The Freepr Foxhole Profiles Clarence "Kelly" Johnson March 10, 2006

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[Peanut Gallery]

Thanks!

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning to you!!

[Wneighbor]

Yep, that's why they are *grand* kids. :-) Sure puts a different light on *all* kids around their ages too. Bittygirl would get a big hug if'n she would let me and we mooted. LOL

I tell ya what though. This having a little boy around is something else. Gees, I have a whole new concept of being a marshmallow, wrapped around somebody's little finger, mooning over a baby syndromes. Man oh man, if I woulda had a little boy I'd have been a basket case!!! I do just about anything for those "sweet tater" hugs!!! :-)

[Wneighbor]

Howdy Miss Bentfeather! And a good morning to you too.

[Soaring Feather]

May I tell you about my weather today??

The temp is 27F with a Wind Chill of 17. It's gonna snow.



Have a great day!

[Peanut Gallery]

;-) I know what you mean!

Well, we have gickies (triscuit crackers) and milk (strawberry!) and doap this morning. man I wish I had the camera. She just squished her nose up and gave me the cutest grin.
Well, I guess I need to get ready for the day. We are going to join the guys around 10. MMmmmmm this is good coffee.

[Wneighbor]

Oh dear! 27 and snow! Incomprehensible!!!

Except that - I got up to 48 in central Texas!!!! In April!!! (and was out motorcycle riding yesterday in 80 degree temps)

Try to stay warm! Bundle up. And keep the hot chocolate flowing!

[Wneighbor]

MMMmmm... I love gickies!!! :-) One of my favorite snacks. I can leave out the strawberry milk... but would have to have some just to be "in company." :-)

Hope ya'll have lots of fun today with your touring around. And I hope karateboy finds as much love of history as I did when i was a kid visiting those places!

[Wneighbor]

Got one of those incessant chain emails yesterday that fits where you are today:

TEXAS

When you're from Texas, people that you meet ask you questions like, Do you have any cows?" "Do you have horses?" "Bet you got a bunch of guns, eh?"

They all want to know if you've been to Southfork. They watched Dallas.

Have you ever looked at a map of the world? Look at Texas with me just for a second. That picture, with the Panhandle and the Gulf Coast, and the Red River and the Rio Grande is as much a part of you as anything ever will be.. As soon as anyone anywhere in the world looks at it they know what it is. It's Texas. Pick any kid off the street in Japan and draw him a picture of Texas in the dirt and he'll know what it is. What happens if I show you a picture of any other state? You might get it maybe after a second or two, but who else would?

And even if you do, does it ever stir any feelings in you?

In every man, woman and child on this planet, there is a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride off in a pickup. There is some little bit of Texas in everyone.

Did you ever hear anyone in a bar go, "Wow...so you're from Iowa? Cool, tell me about it?" Do you know why? Because there's no place like Texas.


Texas is the Alamo. Texas is 183 men standing in a church, facing thousands of Mexican nationals, fighting for freedom, who had the chance to walk out and save themselves, but stayed instead to fight and die for the cause of freedom. We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and James Bowie and Crockett and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to cross it and be heroes. John Wayne paid to do the movie himself. That is the Spirit of Texas.

Texas is Sam Houston capturing Santa Ana at San Jacinto.

Texas is "Juneteenth" and Texas Independence Day.

Texas! is huge forests of Piney Woods like the Davy Crockett National Forest.

Texas is breathtaking mountains in the Big Bend.

Texas is the unparalleled beauty of bluebonnet fields in the Texas Hill Country.

Texas is the beautiful, warm beaches of the Gulf Coast of South Texas.

Texas is the shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas.

Texas is world record bass from places like Lake Fork.

Texas is Mexican food like nowhere else, not even Mexico.

Texas is the Fort Worth Stockyards, Bass Hall, the Ballpark in Arlington and the Astrodome.

Texas is larger-than-life legends like Michael DeBakey, Denton Cooley, Willie Nelson, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Janis Joplin, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Landry, Darrell Royal, ZZ Top, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Nolan Ryan, Sam Rayburn, George H. W.Bush, Lyndon B.Johnson, and George W. Bush.

Texas is great companies like Dell Computer, Texas Instruments and Compaq.
And LOCKHEED MARTIN AEROSPACE,! Home of the F-16 Jet Fighter and the JSF Fighter.

