Bugs Bleat 1Q

Volume 8, Issue 13 Friday, March 31, 2006

Hello All,

First thing first. If all goes according to plan, next weeks issue of “Da Bleat” will have a new address, www.bugsbleat2Q.blogspot.com I change the address every quarter because I haven’t figured out how to remove old posts yet and the size of the site gets too big.
While I was recuperating, Steve Ford helped me learn how to post photos to the Blog so maybe soon I’ll learn how to manage the size of my Blog files.
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Wow! It’s been a busy week. First of all, thanks to y’all who prayed for my healing. My toe looks better than it has in a long time. Special thanks to Annette who lavished me with TLC. Also, as usual, I’m indebted to Doctor’s Murphy and Pullig, Nurses Nancy and Shelly and Glenda. I finally started back to full duty today and got out to do a safety audit. (I guess not everyone will be happy about that.)
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Annette, Beth, Elaine, Miss Myrtle and much of the MCC staff have been in Tulsa for a Cell Groups conference at Victory Christian Center. - - http://www.victorytulsa.org/ - - Billy Joe & Sharon Daugherty are area natives whom we’ve known and admired since high school.
I didn’t go with the MCC group, mainly because I was still healing from the infection and also because they made a flying trip, going up Thursday morning and returning this evening.
Those of you who know me can appreciate that I prefer a leisurely trip, taking our time, stopping to smell the daisies (or more accurately to check out the outlet malls.)
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At MCC we’ve been busy making DVDs, VHS and Audiotapes of our recent Gospel meeting with Jerry McGee. If you’d like a copy of one or more of the services, call Annette at 234-3225.
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Here in Magnolia, the big news is the shooting of Travis Young at his laundry mat last week and his slow recovery. As of this writing, his assailants are still unknown.
The second big story is the hung jury in the murder trial that went on this week. Many people are upset that some jury members could have been unable to see that Justin Vansickle was guilty as sin. However, I contend that it would be very difficult to convict a young man of murder if there was any doubt about his guilt. Apparently, the defense was able to place a significant seed of doubt in the minds of six jurors.
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The photos on the front of this weeks “Bleat” include Robert Davidson speaking at the MCC men’s prayer breakfast last Sunday. Robert did a great job, hitting a home run with the guys. Men and young men (teens) are welcome to join us each month at 7:45 in the G.C. Kirksey Life Center for breakfast, fellowship and an inspiring message from a local (or sometimes not so local) Christian.
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American Journalist Hostage, Jill Carroll was freed this week. Praise God.
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Brother Terry and Brother John are running in the Arkansas Grand Prix 10k at Little Rock this weekend [http://www.arkrrca.com/index.php?main=capitalcity]. They’re hoping to raise $10,000 to pay down the debt on the church. (Actually, Brother Terry said he was hoping to finish the 10k without looking like an old man.) Our hats are off to two great guys who inspire us every week. We’ll be posting the race results next week.
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Also this weekend, Don Vash, one of our firefighters, is at the final four with his dad. We look forward to hearing the story of his trip next week.
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We’ve been reading “The Great Influenza” by John M. Barry. One fact I was unaware of is that the natural home of the influenza virus is in birds. So the current “Bird Flu” is not an exception. The severity of it when it passes over to a human host is an exception.
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If you are interested in joining the Magnolia Jaycees please contact Jamie Waller (234-5777) or Toby Stephens (234-4352).
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Now that avian flu has spread through 29 countries in the last seven weeks, experts are conceding that there is little that can be done to stop its migration across the world. As the LAT puts it, "There is no way to stop wild birds, and they can't all be killed." Health officials expect it to hit North America this year. Initially, scientists hoped that killing chickens and ducks could contain the virus. But now, says one expert, "We cannot contain this thing anymore. Nature is in control." One alternative to containment is vaccinating birds, but that would be a "logistical nightmare."
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Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
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And don’t forget that Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday April 02.
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"Help me know about Christ because The Da Vinci Code book has got me confused."

Already hundreds of emails like this are pouring in at Crosswalk, and with tens of millions expected to see "The Da Vinci Code" movie, even more people will be asking crucial faith questions. Clearly this is a critical time to reach seekers with the real Truth about Jesus.

Right now, you can help Campus Crusade for Christ mail a copy of Josh McDowell's new book, The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers, to every home in the United States. To learn more, including how you can receive your own copy of Josh's book, click here.

Or visit: http://give2.ccci.org/featured/da-vinci-email

Thank you for your support of these efforts.
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A Fuel leak apparently doomed Falcon 1, a commercial space company, created by a wealthy man with lofty ambitions. A small U.S. military payload was riding on last Friday's blastoff of Space Exploration Technologies' Falcon 1 rocket from a tiny island in the Central Pacific.

A successful maiden flight of this remarkably low-cost booster had the potential to shake up the business of spaceflight. But the Falcon 1 vehicle failed to prove it actually works as advertised.

Leading SpaceX is Elon Musk, a native of South Africa who amassed a fortune as co-founder of PayPal, the online payment system, and earlier the Zip2 software company. He dreams of human voyages to the planets and has spent "a very significant portion" of his net worth to begin a revolution.

Early insights from investigators examining Friday's failed launch of the first SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket suggest a fuel leak triggered a fire that ultimately brought down the booster, the company's founder said today.

"The good news is that all vehicle systems, including the main engine, thrust vector control, structures, avionics, software, guidance algorithm, etc. were picture perfect. Falcon's trajectory was within 0.2 degrees of nominal during powered flight," Elon Musk said in a statement posted this morning on his brother's Blog.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/f1/prelaunch.html
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Battle Brews As P__n Moves Into Mainstream
By DAVID CRARY
AP National Writer
NEW YORK

The industry's VIPs mingle at political galas and Super Bowl parties. Their product is available on cell phones, podcasts, and particularly the Internet _ there it's an attraction like no other, patronized by tens of millions of Americans.

It's p__nography. And if you're a consumer, John Harmer thinks you're damaging your brain.

Harmer is part of a cadre of anti-p__n activists seeking new tactics to fight an unprecedented deluge of p__n which they see as wrecking countless marriages and warping human sexuality. They are urging federal prosecutors to pursue more obscenity cases and raising funds for high-tech brain research that they hope will fuel lawsuits against p__n magnates.

"We don't think it's a lost cause," said Harmer, a Utah-based auto executive and former politician who's been fighting p__n for 40 years.

"It's the most profitable industry in the world," he said. "But I'm convinced we'll demonstrate in the not-too-distant future the actual physical harm that p__nography causes and hold them financially accountable. That could be the straw that breaks their back."

The activists' adversary is a sprawling industry that, by some counts, offers more than 4 million p__n sites on the Internet, that in the United States alone is estimated to be worth $12 billion a year. A tracking firm, comScore Media Metrix, says about 40 percent of Internet users in the United States visit adult sites each month.

P__n products are featured at popular sex expositions and retail chains such as Hustler Hollywood. Major hotels provide in-room p__n, and adult film stars are now mainstream celebrities. Mary Carey attended a VIP Republican fundraiser in Washington in mid-March; Jenna Jameson's "How to Make Love Like a P__n Star" hit the best-seller lists and she hosted a racy pre-Super Bowl party in Detroit in February.

As much as there is national consensus on the evils of child p__nography, there is none whatever on p__n featuring adults and marketed to them. It's more pervasive than ever, yet activists and experts disagree bitterly over the extent of harm it causes.

"The form of entertainment is no problem," said Paul Cambria, general counsel for the p__n industry's Adult Freedom Foundation. "There are individuals who are going to react abnormally to normal material, but it's not a problem for the average person."

For every couple driven apart by p__n, there are others whose relationship is enlivened, Cambria argued. He dismissed contentions that p__n is highly addictive or brain damaging.

"Some people lie about it," Cambria said. "It's their way of excusing personally unacceptable conduct _ 'It wasn't me, it was p__n.'"

Such attitudes infuriate experts on the other side who say online p__n is as addictive as crack cocaine.

"The Internet is the perfect delivery system for anti-social behavior _ it's free, it's piped into your house," said Mary Anne Layden, a psychologist and addiction expert at the University of Pennsylvania. "Internet p__n is probably the biggest miseducation system we can devise in terms of sexuality, misuse of women."

