A Few of FR's Finest....04-18-07....Warm Fuzzy Wednesday

April 18, 2007 | Billie

[DollyCali]

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.

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

Welcome to Warm Fuzzy Wednesday at the Finest. For those who start counting the days on Monday until the weekend, we're halfway there! So we're here to banish those doldrums and make you smile inside! Please feel free to post sweet graphics and/or little stories that make you feel all warm and fuzzy - or just come by and give us a smile. Only two more days 'til the weekend!

03-27-07 ~ Hall of Fame #19 ~ Final

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 04-16,17-07 Military Tribute

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

May God protect your precious ones...

Our Dear Father, creator and Lord of great love - we ask that you keep the men and women of our military in Your protective care. May the families be immersed with peace and comfort as they proudly know their loved ones are serving for the things that are dear to all of us. AMEN



Following 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; Dutchess; DollyCali;
The Mayor; GodBlessUSA; Aquamarine

Hoosiersailor ……Navy Active Duty Kudsman………nephew jackv...............................Son gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey.........................cousin mystery-ak...........son, husband Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave........niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..........................son weldgophardline.................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater.......cousin WaterDragon............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law kimmie7......................brother LadyX (RIP)..............grandson fawn796......................nephew ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady....................nephew Spruce......................daughter Bykrbayb..........................son Leofl.................................son chena...............................son Hope and Glory..................son TheMayor...............friends'son Doug from Upland.......soninlaw homeschoolmama........nephew ariamne...................2 cousins mhking.........................cousin 911angelady.................2 sons Consort.................2 daughters Consort...................son-in-law gonzo...................friend's son Jen's Mom.................daughter Meg33......................grandson cookcounty......................son JFC............................nephew visualops......................cousin auboy..........................cousin painter........................nephew jrushing.............................son LoneRedRanger...brother-in-law Ladysmith.nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend MontanaCowgirlCop......brother nelibeli........................nephew Misty4jc.....................husband Colorado Slim..............nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews ProudAFDad......................son Alouette.............................son Katydidnt...........................son Zechariah_8_13....brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.............cousin PreviouslyA-Lurker........brother sheeza.......................husband kemathen7..................husband Q6-God..................twin brother Q6-God....................active duty 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 thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque................active duty JRios1968................active duty NoLongerFreeState...active duty CMS........................active duty AlaskaErik...............active duty JemiansTerror...........active duty tongue-tied ..............active duty txradioguy................active duty OhioWfan................................son

tina Kirby….son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew ak_daddoo........................nephew Dubya............................nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son Armymarinemom................3 sons american_ranger.....................son Himyar....................................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin boxerblues........................2 sons the piper..............................son Tiffee4Bob......................boyfriend TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son SilentServiceCPOWife........husband DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law Skimask.....................................son Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy........2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson Socratic.............................nephew freema.......................nephew, son Azbushgal..............................son kimmykay.................................son NavySEAL F-16........................son repubmom...............................son wolfcreek..........................daughter JesseJane ...........................cousin Roses0508..............................son pmmd81..................................son SoldiersPrayingMom.................son WakeUpandVote..................brother Skyraider.................................son CyberAnt...........................nephew mrs tiggywinkle...................cousin Nadine...............................nephew U S Army EOD.................daughter thehumanlynx...........brother-in-law Earthdweller......................nephew Scubachick.......................husband ChairmanDec19thSociety ..brotherinlaw Anthem............................2 cousins meanie monster .........family friend PragmaticWarrior..........2 nephews Sageb1...........................3 cousins JulieRNR21.........friend's grandson SuzyQue...mom,2 sons,3 brothers weeder1...........................nephew IndyPendance..daughter,soninlaw fatima.....................granddaughter Lori from Long Island....soninlaw monkeyface...................grandson redhead...................grandnephew gonzo............................soninlaw varina davis...................grandson Rivendell.......................daughter W.W.Smith...........................son vigilante2.....son, adopted soldier NavySEAL F-16....................son Jaxter...........................son-in-law USMCWife6869..............husband AgThorn & Lily4Jesus.............son 2ndDivisionVet..........brotherinlaw 2ndDivVet.....former stepdaughter GrandEagle........................friend DebWisconsin.................nephew Anne of DC............niece’s, husband

[DollyCali]

Thank you!

[The Mayor]

April 18, 2007

Changing The World

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: Luke 6:41-45

Remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye. —Luke 6:42

It’s a full-time job trying to get people to change. Oh, what a perfect world it would be—if only other people would do what we want!

A plaque in our family room may hold the key to the secret of change. It’s in Dutch, but translated it reads:

Change the World—
Begin With Yourself

Not what most of us want to hear!

