Saturday, Josh, my dad and I went for a hike to one of my favorites trails in NWA.  With all the rain we have had, I was excited to get out and see if the creek bed that runs through the trail would be full.  When we got to the creek bed, it had water coming into it from Beaver Lake, but the bed itself was dry.  Turns out that this is a dry bed that never runs with water. 

Flowers were in bloom, trees green and the trail was beautiful.

on the way home from Little Rock yesterday, Sonya and I drove through Petit Jean State Park.  This is one of the most beautiful places in the state of Arkansas.

I know I need to lose weight but am slow at getting back to my exercise routine.  This cartoon made me feel better and perhaps gives me an idea.

As most of the Christian world knows, David Wilkerson, pastor of Times Square Church in New York City and founder of Teen Challenge, passed away last week in a car wreck.  David Wilkerson has been a hero of mine for many years.  He was never been enticed with fame and fortune and modeled living a godly life throughout his time on earth.

If you have followed David Wilkerson much through the years, you would come to understand the suffering that he and his family endured.  From bouts with disease to other hardships.  Yet through it all he was consistent in his faith.

Wilkerson’s funeral was today and Steven Strang, Charisma Magazine editor, shares the following story from the memorial service.  It deals with the question of why we must suffer.

Strang writes:

“Once two of his teenage grandsons, who were going through a time of questioning, asked him, “If there is a God, why is there suffering?” Wilkerson, who obviously had far more life experience than his grandsons, admitted he didn’t know the answer any more than they did, but he noticed that often those who complain the most do the least to help the hurting—and he would rather be busy with helping those who suffer.”

What a convicting answer to that question!  Wilkerson didn’t say that to deflect his grandson’s question.  He replied that way because that is how he lived his life.  Helping the hurting in New York City.  Walking alongside those who suffer, even when he himself was suffering.

There are few men in this world like David Wilkerson.  My prayer is that I could live a consistent life such as his and leave my mark on this world just as he did.

I have heard of people getting paid not to do something.  I thought it would be a good idea to get into that line of work.  I found this form letter to help me get on the government payroll.  Feel free to use it as well

Dear Uncle Sam:

My friend Bill Jones over in Runnels County received a check from the government for $1000 for not raising hogs. So I plan on going into the "not raising hogs" business next year.

What I want to know…in your opinion…what is the best kind of farm not to raise hogs on? And, what are the best kinds of hogs NOT to raise? I would prefer not to raise razor-backs, but if that is not a good breed not to raise, I will gladly not raise Berkshires or Durocs.

The hardest work in this business is going to be in keeping an inventory of how many hogs I am not raising.

If I can get $1000 for not raising 50 hogs, then will I get $2000 for not raising 100 hogs? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 hogs, which means I will have $80,000 at the beginning. Then I can afford to buy that boat I’ve always wanted.

Now another thing…these hogs I will not be raising will not eat at least 100,000 bushels of corn. I understand that you also pay farmers for not raising corn. So will you pay me anything for not raising 100,000 bushels of corn for not feeding the hogs I’m not going to raise?

I want to get started as soon as possible…as this seems to be a good time of the year for not raising hogs. Please let me hear from you soon.

Yours very truly,

I. M. Broke

P.S. Can I raise 10 or 12 hogs on the side while I’m in the "not raising hogs" business…just so I’ll have something to eat?

HT: Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

This morning, I read a thought about the resurrection.  Something that I have never considered.  Justin Buzzard brings up a powerful point about our Savior.

He writes:

On a Friday afternoon Jesus was taken from the cross, dead.

On Sunday afternoon he walked seven miles to Emmaus.

Jesus is alive!

The man who was betrayed, beaten, mocked, crucified, and laid in a tomb is now hiking the seven miles to Emmaus. Nothing can beat Jesus.

Happy Easter.

God is…

gracious and kind
all-knowing and all-powerful
merciful and longsuffering
forgiving and forgetful (forgiving our sins and forgetting them)
loving and stable
passionate and compassionate
beautiful and strong
invisible yet knowable
infinite yet personal
concerned and listening
strong yet meek
enduring and faithful
peaceful and protecting
helpful and full of hope

God is…

Everything!

God is…

All you need!

I remember when Josh was little he had a gift for sword fighting.  He was, what I would consider, a 6 year old Jedi Master.  Josh would dominate with his light saber or any thing else he could use as a sword.  He hit hard so he went through swords pretty quick. 

Tonight, when no one was at the house (mom and brother gone), I started training another Jedi.  This time a Jedi Princess!  She looks pretty tough doesn’t she?