the love and commitment to our Lord, and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
"From The Front Porch"
The 10 Commandments ~ Exodus 20 Shortest Chapter in the Bible ~ Psalms 117 Longest Chapter ~ Psalms 119 Longest verse ~ Esther 8:9 Shortest verse ~ John 11:35 The Beatitudes ~ Matthew 5 The Lords Prayer ~ Matthew 6 The Ten Virgins ~ Matthew 25 The Great Commission ~ Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 Two Great Commandment ~ Mark 12:29-31 The Golden Rule ~ Luke 6:31 The Prodigal Son ~ Luke 15 Rich man and Lazarus ~ Luke 16 Publican and sinner ~ Luke 18:13 Paul’s conversion ~ Acts 9 Consecration Verse ~ Romans 12:1 Resurrection Chapter ~ 1 Corinthians 15I awoke this morning, dressed as I had yesterday, pored my coffee, and as usual went out to sit for a spell on the “Front Porch.” It was a dreary morning, no sun – and I soon became aware that it was really cold. There I sat in shorts and t-shirt, shivering. I sat for a spell thinking that it would likely warm up soon – but it didn’t. For a time as I sipped my hot cup of coffee I reminisced about years gone by and how, when we lived in Great Bridge, VA, Glenda and I would dress the boys (Jeff & Rog) and as was the ritual head off to Virginia Beach on Memorial Day. It was the first holiday of the summer and we looked forward with excitement to get away on a weekend. All of us loved to camp-out (Glenda not so much) and we made the same foolish choice each year. And as far back as we can recall the week leading up to the Memorial Day day off was always really warm, even sometimes hot . . . but, when the big day arrived everything changed. Once again we would get a shocking reminder that it was still just spring and could be quite dreary, cold and damp. It is the same here today. It wasn’t long before I came in and up-graded my attire to slacks and a long sleeve shirt.
I then returned to the Front Porch once again. I had my computer set to the “Old Christian Radio” and with speaker cable pumped out to the Front Porch, I placed the ear phones on and sat there listening to some of the greatest Christian Music ever heard! [ http://www.oldchristianradio.com/ ]
When I spend a day such as this meditating as I listen to the great Gospel Sounds from the past my mind begins to think more on God, and less on myself. This is true today. This “From The Front Porch” is some of what came to my mind:
1) I recalled years ago when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. How it was that I received salvation from all my sins. How it was when I acknowledged several things: (a) Psalm 51:3 and Romans 3:23; (b) how it was when I confessed my sins: Proverbs 23:13 and 1 John 1:9; ( c) and, how those brought about repentance for living a sinful life, Mark 1:15 and Luke 18:13; (d) I promised God that I would forsake my sins, Isaiah 55:7 and John 8:11; and (e) the result was a total belief in Jesus Christ and depend upon him to sustain me through life, John 3:16 and Acts 16:29-34.
2) What comfort the Scriptures are! Read Romans 15:4 and see if you agree. When I am troubled I read scriptures like Psalms 46 and John 14. When worry would swallow me up I can open my Bible and read Matthew 6:19-34, or Philippians 4:6. If my thoughts fall upon things others may have done to me and I feel bitterness, I can again read Matthew 18:22 and Ephesians 4:31. I recall how all my life I have suffered with a strong inferiority complex and I have found comfort and strengthening of my soul by reading Matthew 25:15-28. Glenda and me have had our fair share of sickness and often we have both turned to Matthew 8:17 and James 5:13-16 – and then would bow together in prayer. There has also been our share of temptation and 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Hebrews 2:18 has given us understanding and the resolve to turn away from those temptations and rely on our Savior. As a minister it seems as though more than enough persecution has come our way. Even in my first pastorate those of the church seemed to take delight in treating our two boys in worrisome ways – Matthew 5:11 and Romans 8:35 are two of the Scripture passages that has shored up our beliefs and gave us the strength to endure. I found also courage could be found by reading Joshua 1:7 and 1 Timothy 6:12. One could receive strength which girds up our strength by reading Ephesians 6:10 and Philippians 4:13. Sometimes our faith would become weakened and we would find strength in Hebrews 11 and 1 Peter 1:7. Our hope in buoyed up by reviewing Jeremiah 17:7 followed by believing the words of Hebrews 6:18-19. Above all things we have over the years come to understand more fully that God’s Holy Word is there to reveal true love, John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 13.
Having stayed several hours on “The Porch” the chill in the air didn’t detour me from reviewing several things listed on a card I had placed inside my Bible cover years ago.
The Romans Road
It has been said, "All Roads Lead to Rome." I can't say. However I know of one Romans Road that leads to Calvary and to Jesus Christ! If you closely follow these directions you will get there! Romans 3:10, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:", Romans 3:23; "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;", Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."; Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."; Romans 10:9-10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
My friend, if you follow this road with me, We can meat one day in Glory at the Throne of Jesus Christ.
"The Sinners Prayer"
Heavenly Father
I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day's of my Life!. Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus!
In Jesus Name, Amen.
So, my friends, I spent a rather wonderful day in spite of the cool weather. Fantastic! The sun is beginning to shine. I think I’ll retreat back to “The Front Porch” for a spell.
Blessings!
~~ Bob C
Printable Copy
Clan Craig Motto
~ Living For God ~