She says many of her patients, rather than improving their sex lives with p__n, suffer sexual dysfunction.

Interest in p__n is age-old and normal, says psychologist David Greenfield of West Hartford, Conn., an expert on Internet behaviors, but it can become a destructive obsession for a minority who indulge in it at the expense of healthy relationships. Easy availability is part of the issue.

"It's not your father's p__n," he said. "With little or no effort, as long as you have a computer, you can access some of the most stimulating content on the planet. There's no delay, no person watching. It's designed to very quickly get to a point where you're not in full control."

He estimates that for up to 10 percent of p__n users, relationships suffer _ with many husbands spending so much time online that they cease to have sex with their wives.

Divorce lawyers report that p__n use is an increasingly common factor in marriage breakups: It can cause immense pain when a wife discovers her husband's p__n habit.

"I compare it to your house burning down," said Laurie Hall, who divorced her husband after writing a book called "An Affair of the Mind," about his 20-year obsession with p__n.

"It destroys your sense of personhood when you bring all that you are into a relationship and someone chooses to ignore that," she said. "It eats away at the heart of the family."

Across America, compulsive p__n use has spawned hundreds of support groups, treatment programs and Web sites where heartbroken spouses _ mostly wives _ swap stories of their mates' obsessions.

Polls suggest most Americans believe p__n should be off-limits to minors and available legally for adults. But groups such as Morality in Media think the public favors tougher enforcement of obscenity laws against hard-core p__n; it operates a Web site that forwards obscenity complaints to federal officials.

"We're not going to get rid of all of it, but we can push it back into the gutter as far as humanly possible," said Morality in Media president Robert Peters, a Dartmouth-educated attorney who struggled in his 20s to kick a p__n habit that started in grade school.

"It was hell," said Peters, recalling a six-year stretch where he regularly visited p__n outlets on New York's 42nd Street. "It's a very hard habit to break."

Mark Laaser of Eden Prairie, Minn., says he frequently sought out p__nography and engaged in extramarital sex for more than 20 years, starting in college and continuing through a career as pastor and counselor. He now runs workshops, and consults with church congregations on the issue.

"I've seen the damage it does to marriages, to families," he said.

Though he stressed the need for individual willpower, Laaser also faulted the p__n industry for employing aggressive online technologies that "besiege you."

"Sometimes it's not a matter of free will," he said. "It's a matter of invasion."

Another self-described former addict is Phil Burress, head of a Cincinnati-based conservative group called Citizens for Community Values.

Like many conservatives, he had hopes that the Bush administration would reverse Clinton White House policy and step up prosecutions of adult-p__n obscenity cases as well as child p__n cases. Thus far, Burress is disappointed.

"Five years into this administration, they get an F," he said.

Still, Burress is encouraged by the recent formation of an FBI anti- obscenity squad and the appointment of Brent Ward, a former U.S. attorney who combatted p__n in Utah, to head an obscenity prosecution task force.

The Justice Department defends its record, saying it has indicted dozens of people on obscenity charges since 2001 and suggesting the pace will increase. But with a vast array of potential targets, and many other priorities, prosecutors must choose their battles carefully.

One pending case involves obscenity charges against a California couple whose company sold p__nographic videos depicting simulated rape and murder. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison plus $7.5 million in fines.

The bottom line, perhaps, is that each side in the debate can make points that seem unassailable.

"Everyone agrees that tens of millions of Americans consume p__n. ... ministers, PTA members, policemen, teachers, soldiers, dentists and Boy Scout leaders," argues California sex therapist Marty Klein. "The overwhelming majority of them don't rape strangers or emotionally abandon their wives."

But Layden, the Penn addiction expert, refuses to see p__n as mostly harmless.

"When I ask men who are sex addicts if they would want their wife or daughter to be in p__n, 100 percent say, 'No,'" she said. "They want it to be somebody else's wife or daughter. They know this material is damaging."

