Christian Photographers Community

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• Mini Challenge #6~"CANDY"     Karma has chosen quite the tasty challenge for all of us!!

• Garden Visitors  Let's post photos of insects, little critters, etc. that visit our gardens.

• Janet in the Koinonia Gallery Please visit and leave a comment. 

• Your Day in Romans   Great study in the Book of Romans.

• See the last photos uploaded to our Gallery

• Tutorials by ohenry   Check these out and practice.  They are very well written. 

Morning Devotional...


But speaking the truth in love.
Ephesians 4:15

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.
Col. 4:6

John informs us that the Lord Jesus was full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14).  His speech never lacked either quality, but in fact was full of both.

But what if our words lack these? Warren Wiersbe writes, "Love without truth is hypocrisy, truth without love is brutality."

Another has said, "If you have love, you are not only going to think no evil, you're going to take your tongue and have it nailed to the cross so that you bless instead of curse."

Let both grace and truth govern our speech.
--Warren Henderson

Thank you Pat, for the encouraging Word today.  I will be quite busy for the next 3 days.  And it has been hotter and more humid than usual.

Paul gave some good advice to the Romans in chapter 12...


In His Grip,
Kevin

QuoteLet us beware lest the things
we own come to own us..
Anonymous

Isn't that quote sad but true?  When we watch people leaving their homes in fire danger with the most important things - really, only the family and animals matter - it shows what is really important in life.  I saw a picture of someone who only had time to tie their horse to their vehicle and drive out - the instinct kicks in to save self & others and the poor animals. 

Pat:  Thanks for today's devotions.  Has Kathleen moved into your place yet?  I was wondering if she is going to school nearby.

Janet:  Thanks, this lack of exercise because of my foot is nagging at me all the time. 

Etta Sue:  I so apprecate your concern as well.  I tend to take too many things for granted - and that is health.  So many things to be thankful for.   

Kevin:  That is very good advice. 

I am thankful that I learned to quilt because it is a soothing pasttime when not feeling up to par or something like a foot is painful. 

We took off yesterday morning early because outside painters were here - we went fishing at a county reservoir in the foothills.  It was so peaceful and quiet and we read books while the line was in the water.  Not one bite.  Don wanted to get the car out of the garage before everything was taped & that sounded reasonable to me to get away from the house.  Perfect. 

Today, two of our sons are driving a moving truck about 1,000 miles to upper NW Montana.  They are setting up a house/cabin for oldest son.  Next month, we plan to drive there as well and stay for five days - it will be cooler than here. 

Carol   

Anthony:  Sorry to read about your mother not doing well at this time.  Sending a prayer your way ----way across this country & all the way across the Atlantic.....it is coming.

Carol

Well, today Marbeth goes in to the local hospital to see the head nurse.  She'll make final arrangements for her surgery next Wednesday, do the paper work, find out where she's supposed to go, etc.  She's going to have the operation at 8AM and is supposed to be there at 6AM.  She's going to have her carotid artery cleaned out on the right side of her neck (plaque).  She'll be there that day and the next, then is supposed to be able to go home by Thursday night.  We'd appreciate your prayers.

Hi Pat

Thank you for the devotional.  I'm taking a minute at work to check CP

Today is going to be unbearably hot!!   They say into the high 30's by Sunday.  Wow.   

Pray for Israel.   A war is going on!       God Bless

Love Ruthie

Al, my thoughts and prayers are with Marbeth and also for you. 

Pat, truely strong words to take to heart.  It reminds me of the idea "Be careful when slaying the dragon, that you don't become the dragon yourself".

Thanks everyone for your posts.

Enjoy your "busy-ness" Kevin.  Hope it's pleasureable work!

Ruthie, nice to see you checking in. 

Carol, yes, Kathleen moved in.  She's settling in quite well so far.  Maybe she's going home for the weekend.

Al, definitely we'll be praying for Marbeth. 

Carl, is VBS over now or are you still taking photos? 

It's so hot here today.  What is worse, I believe, is the high humidity.  It's still morning and yet it feels like 40C out there.

