A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-19,20,21-04...T.G.I.F. at the Finest

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Dansangel, Aquamarine ~

Bush - Cheney
Four More Years!

Welcome to TGIF at the Finest!   We hope you've been having as much fun as we have with our essays and/or spotlight on various FReepers. From the beginning, we've been kicking back on Saturdays and Sundays and simply reviewing the features of the week; our weekend threads now start on Friday and continue through Sunday. If you missed seeing any of this week's threads and want to say hello there now, just click on the link for that particular day. If you'd like to drop in and out of this thread today through Sunday, please feel free to do that also. One of us will try to be around to see the welcome mat is still out, put the coffee pot on, and maybe even bring fresh flowers for the table. : )

~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Dansangel, Aquamarine ~



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


11-15-04 ~ Military Monday
By Billie
Presented by The Mayor

11-16 & 17-04 ~ Misunderestimated...Again!
By Billie

11-18-04 ~ Bush elevates Condi Rice to State as fear grips Dems
By JohnHuang2
Presented by dansangel

Have a wonderful weekend!

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

CLICK

[Billie]

[Billie]

[The Mayor]

November 19, 2004

Joyful Trials

Read: James 1:1-12

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. —James 1:2

Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 11-13; James 1

---

The Bible tells us to respond to difficult circumstances in a way that is directly opposed to our natural tendency. One of the most challenging of those commands is this: "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2).

Other translations speak of viewing our difficulties with pure joy, considering ourselves happy—not resisting trials and temptations as intruders but welcoming them as friends. I don't know about you, but that's not the first thing that pops into my mind.

This outlook would seem absurd and unattainable if not for the reason behind it: "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (v.3). An attitude of joy is not based on what we feel but on what we know of God and His work in our lives. Therefore, a painful process that yields a desired goal can be welcomed as a friend.

It's not the testing of our strength but the trying of our faith in Almighty God that develops our endurance. Through it all, the Lord promises wisdom for today (v.5) and a crown of life for those who persevere (v.12).

My natural response to difficult circumstances is "Oh, no!" The Lord wants me to see what He can accomplish through them and say, "Oh, yes!" —David McCasland

The deeper meaning of my trials
O Lord, You've kept from me;
But some small part of Your great plan
I pray, Lord, help me see. —D. De Haan

Joy in trials comes from knowing that the outcome will be good.

[Billie]

My natural response to difficult circumstances is "Oh, no!"

Me, too. Imagine most of us do. :(

Good morning, Rus. Thanks as always for the daily bread to go with the daily coffee. :)

[Billie]

Have added your nephews to our list. Thank you both for letting us know about them.

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Dansangel; Aquamarine, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

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Maigrey...................cousin OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiancee weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady.....................nephew Spruce.....................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk..........................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God.....................active duty Q6-God...................twin brother Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx..................active duty

Mama_Bear.........2 nephews ladtx........................2 sons WVNan..................friend's son gator girl.................husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel......................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA...............................son katykelly......................son cookcounty.....................son SpookBrat...nephew, cousin Doug from Upland...son-in-law Himyar..........................son boxerblues................2 sons the piper.........................son sheeza.......................husband kemathen7.................husband Tiffee4Bob.................boyfriend deadhead......................cousin JimRobinson.........2 nephews TexKat..............son, step-son Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel.........................niece Donaeus......................nephew dixie sass...................nephew BeAllYouCanBe...................son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn.........................2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.............................son Rose inRoseBear...cousin's hubby Redhead....step-granddaughter Redhead..step-grdaughter fiance Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy..........niece Sunflowergal..............grandson visualops.......................cousin Alouette..............................son mrstank.......................husband MrsMike31..................husband eaglesiniowa.........................son auboy..................................cousin spotbust1.......................husband Leofl......................................son chena......................................son campfollower.......................fiance LUV W.........................................son painter................................nephew

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Billie]

Good morning!

I have to check out for a bit!

[Temple Owl]

Good morning Billie and God bless FReepers everywhere. I wish you a bright and sunny weekend and bright and sunny future.

[LakeLady]

Thank you Billie!

[jwfiv]

Good morning, Miss Billie.

Today, Friday feels like a Monday, but I'm sure glad it's here anyway.

Wishing all our Hostesses and all the Finest a most wonderful weekend...

[Diver Dave]

Good FRiday Mornin' to the Finest and all the ships at sea.

Have a GREAT weekend y'all. Praying for God's blessings and protection for y'all and all our Armed Forces.

[Pippin]

Hi, (((Billie)))!

[luvie]

GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE! HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND--PRAY AND SUPPORT OUR BRAVE MEN WHO PROTECT US!
GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDENT--AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[JohnHuang2]

Driveby howdy to my buds and buddettes ;-)

Have a great weekend, y'all, love ya and God bless!

dansangel -- you did great yesterday!

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Billie; Aquamarine; dansangel; dutchess; Mama_Bear;jwfiv;MeekOneGOP;WVNan;Pippin;FreeTheHostages; .45MAN; Aeronaut;The Thin Man;Diver Dave;Calpernia;ST.LOUIE1;Ladyx;GailA;dixie sass;Libertina;Lakeside;deadhead;JustAmy;DollyCali;kayak;Donaeus;MHGinTN;Kudsman)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[GailA]

Good afternoon, it's rained lightly here all day.

[deadhead]

TGIF!

[austingirl]

Prayers sent for our troops.

[dansangel]

TGIF everyone at the Finest! As JH2 would say, this is a "drive-by" greeting. LOL!

Today we had gorgeous FL "winter" weather - air was dry, cool and incredibly clear. We took a ride out to the nearest Everglades National Park which is less than 15 mins from here - the serenity is breathtaking. Someday when it is in our budget, we'll take an airboat ride.

But, just walking around a bit, we saw an alligator semi-submerged, a 3-foot lizard climbing a tree and a whole assortment of wild birds (no *flamingos* darn it!). The tranquility was breathtaking - no traffic noises, loud music, airplanes - just the soft rustling of sawgrass. *This* is why I wanted to move back so badly.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! :-)

[deadhead]

"But, just walking around a bit, we saw an alligator semi-submerged"

Tranquil? LOL...I have such a fear of alligators! My family is down in Florida right now, they went golfing yesterday and sent me a photo they took of an alligator on the golf course. I would have freaked out.

I am so happy you are back in Florida, dansy.

[dansangel]

Thanks, (((((deadhead))))))

The alligator was at the bottom end of a very steep 4-ft embankment. He couldn't have gotten to us unless he had wings - LOL

When my daughter was a toddler - 25 years ago - we lived on a canal that had resident alligators. She never went outside unsupervised, but had the run of a large, screened-in porch with a latch on the door six feet off the ground.

We lived in peaceful coexistence with the alligators for two years at that particular address without incident. But, I have also learned nothing but respect for them as well.

Was the alligator at the golf course roaming the course or in a water hazard? I wouldn't have felt too comfortable myself had I been on even footing with the alligator!