What the Dogs Drag In…

On May 22, 2010 a tornado destroyed a large part of Joplin, Missouri.  There were many people who were killed, and many more who were left without homes, but thanks to the Good Lord, and many good hearted people things are looking better.  There were also many pets left homeless.

I have written of Archer previously, and our other dog which adopted us by swimming out of the Creek, onto the bank, and then following us home.  Archer came from Joplin, after the tornado.  We were dogless, until then.  Our son James and his wife Amber lost their home in that tornado, and they had just taken Archer into their home, off the streets of Joplin; and along with their two dogs Pillar and Skillet survived the storm.  They came and lived with us until they found another home.  We took Archer as ours, and he has been here ever since that time.

It is amazing what dogs can drag into the yard.  We have had bones large, medium, and small bones.  I am constantly throwing them out of the yard – they work havoc on a lawn mower; at least make a lot of noise.  They have dragged in an ‘Possum, a baby armadillo, not too long ago, a large mouse (and I do not mean a rat) that was almost as large as a rat, and the last thing they dragged in was a mystery at first, because it was headless with its entrails hanging out when they dragged it in, and left it in between our two cars; I finally figured out it was a young ground hog.

I do not know what will be next.  I told my wife the other day;  “I think our dogs are trying to show us that they are keeping themselves busy.”

We also have a pup.  She is the offspring of the little Corgi mix mother which crawled up out of the Creek last July.  She had seven pups.  Five pups died, one by being run over while chasing a pickup driving by; the rest just mysteriously found dead.  The other one we named Rascal, a male, and we gave him to our daughter and her family for Christmas.   We call the mother “Little Girl” or Molly; we call her pup Little Bit, because she was the runt of the litter.  Little Bit likes to stay in the yard most of the time and not wander off, like the other two do; and she is so timid.

If anyone would like to have a young dog, part Corgi, we would let you have the mother and the pup.

Life as it is along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

edit – the date of the Joplin tornado was May 22, 2011.

One Year Ago Today…

We moved into our new home along the banks of Flat Creek.  It has been a joyous year being able to step outside our home; especially out the back doors, and hear the sound of the creek as it rolls down toward Table Rock Lake several miles away.

It was a joy to last Winter watch the Eagles as the soared above our heads, house and land.  It was also with joy that when the tornado struck Joplin, MO. we had the house and space for our son James, his wife, and Archer and for a short while even Pillar and Skillet; to move in with us for a couple of months until they could find them a new home.  Archer, ended up finding his home with us permanently.  We have really enjoyed having him around too.  I do not remember as a boy with a dog having as much fun and joy as I have had with Archer.

Anyway, the year has gone by quickly.  There is much work we need to do around our home yet.  We need to get a front porch built on it.  We also want to built a back deck.  That will still come.

One day we would like to get the old house my father was born and raised in fixed up and use it for family and friends to stay in when they come visit.  That will be a while in coming.  There is much work to do, and with being a pastor, driving a school bus there just does not seem to be enough time in the day to accomplish everything I would like to do.

I just thank the LORD Almighty for His blessings, His grace and His mercy.  I also thank Him for our home which we are only stewards; and I pray will be always faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to our care.

Being blessed daily along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

From my Journal

This is part of what I wrote in my journal for today.

On this day in 2001 at around 7:30 a.m. Central time the U.S.A. was attacked by the enemy with ties to Islam.  There were four groups/teams who hijacked four different passenger  planes.  The first was directed as a bomb into the North tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.  The second, like the first was flown directly into the South tower.  The explosions were massive, and the destruction was horrific.

A third plane was directed at the Pentagon, a government building where military plans and personnel are housed.  The fourth plane was on a direct path toward Washington D.C., but did not reach its destination.  The passengers on board, upon finding out the intentions of the terrorists caused the plane to crash into a field in Pennsylvania killing all on board, but probably saving many more lives..

In total more than 3,000 people died that day.  Because of God’s intervention – Divine Providence – there could have been many more perishing in the fall of the towers that day.

In my heart I believe that was a warning to our nation of our departure from the Lord of all.  A message to the Christians especially. Judgment was beginning to increase.

Thankfully, we had a President who was a confessing Christian and appeared to trust the Lord at that time.

That has been ten years now, and there have been many destructive storms of “Nature” hit our nation.  One was hurricane “Katrina” which hit the Gulf Coast nearly destroying New Orleans, LA..  Just this past Spring tornadoes  hit the South nearly destroying the city of Tuscaloosa, AL.  Maybe I should say “destroying the city…”.  That happened in April and over 300 were killed in the South tornadoes.  On May 22, 2011 a tornado hit Joplin, MO. killing 160 and leveling a large part of the city.  Destruction of homes, businesses, hospitals and schools were recorded on video as it happened.

There is a need for repentance among the people of God today.

Much of that is word for word from my journal.  If you are a Christian stop approving of sin; and speak out against it. Live against it. Repent of it; in other words; AGREE WITH GOD.

Though I may live in Jenkins, MO and along the banks of Flat Creek;  I am not blind or ignorant of the world’s greatest need; and that is Christ Jesus.

-Tim