Eagle Song

"Take that which is coming against you, turn it around and use it to lift you up higher" are easy words to say but hard to put into practice. Life is not always fair and today I know there are some are hurting and may seem like their world has ended. A headline for a house fire read "They lost everything"? Did they really loose everything?  Yes, I do use comedy to relieve stress, but I also know the importance of trusting in God. Jesus is the Best Thing that has happened to me.  I hope to meet Mike Williams someday- I enjoy his comedy and his testimony. He not only makes me laugh, but he makes me think and challenges me. He Quotes max LaCado as saying;  "Opportunity knocks, but tragedy kicks down the door".

Q: What do you call a sick eagle?

A: Ill-eagle

A policeman in the big city stops a man in a car with a eagle in the front seat.

"What are you doing with that eagle?" He exclaimed, "You should take it to the zoo."

The following week, the same policeman sees the same man with the eagle again in the front seat, with both of them wearing sunglasses. The policeman pulls him over.

"I thought you were going to take that eagle to the zoo!"
The man replied, "I did. We had such a good time we are going to the beach this weekend!"

President Obama was invited to address a major gathering of the American Indian Nation in Arizona. He spoke for almost an hour on his future plans for increasing every Native American's present standard of living. He referred  how he had signed "YES" 1,237 times for every Indian issue that came to his desk for approval. Although the President was vague on the details of his plan, he seemed most enthusiastic about his future ideas for  helping his "red brothers."
At the conclusion of his speech, the Tribes presented the President with a plaque inscribed with his new Indian name -- Walking Eagle. The proud President then departed in his motorcade, waving to the crowds.
A news reporter later inquired to the group of chiefs of how they came to select the new name given to the President. They explained that Walking Eagle is the name given to a bird so full of s**t it can no longer fly

My Little Girl

 My Little Girl is sung and written by Steve and Annie Chapman. It  reminds me how fast children grow up (and grandpas get old). I am glad God allowed us to us to be Grandparents- I don't think I realized how fast my children would grow up and don't want to forget that again.  I am also grateful for living this long- I think of the many who have gone home already- some younger than myself.  Tonight we are celebrating Emilee's 12th Birthday- (she actually will be 12 on Tuesday the 29th)- but I never turn down an opportunity to celebrate a birthday. In fact before that party, we get to celebrate our former pastors wife's birthday who is turning 80 today, in Moses Lake.  They have 17 great grandchildren and have been married over 61 years. They were an important part of my high school days when we lived in Grand Coulee Dam in the 70's and they pastored the Electric City Church. I pray Emilee finds many friends like that to help guide, encourage and show her by example the right roads to walk in for life. Happy Birthday Emilee  Wentworth and Vida Smith. May God Richly Bless You this coming year! 

Trunk Monkey Compilation

Several years ago an auto dealer came out with these trunk monkey commercials- I am not sure they still use them, but some of them are pretty clever and cute. Check them out. Who says commercials cannot be funny. I sure wish my car came with a trunk monkey. And as for commercials, we do not have cable, so the shows we do watch on Netflex do not see many commericals.

We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

Q. What did the monkey say when he cut off his tail?
A. It won't be long now.

Q. If twenty monkeys run after one banana, what time is it?
A. Twenty after one!

A little boy asked his mother, "Mummy, am I descended from a monkey?"
The mother replied, "I don't know, son. I never met your father's folks."

A monkey walks into a drugstore and orders a fifty-cent sundae. He puts down a ten-dollar bill to pay for it. The clerk thinks, "What can a monkey know about money?" So he hands back a single dollar in change and says, "You know, we don't get many monkeys in here." "No wonder," answers the monkey, "At these prices you won't get many more."

USS Montana

Somehow this video reminds me how some people treat God in prayer?  Mrs. Billy Graham once said she was glad God did not answer all her prayers or she would have married the wrong man. It also reminds me of Gods Laws and that the things  that do not change. God is so much bigger than myself and my problems. And no, God does not always answer all my prayers how I pray-(if he did I could take the credit, and not give it to him) but he does answer,  and he is so good to me. Thank You Jesus for the many times you answered my prayers. It was so good to wake up this morning to hear a little bit of rain- Thank You and send some more please for our fires.

Vintage Comedy

Here is an old video clip of Mike Williams from 1999. Mike is a christian comedian- some comedy does not change and some of this comedy will jog your memory.