Texas is NASA.

Texas is huge herds of cattle and miles of crops.

Texas is skies blackened with doves, and fields full of deer.

Texas is a place where towns and cities shut down to watch the local High School Football game on Friday nights and for the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, and for the Night In Old San Antonio River Parade in San Antonio. Texas is ocean beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies, and modern cities.

If it isn't in Texas, you probably don't need it.

No one does anything bigger or better than it's done in Texas.

By federal law, Texas is the only state in the U.S. that can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. flag. Think about that for a second. You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in Maryland, California, or Maine and your state flag, whatever it is, goes at 17 feet. You fly the ! Stars and Stripes in front of Pine Tree High in Longview or anyplace else at 20 feet, the Lone Star flies at the same height - 20 feet. Do you know why? Because it is the only state that was a republic before it became a state.

Also, being a Texan is as high as being an American down here. Our capitol is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in Washington, D.C. and we can divide our state into five states at any time if we wanted to! We included these things as part of the deal when we came on. That's the best part, right there.

Texas even has its own power grid!!

If you are a REAL TEXAN you won't even need to be told to pass this on!

[Peanut Gallery]

Hey, I like that email. Have a nice day. We are off in search of BREAKFAST.

[Wneighbor]

Enjoy your breakfast...

... and don't forget to stop for 2nd breakfast and elevenses!

[The Mayor]

April 8, 2006

What Keeps Us Going?

Read:
Philippians 3:1-11

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. —Philippians 1:21

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 9:37-62

Isaac Asimov tells the story of a rough ocean crossing during which a Mr. Jones became terribly seasick. At an especially rough time, a kindly steward patted Jones on the shoulder and said, "I know, sir, that it seems awful. But remember, no man ever died of sea-sickness." Mr. Jones lifted his green countenance to the steward's concerned face and replied, "Man, don't say that! It's only the wonderful hope of dying that keeps me alive."

There's more in Jones' words than a touch of irony. I hear echoes of Paul's words to the Philippians. He said that the wonderful hope of dying kept him going (1:21). Yet he wasn't merely looking for relief from his suffering. Paul's hope was rooted in Christ, who died on the cross for sinners, who rose from the grave that first Easter morn, who was alive in heaven, and who would one day take Paul into His presence.

But how did the hope of seeing Christ, either at death or when He returned, keep Paul going? It gave meaning to every moment. It gave him reason to live in behalf of Christ. It gave him incentive to focus on others who needed his encouragement. Paul had come to know Christ as his very life.

Father, thank You for the risen Christ—our reason for living. —Mart De Haan

A wonderful joy is now flooding my heart,
Giving assurance that will not depart.
My Savior is living and reigning above;
Life has rich meaning because of His love. —Bosch

Those who are prepared to die are most prepared to live.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Why Does It Make Sense To Believe In Christ?

April 8, 2006

What Keeps Us Going?

Read:
Philippians 3:1-11

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. —Philippians 1:21

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 9:37-62

Isaac Asimov tells the story of a rough ocean crossing during which a Mr. Jones became terribly seasick. At an especially rough time, a kindly steward patted Jones on the shoulder and said, "I know, sir, that it seems awful. But remember, no man ever died of sea-sickness." Mr. Jones lifted his green countenance to the steward's concerned face and replied, "Man, don't say that! It's only the wonderful hope of dying that keeps me alive."

There's more in Jones' words than a touch of irony. I hear echoes of Paul's words to the Philippians. He said that the wonderful hope of dying kept him going (1:21). Yet he wasn't merely looking for relief from his suffering. Paul's hope was rooted in Christ, who died on the cross for sinners, who rose from the grave that first Easter morn, who was alive in heaven, and who would one day take Paul into His presence.

But how did the hope of seeing Christ, either at death or when He returned, keep Paul going? It gave meaning to every moment. It gave him reason to live in behalf of Christ. It gave him incentive to focus on others who needed his encouragement. Paul had come to know Christ as his very life.

Father, thank You for the risen Christ—our reason for living. —Mart De Haan

A wonderful joy is now flooding my heart,
Giving assurance that will not depart.
My Savior is living and reigning above;
Life has rich meaning because of His love. —Bosch

Those who are prepared to die are most prepared to live.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Why Does It Make Sense To Believe In Christ?

