Life and Death

Someone asked me early this year how my 2010 went.  My reply was simple, blunt, and maybe morbid.  I stated that I had attended too many funerals.  Most would understand what I meant but for the Christian whose faith is founded on the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross, perhaps, I could have phrased it better.  I need to remember that physical death is not spiritual death and even though the physical body is gone, the person's Spirit is resting with their Savior until the resurrection at which time they will be given their gloried bodies which will remain for all eternity.  After rethinking my reply, a better thing to have said was something like:  "I am missing interaction in this life with more and more of my friends and acquaintances as the days, weeks, months, and years go by."

May of last year included the funerals of Bob Trousdale (my step-nephew-in-law or something like that) (his wife sang at my wedding in June of 1966) and Mark Fullerton (Shannon), my good friend and golfing buddy for 20+ years.  Later in the year, I attended funerals for Dorothy Hearn from Faith Bible Church and Paul Cowen (ex-FBCer whom I had know since the early 1980s).  This year has not included quite that many funerals yet but does include Juanita Rice from FBC and my niece's husband, Travis Boles, who died in June.  I had presented the gospel several times across the years to Travis and his daughter's preacher led him to Christ and baptised him during the final week of his life on this earth.

I just returned from visiting my long-time friend and sometimes golfing buddy, Laymond "Bo" Loyd who has been in Mercy Hospital since Monday, August 15.  Bo would tell you that his life has been marked by, humanly speaking, more tragedy than triumph yet God has been faithful through the good and not so good times.  Bo always maintains that warm grin especially when talking about spiritual things.  He loves God's people and God's word but most off all he loves his Savior, Jesus Christ.  R. C. Sproul is one of his favorite theologians and I'm not too sure Bo hasn't switched from dispensationalist to covenant theologian but in the light of eternity, neither position will matter.  Here is a picture of Bo and his wife Joann.  They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in Room 421 at Mercy Hospital on August 18.

Bo survived a near-fatal automobile crash in his 20's and has been through numerous reconstructive surgeries including knee replacement, lung and brain cancer, and heart problems.  His current most serious malady is a brain tumor for which he has been receiving "Cyber-Knife" treatments at St. Anthony hospital in OKC.  He was scheduled for five treatments but something went awry during the fourth treatment, he was sent home, and then suffered a seizure and was rushed to Mercy Hospital where he remains.  From an earthly perspective, the outlook is not good; from a heavenly perspective, the outlook is wonderful.  Bo settled long ago his final destination and that will be living together forever with the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.  Please pray for Bo and Joann during this difficult period of their lives.  Joann is also disabled with a chronic lung disorder that requires her to be on oxygen at all times.  They are some of my favorite people in this world and I pray daily for God's will and for his glory to shine brightly in the days ahead. 

Have you settled your destination for all eternity?  Bo has and here are a few verses from Romans which is the book that Bo has been studying most recently.

Rom 1:17  "The just shall live by faith."

Rom 5:1-5  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Rom 8:1-2  Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Rom 8:18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Rom 8:28-30  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Rom 8:38-39  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  

In Step with the Spirit

Every so often, a person who has confessed Christ as his Savior,  needs to take an inventory.  We must never cease our movement along the path to sanctification.  Perfection will not be achieved in this life regardless of the teachings of John Wesley, but we must never quit our progress.  There will be, at times, what appear to be Godless periods, but trust me, once the Holy Spirit takes up residence, he does not leave.  The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life always tug at us but we must cleave to the Savior.  For the past several years, I have followed a blog written by Harold “Doc” Arnett.  I have never met him but his words minister to my soul.  His latest entry of August 8, 2011 entitled “In Step with the Spirit” has stirred me to reassess my commitment to daily walking with the Lord.  Perhaps some of the words that he has written as well as scriptures that I have selected to use for each thought in his posting will also stir you.

In Step with the Spirit

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Doc Arnett

(View on docarnett.wordpress.com)

Faith in the face of adversity

Hope in the midst of despair

Love in response to hostility

Peace that surpasses understanding

Gentleness that exceeds all demanding

Forgiveness beyond all wounding

Patience that abounds above all trials

Compassion that flows from a pure heart, a pure mind, and a pure life

Wisdom that seeks the good of others

Knowledge that escapes every aspect of pride

Righteousness that seeks the very face of God

Purity that avoids every appearance of evil

Holiness that spurns every notion of pride

Humility that is never feigned

Contentment in all things

Mercy that never yields to vengeance

Devotion that is unwavering:

May you be so filled with Christ

that every aspect of your nature

reflects your unity with him.