A little old lady was walking down the street dragging two large garbage bags behind her. One of the bags was ripped, and every now and then, a $50 bill fell out onto the footpath.
Noticing this, a cop stopped her, and said, “Ma’am, there are $50 bills falling Out of that bag.”
“Oh, rats! Darn it!” said the little old lady. “I’d better go back and see if I can find them. Thanks for telling me of...ficer..”
“Well, now, not so fast,” said the cop. “Where did you get all that money? You didn’t steal it, did you?”
“Oh, no, no”, said the old lady. “You see, my yard is right next to the baseball stadium parking lot. On game days, a lot of fans come and pee through a hole in the fence, right into my garden. It used to really annoy me and kills the flowers, you know. Then I thought, ‘why not make the most of it?’ So, now, on game days, I stand behind the fence by the knot hole, real quiet, with my shears. Every time some guy sticks his dingus through my fence, I surprise him, Grab hold of it and say, ‘O.K., buddy! Give me $50, or I cut off your johnson!”
“Well, that seems only fair,” said the cop, laughing. “OK. Good luck! Oh, by the way, what’s in the other bag?”
“Well, you know”, said the little old lady, “not everybody pays”

Super Bowl Church Ad

People seem set on their opinions when it comes to security and I certainly do not want to change yours.  Security is big business- some of it justified, but most driven by fear and watching too many TV programs that feed our minds with garbage. Sadly, it is all some know and they push it off on others. I actually wish most of those police and detective shows were eliminated. "The final bill for the 2012 Olympics security could be ten times higher than the original estimate, according to an investigation. The predicted cost of the games when London won the bid in 2005 was 2.37billion. That figure has now spiraled to more than 12 billion and could reach as much as 24 billion, the Sky Sports investigation claims. The Olympics public sector funding package, which covers the building of the venues, security and policing, was upped to around 9.3bn in 2007.

I laughed at this superbowl commercial on youtube.com. Today’s video does not happen at our church- and that is the point they are trying to make. You are safe and you are welcome- see you next Sunday. So- do Secret Service Agents make lousy Greeters or not?

Status Update

By Mike Huckabee

Should a mother be jailed for letting her daughter play in the park?... Debra Harrell of North Augusta, South Carolina, works at McDonald’s to support her 9-year-old daughter. She can’t afford day care, and her daughter was bored, so Debra let her go by herself to a nearby park. There were lots of other people there, and she had a cell phone. On the third day, a woman asked her where her parents were, then called the police. Debra was arrested for child neglect, and her daughter taken into state custody. Some people are rallying to her defense, while others say it’s too dangerous to let a child out of your sight. This story made me think back to when I was a kid. Every summer, we were shooed out of the house early and didn’t come home until suppertime. Some of us even had summer jobs at age 9. Oh, but it’s different now: sexual assault of children is way up! Actually, no: it’s down 62 percent since 1990. What IS different: we didn’t have 24-hour news channels to turn every tragedy, no matter how rare, into a ‘round-the-clock media frenzy.

This story is adding more fuel to the big debate between helicopter parents and advocates of free-range kids. One side believes that kids never develop self-confidence and independence if you don’t give them the freedom to explore the world. The other side sees the world as filled with scary strangers, just waiting for parents to look away for a split-second. Please understand, I’m not saying there’s no such thing as “stranger danger.” But there’s also a slight danger that any plane could crash, yet it doesn’t keep most of us from flying. Was Debra negligent for leaving her daughter in a public park instead of putting her into day care? Well, consider that not only is sexual assault of children way down, but when it does happen, 93 percent of the time, the culprit is someone the child knows. Sixty-nine percent of the time, it happens inside the residence of someone involved. So Debra could argue that statistically, that park full of strangers was much safer than a daycare center. After all, who was it who cared enough to get involved and call the police? A stranger.

God's Kind of Man

E V Hill was is one of my favorite preachers even though I have never heard him in person.  This sermon was for fathers day several years ago, and shares insights I had not thought of but are so Biblical.   Many still need to hear this message from the church- it is too important to let die. E V Hill has since passed on. He shares insights as a pastor, father, grandfather from Gods word. Men-this one is for you.  Please listen up and share. this one deals with the importance of knowing God personally, the next one our role model reponsibilty and the last is my favorite, being a real man!

 Above is part 2 of 3. Today he reminds dads of their roles they need to fulfill. It is only 10 minutes and I decided to post all 3 parts on same blog page for your convenience. Please take time to listen to entire message.