Jesus told a parable about the problem of not seeing our own faults. He said, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye” (Luke 6:42).

Being able to see other people’s faults easily without ever noticing my own is not just an indication of hypocrisy. It can be a wake-up call that the problem in a struggling relationship may be me. Perhaps it’s my attitude that needs to change. Or I’m the one who needs to apologize. Maybe I’m the person who needs a humble spirit.

It’s a lesson some of us have to learn over and over. We can’t change others, but with God’s help we can change our own behavior. And when our attitude changes, it may seem as if others have changed as well.

To change can be a wonderful prospect,
Though often it’s met with resistance;
The transformation begins within us
And will take a lot of persistence. —Hess

When God works a change in us He can change others through us.

Bible in One Year:   2 Samuel 3-5; Luke 14:25-35

[The Mayor]

Found these great pictures here


Somebody please save me...

Boing, boing, boing...

Don't worry, it'll grow back...

This man is three hundred feet tall...

That's it, show the couch whose boss! Grrr!

insert fuzzy balls joke here

Go away, I'm napping...

[Jake The Goose]

Nice - seems like a good time to reflect a little.

Thanks

[DollyCali]

Group hug, Kum Ba Ya & Warm fuzzies to you all.

This has been a very difficult week for our FRee Republic community with the tragedy in VA & many very sick FReepers & many of us with personal problems atop all else.

Sometimes “avoiding” trite-seeming topics/threads seems easy but often we need to go a little deeper for strength from our God & rally the efforts to spread his love & joy

What better ways than warm fuzzies?

I will dig up a contribution shortly. Mom just got up & need to feed her & do a few chores.

Love to you all,

[DollyCali]

oh my are those wonderful Rus.. pinging other animal lovers to The Mayor’s post #6. We ALL need some things to put a smile on our face & song in our heart today, don’t we?

[DollyCali]

What a hilarious screen name! and welcome, I dont recall you visiting here prior & my apologies if I have missed you.

[Jake The Goose]

I just wandered in - I love FR - I am amazed at the spread
of opinion, national pride, and .... oh the arguments that go
on are really something to see and participate in.

Free Republic - a national treasure in my opinion.

[DollyCali]

I just wandered waddled in

there I fixed it for you, everyone knows a goose will waddle in

Gotta run for now.. but I agree with you 100%. This site is wonderful & all the people I have met personally are top flight (goose talk)

[MEG33]

Good Morning Finest FRiends!
Thank you, Dolly, for the Warm Fuzzy thread.
It's a beautiful day here.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Dolly! Great thread and Pledge. Happy warm and fuzzy Wednesday!

[MEG33]

What fun pictures! Thanks, Mayor.

[beachn4fun]

LOL

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, y'all

Happy Warm and Fuzzy Wednesday.

Prayers for the families of the victims at Va Tech.

Jesus wept.
(John 11:35)

[MEG33]

Beautiful, beachy..Amen

[GodBlessUSA]

Thanks so much (((Dolly))). A thread we all need today. I'll see you all later. Have a terrific day!

There is good news today. Praise the Lord.

[stopem]

Good morning!

Good news from another thread, Supreme Court upheld BAN on partial birth abortion.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8OJ2HV82&show_article=1

[MEG33]

I saw that and it is such good news. Praise God!

I have been dragging around since the massacre at Virginia Tech..So many prayers for those who mourn and those who are wounded..

I welcome some good news.

[MEG33]

Pansy Break

[Kitty Mittens]

Oh, that Poor Kitty in Pic #1, Lol, of your Pics, Mr. Mayor! You Made me Laugh with Delight, and Thank you, because we Need Some Happiness Today.

I Love your Kitty Table, Sweet Meg, and my Heart Rejoiced to Learn your Cali is Doing Much Better, Dear Dolly, when I Saw her Pic a Few Days Ago.

Praise God that the Abortion Ban was Upheld Today!

Have a Blessed Day, Dear Finest FRiends!

A Warm and Fuzzy Wednesday to All!

[Kitty Mittens]

Hurry Back, Dear Sister in Christ!

[MEG33]

Thank you!
Happy Warm Fuzzy Wednesday to you, Kitty.

[Jack Deth]

Warm Fuzzy Wednesday Haiku


"Bags"





Our Pretty One has
things that tempt and allure. We
know there is no cure

For climbing into
a "Bag" fallen or pretty. We
have to go and see!

What's hiding Inside
or has escaped. As we fill
the slick Walls that gape

Pushing something or
nothing around. Reacting
to the slightest sound

Or things that push and
sweep against our fur. Some "Bags"
can be very deep!