H. Arnett

8/8/11

Faith 

1 Cor 16:13  Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
2 Thess 1:4-5  therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your 
perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the

kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

James 1:2-3 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the
testing of your faith produces endurance.

Hope
Ps 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.
Job 13:15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.
Ps 71:14  But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.

Love

Matt 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke 6:31-32 "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.   "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

Peace

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Thess 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

Gentleness

Eph 4:1-3  Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Forgiveness

Matt 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Matt 18:35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

Patience
1 Peter 2:20  For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Compassion with a pure heart, a pure mind, and a pure life
Prov 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Col 3:12-13  So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
Ps 24:4-5  He who has clean hands and a pure heart,  Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.   He shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
2 Tim 2:21  Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Prov 22:11  He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.
1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,  but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Wisdom

Col 1:9-10  For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col 4:5  Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

Knowledge

Prov 13:16  Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly.
1 Cor 8:1-3  Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;  but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

Righteousness
Prov 21:3  To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
 
Purity
2 Tim 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 1
Col 3:5-7 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.  For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
1 Thess 5:21-22  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;  abstain from every form of evil.
3 John 11  Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

Holiness

2 Cor 1:12  For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.
Ps 75:5 Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.'"
Prov 29:23  A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
 
Humility
Prov 22:4  The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.
Phil 2:3  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Col 3:12   So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
 
Contentment
1 Tim 6:6   But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
2 Cor 12:10   Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Phil 4:11  Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
Heb 13:5   Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

Mercy

Nah 1:2  A jealous and avenging God is the Lord;  The Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
Heb 4:16   Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Devotion

1 Cor 7:35   This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.
Rom 12:9-13   Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;  not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,  contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Unity
Ps 133:1  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
John 17:23   I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
Eph 4:1-3    Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:11-16   And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Col 3:14-15  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

In closing, go back to the first three topics.  They are summed up in the Word by this passage.

1 Cor 13:13  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Have a Blessed day!

My Female Siblings

Louanna Pearl Walker and Betty Mae Walker

Pearl

Pearl is on the left.  Probably taken in 1926, the year that Ed was born.

I have no memories of Pearl since I was just past three when she passed away.  My earliest memories of her family include her widower, Carl, and their three children, Carolyn, Carl David (Corky), and Glenda.  Glenda was the only one younger than me yet I was their uncle, go figure. 

This is Pearl but I am not sure who the guy is.  It is not Carl.

 The picture on the left is back row: Glenda, Edith (nanny type), and my mother.  Front row is Carolyn, Corky, and me.  Picture on the right is Carl, Carolyn, Glenda, me, and Corky.  I believe this was taken at our house in Seminole but not sure.  Would be after Pearl's death.

During my growing up years, most summers Carolyn, Corky, and Glenda would spend the summer vacation with us at our house.  It was almost like having temporary brothers and sisters and I have nothing but fond memories of those years.  Some of the best times were swimming in the old farm pond while keeping an eye out for the snakes.  One famous or infamous memory is when Corky and I had a slight disagreement.  I threw and hit him with a baseball and he threw a fist and hit me in the nose.  I learned quickly and never had another fist fight although I never landed a punch on him.  When I had to have a septoplasty (nose surgery for a deviated septum) years later, I mentally blamed in on that punch in the nose.  I would also travel to see them in Phillips, Texas on occasion and memories include the carbon black plant, the canyons, and their house which reminded me of a barn because of the shape.  I remember that Carl built the house himself and on some visits it was still being added on to and ended up being two story.  Carl later remarried and that union produced two children, Charlotte and Charles.  Charlotte died at about age 10 from surgery complications and Charles is still living and resides at a nursing facility in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

This is an early picture of Carolyn and an old B&W from her wedding to Don Harris which produced five children, Danny, Debbie, Tony, Valerie, and Donnie Jo.  She later married Ken Webb and he passed away several years ago.  She currently lives in Borger, Texas.

 This is Corky.  His first wife was Sudie and they produced Carla, Charlotte, and Dewayne.  The first picture contains a woman and two kids that were part of his life for a while but I am not sure if they were married or not.  I only recall seeing them on two occasions.  The bottom picture is his last wife whom he married in November, 1983.  Corky died on heart problems in 2006 or 2007 and was living in South Dakota at the time.  If I had to use one word to describe Corky, it would be 'adventuresome'.  He even lived in the boonies as a prospector during one phase of his life.  One of my most vivid memories of Corky was probably in the 1970's.  Joyce and I were visiting in Phillips and Corky was excited about Jesus Christ and was going to be preaching at a small church and invited me to come hear him that Sunday.  Carolyn's husband, Don, was an avid golfer and I was a novice but he had invited me to play golf with him that Sunday at the Borger golf course and I opted for that.  Corky never said anything but over the years, I always carried a load of guilt.  Many years later, I unloaded that guilt with an in-person apology laden with tears and Corky said that he carried no grudge and forgiveness was not necessary.  Only the love of Christ whose spirit indwelt Corky could heal so quickly.  We probably only saw each other every three to four years during our adult lives, but there was always a bond there than transcended bloodlines, it was the spirit of God and I miss Corky but I am assured of another meeting on the other side.