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/04/01/D8GNHC20D.html
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On the Net:
P__n industry group: http://www.adultfreedomfoundation.org/
Anti-p__n group: http://www.obscenitycrimes.org/
~~~~~
Army Bans Use of Privately Bought Armor
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON

Soldiers will no longer be allowed to wear body armor other than the protective gear issued by the military, Army officials said Thursday, the latest twist in a running battle over the equipment the Pentagon gives its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Army officials told The Associated Press that the order was prompted by concerns that soldiers or their families were buying inadequate or untested commercial armor from private companies _ including the popular Dragon Skin gear made by California-based Pinnacle Armor.

"We're very concerned that people are spending their hard-earned money on something that doesn't provide the level of protection that the Army requires people to wear. So they're, frankly, wasting their money on substandard stuff," said Col. Thomas Spoehr, director of materiel for the Army.

Murray Neal, chief executive officer of Pinnacle, said he hadn't seen the directive and wants to review it.

"We know of no reason the Army may have to justify this action," Neal said. "On the surface this looks to be another of many attempts by the Army to cover up the billions of dollars spent on ineffective body armor systems which they continue to try quick fixes on to no avail."

The move was a rare one by the Army. Spoehr said he doesn't recall any similar bans on personal armor or devices. The directives are most often issued when there are problems with aircraft or other large equipment.

Veterans groups immediately denounced the decision.

Nathaniel R. Helms, editor of the Soldiers for the Truth online magazine Defense Watch, said he has already received a number of e- mails from soldiers complaining about the policy.

"Outrageously we've seen that (soldiers) haven't been getting what they need in terms of equipment and body armor," said Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who wrote legislation to have troops reimbursed for equipment purchases. "That's totally unacceptable, and why this directive by the Pentagon needs to be scrutinized in much greater detail."

But another veterans group backed the move.

"I don't think the Army is wrong by doing this, because the Army has to ensure some level of quality," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "They don't want soldiers relying on equipment that is weak or substandard."

But, Rieckhoff said, the military is partially to blame for the problem because it took too long to get soldiers the armor they needed. "This is the monster they made," he said.

Early in the Iraq war, soldiers and their families were spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on protective gear that they said the military was not providing.

Then, last October, after months of pressure from families and members of Congress, the military began a reimbursement program for soldiers who purchased their own protective equipment.

In January, an unreleased Pentagon study found that side armor could have saved dozens of U.S. lives in Iraq, prompting the Army and Marine Corps to order thousands of ceramic body armor plates to be shipped to troops there this year.

The Army ban covers all commercial armor. It refers specifically to Pinnacle's armor, saying that while the company advertising implies that Dragon Skin "is superior in performance" to the Interceptor Body Armor the military issues to soldiers, "the Army has been unable to determine the veracity of these claims."

"In its current state of development, Dragon Skin's capabilities do not meet Army requirements," the Army order says, and it "has not been certified to protect against several small arms threats that the military is encountering in Iraq and Afghanistan."
The Marine Corps has not issued a similar directive, but Marines are "encouraged to wear Marine Corps-issued body armor since this armor has been tested to meet fleet standards," spokesman Bruce Scott said.

Military officials have acknowledged that some troops _ often National Guard or Reservists _ went to war with lesser-quality protective gear than other soldiers were issued.

"We'll be up-front and recognize that at the start of the conflict there were some soldiers that didn't have the levels of protection that we wanted," Spoehr said. Now, he added, "we can categorically say that whatever you're going to buy isn't as good as what you're going to get" from the military.

In interviews Thursday, Army officials said aggressive marketing by body armor manufacturers was fueling public concerns that troops are not getting the protection they need.

Army Lt. Col. Scott Campbell said the Army has asked Pinnacle to provide 30 sets of the full Dragon Skin armor so it can be independently tested. He said Pinnacle has indicated it won't be able to provide that armor until May, and the company said that is still the plan.

Campbell said initial military tests on small sections of the Dragon Skin armor had disappointing results. He said Pinnacle has received $840,000 in research funding to develop improved armor.

Spoehr said he believes the directive will have little impact on soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan because it's likely that nearly all are wearing the military-issued body armor.

There have been repeated reports of soldiers or families of soldiers buying commercial equipment or trying to raise thousands of dollars to buy it for troops who are preparing to deploy overseas.
___

On the Net:
Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil
Pinnacle Armor: http://www.pinnaclearmor.com
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/30/D8GM6F6G6.html
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Some Marines Declining Extra Body Armor
By ANTONIO CASTANEDA
Associated Press Writer
HUSAYBAH, Iraq

Extra body armor _ the lack of which caused a political storm in the United States _ has flooded in to Iraq, but many Marines here promptly stuck it in lockers or under bunks. Too heavy and cumbersome, many say.

Marines already carry loads as heavy as 70 pounds when they patrol the dangerous streets in towns and villages in restive Anbar province. The new armor plates, while only about five pounds per set, are not worth carrying for the additional safety they are said to provide, some say.

"We have to climb over walls and go through windows," said Sgt. Justin Shank of Greencastle, Pa. "I understand the more armor, the safer you are. But it makes you slower. People don't understand that this is combat and people are going to die."

Staff Sgt. Thomas Bain of Buffalo, N.Y., shared concerns about the extra pounds.

"Before you know it, they're going to get us injured because we're hauling too much weight and don't have enough mobility to maneuver in a fight from house to house," said Bain, who is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. "I think we're starting to go overboard on the armor."

Since the insurgency erupted in Iraq, the Pentagon has been criticized for supplying insufficient armor for Humvees and too few bulletproof vests. In one remarkable incident, soldiers publicly confronted Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld about the problem on live television.

Hometown groups across the United States have since raised money to send extra armor to troops, and the Pentagon, under congressional pressure, launched a program last October to reimburse troops who had purchased armor with their own money.

Soldiers and their parents spent hundreds, sometimes thousand of dollars, on armor until the Pentagon began issuing the new protective gear.

In Bain's platoon of about 35 men, Marines said only three or four wore the plates after commanders distributed them last month and told them that use was optional.

Top military officials, including Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey, acknowledge the concerns over weight and mobility but have urged that the new gear be mandatory.

"That's going to add weight, of course," said Harvey. "You've read where certain soldiers aren't happy about that. But we think it's in their best interest to do this."

Marines have shown a special aversion to the new plates because they tend to patrol on foot, sometimes conducting two patrols each day that last several hours. They feel the extra weight.

In Euphrates River cities from Ramadi and Romanna, lance corporals to captains have complained about the added weight and lack of mobility. But some commanders have refused to listen. In the former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, for example, commanders require use of the plates. End of story.

The Marine Corps has said a total of 28,000 sets of the plates, officially called small-arms protective inserts, or side SAPIs, will be in combat zones by April. The Army has said it is hoping to have 230,000 sets of plates in the field this year.

Last year, a study by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner said dozens of Marines killed by wounds to the torso might have survived had the larger plates been in use.

"I'm sure people who ... lost kidneys would have loved to have had them on," said 2nd Lt. William Oren, a native of Southlake, Texas, who wears the plates. "More armor isn't the answer to all our problems. But I'll recommend them because it's more protection."

Some Marines have chosen to wear the plates, particularly those in more vulnerable jobs such as Humvees turret gunners or those who frequently travel on roads plagued by roadside bombs.

But many Marines _ particularly those who conduct foot patrols also carrying weapons, extra ammunition, medical equipment, night vision goggles, food and water _ say the extra armor is not worth it, especially when the weather becomes unbearably hot.

"When you already have 60, 70 pounds on and you add 10 pounds when you go patrolling through the city or chasing after bad guys, that extra 10 pounds is going to make a difference. You're going to feel it," said Lance Cpl. David Partridge from Bangor, Maine.

Many Marines, however, believe the politics of the issue eventually will make the plates mandatory.

"The reason they issued (the plates), I think, is to make people back home feel better," said Lance Cpl. Philip Tootle of Reidsville, Ga. "I'm not wishing they wouldn't have issued them. I'm just wishing that they wouldn't make them mandatory."

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/26/D8GJGBC02.html
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We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com. Older issues can be found at bugsbleat.blogspot.com, bugsbleatnew.blogspot.com, and bugsbleat4q.blogspot.com.
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Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
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www.aaa.com Regular
Current Avg. $ 2.55
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
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Recipe(s) of the week - We’re sharing recipes from Shannon Voigt’s new Taylor Recipe Book
QUICK TORTELINI SOUP - a future addition to the recipe book by “Bug”

Ingredients
3-4 cans chicken broth
2 eggs
1/8 c. milk
1/4 c. grated cheese
1 pkg. tortellini
1 tbsp. chives
Pinch pepper

Method:
In large soup pot, add chicken broth. Beat 2 eggs, milk, and cheese together. Bring soup to a slow boil and add egg mixture very slowly while stirring. Add chives and pepper. Add ravioli or tortellini, cook until al dente and serve.

While the soup is cooking, put a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spoon Parmesan cheese on it, like you’re placing cookie dough. Heat in a 325 degree oven until lightly browned and you’ll have parmesan cheese “crackers” for your soup.
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BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson

Fathomable Zealotry
Islam and the Clash of Civilizations
March 31, 2006

On Wednesday, Mark Earley reported the good news about the release of Abdul Rahman, the Afghan Christian who was facing execution for “apostasy” from Islam. As I record this, Rahman is free from jail and has fled to Italy—a smart move since prominent imams are calling for him to be killed for his profession of Christ.

As outrageous as extra-judicial killings are, a government executing someone for religious reasons is even worse. And that remains a very real possibility in Afghanistan and other parts of the Islamic world.

After all, Rahman was set free only because he was judged to be insane. That adjudication reminds me of the Soviet Union: If someone was a Christian or other kind of dissident, they were called insane and put in an institution. It was a way of punishing and controlling the Church—the stuff of tyrants.

And tyranny is still what we have in Afghanistan. Even after the Taliban was driven out of power, Afghans are not free to exercise their conscience. Their constitution says that Afghanistan will be governed by sharia law—the same law that makes conversion a capital offense. For our foreign policy to have credibility, we must demand not just that Rahman be set free, but also that Afghanistan and Iraq, countries we are liberating, respect basic human rights.

The events of the past week have taught us lessons about the nature of the foe we face in the global war on terror. As columnist Richard Cohen wrote, “The murder of a person for his religious belief ought to be inconceivable.” But it’s not, and Cohen, more than some other commentators, understands why.

As Cohen wrote, the threat to Rahman’s life doesn’t come from a “few crazed governments,” a “rogue government,” or even “a solitary crazy prosecutor.” It comes from “an entire society. It is not a single judge who would condemn [Rahman] but a culture.”

Specifically, it’s a culture shaped by an Islamic worldview. Sadly, what’s true of Afghanistan is true of much of the Islamic world. As Investor’s Business Daily editorialized, Islam “mandates warfare against unbelievers.” Now, this puts the lie to the mealy-mouthed proclamations of many politicians that Islam is just a “religion of peace.”

Thankfully, most Muslims “do not act out on [Islam’s] violent commands.” But Islam sees itself in a state of war with Western civilization, which was shaped by the Judeo-Christian tradition.

The incompatibility of this worldview led Harvard professor Samuel Huntington, in his 1990s book The Clash of Civilizations, to predict that the clash between Islam and the West would be the great struggle of the twenty-first century. He is a prophet.

The question is, as with all prophets: Will we listen? Will we acknowledge that we are in the midst of a life-and-death struggle between two hostile worldviews? To listen to America’s politicians say we have to bring the troops home, three years is long enough to fight, is tragically comical.

For nothing in Islam’s fourteen-hundred-year history suggests that it is prepared to declare a truce. I’ve written and spoken about this at length. You can call us here today (1-877-322-5527), and we’d love to send you a transcript of a speech I gave on the clash of civilizations—because you and I need to understand the true conflict we are in: It is a war of worldviews.

--------------------------------------------
For further reading and information:
Today’s BreakPoint offer: Call 1-877-322-5527 to request a free transcript of Chuck Colson’s speech given to the Wilberforce Forum Centurions in 2006, “Clash of Worldviews: Defending the Truth.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 060329, “One Down, Millions to Go: Abdul Rahman and Religious Freedom.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 060321, “Democratic Apostasy: The Martyrdom of Abdul Rahman.”

“Afghan Convert Formally Granted Asylum,” CBS News, 30 March 2006.

Richard Cohen, “Unfathomable Zealotry,” Washington Post, 28 March 2006, A23.

“Religion of Peace?” Investor’s Business Daily, 27 March 2006.

Dr. Timothy George, Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad?: Understanding the Differences between Christianity and Islam (Zondervan, 2002).

http://www.pfm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=BreakPoint1

The BreakPoint Web site and BreakPoint WorldView Magazine feature Colson’s commentaries as well as feature articles by other established and up-and-coming writers to equip readers with a biblical perspective on a variety of issues and topics.
© 2004 Prison Fellowship.
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Words of the Week:
metier: an occupation, especially in which one excels.
bellwether: a leader or leading indicator.
confluence: a flowing or coming together.
superfluous: more than is wanted or is sufficient.
invidious: tending to provoke envy or ill will.
benignant: kind; gracious; favorable.
edacious: given to eating.
from Dictionary.Com