With "Stuff" requiring
closer, detailed Inspection
Before Rejection

Long slim "Tubes" and flat
"Compacts". There's far too many!
And that is a fact

The "Gloves" we will keep
because of their scent. Being
most Benevolent!


Jack Deth~ 04/18/07.

[Kitty Mittens]

That's the Sweetest Pic, and the Blue Color is So Lovely, Setting Off the Graphic Perfectly.

Thank you, my Sweet FRiend in our King!

[kitkat]

I’m laughing at, and loving, the picture of the mouse waiting with the baby birds to be fed.

[MEG33]

:0)
Glad you enjoyed it like I did!

[MEG33]

Thank you!

[dutchess]

Belated Warm Fuzzy Greetings...Prayers for all who lost loved ones this past week, prayers for all our military men and women and prayers for all our finest friends. God bless.... (out of the mouth of babes and pups :) )

Good night

[The Mayor]

April 19, 2007

The Peace-Of-Mind Game

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. —Psalm 23:1 In her down-to-earth book More Than Sparrows, Mary Welch tells of her discussion about worry with a group of teenagers. Although they were Christians, they were as worried as unbelievers about the common things of life. As she lovingly listened to them, an unusual idea came to her for a game they could play. It went like this:

Instead of saying, “I’m worried,” stop and say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Then add, “So I’m worried to death!” The students laughed at the absurdity of the idea, but they all promised to play this new “peace-of-mind” game.

Later, Mary received a phone call from a young woman who had been paralyzed by worry over an exam she had been dreading to take. She said, “I must tell you how the game helped me trust God today. As I froze with worry, I remembered to say, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd . . . so I’m afraid I’ll fail!’ Suddenly I felt the strangest peace of mind. I laughed at myself, then I took the exam—and I passed!”

Saying “The Lord is my Shepherd, and I am worried to death” is more than a mind game to point out the absurdity of worry. God can use this contradiction to bring us to a fuller trust in Him.

Why worry when you can pray?
Trust Jesus, He’ll be your stay;
Don’t be a “doubting Thomas,” rest fully on His promise.
Why worry when you can pray?  —Peterson
© Renewal 1977 Singspiration, Inc.

Worry is the interest you pay on borrowed trouble.

Bible in One Year:   2 Samuel 6-8; Luke 15:1-10

[DollyCali]

Thanks for all who visited the thread. different people approach pain, sadness & grief in different ways.

Please know that the presence of a thread such as this does NOT dishonor the understanding of the heavy situations of a country at war & now mourning the loss at VT

We provide opportunities for friends to hang out & do what they desire to express grief.. be it words of comfort, scripture, a warm fuzzy photo to let your heart smile or soften a bit

We also now mourn the loss of Kayak, a strong Christian woman & FReeper from “the early days”

We await JohnHuang2’s thread presented by Billie.. Have a good day all as I will be gone for most of it but will check in later when I get home from Small group Bible Study.

[Kitty Mittens]

Your Poem is Adorable, (((((Jack Deth)))))!

Thank you for the Smile! : )

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, FRiend Dolly.

[LUV W]

Know I am late getting here but
I've been covered up since returning
from my FReeper TRip.
It was wonderful!! Wish you had been there.

[DollyCali]

Thanks Luv. Welcome home. I am here briefly getting ready for my meal for my bible study group. It smells good... (Italian)

I saw the group pix.. I think you are in the middle? Nice pix.

[DollyCali]

smooch! thought about you today during my dogie walk. Have you been able to resume your hiking? I know that was a hope of yours.

[LUV W]

Yep, I was in the middle! The humidity made my hair big! LOL!

Hope you can go next time. We are talking about Arizona! :D

[Kitty Mittens]

Yes, through our Savior's Grace, Sweet Dolly, and it has been Wonderful! To See my Favorite Places Again; I still can't Believe it, because it had been So Long!

Here are a Couple of Links to Pics I Took of the Lake and the Creek.

King's Lake

King's Creek

Glory to our Lord for Granting me those Blessings, through His Grace!

P.S. My Neighbor Said that Once in a Blue Moon the Waters Totally Fill Up that Deep Creek, and Overflow the Bank! I Wish I could See that!

[jaycee]

There just couldn’t be anything prettier than those pansies..
thanks, Meg!

[jaycee]

Thanks again, Jack.....very nice.

[jaycee]

Lovely Meg!

[jaycee]

This graphic is wonderful Dolly....ya’ll are so smart! And it makes me happy.

[Billie]

Thursday ~ JH2's Two Cents

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I love this, it reminds me of my kitty.

[MEG33]

(((Hugs))) Thank you!
I am so glad you liked my pansy and kitty posts.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

; )

[jaycee]

((((hugs back to ya))))! Always enjoy your displays..for instance the little bouquet on your post!