A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-11-06....This is Your Life

Diver Dave; Billie | Diver Dave

[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, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

by DiverDave

Waaaay back in the 1950’s, many American families would gather around the old black and white television set to watch a program called, "This Is Your Life."

The premise of the show, which was produced by Ralph Edwards, was to surprise a featured guest on "live" television with a presentation of that guest’s biography supplied by the people who knew him or her.

Ralph Edwards would appear at the beginning with a large scrapbook tucked under his arm. Often times, he would surprise the guest at a Hollywood restaurant. Friends or relatives would secretly arrange to have the guest out to dinner, and Edwards would walk up to him/her, interrupt the table conversation introducing himself and then announce, "’John…", This Is Your Life."

The featured guest was then driven to the television studios where the rest of the show would take place. Edwards would offer a lead-in to an individual secreted off-stage. A voice would be heard reflecting on an incident or character from the guest of honor’s past. The person would then come on stage for a reunion with their friend. As the show progressed, more and more details of the person’s life were revealed with the introduction of friends and relatives of the guest of honor, and more tidbits would be revealed with the reunions.

At the end of the show, the guest of honor was presented with a Bell and Howell 16 mm sound movie camera and projector and a copy of the entire program. Edwards also presented the honoree with the scrapbook he used throughout the show as a point of reference. The book had the signature "This Is Your Life" logo on the front along with the person’s name. All the guests were then escorted out to a grand reunion affair.

---

I used the "This Is Your Life" television program to tie in the similarity of the TV show and the beginnings of "FR’s Finest…" as well as to share a couple personal stories of "This Is Your Life."

As y’all look back through the "Hall of Fame" threads of FR’s Finest…, in the early days, individual FReepers were being interviewed by the different hostesses at the time. Many of us are logged in to those early FR’s Finest Profiles providing an inside look at each of us not readily available through our normal postings.

The first personal "This Is Your Life" I’d like to share deals with my dad, Pete.

My father passed away 10 years ago this month at the age of 88. A few years before his death, one of my cousins decided to put together a family book. She solicited contributions from throughout Dad’s large extended family. Dad was one of 13 children, so you may get an understanding of how "large" this family is. One of my favorite stories Dad told was when he was talking to a young boy at church about his family. He said, "There were 5 boys in my family, and each one of us had 8 sisters." The boy did the math and said in wide-eyed amazement, "WOW! 40 Kids".

The book my cousin created is filled with comments from coast to coast and border to border. All the cousins, as well as the few surviving siblings in Dad’s family submitted tons of information. It traces the story of the immigration (legal) of our grandparents from Denmark all the way forward to present day. The information gleaned from all the cousins and sisters, presents several "This Is You Life" sequences. Prior to Dad’s funeral, Pastor Ed was given a copy of the book to use as background in the eulogy. During the funeral service, he commented how great it was to read through the book and have all that information available in writing rather than relying on attaining the information during a family’s time of grief. Better still, he said how great it was for Dad to have been able to read for himself the words of praise from those around him his entire life. Words that often times fail to be uttered before one’s death.

One more personal perspective… In January of last year, my family surprised me with my very own "This Is Your Life," complete with my very own scrapbook.

The story begins during the summer of ’04. Mrs dd and our daughters came up with the idea to solicit from friends and relatives comments to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Behind the scenes, via e-mails, letters and phone calls, they managed to enlist all these folks to contribute whatever they wished. All were asked to put their thoughts, photos, and whatever else they wished on special paper supplied by my family crew.

The items started to trickle in from all over the place – mailed to our daughters so as to keep dear ol’ dad in the dark. Daughter Shelley, who is into "scrapbooking," compiled all the items together in a special scrapbook.

Imagine my total surprise, first at the scrapbook itself, then to read through all these glowing accounts from friends and relatives. Some included photos from days long gone by while others brought up subjects from the past that were shared experiences with those individuals. A very humbling experience required the use of at least one large box of Kleenex.

Perhaps now would be a good time for us to pause and reflect, who in my life have I not told how much they mean to me. Or perhaps something they did for me that had a lifetime effect for me, shaped my life, or helped me through a rough time. And what about sharing those fun and sometimes hilarious events shared with each other.

Know anybody you’d like to present with a "This Is Your Life" tribute? Pick up the phone, a pen, or man the keyboard and get started. Your guest of honor will enjoy the surprise.

And, FR’s Finest… is still looking for FReepers to place under the Atta-Boy/Girl spotlights.

03-28-06 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 04-10-06 Military Monday

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

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for those well wishes, jw. Good to see you stopping by to share a good word.

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for all your contributions today, majjie. You made it special - and that's no stretch.

[luvie]

'Nite, Bille, Dave...'nite all! Thanks for the beautiful thread.

[Majie Purple]

"... You made it special..." Same can be said for you!...& it so was said today huh? :) Good Night to you & yours!

[Majie Purple]

That Dave anchor is aces! Hi SL1! :)

[The Mayor]

April 12, 2006

The Hidden Rattler

Read:
2 Kings 20:12-21

A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. —Proverbs 29:23

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 19-21; Luke 11:29-54

When I was a boy, our family lived on a farm. One spring, we killed 13 rattlesnakes in a brief period of time.