~~~~~
"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it." - Samuel Johnson

"What is time? The shadow on the dial, the striking of the clock, the running of the sand, day and night, summer and winter, months, years, centuries - these are but arbitrary and outward signs, the measure of Time, not Time itself. Time is the Life of the soul." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts." - William Hazlit

"If we don't expect, we have all things." - Buddha

"The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well." - Horace Walpole

"A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." - James Madison

"The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust

"The degree of one's emotion varies inversely with one's knowledge of the facts -- the less you know the hotter you get." - Bertrand Russell
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BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Soldiers Thank Church for Protecting Them in Prayer During Deployment in Afghanistan
M. B. Taboada/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Apr 1, 2006)
For an entire year, the flock at Grant African Methodist Episcopal Worship Center in Austin, Texas, would stop everything they were doing at noon and pray for the safe return of the soldiers of the 11th Area Support Group in Afghanistan.
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2321

Australia's Prime Minister Will Not Allow the Institution of Marriage to be "Undermined"
BBC Staff / Teresa Neumann Reporting (Mar 31, 2006)
"There is a special place in Australian society for the institution of marriage, as historically understood."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2317

Miraculously Recovered Mine Worker, Randal McCloy, Home from Rehab Center Today
News Staff / Aimee Herd reporting (Mar 30, 2006)
"Because of [God], I am here."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2314

American Journalist Hostage, Jill Carroll Freed Today
News staff / Aimee Herd reporting (Mar 30, 2006)
"I'm just happy to be free. I want to be with my family."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2313

Africans Greet Solar Eclipse with Cries of "Hallelujah" and "Praise the Lord"
News staff / Teresa Neumann Reporting (Mar 29, 2006)
Crowds from around the world were treated to an awesome celestial display today as a total solar eclipse cast its shadow across the earth.
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2309

Anti-Americanism is "Madness" Says Tony Blair - Use Engagement, not Isolation, to Solve World Problems
AFP Staff / Teresa Neumann Reporting (Mar 27, 2006)
"The danger with America today is not that they are too much involved...We need them involved. We want them engaged."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2301

Christian Convert; Abdul Rahman Released Today - Case Dismissed for Now, But Will Go Back to Prosecution
Jeff King / Aimee Herd reporting (Mar 26, 2006)
"Please keep Rahman in prayer. He will be in grave danger as long as he remains in the country . . ."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2300

New Zealand Woman Follows Her Call to Bring Hope and Home to Romanian Orphans
Lavinia Ngatoko / Aimee Herd reporting (Mar 26, 2006)
Reporting for Challenge Weekly and ANS, Lavinia Ngatoko tells about Sue Van Schreven, a caring woman from New Zealand who decided to follow through on the compassionate heart she has for orphans, establishing Orphans Aid International.
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2298

German Scientists Discover that Adult Stem Cells in Mice Can Mimic Embryonic Stem Cells
News staff / Aimee Herd reporting (Mar 25, 2006)
"These isolated spermatogonial stem cells respond to culture conditions and acquire embryonic stem cell properties."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2295
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GCF: On The Beach

Emailed to me from another humor list (Marty's Joke of the Day) -Tom To subscribe to Marty's Joke of the Day, send a blank email to: martysjotd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! A smile will enhance the quality of your life. Just send an email to: good-clean-fun-subscribe@egroups.com or visit the Good Clean Fun web site http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor/ UNSUBSCRIBE INFO for Good Clean Fun is at the end of this email. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2005 before it was sent.
------------------------------------------

Little Johnny was walking down the beach, and as he did so, he saw a matronly woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand.

He walked up to her and asked, "Do you go to church every week?"

"Yes." she replied.

"Do you pray often?" the boy asked next, and again she answered, "Yes."

"Do you know the Ten Commandments?"

"Yes, I do." she answered, with a smile.

"Do you keep them all?" Johnny asked.

She nodded her head, "Yes, I do." she said.

With that he asked his final question, "Will you hold my dollar while I go swimming?"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Were You Born In A Barn?

Emailed to me from another humor list (The Funnies) -Tom To subscribe to The Funnies, send a blank email to: andychaps_the-funnies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
-----------------------------------------

Our son was constantly wandering in and out of the house, leaving the front or back door wide open.

"Once and for all, will you PLEASE close that door!" my exasperated wife pleaded one day. "Were you born in a barn?"

"No, I was born in a hospital," he replied, smirking, "...with automatic doors."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Rice Preference

Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website: Subscribe
---------------------------------------------------

The young woman really thought she'd been very patient, through a protracted period of dating with no talk of marriage.

One night her steady boyfriend took her to a Chinese restaurant. As he perused the menu, he casually asked her, "So . . . how do you like your rice? Boiled? Steamed? Or fried?"

Without missing a beat, she looked over her menu at him and replied clearly, "Thrown."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Waitress Date

Emailed to me another humor list (Good Clean Funnies List) -Tom To subscribe The Good Clean Funnies List, (not to be confused with this list, which is Good Clean Fun) send an email to: gcfl-request@gcfl.net with subject = add
---------------------------------------------------

A customer wanted to ask his attractive waitress for a date, but couldn't get her attention. When he was able to catch her eye, she quickly looked away. Finally he followed her into the kitchen and blurted out his invitation. To his amazement, she readily consented.

He said, "Why have you been avoiding me all this time? You wouldn't even make eye contact?"

"Oh," said the waitress, "I thought you wanted more coffee."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Shipwrecked

Emailed to me from another humor list (Marty's Joke of the Day) -Tom To subscribe to Marty's Joke of the Day, send a blank email to: martysjotd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
----------------------------------------------------

The shipwrecked mariner had spent a number of years on a deserted island. Then one morning he was thrilled to see a ship offshore and a smaller vessel pulling out toward him. When the boat grounded on the beach, the officer in charge handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and told him, "With the captain's compliments. He said to read through these and let us know if you still want to be rescued."
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / The trouble with doing \ \_/ ////
\ / something right the first time \ /
\ _/ is that nobody appreciates \_ /
/ / how difficult it was. \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / I don't exercise at all. \ \_/ ////
\ / If God had meant me to touch \ /
\ _/ my toes, He would have put \_ /
/ / put them on my knees. \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / I want less work and \ /
\ _/ more money for not doing it. \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Always remember to pillage \ /
\ _/ BEFORE you burn. \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / The more you know, \ /
\ _/ the more you know \_ /
/ / you ought to know. \ _ ____________________________ _
/ ) Thomas S. Ellsworth ( / / tellswor@slonet.org \ _( (_ http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor _) )_
(((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
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[GCFL.net] Place To Stay For The Weekend

I'm looking for a place to stay for the weekend because my wife kicked me out. For some reason she's mad at me.

When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first: the truck, the car, fishing, golfing, watching TV. You know, important things.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house.

I was gone only a few minutes. When I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. "When you finish cutting the grass," I said, "you might as well sweep the sidewalk."

After that she just lost it and kicked me out! Can you believe that?

Received from Tim Doubledee.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Discrimination Lawsuit

An atheist was quite incensed over the preparation for Easter and Passover holidays and decided to contact the local ACLU about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while the atheists had no holidays for them to celebrate.

The ACLU jumped on the opportunity to once again pick up the cause of the downtrodden and assigned their sharpest attorney to the case.