Above is the final part of E V Hills message to Fathers he gave on TBN several years ago. EV Hill has since gone on to his reward. E V Hill was pastor, Billy Graham board member, a father and Grandpa who shares his heart on what it takes to be Gods Kind of Man. I highly recomend you listen and share this video- they are only 10 minutes long. (pt. 3 of 3)

Kentucky Math

This is an old video but it still makes me laugh- for you who cannot view the video, I posted a quiz from my Wisdom, Wonder & Wit joke book below.

Intellect Test
Here is a simple test, four questions to determine your level of intellect. Your replies must be spontaneous and immediate, with no deliberating or wasting time and no cheating
1.You are competing in a race and overtake the runner lying in second place. In which position are you now?
Answer: If you answered that you’re now coming in first place then your completely wrong. You overtook the second place runner an took their place, therefore your coming in second. For the next question try not to be so dim.
2.If you overtake the last runner, what position are you now in?
Answer: Think about it, How can you overtake the person coming in last? If your behind them, they can’t be last. The answer is impossible! It would appear that thinking is not one of your strong points.
3. Take 1000. Add 40. Add another 1000. Add 30. 1000 again. Plus 20. Plus 1000. Add plus 10. What is the total?
Answer:5000? Wrong. The correct answer is 4100. Use a calculator and try again. Today is not your day. Although you should manage to get the last question right....
4. Marie’s father has five daughters. 1. Chacha. 2. Cheche. 3.Chocho. 4. Question. What is the fifth daughters name?
Answer: Chuchu? Wrong. It’s obviously Marie. Read the question properly.

Good Night Kiss -Cody

Happy Birthday Cody!  I pray this is a wonderful year for him and Gods richest Blessings and protection. I made this video years ago, it is one of my more popular videos on youtube.com. It reminds us all that our children/grandchildren grow up too fast and to cherish each moment we have with them. Cody, We are proud of you and love you. Thanks for all the joy you bring into our lives with your smile, big heart, tender spirit, humor and wisdom. Parents, Never take good nights and tucking your kids in at night for granted. Always Kiss Your Children good night even if they are asleep.

Cody and Trent at KOA campground near Concrete yesterday.

Celebrating Cody's B-day cake on Friday night.

We saved some for him and his family to enjoy tonight

Engine #6 was retired in 1954 and sits along SR 20. Is that Cody hopping a train?

How to Stay Safe

Perhaps we can agree to disagree on the need to attend church-you won't change my mind.  I certainly have not agreed with everything others believe, but that is also true of my wife as well and I still love her and am committed to her. The church has helped keep me accountable, encouraged me, balanced me out, and blessed me in so many ways. I have met so many good friends because of church- sure it is not perfect- but neither are people who go to health clubs. I hope you will be in church this Sunday and make it a habit if you have not. Don't wait for back to church Sunday to come around- be in church this Sunday morning- it is the safest place to be. If you dont' have a church home, check out ours today at 10:00am- 1520 McKittrick, Wenatchee.

THE SAFEST PLACE

How to stay safe in the world today.

1.. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. So, ... above all else, avoid hospitals.

BUT , ... You will be pleased to learn that only 1%  of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!

... And....Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.

So,...for SAFETY'S sake  ATTEND CHURCH, and READ YOUR BIBLE  It could save your life!

Going to Church is Good for Your Health!

It was a short sermon and to the point with lots of scripture. Church was about 1/2 full maybe.

A common phrase that pastors hear when a family leaves their church is “We just don’t feel connected.” I’ve heard it countless times. When a family makes this statement to me I always ask the following four questions. The answer inevitably is almost always no to each. Here they are:

`1. Are you serving in an area regularly? I’m not talking about passing out bulletins once a month as a greeter. I’m talking about substantially serving in a ministry within the church. There’s something about serving alongside one another that allows you to get to know one another and feel connected.

2. Are you part of a small group? Most churches have small groups or Bible studies that you can be a part of. This is crucial for families to move from being anonymous in the church to being known and knowing others. These small group settings offer the opportunity to get real about life and to have an intimate connection with a group of people in your church.

3. Are you spending time with some of your church family outside of Sunday worship service? This could a be over coffee, lunch or even a family cook out. If you’re not investing in building friendships you’ll have none. Nor can we wait to be invited. About 8 years ago my wife and I moved to a new church and we knew no one. For three weeks no one talked to us. It was brutal. But, after the third week I finally walked up to another couple and introduced ourselves and said, “Would you guys like to go have lunch?” Our relationships exploded after that. Stop waiting for the invite, be the inviter!