Good morning, everyone

I forgot to keep notes...

Candice ~ You are a breath of sunshine.  Teens amaze me in their knowledge and activities.  Seems like you are doing exactly as Christ wants....spreading The Word.

Janet ~ How may we find out about your 'business' adventure?  Do we email you?

Kevin ~ Don't get too busy in the heat and humidity.  Not good for you.

Carl ~ My friend worked with the audio team during Vacation Bible School once and he was elated with the kids.  Very enjoyable work that is fun.  It is very hot and humid here, too.

Carol ~ Sounds like your son is moving near Glacier National Park....love that park and country side.  Sounds like paradise to me.

Al ~ I will be saying lots of prayers for Marbeth and you.  You both will be fine...you have God with you!

Ruthie ~ Glad you stopped in and posted.  How nice to have a girl from the Korea.  Keeps you young!

Pat ~ Glad you are adjusting with Kathleen.  She will be happy to go home for the weekend but happier to return to Grandma!  Hot!  It is like an oven outside here but a humid oven!!

Nards ~ Good morning to you, too!

I went with Ivalou and the girls to 'Bob Evans' yesterday for lunch.  Those girls are something else.  One will eat anything put in front of her and the other is such a picky eater!  She eats a lot but it has to be what she likes! 

I am going with Tony and Charlene out to eat tonight.  I am thinking that they sold Pearl....their pearlized-white Harley Davidson....for a bigger Harley.  One that is more comfortable for Charlene to ride with Tony.  This new one will be red...maybe Ruby or Rose!  I am happy that they have found something to get them away from home and something that they both enjoy.  Tony called me late last Saturday...they were in Tell City, IN...on the Ohio River.  Then they come back the next day.  Cheap entertainment.  Well, not really but it is after the bike is paid for!

I just had an update of our friend in Lebanon and have posted it HERE

Thanks for your prayers on his behalf.

And the fires in California are very near to Alma's house.  They are six miles away in her valley.

If they call for an evacuation, Cheryl is bedridden and will be very difficult to move if they do decide to try so please remember Alma at this time too.

By our little temperature thingies, you're 2 degrees hotter than here in Guelph, Etta Sue but it's still morning.  Wow!  I just went outside to have a look at the plants, etc. and I was so happy to get inside.

Good morning---or nearly noon!

Lots going on today, busy with the new business and that's happy work, and God gets the glory!    Yes, Etta Sue, email me about it, and thanks for asking.

Today is Abby's 9th birthday, so a trip to their house is on the agenda this afternoon/evening for sure.

Hot?  Oven?  Humid?  All of those---feels like a Sauna around here!  Whew!  Praise God for air conditioning!!

I must run, gotta take Beth to the eye doctor and I need to get my glasses adjusted, too.  She paid for the darkening kind of lenses and didn't get them......

Talk to you later!

And our temperatures are  very low in comparison.  I still don't see the temperature things but that is ok.  I have already clean my house, washed the throw rugs and loaded the recyclables into the car. I will take them to be recycled after I take Fay back home. I also have to stop at the jeweler and have them replace a pin in the band.

QuoteIf you have love, you are not only going to think no evil, you're going to take your tongue and have it nailed to the cross so that you bless instead of curse."

With this thought in mind I have a question to run by all y-all. Is is improper for a Pastor to run an EBay business out of the church office? To write books and make copies of them using the church copier,  paper and ink? all to be sold on EBay for his own profit? Should something like this be reported to the District or National headquarters?

If you feel this is too controversial to post the answers here please email them to me.

Gotta go now

edit This is may or may not be my Pastor I am not making any accusations just stating a few known facts that have been discussed. The above quote brought to my mind these questions.

ah, yes afternoon everyone! haha. thanks etta sue for the kind words; it's always nice to know that some people actually appreciate teenagers rather then look down on them for their age and acts.

i'm going to be leaving shortly to clean the stinking rec center at the church. i say stinking because, like everyone else as stated already it is hot, humid and in a rec center full of people working out, it is bound to smell. after that i get to work the front desk there, which i like Alottt better. and after that, will be the best part of the day where once a month our church has prayer till midnight, called harp and bowl.  worship teams come from all different churches including our own, and we also spend some time in prayer, it's tons of fun. it will be a late night! but chances are i will be back on here at work to see how everyone else's day is going.