The case was brought up before a learned judge who, after listening to the passionate presentation by the ACLU representative, promptly banged his gavel and said, "Case dismissed!"

The ACLU lawyer stood up and objected to the ruling and said, "Your honor, how can you dismiss this case? Surely the Christians have Christmas, Easter, and many other observances. And the Jews--why, in addition to Passover, they have Yom Kippur and Hanukkah ... and yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!"

The judge leaned back in his chair and simply said, "Obviously your client is too confused to know about or for that matter even celebrate the atheists' holiday!"

The ACLU lawyer pompously said, "We are aware of no such holiday for atheists--just when might that be?"

The judge said "Well, it comes every year at the same time--April 1st!"

Received from jhughey.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Easter Funny

After the egg hunt on Easter Sunday, the young farm boy decided to play a prank. He went to the chicken coop and replaced every single egg with a brightly colored one.

A few minutes later the rooster walked in, saw all the colored eggs, then stormed outside and beat up the peacock!

Received from Paula Sanning.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Why Some Bachelors Can't Cook

/* We received a great tip from Abraham, one of our members, that we thought was worth sharing with everyone. If you set your browser's home page to http://www.gcfl.net/randomfunny.php you will get a random funny every time you open your browser! How cool is that? Thanks Abraham! */

Two bachelors were talking. One said to the other, "I got a cookbook the other day, but I can't do any of the recipes."

"Why? Are they too difficult?" asked the second.

"No," the first replied. "It's just that they all start with the same thing: 'Take a clean dish...'"

Received from Andrew Campbell.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Coming Downstairs

Teddy came thundering down the stairs, much to his father's annoyance. "Teddy," he called, "how many more times do I have I to tell you to come downstairs quietly? Now, go back upstairs and come down like a civilized human being."

There was a silence, and Teddy reappeared in the front room.

"That's better," said his father. "Now in the future you will always come downstairs like that."

"OK," said Teddy. "I slid down the railing."

Received from Thomas S. Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Rate this funny at http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a) Mail address: GCFL, Box 100, Harvest, AL 35749, USA
To print or email this funny to others, go to http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
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KID SAYINGS
~~
Jesus' Dad's Name

A Sunday school teacher asked her class, "What was Jesus' mother's name?"
One child answered, "Mary."
The teacher then asked, "Who knows what Jesus' father's name was?"
A little kid said, "Verge."
Confused, the teacher asked, "Where did you get that?"
The kid said, "Well, you know, they are always talking about Verge n' Mary.''

***********
KIDS IN CHURCH
3-year-old Reese:
"Our Father, Who does art in
heaven, Harold is His name.
Amen."

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

A little boy was overheard praying:
"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am."

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

After the christening of his baby brother in church,
Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied,
"That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a
Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin, the Lord's Prayer
for several evenings at bedtime.
She would repeat after me the lines from the prayer.
Finally, she decided to go solo.
I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated
each word, right up to the end of the prayer:
"Lead us not into temptation," she prayed,
but deliver us from E-mail.

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

One particular four-year-old prayed,
"And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

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

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service,
"And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"
One bright little girl replied,
"Because people are
sleeping."

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

Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother, Joel, were sitting together in church.
Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud.
Finally, his ! big sister had had enough.
"You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."
"Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.
Angie pointed to the back of the church and said,
"See those two men standing by the door?
They're hushers."

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

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
"Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.
"He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
"Did God throw him back down?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"
"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.
"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Thanks to John Chadsey
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THIRTY LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE
1.. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't.
2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
3.. I Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare Depend on Me!
4.. Some people are alive only because there are laws against murder.
5.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

6.. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.
7.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me
8.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
9.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
10.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.
11.. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
12. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning
medicine.
13.. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
14.. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
15.. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
16.. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
17... Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it!
18.. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
19.. Procrastinate Now!
20.. I Have a Degree in Liberal! Arts; D o You Want Fries With That?
21.. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
22.. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance
23.. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
24..They call it PMS because MadCow Disease was already taken.
25..He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.
26..A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three
thousand times the memory.
27..Ham and eggs. A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment
for a pig.
28.. The trouble with life is there's no background music.
29.. The original point and click interface was a Smith and Wesson.
30.. I smile! because I don't know what else to do.

Thanks to John Chadsey
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.

*Happy Birthday*

A couple phoned a neighbor to extend birthday greetings. They dialed the number and then sang "Happy Birthday" to him. But when they finished their off-key rendition, they discovered that they had dialed the wrong number.

"Don't let it bother you," said a strange but amused voice. "You folks need all the practice you can get."

(-:][:-)

*Turtle Keeper*

Martin was a slow worker and found it difficult to hold down a job. After a visit to the job centre he was offered work at the local Zoo. When he arrived for his first day, the keeper aware of his reputation told him to take care of the tortoise section.
Later, the keeper dropped by to see how Martin was getting on and found him standing by an empty enclosure.

"Where are the tortoises?" he asked him.

"I can't believe it" said Martin "I just opened the door and then.....Whooooosh!"

(-:][:-)

*Larger Than 20*

A friend and I were standing in line at a fast-food restaurant, waiting to place our order.

There was a big sign posted. "No bills larger than $20 will be accepted."

The woman in front of us, pointing to the sign, remarked, "Believe me, if I HAD a bill larger than $20, I wouldn't be eating here."

(-:][:-)

*Ticket Purchase*

A couple with three children waited in line at San Francisco's Pier 41 to purchase tickets for a boat trip to Alcatraz.

Others watched with varying degrees of sympathy and irritation as the young children fidgeted, whined, and punched one another. The frazzled parents reprimanded them to no avail.

Finally they reached the ticket window.

"Five tickets, please," the father said. "Two round trip, three one way."

(-:][:-)

*Elevator Repair*

Soon after our high-tech company moved into a new building, we had trouble with the elevators. A manager got stuck between floors and, after some door banging, finally attracted attention. His name was taken and rescue promised.

It took two hours before the elevator mechanic arrived and got the manager out. When he returned to his desk, he found this note from his efficient secretary: "The elevator people called and will be here in two hours."

-=+=-

Eye Laugh

"Birthday Disappointment"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=11

"Bike Plow"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=12

"Meat Lovers"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=13

"Driving Regret"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=14

"Rural Warning"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=15

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Daily devotionals are available at http://link.Crosswalk.Com/UM/T.asp?A1. 39. 17757. 1. 494611 You can access more information on Crosswalk's Fun page http://www.Crosswalk.Com/fun/! Crosswalk gives credit to the author of a joke when author is known. Feel free to send notification to admin@cybersalt.org in cases where credit has not been given to the author! -SUBSCRIPTION INFO- * Copyright2004 Crosswalk.Com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights reserved. Introducing www.Crossguide.Com Where Christians find Products, Services & Ministries.
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/margarine.html - - Margarine Is Good For You. Oops -- Never Mind. "It's hard to follow the news lately without reading some scientific red alert about an everyday food. Not long ago, for instance, The Center for Science in the Public Interest announced that pastries are bad for you. All I can say is: Exactly -- that's why we eat them..."
http://www.madkane.com
http://www.madkane.com/notable.html (Notables Weblog)
http://www.madkane.com/bush.html (Dubya's Dayly Diary)
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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Mayo Clinic - - http://www.mayoclinic.com/ - - Mayo Clinic Health Information's award-winning consumer Web site offers health information, and self-improvement and disease management tools. MayoClinic.com's medical experts and editorial professionals bring you access to the knowledge and experience of Mayo Clinic for all of your consumer health information needs, from cancer, diabetes and heart disease to nutrition, exercise and pregnancy.
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Merck Veterinary Manual - - http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp - - The single most comprehensive electronic reference for animal care information. Includes over 12,000 indexed topics and over 1200 illustrations. Rapidly search by topic, species, specialty, disease, and keyword using advanced search.
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I Hear America Singing - - http://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/ihas/ihashome.html - - "I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear," wrote Walt Whitman in a poem celebrating the American spirit - adventuresome, strong, and inclusive. This Web site invites visitors to experience the diversity of American performing arts through the Library of Congress's unsurpassed collections of scores, sheet music, audio recordings, films, photographs, maps, and other materials.
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Wired for Books - - http://wiredforbooks.org/ - - For many years, most of the best writers of the English language found their way to Don Swaim's CBS Radio studio in New York. The one-on-one interviews typically lasted 30 to 45 minutes and then had to be edited down to a two minute radio show. Wired for Books is proud to make these important oral documents publicly available for the first time in their entirety. Listen to the voices of many of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.
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Today in Literature - - http://www.todayinliterature.com/ - - Today in Literature features a new original biographical story each calendar day about the great writers, books, and events in literary history.
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The Encyclopedia of Television - - http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/index.html - - The Encyclopedia of Television includes more than 1,000 original essays from more than 250 contributors and examines specific programs and people, historic moments and trends, major policy disputes and such topics as violence, tabloid television and the quiz show scandal. It also includes histories of major television networks as well as broadcasting systems around the world and is complemented by resource materials, photos and bibliographical information.
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Windows Defender - - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=435bfce7-da2b-4a6a-afa4-f7f14e605a0d&displaylang=en - - Windows Defender (Beta 2) is a free program that helps you stay productive by protecting your computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Related site: Microsoft Download Center. - - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en
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------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
March 31, 2006
Success
Today's Safety From the Heart message is from Pam Kemp.