A rattler can be easily destroyed if you know where it is and how far it can reach when it strikes. So my brothers and I never worried about the snakes we could see. We were genuinely concerned, however, about stepping on one whose presence we had not detected.

King Hezekiah was subtly "bitten" by a hidden temptation, not seduced by a gross and obvious evil. He allowed a measure of pride and self-reliance to blight his career. He should have put his full trust in the Lord for protection from his enemies, but instead he sought safety through an alliance with idolatrous men (2 Chronicles 32:25,31).

It's too bad that this otherwise good king marred his reign by this sin. We need to be on guard lest we allow pride to build up in our hearts until we, like Hezekiah, succumb to the wiles of the enemy. We may be prepared to stand against obvious invitations to sin that would besmirch our name, but we may not be ready for life's subtle temptations.

Beware of "hidden rattlers"—they're the most dangerous of all! —Herb Vander Lugt

The devil has many enticements,
There's danger wherever you go;
But if you are tempted in weakness,
Ask God for more grace, and say, "No!" —Palmer

If you want to master temptation, let Christ master you.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
What Does It Take To Follow Christ?

April 12, 2006

The Hidden Rattler

Read:
2 Kings 20:12-21

A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. —Proverbs 29:23

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 19-21; Luke 11:29-54

When I was a boy, our family lived on a farm. One spring, we killed 13 rattlesnakes in a brief period of time.

A rattler can be easily destroyed if you know where it is and how far it can reach when it strikes. So my brothers and I never worried about the snakes we could see. We were genuinely concerned, however, about stepping on one whose presence we had not detected.

King Hezekiah was subtly "bitten" by a hidden temptation, not seduced by a gross and obvious evil. He allowed a measure of pride and self-reliance to blight his career. He should have put his full trust in the Lord for protection from his enemies, but instead he sought safety through an alliance with idolatrous men (2 Chronicles 32:25,31).

It's too bad that this otherwise good king marred his reign by this sin. We need to be on guard lest we allow pride to build up in our hearts until we, like Hezekiah, succumb to the wiles of the enemy. We may be prepared to stand against obvious invitations to sin that would besmirch our name, but we may not be ready for life's subtle temptations.

Beware of "hidden rattlers"—they're the most dangerous of all! —Herb Vander Lugt

The devil has many enticements,
There's danger wherever you go;
But if you are tempted in weakness,
Ask God for more grace, and say, "No!" —Palmer

If you want to master temptation, let Christ master you.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
What Does It Take To Follow Christ?

[MEG33]

Thank you, Mayor..subtle temptations are dangerous indeed..

Billie said she would be a bit late today.

[The Mayor]

Yes they are..

I like to post early in case I am gone when the thread starts.

[MEG33]

Thank you for our daily devotionals.

[Aquamarine]

((((((Mama Bear))))) I'm doing fine just a little sore from working too much outdoors. Hope you're doing well.

[lonestar]

Actually, I had my "life" and "day" on The Finest when I was running for governor of California. The squirrels "got me" at the same time and that's when I took over Rainbow Bridge. It's hard to keep a good dog down.

Weinie

(even harder to get a "talkative dog" with attitude to stiffle itself)

lonestar

[MEG33]

We'd never want you to stifle yourself..It just wouldn't be the Weinie we know and love! LOL

[LadyX]

After lonestar posted shortly after 10 p.m., my time, and when after 11 there still was no more thread activity, I signed off *early.*

Watching Fox News now, it just featured a major campaign by Marines in northeast Afghanistan - Operation Mountain Lion - seriously hunting down Al Qaeda...

A Fox reporter is imbedded with them, and was showing films of their remote temporary camp and activities, digging foxholes in barren terrain.
Grabbing my attention was a scene with several of our Marines huddled in a prayer circle, arms around one another, and one man praying out loud.

Lord, bless these and all our trooops who go forward in Your Holy Name - not to be conquerors, except over evil, that others might enjoy our hard earned freedoms.

[MEG33]

Amen..

Thank you, LadyX..I will turn on the news

[LadyX]

Coverage of the Mountain Lion Hunt continues...explained since Spring has begun, it is possible to search caves, etc.

In the films, the terrain did not have vegetation yet, as in this similar photograph - -

[MEG33]

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

[freema]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1613569/posts?page=159#159

[Billie]

I am late with Wednesday thread but finally.....

We Are HERE!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Thank you for the ping, Billie.

[.30Carbine]

Oh what a timely word yesterday's devotional is for me! Having quit smoking recently (today is Day #33) I am very aware now of just how often I reached for a cigarette instead of feeling a painful emotion or instead of taking it to the Lord in prayer or instead of being weak and troubled.... I am very glad that the Holy Spirit has sent me this message through you (as well as through a couple of others on Christian radio) on the GRACE that is ours ONLY in weakness: How subtle our human tendency to pride and trust in our own "strength" is. How truly good it is to be weak--even weepy!--so long as Jesus is my strength, amen!