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning, Mayor! You got cold your way?? I bet so, right off that lake.

[The Mayor]

Yes.. Sunny but in the 30's.
We are supposed to have warmer temps this week.

[Peanut Gallery]

Hey there! We are taking a much needed refreshment break. They guys weren't able to shower this morning, and it was HOT and SWEATY on the ship.

BTW, PE reminded me, and I forgot to mention, to tell you that we passed the Hobbit Hole Sports Bar on the way into town yesterday.

Yes, we remembered second breakfast and elevenesies. We are about to journey off to find lunch.

[Peanut Gallery]

We had a cold front roll in this morning. I don't really know what the temp is right now. If I had to guess, I would say this morning was lower 50's. Pretty cold for the Gulf Coast.

It's prolly about 60-65 right now. It is really windy, so it's hard to tell.

[Wneighbor]

So, did the guys get to enjoy the shower in yours and Bittygirl's room? Or didja make 'em tough it out? ~grin~

Guess we need to moot someday at the Hobbit Hole Sports Bar. Where is that? Never heard of it?

Speaking of Hobbit Hole. Did you see the post about Corin's nephew that we'd sent packages to? Had a wreck in Killeen Thursday and is in Scott and White. My first stop today was to run down there and take him a basket filled with traditional Troop Package goodies. I visited for about 10 minutes, met his mom and sister and about a dozen soldiers.

The man is in remarkably good spirits for the extent of his injuries. The first thing he said to me after I told him who I was --- "Thank you."

I cried. Still having trouble keeping dry eyes and that was 6 hours ago.

[The Mayor]

April 9, 2006

The Memory Of Past Sins

Read:
Genesis 45:1-13

Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. —Genesis 45:5

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 13-14; Luke 10:1-24

When Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, they were speechless and "dismayed in his presence" (Genesis 45:3). Fear and guilt quickly reminded them of the heartache they had caused their aged father Jacob, as well as their brother. Joseph, sensing what was going on in their hearts, immediately reassured them before the seeds of self-blame could take root. He said, "Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here" (v.5). Joseph knew that God had used his trials for the good of many people.

When we sin and hurt others, we find ourselves in a position similar to that of Joseph's brothers. It's then that the Holy Spirit reminds us of the price Jesus paid on the cross for our offenses. He says, in effect, "Don't be grieved or angry with yourselves."

If you tend to keep blaming yourself after you've acknowledged your sins to God, think about what you're doing. You are keeping alive the memory of your sins by your anger at yourself. To overcome this, focus on the Savior, not on your sin. Think about what He has done, not what you have done. Because Jesus forgives your sin, you can "forget" your sin. —Dennis De Haan

Blessed be the name of Jesus!
I'm so glad He took me in;
He's forgiven my transgressions,
He has cleansed my heart from sin. —Harris

Guilt is a burden God never intended His children to bear.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
The Forgiveness Of God

April 9, 2006

The Memory Of Past Sins

Read:
Genesis 45:1-13

Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. —Genesis 45:5

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 13-14; Luke 10:1-24

When Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, they were speechless and "dismayed in his presence" (Genesis 45:3). Fear and guilt quickly reminded them of the heartache they had caused their aged father Jacob, as well as their brother. Joseph, sensing what was going on in their hearts, immediately reassured them before the seeds of self-blame could take root. He said, "Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here" (v.5). Joseph knew that God had used his trials for the good of many people.

When we sin and hurt others, we find ourselves in a position similar to that of Joseph's brothers. It's then that the Holy Spirit reminds us of the price Jesus paid on the cross for our offenses. He says, in effect, "Don't be grieved or angry with yourselves."

If you tend to keep blaming yourself after you've acknowledged your sins to God, think about what you're doing. You are keeping alive the memory of your sins by your anger at yourself. To overcome this, focus on the Savior, not on your sin. Think about what He has done, not what you have done. Because Jesus forgives your sin, you can "forget" your sin. —Dennis De Haan

Blessed be the name of Jesus!
I'm so glad He took me in;
He's forgiven my transgressions,
He has cleansed my heart from sin. —Harris

Guilt is a burden God never intended His children to bear.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
The Forgiveness Of God

[Soaring Feather]

Good Palm Sunday morning to all.

[Professional Engineer]

Live from the San Jacinto Monument bump.

BTW, we arrived on park road 1836.