The Only time Success comes before Work is in the dictionary.
Take time to be successful at staying SAFE.

This takes Work- Think about what you have to do. Scan the area you are to work in for any obstructions that could pose a problem to you later. Know your job before you get started- what you have to do and how long it will take you.
Don't hurry or take short cuts - this could come back to haunt you later.
Wear your proper protective equipment.
Use the right tools for the job.
Stay Safe - Someone is waiting for you to come home tonight.

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------

March 24, 2006
BRT employee, Traci Williams
Rental Car Safety

Many of us rent cars when we travel for work or vacation and are sometimes in a hurry or anxious to get to a final destination. My typical experience with renting a car is as follows:

I get to the car lot, usually after a delayed flight, and find my car. I throw my luggage into the trunk, start the engine, adjust the AC, radio and mirrors and try to find the exit. Sometimes I know how to get to my destination and sometimes I am working with directions trying to find it. I am doing all of this while trying to get used to the car because my own car is a manual transmission; rentals are typically automatic.

With all of these distractions it is important to be aware, slow down and take the time to address any issues you may have with the car.

TIPS:

Make sure you have driving directions. Do not try to read the directions while the car is moving. Wait until the car comes to a stop or pull off the road to give yourself time to figure out your next step.

Before you leave the lot familiarize yourself with the car: be sure you know how to work the headlights, turn signals and interior lights.

Check the windshield wipers to make sure they work and that there is washer fluid; you don't want to get caught in rain or snow with bad wipers.

Adjust the seat and mirrors.

Check the seatbelts; is there one for every passenger? Are they easy to latch and unlatch?

If you like to listen to the radio as you drive, tune in a local station that meets your tastes before you hit the road.

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------

March 23, 2006
Today's Message is from Doug Thompson (a Houston Albemarle employee).
Storing and Using Household Chemicals

Here are some helpful hints.

Keep products in their original containers.
Always store containers upright, not on their side.
Make sure labels are securely fixed to containers and are readable.
Keep chemicals in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children and pets.
Never mix products together. The results could be dangerous - even deadly.
Buy only what you need and use it all up.
Share extras (such as leftover paint) with friends and neighbors.

Source - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
http://163.234.20.106/assistance/hhw/store_use.html

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------

March 22, 2006
Dangerous Combination of Chemicals
Safety From The Heart by John McIver

Saturday morning, my wife decided to remove some scuff marks from the floor in the kitchen. While cleaning, she decided to move the stove out from the wall and clean from behind it. She tried Spic & Span and water. This did not remove the soiled area, so she tried Greased Lightning in the spray bottle. This also did not remove the soiled area. So she resorted to Clorox.
When she poured the Clorox on the area, she saw vapors rising. She immediately smelled the fumes of the fatal mixture. She covered her mouth and nose with her arm to prevent being overcome with fumes. Being in poor health, she was lucky that she could get to the back door to get fresh air.

I was asleep in the recliner and she decided she better check on me to see if I was OK. We both were OK, but this could have resulted in an emergency situation. It took several hours for her to stop coughing and for her nose and eyes to stop watering from this dangerous combination of chemicals.

Please be careful when mixing any household cleaning products.

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------

March 21, 2006
Another Fire Related Death
Today's Message is from Dick Waller (a Houston Albemarle employee).

I was thinking, what could I tell you folks about day-to-day safety that you haven't already heard. I did not want to repeat anything you have heard over and over.... that was until 2:30 a.m. this morning. I responded to a house fire in the city. There was a victim and I was the one who found her.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE check your smoke detector. Make sure it's working properly. If you don't have a smoke detector, get one. Get it installed, don't make another fireman have to find you or your loved one like I did today.

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------

March 20, 2006
Fire Fatalities in Orangeburg
Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Keith Black.

Having been in the fire service for a number of years it seems like we hear more now than ever before about fire-related deaths. Fire death tragedies have been all around us so far in 2006, three deaths within a twenty-mile radius of Orangeburg last week. This is truly hard for me to understand with all the modern devices we have to prevent this from happening. Having been closely involved with one of these fatalities, which was a ten-year-old boy, makes me think that as responsible adults we are obligated to see that our families are safe.

Now how do we do that? Spend lots of money on high dollar smoke detectors and fire alarm systems. NO. Good planning with our families is the best prevention -- having regular discussions and developing escape routes for each family member. Each area of the home should have several planned escape routes. You will be surprised at how well a five or six-year-old child will remember what to do in an emergency, but it is up to us to see that they are taught how to do them.

The ten-year-old I spoke of earlier would not have been a statistic if the family would have had planned escape routes. How do I know this? I found him sitting up in his bed less than two feet away from his bedroom window.

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------

March 17, 2006
Hesitate When the Light Turns Green
Prepared by Joe Sanders, BRT employee

Traffic around Baton Rouge has been and continues to be quite heavy. The simple trips now take longer than they did a year ago. Many of us have not changed our habits and do not allow more time to get from point to point. People seem anxious and more willing to take chances as they drive. I have noticed an even greater number of drivers since the Katrina population boom that speed up as traffic signals turn to yellow then red, rather than sit through another cycle. This seems particularly true in the parish outside of the city limit.

When the signal turns green, please hesitate long enough to be sure the intersection is clear. If someone runs the light and hits you, even though you may be legally in the right, you can still be injured.
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Our Church, Magnolia Christian Center, has the following mission statement. Our purpose is to build a great church for the glory of God through the great commission and the great commandment. MCC' Vision - That MCC will be a place hopping with children, energized with teenagers, balanced with diversity and transformed by the power of God! We want to turn uninterested people into interested people and win the lost to make fully devoted followers of Christ. www.mcc2000.net
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Hands!

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a championship winning.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...
It depends whose hands it's in.

Thanks to John Chadsey
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Be slow to judge

I was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven's door, Not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven who made me sputter and gasp-- the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics, the trash...

There stood the kid from seventh grade who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor who never said anything nice.
Herb, whom I always thought was rotting away in hell, was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal? I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake.

"And why's everyone so quiet, so somber? Give me a clue."

"Hush, child," said He, "They're all in shock. No one thought they'd be seeing you!"

Thanks to David Lamb
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Recall request

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units, code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-morality," or commonly known as S. I. N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some symptoms:

1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish and/or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service, free of charge, to correct this "SIN" defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS , has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs.

There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, JESUS , into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, JESUS will replace it with:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual: the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human-being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.
For free emergency service, call on JESUS.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

Thank you for your attention!

GOD

P. S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice.

Thanks to David Lamb
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A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He! And the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?" Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog

"There should be a bowl by the pump."
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree. "What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.
"This is Heaven," he answered.
"Well, that's confusing," the ! Traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too." "Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."

Thanks to David Lamb
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Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.

If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.

Good friends are like this. . . . .You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll try to remember to listen for yours.

Thanks to Trina Montgomery
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AWESOME

This is almost overwhelming when you think about it.

Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them?

They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food.

According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each at least a mile long, would be required!

Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have to have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day.

And just think, they were forty years in transit.

And Oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!

And then another thing!

