A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-15-08...JohnHuang2 ~ "Dreams of My Arugula"

JohnHuang2;dutchess | JohnHuang2

[dutchess]

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All.

[dutchess]

It's Thursday and that means another JohnHuang2 tell it like it is essay at the Finest!!!! ENJOY!!!!

[The Mayor]

May 15, 2008

Surprise Me!

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. —Isaiah 55:8

When our family went out for an ice cream cone, my dad would ask my mother what flavor she’d like. Often she would reply, “Surprise me!” She told me she was rarely disappointed in his choice.

Do you like surprises? Would you ever dare say, “Surprise me!” to God? A lot of us are a little scared to do that. Yes, we have faith that God is good and that He loves us. Yet we’re afraid we won’t like what He chooses for us.

Throughout the Bible we read that God delights in doing the unexpected. Sometimes it’s folding back the waters for His people to cross a sea on dry ground (Ex. 14:21-22). Or forgiving and embracing those who repent of their sin (Ps. 130:1-4). Jesus’ time on earth was filled with amazing events that pointed people to His Father—He turned water into wine, calmed storms, healed the sick, and raised the dead.

What kind of God do we serve? One who is not confined by our finite imagination (Eph. 3:20). God’s thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isa. 55:8), and He wants to bless us with far more than a special flavor of ice cream. He delights in His children who trust Him and are willing to say, “Surprise me, Lord!”

O Lord, give me the grace to be
Content with what You give to me.
No! More than that, let me rejoice
In all You send me—it’s Your choice! —Anon.

Those who let God provide will always be satisfied.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 19–21; Proverbs 16:1-11

[dutchess]

God Bless Our Military
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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; Aquamarine; Dutchess, The Mayor, DollyCali or GodBlessUSA 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.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

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 AnnaofDC......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 athelass..2 sons, 2 nephews Leofl.................................son chena...............................son Hope and Glory..................son DebWisconsin.............nephews 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 cookcounty......................son JFC............................nephew 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 TADSLOS......................son Q6-God..................twin brother Edgewood Pilot..................son Edgewood Pilot.......2 nephews gpapa..................brother ItsForTheChildren....2 nephews marsh2..................nephew NotJustAnotherPrettyFace..nephew DeLaine........daughterinlaw kaylee...brother...soninlaw 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 JemiansTerror...........active duty tongue-tied ..............active duty txradioguy................active duty Hoosiersailor.........active duty DCBryan1.................active duty Sgt.Hull.................active duty USAFSecurityForces...active duty

OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin 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.........................>2 sons wolfcreek..........................daughter JesseJane ...........................cousin Roses0508..............................son pmmd81..................................son GodBlessUSA......................cousin SoldiersPrayingMom.................son WakeUpandVote..................brother Skyraider.................................son CyberAnt...........................nephew mrs tiggywinkle...................cousin Jen's Mom........................daughter Meg33.............................grandson 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 GulfWar1Vet.......two cousins IndyPendance..daughter,soninlaw fatima.....................granddaughter Lori from Long Island....soninlaw monkeyface............2 grandsons redhead...................grandnephew varina davis...................grandson Rivendell.......................daughter W.W.Smith...........................son vigilante2.....son, adopted soldier NavySEAL F-16....................son Jaxter...........................son-in-law USMCWife6869..............husband jackv...............................son TINA KIRBY....................son skimask.........................son onedcop.........................son katydidnt....................son SoldierDad..son,nephew,niece,cousin visualops.............son, cousin lilycicero...............husband o_zarkman44..son,stepson,nephew Bushman2.................son Enough_Deceit........son FreedomDignitynHonor..son>

[dutchess]

Thanks Rus...you’re quick! Off to work! Have a blessed day!

[The Mayor]

Good morning, I just signed on and saw the ping.

Have a great day at work Dutchess.

[DollyCali]

Great job Sistah!!!!

nice to "see" you. MamaBear will be in our area (WV visiting Nan).. hopefullly we can see her along the way will keep you posted!

[DollyCali]

Did you read this article?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, y'all.

[MEG33]

“.....the only difference between the two being that Obama was dumb enough to marry Sista Souljah.”

ROFLOL!

[MEG33]

~WOO HOO~

Good Morning!

It's John Huang Day

Another winner, John and Dutchess! I was ROFLOL!

[jaycee]

Thank you dutchess and John!

What an essay...gets better every time if thats possible!

Amazing stuff and I have a giggle in my heart~~LOL~~

[AFPhys]

Excellent, as always. I especially commend you for your line/observation: " The media seem deeply impressed by how Obama has shown he can connect with people, whether they live in Berkeley or San Francisco. His only problem being the rest of the country." I could have lived with the more subtle phrasing of leaving out the second sentence since I was already chortling at the first before I saw your emphasis there. I know many would not have caught it without the emphasis.

The discrepancy in the exit polls you mentioned:

OH  2+10 = 12
PA  0+10 = 10
CA  0+8  =  8
NJ  5+10 = 15
NH  4+2  =  6
NM  6+1  =  7
AZ  6+8  = 14
MA  2+15 = 17
TX  2+4  =  6
RI  0+18 = 18

Average = these exit polls overstated SnObama strength by 11+%.

Is there some easy place you (or anyone) know of to get a tally of ALL the exit polls and results? I would love to document this if I can find it.

[karnage]

Pretty brilliant.
FR is lucky to have JH2.

[pookie18]

[Diver Dave]

Another Great One from FR’s Great One!

Read an article the other day that stated 1/5 of dems will vote for McCain if their candidate gets booted. A wise FReeper commented that on the other side of the equation, 2/5 of the Republicans will vote for him too. :)

[DollyCali]

Good morning all. Due to time constraints with commitments & a memorial service for my cousin, I WONT be posting the weekend thread until this afternoon. I want John's great essay to have more traffic anyway!!! Just letting you all know that I haven't forgotten & will be with you later..

But for now: TGIF AND

"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.

[AFPhys]

WEAR RED FRIDAYs

I will be observing this! Thanks!

However, I will ALWAYS support my Commander-in-Chief, even as I did Clinton in ALL his military decisions.

Unless you also support the President, you are NOT supporting the troops. Period.

[The Mayor]

May 16, 2008

Dragon Skin

Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. —Ephesians 4:24

In the fifth Chronicle of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Edmund, Lucy, and their spoiled cousin Eustace are summoned to help on a quest in the Eastern Sea. Along the way, Eustace is tempted by enchanted treasure and turned into a dragon. The desperate dragon accepts the help of the great lion Aslan, king of Narnia. But Eustace can only be freed by allowing Aslan’s claws to painfully tear off the dragon’s flesh. Grateful for his deliverance, Eustace chooses to become a better boy.

Receiving God’s gift of salvation through Christ is a one-time event, but to become like Him often requires suffering and struggle. It involves putting off old sinful habits and replacing them with new godly ones. Paul wrote, “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt . . . [and] put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-24).

What is troubling you today? God may be using the kind rebuke of a friend or a painful trial to prompt you to get rid of a sinful habit and to replace it with godly character (Rom. 8:29; 1 Peter 4:1-2).

The process of becoming like Christ is sometimes painful, but it’s always worth it.

To be like Jesus is our goal,
Though it doesn’t happen fast;
We trust the Spirit as our Guide
Till we’re glorified at last. —Branon

The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment; the growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 22–24; Proverbs 16:12-21

[DollyCali]

Bravo.. I agree with what you said. I am off soon