Marilyn; if you wanted the "younger" opinion...I wouldn't think that's a hugee problem. if that's the only place he can do that [like if he doesn't have computer access at home] then what else can he do.  i know the previous church i was at my youth pastor wasn't making a lot of money, so he was an insurance person.  and he had it out of his house, but on occasion someone would have to go to his "church office" and meet up with him. maybe your pastor is just trying to earn some extra money? but i don't think taking all the money for himself is right. we sometimes use the church copier for big projects for my homeschooling, and we always calculate how much it costs for the paper, and the ink and we just pay it back. just because he is the pastor i don't think he should be able to use it for his personal use and not pay the church back. if i could be so bold to say it, i think that's almost like stealing from the church to use for personal stuff. before the district or national headquarters, what about your elders or deacons/board? have they addressed him about this? if they have and he has continued to do it, then it's out of your churchs hands and you should take it to someone higher. But, that's just the teenagers opinion remember haha. i've been in a church all my life with my family more involved then most people can imagine - so i know a lot of the inside problems of the church that make me go erggh, but i still love it nonetheless.

hope that wasn't too long, nor controversial for anyone
have a blessed day,
candice.

I don't know tht the Deacon's board are aware, He has a computer at home and internet access there also.

Marilyn I've sent you an email.

I got my errands all done, now getting ready to go see that birthday girl!    Her parents are having carpet layers in the morning to put new carpet in their bedroom, so I plan to help get things out of there and get the room emptied and ready--except for the bed, that has to stay until morning. 

Our Mark is working long hours, from 5 AM until 7 or 8 PM.  He's working for a crop spraying firm, so he loves the job, becuse it means being around airplanes!    I hope he is saving his $$$$ because his pilot training costs big bucks!

When I went by to see Beth, they had taken the residents on a little shopping trip to Alco's so she had a gift for Abby.  She (Beth) never forgets a kid's birthday.  She can tell you the birthday of every child in the family, all of her friends' kids' birthdays, and every child she knows, too.  I don't do nearly so well in that department! 

Marilyn, the first person who should be approached on that matter is the pastor himself.  Just as in any office, using "company" supplies for personal use is wrong; in a word, stealing.  I think our young (and SO welcome!) Candice had excellent advice.  "Nuff said.

Hey, Pat!!  How are you doing today?

Pat, essentially VBS is over for this year although the children will be doing 3 songs for the congragation Sunday morning.  I have finished with the pictures, uploaded them to a CD for possible slide shows, printed copies of each shot and delivered to the VBS coordinator, and the children all made their plaques with their individual pictures.  I haven't posted anything online yet, but will as soon as I get around to resizing them for the web.

Thank you Candice,and Janet. Jane my friend I really appreciate your email. Thanks a bunch.

Let's get our thoughts now on our Saviour who is so precious to us.


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Thanks Pat.  This chorus really has been a favorite of mine for years.  It helps me to focus on WHO is important! Whom?

Okay, everyone, all together now...

Jesus, Jesus, Jeeeeesus  . . .

In His Grip,
Kevin

  Amen Kevin! He is the one we live for. I hope Y'all are havin' a stupendeously spectacular day!
Peace Y'all, Ritz. (A work in progress)

Ritz, your comment, "a work in progress" sure is the story of my life!  And He isn't finished with me yet!

Pat it was good to talk tonight. 

It is hot up here in the north as well.

Melaura is 15.  That is so hard to believe and Elizabeth and Kassandta chasing her at 13 and 11 respectively.  Don't remember what the coment was about teens, but I am really proud of these three.  Melaura has a BIG heart for people in "burning houses", and as our pastor said selling more than fire insurance.  His fire insurance is for a lifetime and doesn't wear out or grow old.  It is New Every Morning.

