A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-19,20,21-07....T.G.I.F. at the Finest

January 19, 2007 | 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, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, GodBlessUSA, Aquamarine ~

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, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, GodBlessUSA, Aquamarine ~



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"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


01-15-07 ~ Military Monday
By Billie
Presented by The Mayor

01-16-07 ~ Let's Hear it for the Boys
By Billie

01-17-07 ~ Warm Fuzzy Wednesday
By Billie
Presented by GodBlessUSA

01-18-07 ~ A Little Kid Humor Day
By Dutchess

Have a wonderful weekend!

01-09-07 ~ Hall of Fame #18

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, 2006 - the author is unknown.
I am wearing red today and every Friday ~ Billie

[stopem]

Thank you for sharing.

[jaycee]

Many years ago I married a "cute sailor boy"! Married many years and he passed away two years ago. He wore his uniform for our wedding and I wore a Navy blue suit.....I always told him I fell in love with his uniform. I still receive a mailing from the retired men from his ship and I am ashamed to say I haven't notified them of his death yet. I got a new piece of mail yesterday and I plan to email them. I still love the Navy!

[Aquamarine]

What a sweet story. Sorry to hear about your loss.

There are Navy veterans in my family and my hubby's family.

[The Mayor]

SCHOOL ANSWERING MACHINE



(This is hilarious - no wonder some people were offended!)

This is the message that the Pacific Palisades High School(California) staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine. This is the actual answering machine message for the school. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework. The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades - even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough schoolwork to pass their classes.

The outgoing message:
_____________________________________________________________

"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member, please listen to all the options before making a selection:

* To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1

* To make excuses for why your child did not do his work- Press 2

* To complain about what we do - Press 3

* To swear at staff members - Press 4

* To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5

* If you want us to raise your child - Press 6

* If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone -Press 7

* To request another teacher, for the third time this year -Press 8

* To complain about bus transportation - Press 9

* To complain about school lunches - Press 0

* If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort:

Hang up and have a nice day!

*If you want this in Spanish, you must be in the wrong country.

[Dubya]

God devotion thanks.

[Dubya]

Daily Rules from God for 2007

1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3


4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up!!... To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Phillippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!!.! .. For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up!!... Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

[Dubya]

Post # 105 should be Good devotion sorry.

[The Mayor]

Amen, Dubya.

[La Enchiladita]

Brian Chontosh is a true WARRIOR and an American Hero!!

I'm so proud of CAPTAIN Chontosh!!

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks, Doll. I've heard Rush talk about Zicam but didn't look into it, which I will do tomorrow when I go to Long's.

In the meantime, I took *Emergen-C,* which I recommend everyone keep on hand and some zinc lozenges.

[La Enchiladita]

We have some sharp looking sailors in that Honor Guard!!

[The Mayor]

January 21, 2007

Spiritual Famine

READ: 1 Peter 2:1-10

I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. —Amos 8:11

In the novel No Blade of Grass, a destructive virus attacks the grasses of the world. Not just the grass in lawns but all grasses, including wheat, barley, rye, oats, and rice. In a matter of months, the world is plunged into famine and its brutal companion, violence. People begin by fighting, then killing, for food.

The novel depicts a scene that has been lived out in the real world in recent famines and is terrifying when seen on TV news networks. Yet I can only imagine what it’s like.

The prophet Amos spoke of a different kind of famine. He called it a famine of “hearing the words of the Lord” (8:11). While a lack of food can lead to disease and death, a famine of the Word can produce eternal consequences. Without access to God’s Word, we lack wisdom for life and the message of eternal life in Christ. As Christians, we need “the pure milk of the Word, that [we] may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). We can identify with the prophet when he said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jer. 15:16).

The world is starving for the knowledge of the God who can satisfy the needs of the human heart. Let’s help fill their hearts by sharing His Word.

Give us, O Lord, a strong desire
To look in Your Word each day;
Help us to hide its truths in our heart,
Lest from His path our feet would stray.  —Bosch

Without a heart for God, we cannot hear His Word.