They had to get across the Red Sea at night. Now, if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require35 days and nights to get through. So there had to be a space in the Red Sea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night.

But then, there is another problem...............each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, or a total of 750 square miles long....... think of it! This much space for camping.

Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not!
You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him.

Now do you think God has any problem taking care of all your needs?

I asked the Lord to bless you As I prayed for you today. To guide you and protect you as you go along your way.... His love is always with you, His promises are true, And when we give Him all our cares, You know He will see us through.

Our God is an Awesome God!!

So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best, just remember I'm praying and God will do the rest.

Thanks to John Chadsey
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Psalm 23

This is an eye opener; some probably never thought nor looked at Psalm 23
In this way, even though they say it over and over again.

The Lord is my Shepherd
That's Relationship!

I shall not want
That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters
That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul
That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
That's Guidance!

For His name sake
That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
That's Testing!

I will fear no evil
That's Protection!

For Thou art with me
That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil
That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over
That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
That's Security!

Forever
That's Eternity!

What is most valuable, is not WHAT we have in our lives, but WHO we have in
Our lives!

Thanks to John Chadsey
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Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. - 1 Co 4:1-5 (NASB95)

“Let’s clear the air,” John said. “You condemn me because you think I crossed you in this business deal.”

“That’s right,” Bill agreed. “I believe you were dishonest from the day we first met. You chose me because you thought I would be easy to double-cross.”

“Just for the record, I think you are a marvelous person, however misguided you are. You have no evidence – no proof. As a matter of fact, you are totally wrong. You have misjudged me from the beginning.” John said in his defense. “Here is all the proof you need,” he continued as he produced a packet of pictures and documentation proving that the secretary planned and executed the whole thing and framed John for the crime.

Pardon the bit of pulp fiction, but it goes to set the scene for this chapter in 1 Corinthians. Paul begins by clearing the air. “We are servants of Christ. Look at us in that light.” He lays no claim to greatness. He does not desire recognition. He and Apollos are nothing more nor nothing less. He continues, “As servants, stewards of the things entrusted to us, we have only one responsibility: to be found worthy of trust.” The implication is that this cannot be denied. Both men are trustworthy in their ministry.

The air is still laden with the smoke of dissention. “There is no need whatsoever for you to judge us. What’s more, I don’t even judge myself.” Casting off the haze like a man shedding a heavy coat, Paul simply states that he has nothing to hide. The air is much clearer now. The uncertainties have been removed from the situation. Everyone can see clearly now. Yet, Paul continues.

“Yes, I will be judged in due season. It will not be in a court in which you are empaneled as jury. It will not be in the court of my own mind. The day will come when the Lord with shine the light of truth on me … and on you … and all will be revealed for what it is. In that day, the darkest secrets of the heart will be revealed. In that day, the praise will not come from people, but from the Father of us all. He will be my judge. He will be your judge. Let’s simply wait for that day to arrive.” The time bomb has been defused. The air has been cleared. The table is set for the next round of discussions concerning the items that most distresses the Apostle.

As for you and me, the greatest problem we all have is this: we judge ourselves too harshly! We know our sins … and cannot believe that God can possibly love us with those sins soiling His child. Tell me something. If a mother finds her three year old child sitting in a mud puddle making mud pies dressed in his best Sunday outfit, does she hate him? Does she disown him? Does she cast him into the street as an unfit child? The answer is obvious. She still loves him. She may discipline him as she bathes him for the second time in an hour, but she still loves him. She may be angry and upset, but he is still her beloved son. And so it is with you and me. God still loves us. We are still His children. So, lighten up! Let up on yourself. Give your self a break and forgive yourself of past sins. God has.

-=+=-

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. - 1 Co 3:18-23 (NASB95)

Paul has said a lot of things about the superiority of God’s wisdom. Today’s verses provide a good summary to date. 1) The guy who thinks he is wise by the world’s standard is really foolish. The antidote is for him to become foolish so that he may be wise. 2) God is so wise that he can catch the “wisest of men” in their stupidity. Human wisdom can never outsmart God. 3) Let no one boast in human wisdom … or men. Remember, this is directed towards Christians. It is likely that the “no one” of this verse refers to any Christian. The portion then may be read: “let no Christian boast in men or their wisdom.” 4) All things belong to the believer!

Whoa! Did you see that last statement? That sounds good, doesn’t it. I own all things! Keep reading. “… and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” Here is the gist of the story. Sure, I own everything … except myself. Jesus owns me. And Jesus us owned by God. Now, how valuable is my ownership?

Let’s assume for a moment that I own a slave. From time to time I give him a few bucks because he does such good work. He saves his bucks and buys a quality stereo because he loves good music. Over time he assembles quite a good CD collection. Does the slave own the stereo and CDs? Certainly. Do I own him? Absolutely. If I own him and he owns the stereo, who really controls the stereo? That’s right; the ultimate owner of everything is me. My slave’s use of the equipment is totally at my mercy … and my control. If I am a good master, then I bless him with extra cash to buy more music … and may even suggest a few selections. If I am a bad master, greed takes over; I claim the stereo and CDs and sell the slave … because he wasted too much time listening to music!

The point is this: my ownership of everything is totally at the mercy of my Master. He tells me what I can use and how I can use it. Fortunately, my master is a merciful master and gives me lots of latitude … and give good guidance as to the best use of those properties. So, ultimately everything I own belongs to Jesus … and I have the responsibility to use those possessions to the glory of my Master, Jesus Christ … and He looks to His owner, the Father, to make sure the possessions are used to their best advantage.

I don’t know what you think of all this, but for me it is refreshing and a relief! I don’t have to worry about my money any more. I simply ask my Master what to do with it, and he tells me how to use it. I trust Him to do what is right because He is the absolute source of wisdom … and that wisdom is nearly always contrary to what the world tells me to do.

-=+=-

Harley

c. 2006 Harley E. Hudson

If you received Verse of the Day as a forward and you wish to have your own subscription, simply send an e-mail to hhudson719@sbcglobal.net and request a free subscription.
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 11, Number 47 --- 28 March 2006

+-----------------------------------------+

TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: Air Travel / System Restore

Planning to travel by air? Today's TOURBUS will make you a smarter traveler and save you time & money. Also in this issue, how to go back in time to fix your PC, sharing your printer, and the best online game sites. Read on!
+-----------------------------------------+

-----------------------------------
Airports, Airlines, And Airplanes
-----------------------------------

Leavin' on a jet plane? Learn how to make air travel reservations, find airports, get airline information, and view real-time flight tracking data. Read on for insider tips on travel planning and reservations, find links to official airport websites in over 200 countries, see how likely you are to encounter a delay with your airline, and exactly how long it will take get through security.

http://askbobrankin.com/air_travel.html

---------------------------------
Time Travel with System Restore
---------------------------------

A reader recently wrote and asked the following question:

Help! I downloaded a program that was supposed to remove spyware from my computer. But now I'm getting even MORE popups and my system freezes at random intervals. I tried to uninstall it but can't find a way to get rid of this thing. What do you recommend?