Ruthie good to see your smiling face!

Well I am off for tonight.

Pat, what a great song to remember the power in Jesus' name.

well sitting here watching people check in, and telling them goodbye has almost come to a close and then it is walking down to the church and entering into God's presence until midnight with songs and prayer. i'm pretty tired now, but hopefully i will be renewed in my strength as i began to sing. i love singing, i have my mom's voice, but since none of you know my mom you don't know how amazing she sings. what's really cool is, a lot of people know my mom sing, but not many people know i do, so when they happen to be sitting next to be in a service, or walk by me, and realize it's me and not my mom i think it's a surprise. some times i do like the saying "you're taking after your mom" and othertimes, it's something awfulll haha. well, i'm finishing up my Chinese and i have to close up the shop, hope everyone is having a great night, i think it hit above 90 here, boy was i glad i was inside for most of the day!

blessings 
candice.

Hi everyone.  Despite my good intentions when I posted last evening it is again late to get here to post.  This day didn't go at all like I had planned.  My wife wasn't feeling very well and had to go to the doctor so I didn't want her driving that far so I drove her.  The doctor was about an hour late before they had had an emergency with a patient.  Then she had to have x-rays of her hands and while she was doing that I stood in line at the pharmacy (a terrible system they have insituted--slow and not patient friendly at all).  She got back before they called for her and then it didn't take too long.  Her recent blood tests for her routine physical came back showing she has rheuatoid arthritis.  She asked the doctor was result showed and it was 78 when it shouldn't be more than 6 and if it gets to 8 they are concerned.  He is sending her to a specialist but she couldn't get an appointment for 5 weeks.  He gave her some pain pills.   

By then it was past lunch time so we went to Red Lobster and had the soup and salad (very good) and then came home.  When I got home I needed to rest.  After about 90 minutes Pat came in and said she had forgotten she was due at the chiropractor at 2 pm (it was then 3:30 pm) but they could work her in so she left.  She then stopped at the grocery store and when she came out the car was as dead as a doornail.  Our daughter had just gotten home and went up and picked her up and brought the groceries home. 

I called my son and he came over and went up and took out the battery.  We took it to an auto part place and they tested it and the result was replace the battery.  So I had to purchase a new battery and after he put it in the car started instantly.  I was just glad it happened when and where it did.  So that was my day. 

Candice, you must be a very outstanding teenager and I know there are many wonderful  Christian folks, such as JudyB girls and the other teens who have participated here from time to time.  You are to be commended.  I agree with the advise you gave to Marilyn. 

Marilyn, the only other thought I had was that the governing board may have given him permission to do what he is doing but it doesn't seem right for him to be doing personal business if it is during hours he is being paid for nor should he be using church supplies without reimbursing for them and you may find that he is doing that. 

Pat, I hope we all are "works in progress" because I would hate to think that what we are is the finsihed product. 

Janet, you are certainly a busy person.  Your calendar must be all marked up or you have a great memory to get all these things done when needed.  I hope Abby's birthday was a very special one for her.

Etta Sue, the Bob Evans restruarants are one of my favorite.  The food is always good and seems to be reasonably priced.  I wish we had one close to where we live but have to wait until we travel to Florida or Missouri to eat in one.  We did eat there on our recent trip to Michigan.

Ruthie, good to see you posting.  We have been missing you but it sounds like you have been very busy.

So sorry to read that Anthony's mother is not doing well.  Anthony, I hope you have been able to get the help for her she needs.

Al, it won't be long now before Marbeth can start the recovery and the procedure will be behind her.  I know she probably isn't looking forward to next Wednesday.

Carol, your children have some interesting places for you to stay when you get away from home. 

About time for supper so will stop this marathon message for today.

Ohhh, Larry, what a time you had.  I'm sorry about the car and the expense of having to buy a new battery.

Please stay rested, Larry.  We couldn't run this site without you! 

Wow, Larry.  Sounds like a rough day!  God bless ya, brother.  We're praying for you.