Bible in One Year:   Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

070109-N-0483B-001 Yokosuka, Japan (Jan. 09, 2007) - Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) entered a dry dock onboard Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka to begin there regularly scheduled maintenance. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kari R. Bergman (RELEASED)

070116-N-5387K-116 Yokosuka, Japan (Jan. 16, 2007) - Deck department Sailors stand clear of the starboard anchor of USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as it is lowered onto a barge. The anchor was being removed so regular maintenance could be performed on the detachable links. Kitty Hawk has two anchors weighing 30 tons each. The length of anchor chain is 1,080 feet and each link weighs 360 pounds. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juan Antoine King (RELEASED)

070115-N-0780F-005 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (Jan. 15, 2007) - A Sailor hoists the national ensign as Sailors aboard guided missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) conduct mooring operations upon their arrival at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility. The Ticonderoga-class cruiser is currently assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2). SNMG-2 consists of vessels from various allied nations and is currently being reconstituted while in port Souda Bay. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Paul Farley (RELEASED)

070113-N-5345W-080 Atlantic Ocean (Jan. 13, 2007) - Air department Sailors wrap, or seal, bow catapult number two at the conclusion of daytime flight operations, aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is currently underway conducting flight deck certifications in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristopher Wilson (RELEASED)

[MEG33]

I Corinthians 13:4-8

May You Have A Blessed Sunday

[Lady Jag]

Sunday afternoon in Forest Hill

My street is like a favourite book Thats different every time I look Today it is a winters day and chill I sit me in my window sill Behind The crackle of the front room fire A sense of warmth and comfort does inspire My window looks onto a street That’s lined with trees And garden walls Where dead leaves in the gutters sleep A yellow snow That autumn reaped The street is still For it is Sunday afternoon In Forest Hill Where soft drizzle Trickles down the window pane Accelerating fast Then slow again The whine of motor car A missed gear change Enters in my sleepy brain Then fades into the distance Grinding Like it was in pain This Sunday afternoon In Forest Hill In London In the rain Where warm lights Begin to fill The drawing rooms Of terraced houses up the hill The street a winter picture now And still Except that steady drip of dripping rain Black trees across the road Reflect late light That’s drawing back Awaiting night To render white The edges of dark branches Reaching finger like Prepared to face cold winter's spite On Sunday afternoon In Forest Hill A Robin sings December song Short Sweet And then is gone Into the ivy on the wall There to pass this night A feather ball In Forest Hill Slow footsteps heard Along the street Denote approach It is a lady old who wears A smart grey coat With silver brooch Walking proud Erect Serene No falter in her step is seen Her stick tap, tap upon the pave Her neat grey hair still has a wave Topped off with small black hat From church This lady’s coming back Alone amongst the yellow leaves She travels home To drink warm tea And sit With memories On Sunday afternoon In Forest Hill My signal on this winters day To close the curtains Turn away Sit by the fire Then later on I shall retire To bed And dream Of spring In Forest Hill Egal Bohen

[Dubya]

[b][COLOR=blue]Sunday Funnies

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

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Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

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Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

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It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

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When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

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People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

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Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

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Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, most couldn't belong.

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If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

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God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

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Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

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Peace starts with a smile.

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I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

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A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

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We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

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Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - God will clean them.

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Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

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Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

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Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

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Forbidden fruits create many jams.

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God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the called.

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God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

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God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

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He who angers you, controls you!

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If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

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Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

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The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

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The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

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We don't change the message, the message changes us.

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You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage them.[/b][/COLOR=blue]

[DollyCali]

I am really REALLY under weather. I have had too many command performances lately & it has caught up with me this time I am afraid.

Missed church today for first time in... well, a LONG time.

You have my sympathy - it is no fun being sick, ever & esp bad when you have a lot of responsibilities.

[DollyCali]

Thank you. It is always a treat to see you pix

[La Enchiladita]

Modern day proverbs... very good!!

[La Enchiladita]

((((HUGS, DOLLY)))) I'm not feeling as bad today as yesterday; maybe it will pass quickly for you too.

Hope you can call someone in to help with the responsbilities...