I'm sure this reader is not the only one wishing for a big red UNDO button on his PC. Unless you are very careful, you can download a new program or software update, then find that it makes your system unstable. Wouldn't it be nice if you could go back to a point in time when your computer was working? With System Restore, you can.

http://askbobrankin.com/system_restore.html

-------------------
Sharing a Printer
-------------------

So you have two or more computers, but only one printer. Instead of buying additional printers, why not share the printer so all your computers can print to it? You don't have to be a computer guru to make it happen. Whether your computers are already networked or not, this illustrated guide to printer sharing will show you how...

http://askbobrankin.com/sharing_a_printer.html

--------------
Online Games
--------------

Looking for some challenging word play, or a little mindless diversion? Here are a bunch of websites where you can play online web-based games right in your web browser. Most of them are programmed with Shockwave, Flash or Java so there's no need to download anything.

http://askbobrankin.com/online_games.html

+-----------------------------------------+

That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin

==[ Tourbus Rider Information ]==

The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-2005, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Tourbus News Service - http://tourbus.com/news.html Subscribe, Signoff, Archives, Free Stuff and More at the Tourbus Website - http://www.TOURBUS.com
========================
.~~~. ))
(\__/) .' ) )) Patrick Douglas Crispen
/o o \/ .~
{o_, \ { crispen@netsquirrel.com
/ , , ) \ http://www.netsquirrel.com/
`~ -' \ } )) AOL Instant Messenger: Squirrel2K
_( ( )_.'
---..{____} Warning: squirrels.
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Activities and Events of Interest
~~~
Investing for Retirement Class at SAU - Tuesday, April 4
Dr. David Ashby, the Peoples Bank Professor of Economics at SAU, will advise people about investing for retirement. This course will cover the basics of retirement planning from calculating how much is needed, to what type of accounts to use, to where to invest the money. Participants will learn how to save income taxes while saving for retirement. The class will also look at how mutual funds can simplify the whole process.
This class will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, in Business 205.
There is no charge to participate in this course.
~~~
Albemarle Steak and Bingo Supper - April 22, 2006
~~~
The Barksdale AFB Holiday in Dixie "Defenders Of Liberty" Big Air show Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14, gates open at 9:00 am, Show starts at 10:00 am
~~~
The Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the Clinton Library September 22-25, 2007.
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"September 11 WDYTJWD" W. P. Florence
Justice first, then peace."
"September 11" Never forget.--Tony Moses
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD ...the only way"--Phillip Story
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Keeping my head down but face toward Heaven" - - Jody Eldred, ABC News Cameraman in Kuwait
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - - George Carlin
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!" - - Queen E. Watson
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NEVER FORGET! We're listing the names of our soldiers killed weekly. These records can be found at http://www.defenselink. mil/releases/

01. Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery, 30, of White House, Tenn., died in Habbaniyah, Iraq on March 23, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his LMTV followed by enemy small arms fire during combat operations. Beery was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor Regiment, Bowling Green, Ky.

02. Sgt 1st Class Randy D. McCaulley, 44, Indiana, Pa., died in Habbaniyah, Iraq on March 23, when his dismounted patrol came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations. McCaulley was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Indiana, Pa.

03. Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Robinson, 36, Brandon, Miss., died in Sangain District, Afghanistan on March 25, when his HMMWV came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations. Robinson was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, Jackson, Miss.

04. Spc. Frederick A. Carlson, 25, Bethlehem, Pa., died in Taqqadum, Iraq on March 25, from a non-combat related cause. Carlson was assigned to the Army National Guard's 228th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Division, Bethlehem, Pa.

05. Sgt. Michael D. Rowe, 23, New Port Richey, Fla., died in Rutbah, Iraq on March 28, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Rowe was assigned to the 46th Engineer Battalion, Warrior Brigade, Fort Polk, La.

06. Sgt. 1st Class John T. Stone, 52, of Norwich, Vt., died March 28 in Lashkagar, Afghanistan as a result of enemy mortar and small arms attacks during combat operations. Stone was assigned to the Army National Guard's 15th Civil Support Team, South Burlington, Vt.

07. Tech. Sgt. Walter M. Moss Jr., 37, of Houston, Texas, was killed in the explosion of an improvised explosive device while conducting safing operations in the vicinity of Baghdad, Iraq on March 29.
Moss was assigned to the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

08. Pfc. Sean D. Tharp, 21, of Orlando, Fla., died in Baghdad, Iraq on March 28, when his element came under enemy small arms fire while conducting dismounted patrol operations. Tharp was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq. Times have been and are very tough and it would be nice if you would all just say a prayer for their safety and for their families.
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It’s never too early to start making my Anniversary Present list. (Well, I did get a new medicine bag for my birthday.)
Rechargeable Batteries for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (9.6 volts, 600 mAh battery, 2 each (for our two radios)), Yaesu FT-50 (it takes a FNB-83 7.2V1400mAh battery), Yaesu, VX-1 (it takes a FNB-52LI 3.6V 700mAh Lithium-Ion battery).
New “Rubber Ducky” antennas for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (two radios)
Anything from Larry Norman
Back Scratcher
Basic tools of any kind
Batteries, 9 volt
Batteries, AAA
Blankets or Quilts
Book, “The Good Life: Seeking Purpose, Meaning, and Truth in Your Life” by Charles Colson
“Boot” Horn
Chair, office $49 from SAMS (5 of them)
Cheese Grater
Cordless Drill
Cordless Screwdriver
A DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20 device
A copy of DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2006 Plus
A copy of DeLorme Topo USA 5.0
Digital Video Recorder (Pioneer DVR-533H-S $333 at Beach Camera)
Eyeglasses, “Computer type” to use at church (and some new ones to use at home and at work.)
Floor Mats (for the truck)
A new “Gitter”
Handkerchiefs
Hasselblad H2D-39 Digital Professional Camera
Hat (warm, for bald guys winter wear.)
Magnifying Glass.
New Showerhead
Non skid toilet rug
Refrigerator Thermometer
Small, lightweight “head light” so I can see small things on the desk or work bench.
Some Warmup Suits to wear around the house after we get that first gas bill.
Trackball for the home computer
VHS - DVD Recorder (Lite-On LVC-9006 $219 @ Buy.com)
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Scheduled Activities
~~~
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 8 p.m. Monday - Friday. At noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and at 7 p.m. Sunday at 914 N. Vine
~~~
Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
~~~
Columbia County Diabetes Support Group - Every third Monday, 7:00 p.m. room 222, Magnolia Hospital
~~~
"Focus on the Family" with Dr. James Dobson weekday afternoons at 1 PM on KVMA am 630 it's a great show!
~~~
MCC - Abraham Prayer - Sunday at 5:00 p.m and Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
~~~
MCC - Early Morning Prayer - Monday - Friday, From 6:30 am to 8:00 am
~~~
MCC - "Beth Moore" Video Class - Thursday nights at 5:45 pm
~~~
MCC - "Faith Builders" Small group meets at 1051 Columbia 36 the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
~~~
MCC - Firm Foundations Class, Sunday 9:30 to 10:15 a.m
~~~
MCC - Meadow Brook Nursing Home Ministry Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m
~~~
MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
~~~
MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
~~~
MCC - Over comers: Fridays @ 7:00 p.m- Director, Traci Foster invites you to a 12 step Christian support program. For anyone with a life controlling problem. Child care is provided.
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Men's Prayer Breakfast held every Tuesday morning at 6 AM in Miller's Cafeteria. If you aren't a regular participant at the Men's Prayer Breakfast, you're missing some great food, fellowship and inspired teaching of the Word. Hope to see you there.
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Narcotics Anonymous 5-6 pm every Monday at 220 Pine street.
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TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 5 pm every Tuesday in the Magnolia Hospital break room.
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Emergency Phone Number 911
(Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sheriff, etc. )
Central Dispatch 234-5655
(Non - Emergency Number)
Direct Numbers
Ambulance - 234-7371 (24 Hour)
Jail - 234-5331 (24 Hour)
Poison Control - 800-222-1222 (24 Hour)
http://www. aapcc. org/
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"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
"Laugh whenever you can and cry if you need to." -- "Bug"
"I read the end of the book. We win!" -- "Bug"
"We may not be able to cure the world, but we don't have to make it sicker." -- "Bug"
"There just ain't enough fingers for all the holes in the dike." - - "Bug"
"It's no big deal doing what God tells you to do. A big deal would be NOT doing what God tells you to do. Just ask Jonah." - - Paul Troquille
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." - - Tony Blair
"Information is the currency of democracy." - Jefferson
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Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Heb 6:18-20 Jer 26:8-9 Mark 8:34-37 2 Chr 7:1-3 Luke 5:4-6 http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

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If you'd prefer to read "Da Blog" version, just drop us a note at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com and we'll switch you from e:mail delivery to "Da Bleat" Blog. Of course "Da Bleat" is now on the web. Just go to http://bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com to see the latest issue (usually updated sometime Friday evening or Saturday morning. We appreciate your encouragement. We also appreciate your communication when you desire to be taken off our mail list. If you are on this mail list by mistake or do not wish to receive "Da Bleat," please reply back and tell us to discontinue service to you. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2005 before it was sent.
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Bugs Bleat 1Q

About Me

Thursday, April 06, 2006

"At" Work

Monday, April 03, 2006

Men's Prayer Breakfast

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: On The Beach