A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-29 thru 07-31-05....T.G.I.F. at the Finest

[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, Aquamarine, Dolly Cali ~

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, Aquamarine, Dolly Cali ~



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"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


07-11-05 ~ Military Monday
By Billie
Presented by The Mayor

07-26-05 ~ I Have a Rant!!!
By Billie

07-27-05 ~ I Have a Rant!! continued
By Billie

07-28-05 ~ Beep-Beep! Wile E. Coyote Dems can't catch Rove-Runner
By JohnHuang2
Presented by Dutchess

Have a wonderful weekend!

06-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #12

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.

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

"Wear Red" Friday

You will soon see a lot of people wearing Red on Fridays. Here's why..... The Americans, who support our troops, are the silent majority. We are not "organized" to reflect who we are, or to reflect what our opinions are. Many Americans, like yourself, and all their friends, simply want to recognize that Americans support our troops. Our idea of showing our solidarity and support for our troops is starting Friday and continuing on each and every Friday, until this is over, that every red-blooded American who supports our young men and women, WEAR SOMETHING RED.

Word of mouth, press, TV -- let's see if we can make the United States, on any given Friday, a sea of red much like a home football game at a University. If every one of our memberships share this with other acquaintances, fellow workers, friends, and neighbors, I guarantee that it will not be long before the USA will be covered in RED - and make our troops know there are many people thinking of their well-being. You will feel better all day Friday when you wear Red! So let's get the word out and lead by example; wear RED on Fridays.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE. FOR US, THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED!! GOD BLESS AMERICA.

I received this in my email June 10th, the author is unknown.
I am wearing red today and every Friday ~ Billie

[deadhead]

Love the photo of President Bush giving a hug and kiss to the elderly lady, a precious photo. (and your beautiful 'table'..way to go!

[deadhead]

Hi there, cute post, LadyX! It is beautiful here, have all the windows opened. No need to have the A/C on. Was outside, but the mosquito's chased me in :-(

Sticking with the polar bear theme:

And the graphic that never fails to give me a good laugh:

[Temple Owl]

You have a great and lively weekend too, deadhead.

[deadhead]

"You have a great and lively weekend too, deadhead."

Thank You, I will :-)

[The Mayor]

July 29, 2005

Orange Peels

Read:
1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. —1 Corinthians 10:12

Bible In One Year: Micah 1-4

Back in 1911, a stuntman named Bobby Leach went over Niagara Falls in a specially designed steel drum—and lived to tell about it. Although he suffered minor injuries, he survived because he recognized the tremendous dangers involved in the feat, and he had done everything he could to protect himself from harm.

Several years later, while walking down a street in New Zealand, Bobby Leach slipped on an orange peel, fell, and badly fractured his leg. He was taken to a hospital where he died of complications from that fall. He received a greater injury walking down the street than he sustained in going over Niagara Falls. He was not prepared for danger in what he assumed to be a safe situation.

Some of the great temptations that roar around us like the rushing waters of Niagara will leave us unharmed, while a small, seemingly insignificant incident may cause our downfall. Why? We simply become careless and do not recognize the potential danger. We mistakenly think we are secure (1 Corinthians 10:12).

We must always be on guard against temptation. A victorious Christian is an alert Christian who watches out even for those little "orange peels." —Richard De Haan

Take the name of Jesus ever
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer. —Baxter

Whenever we fall, it is usually at the point where we think we are strong.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
The Failure Of Success: The Story Of Jonah
Judas: Son Of Darkness

[LadyX]

I'd forgotten that cute one with the penguins, Colleen!

Our weather moderated today, too. Oddly enough, we have almost no mosquitos here, even with the runoff creek bordering the two back sides of our corner lot.
[not that I'm complaining!]

My zinnias are blooming nicely, flanking the lantana in the front bed - love to cut some to have to brighten the kitchen...

Quiet weekend?

[Zacs Mom]

How cool to see I'm not the only one with a great love of bears....
particularly Polar Bears!

These pics of just some of my bears that share my office with me ...

as you can see I'm a bit obsessive about those polars, but that is really because

one of my best buddies was a polar bear named "Shivers"

Isn't he a beauty?!

[deadhead]

"My zinnias are blooming nicely"

I think this is the year for zinnias! I was over my BIL's parents house, I never saw zinnias so large and beautiful. His Mom has 2 green thumbs, lovely flowers all over. Heading to the beach tomorrow. How are you and yours doing?

[deadhead]

Hi Zacs Mom :-) WOW, awesome photos. Is that you with Shivers?