This is Glenda and her daughter Tami. You can find them on Facebook at Glenda Boles and Tami Boles Atchinson. One outstanding memory is a visit in Borger to Glenda's house and Corky and his kids were there. The oldest one, Carla, drank some lighter fluid and I drove her and Corky to the emergency room using Dillard's car (Glenda's first husband). What caused the most difficulty was that the emergency brake was on for the entire trip. Corky kept telling me to go faster and I told him I had the gas pedal touching the floorboard and it wouldn't go any faster. Carla survived and I think she now lives somewhere in Ohio and has had several children.                                                                            

 This is a current picture of Glenda with her husband Travis, her daughter and son-in-law, one grandson, and one great-granddaughter.  Travis passed away in June from complications of a stroke and cancer.  Glenda has undergone treatment for lung cancer and lymph node cancer and needs everyone's prayers.  She currently resides in Williamsville, Missouri.  Be sure to contact Glenda and Tami on Facebook.  They are very special people to me.

Betty

This is Betty.  She was sixteen when I was born but I saw her more times in my life than any of my other siblings.

I believe that these were her high school graduation pictures from Seminole High School in 1944.

 Betty's first marriage was to Paul SchonerSchoner's grocery at the corner of Hwy 9 and Hwy 270 in Seminole and I remember meeting them there amidst a lot of tears.  No one was injured but I felt so terrible for them.  A good memory is that Paul gave me a Remington bolt-action .22 with a 9? shot clip.  It is the only gun that I ever owned and I have no idea what happened to it but I did enjoy it.  Mainly used it to shoot tin cans, I'm certain I never killed anything with it.  Another pleasant memory was getting to drive the 1957 Plymouth Fury that they owned.  I drove it once by myself and once with Paul and Betty along.  Both times the speedometer passed 100 MPH but that is all I'm going to say about that.  Betty's second marriage was to Lloyd Dial and he preceded her in death.

Betty, Paula, and Pam and the Plymouth Fury.  Think this was in Hobbs, NM.

Probably the hardest thing that I ever had to do was to go to Seminole and tell my mother that Betty had died.  Betty was living in Seminole about two miles from mother at the time.  She was in Presbyterian Hospital due to complications from emphysema.  Paula had just been up from Texas for a visit and the doctor said that she was doing well and so Paula went back home.  I remember the phone call from Pam and exactly where I was standing which was in the kitchen at the house on the acreage between Tuttle and Newcastle.  She said words to the effect "We lost momma".  I had also visited her in the hospital a day or so before she died.  I'll always remember her dachshund, Beanie.

 This is Paula and her son Paul Peepers, and Pam and her daughter, Jamie Porter.

Other memories would include visits to see Betty and family in Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas.  She also lived in Louisiana for a time.  I remember a little black and white terrier-type dog named Midge that used to scare me a lot.  Don't know that I ever was bitten but I always felt like I could be her next snack.  I remember both Paula and Pam were wild about horses as they were growing up.  I don't think either one ever outgrew that love for animals and especially horses.  I know for certain that Pam is heavily involved with them as well as her daughter.  Last time I saw her, she was on a horse.  She lives a few miles north of Seminole with her husband, Jack Hamilton.  Paula lived in Lindale, Texas last time I saw her (if memory serves me correct) and she was married to Don Raley.  Her son Paul lived in Norman the last time I saw him. I always thought Paul was one of the best looking kids I ever saw and had the potential to be a great football player.  I'm not sure he possessed the killer instinct or desire to pursue that type of life. For sure, he is one of the nicest guys that I have ever met.

Below is a very amateurish video, the first I had ever taken with my new Ipod.  It was taken around Memorial Day, 2010.  Please ignore the poor quality and focus on the subjects.  I promise to do better next time.

This is Maple Grove cemetery in Seminole, Oklahoma.  These graves are located in the very southeast corner of the cemetery.  My brother Ed is buried in the same cemetery on the front row of the military section.  Well, that sums up the two tales of my brothers and sisters.  I look forward to seeing them again.  I will close this blog with another great (aren't they all) passage, this one from the book of Psalms.

Ps 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.