MERRY CHRISTMAS

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

As my family knows, I've never been real into decorating the exterior of the house with Christmas lights, but I've found something I may be interested in...

MOOSE CHRISTMAS DECORATING.

Or is that... CHRISTMAS MOOSE DECORATING?




Great idea don't you think?!
The only problem may be the extension cord....

Wow, think of all the fun contests you could have!

Reportedly, the moose got into some crab apples that had fermented and got a little tipsy.
I kinda doubt the veracity of the story. Who gave the moose a breath-a-lizer test!?
How many fermented crab apples would it take to make the moose a little loose?

But, you will notice in the background of the picture, he was near Bernie's Bungalow Lounge. Hmmmmm.

Batteries

I have a wireless keyboard and mouse for my office computer.
It can be very helpful not fussing with those wires,
UNTIL....
the batteries run down.

I received a message on my computer monitor that stated
Your MX5000 batteries are critical!
I had three immediate thoughts...

I imagined my batteries mocking me. And then...
"I've got to get some AA batteries" and
"wouldn't it be nice if we had that kind of monitoring system for our relationships or contact with others."

Matthew 7:1 says, "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging." (The Message Bible)

I love the wisdom of God's Word.

Psalm 34:13

Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 39:1

(A Psalm of David)

I said, "I will guard my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence."

Proverbs 13:3

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 21:23

He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.

I think my best prayer is... "Lord, give me a warning device in my own spirit that I will detect any critical spirit in me." Oh yes, "and keep my batteries charged, Lord!"

Hooray for Evergreen Airlines

I have to say, I have about had it with hearing "Have a Happy Holiday!"
IT IS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

It is MERRY CHRISTMAS!

If it weren't for JESUS being the REASON FOR THE SEASON, no one would be saying "Happy Holidays."

Well, forgive my rant, but I was thrilled when I received an email from Evergreen Airlines (based in Taiwan) stating,
Dear EARL H THORNTON,

EVA Air wishes you a Merry Christmas!

Best regards,
Evergreen Club

So, three cheers for EVA A/L!

I will definitely fly on their airlines on my next trip back to Vietnam.

Vietnam

I really have not published enough about my trip to Vietnam.
It really was an incredible trip.
I am so excited about what God is doing in that nation.

The people are so loving and open.






One stop that touched all of us deeply was the state run school for deaf and blind children.
You could tell that the teachers were so full of love and caring for the children.
There were over 160 children receiving care and education.



They give the children an excellent education, but they also want to equip them with a skill that will enable the children to support themselves when they leave the school.

They teach the older children how to sew. The sewing machines they have are all borrowed and they are of a kind that reportedly break down frequently. The school would like to have better machines that the school would own.

The factory that loaned the machines to them were coming in a couple of weeks to take them back. For only $2,000.00 they would be able to get all new machines.

If you'd like to help, get word to me. Call or email.
This is doable, don't you think!

My Birthday - November 28

Joy was exclaiming, "Honey, I should be taking your picture!"
I explained to her that I decided to have some fun on my birthday and "turn the camera" around.

So I kept a pictorial log of the day.

I remembered that I could get my truck washed for free on my birthday. So that was my first stop after breakfast.


For me, it was a full, fun, productive day of work.
It started with a great breakfast with my wonderful wife and the day wrapped up with a great Bible study as we are going through the book of Daniel.

Office meetings with friendly people!

On my way to lunch

Lunch = $2.09

Joy preparing dinner.

Birthday Dinner with Joy and Jill.

Back to church for band rehearsal, choir and Bible study.

Here's part of our Bible Study group!
I don't think they've had the teacher take their picture before.

Choir members rubbed in my new "decade". They are so fun and photogenic!

IT'S COLD

I really got a kick out of how cold this sign was reading....

Now, I admit, it did get down to 2 degrees last night, but WOW!

Some of my minister friends don't like "Church Signs", frankly, I do.

I especially liked it when this digital sign read, just before the temp went up, "You've ended your search for a friendly church."

Maybe it should have read, "Come in out of the cold, it's warm inside."

Lest you get the wrong impression, this is a good congregation, they are wonderful people. They love God and are passionate about following Him.

Hey, maybe they did that intentionally to get people to pay attention to their sign! If so, GOOD JOB!