[Zacs Mom]

Yeah - that's me ~ I'm naturally a little out of focus! ;^)

[DollyCali]

Hi there.. GREAT pix.. mama_bear will love them. She should be home late tomorrow night & will hopefully see them & respond in the next day or so.. BUT, she has missed hubby & a certain little "bow wow"..so may give a wee little bit of priority there..

hehehee.

Just got home from day at Rock Hall of Fame.. enjoyed the special exhibits/movie revolving around The Who & the movie, rock/opera/Broadway play Tommy. I really enjoy that place. Each time I go there are new experiences. I guess I have been there about 20 times.

Snugs.. wore "THE SHIRT" .. might post a pix or two later this pm. Had a few folks ask if I were from England. I had some fun (lied)..

Billie.. well, sistah.. thank you for the tread for the weekend.. we are having glorious weather here in Ohio today - I am planning to see two other sistah's tomorrow & will post some pix.. three out of five is okay.. four out of five is better & five out of five is the way it should be (at least ONCE before we meet in heaven)

Dave.. (and eleni) responding to FReepmail here..(others may have an interest).. this is not a "full blown" DollyCali review , but last night I did see & REALLY liked Wedding Crashers. I was expecting to be disappointed but it was better than I anticipated. My date was hot to trot to see it. Not for kids. If you are uncomfortable around "rough language" and skin, this will not be a good one for you. Heavy in the sexual area & he general theme of Wild Guys getting tamed..

Two things I missed today.. my Oliver & my computer (The Finest of course!)

[Billie]

Ohhhh, you always manage to find the most beautiful, quiet, peaceful, heavenly, serene, inviting places to share with us!

Have a super weekend, Mr. Fox. :)

[Billie]

Kitty, that looks fabulous! What a great picture, and love the way you framed it. :)

[Billie]

Hi, PaL! Good to see you here again. :)

[DollyCali]

Hi Sistah Billie.. a few thoughts on Exercise

- I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

- I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

- I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

- The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.

- If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.

- Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $5000 per month.

- My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where on earth she is.

- The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

- I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.

- And last but not least: I don't exercise because it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

[Billie]

Have been trying to respond to some posts for a few minutes and my browser doesn't want to cooperate.

deadhead, your post was so pretty! Love that little girl on the beach and the icy blue looks great with it!

Lots of polar bears today, huh?! ZM, you've got quite a collection!

Don't know if this is going to get posted or not, and I should go now - will try to get back tomorrow if company takes a nap or something! :)

[DollyCali]

found this on the internet.. so it must be true.. (?) And now after you read this.. mentally compare these men with the disgusting sKerry.../d

@@@

Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 as age 76 , which is odd, because he always looked to be 76. (DOB: 6/27/27.) It reminded me of the following story. Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else.

Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer: I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent of his Corps experiences.

In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award... the Medal Of Honor.

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson": His guest was Lee Marvin.

Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima... and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the butt and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi...bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys gettin' shot hauling you down.

But, Johnny, at Iwo Jima I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb b......d actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach.

Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life.

That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, where'd they get you Lee?'

"Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!"

Johnny, I'm not lying...Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew.....The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan...You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being any thing but what he now portrays to our youth.

But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat.

[jwfiv]

Thank you, Miss Bluebird ... same to you ... )

[Temple Owl]

Hey! not too lively!

[The Mayor]

July 30, 2005

Source Of Hope

Read:
Lamentations 3:19-41

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. —Lamentations 3:22

Bible In One Year: Micah 5-7

What good is faith when all seems lost? I've asked that penetrating question in my life, and not long ago I received a letter from a mom who has asked it as well.

She told me that she and her husband set out in their marriage to seek God's will for their lives and entrust their future to Him. Then their second son was born with Down syndrome. Their initial response was "grief, shock, and disbelief." Yet the same day he was born, God used Philippians 4:6-7 to put peace in their hearts and give them an undying love for their precious son. It says: "Let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts."

But their days in the desert were not over. Nine years later, their fourth son was diagnosed with cancer. Before he reached his third birthday, he was gone. Shock, pain, and sadness again broke into their world. And again, they found help from God and His Word. "When the grief overwhelms us," says this mom, "we turn to God's Word and His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ."

When life's troubles hit us like a tidal wave, we can remember that God's compassions never fail (Lamentations 3:22). He can give us the hope we need. —Dave Branon

My sheep I know, they are My own,
I leave them not in trials alone;
I will be with them to the end—
Their hope, their joy, their dearest Friend. —Anon.

Feeling hopeless reminds us that we are helpless without God.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
When Hope Is Lost
10 Reasons To Believe In A God Who Allows Suffering