4. Are you attending church more than twice a month? This is another issue that keeps people from feeling part of their church. If you’re gone half or more of the month of course you’re going to feel disconnected. The more often you’re in worship with your church family the more you’re going to feel connected to the vision and mission of the church. This will also give you more opportunities to grow in relationship.

Most people that feel disconnected think that going somewhere else will solve the problem. It doesn’t. They end up feeling the same way in the next church because they’re behavior is the same. If your church is anything like mine it provides a ton of avenues to get connected. It just means you have to make the investment to get the relational pay off you’re looking for. I promise you if you do each of these four keys you will feel connected in your church family. Now, go be the friend you’re looking for.

Bless His Heart

I hope to meet Aaron Wilburn someday- sure enjoy his humor with the Gaithers. He is also a songwriter and singer- very talented. Check out this clip called Bless His Heart. For you who cannot view it, I posted some humor below from my humor book called "Clean Humor"  Remember, We need to laugh at least 17 times a day.

A Little Hymn Humor 

The Dentist's Hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns

TheWeatherman's Hymn: There Shall Be Showers of Blessings

The Contractor's Hymn: The Church's One Foundation

The Tailor's Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn: There is a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn: Standing On the Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn Open My Eyes That I May See
The IRS Hymn: All to Thee or I Surrender All
The Gossiper's Hymn: Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn: Send Out Thy Light
The Shopper's Hymn: Sweet By and By

Revised Hymns for the Elderly....

Blessed Insurance

The Old Rugged Face
Just a Slower Walk With Thee
Give Me that Old Timers Religion
Amazing Grace (Considering My Age)
Nobody Knows the Trouble I have Seeing
It is Well with My Soul (but my back hurts)
Go Tell It on the Mountain (And Please Speak Up!)
Precious Lord, Take my Hand (And Help Me Get Up)
Count Your Many Birthdays, Name Them One by One
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah(I've forgotten where I parked) 

Technology Will Never Replace Love

Some Commercials you do not need to understand the words or what is being sold- as in this one called "Technology Will Never Replace Love". And some Videos I cannot really add to what has been said. Thank you to those who take time to hold and mold little children- they grow up too fast and they need you when they are small to build a solid foundation for their lives.

Great reminder that human touch will NEVER be replaced by technology. Not just babies need touch we ALL do. Touch someone intentionally today. It take eight significant touches a day to survive. How many do you need to be HAPPY. As much as you can give and receive. Be Blessed today and touch someone.

10 Reasons Why We Need at Least 8 Hugs a Day

Hugging therapy is definitely a powerful way of healing. Research shows that hugging (and also laughter) is extremely effective at healing sickness, disease, loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress.

Research shows a proper deep hug, where the hearts are pressing together, can benefit you in these ways:

1. The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication.

2. Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.

3. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one's serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.

4. Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body's production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.

5. Hugging boosts self-esteem. From the time we're born our family's touch shows us that we're loved and special. The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.

6. Hugging relaxes muscles. Hugs release tension in the body. Hugs can take away pain; they soothe aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.

7. Hugs balance out the nervous system. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system - parasympathetic.

8. Hugs teach us how to give and receive. There is equal value in receiving and being receptive to warmth, as to giving and sharing. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways.

9. Hugs are so much like meditation and laughter. They teach us to let go and be present in the moment. They encourage us to flow with the energy of life. Hugs get you out of your circular thinking patterns and connect you with your heart and your feelings and your breath.

10. The energy exchange between the people hugging is an investment in the relationship. It encourages empathy and understanding. And, it's synergistic, which means the whole is more than the sum of its parts: 1 1 = 3 or more! This synergy is more likely to result in win-win outcomes.

There is a saying by Virginia Satir, a respected family therapist, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” Eight or more might seem quite high, but while researching and writing this article I asked my child, “How many hugs a day do you like?” She said, “I'm not going to tell you how many I like, but it's way more than eight.” That really made me smile and touched my heart. And, I realized how organic and deep the need for hugs is.

As a loving father, I get plenty of hugs from my little princess and her Mamma. And as a yoga therapist, I often give and receive them from my students at the end of a session. I find that love, is a miracle drug. 

Over 55

I never planned for the day I would  be 55- it just happened.  I still have a hard time accepting I am 59.  Why do people seem to ask when I will retire so much lately? Someone sent me this video- guess they are trying to tell me something- I don't know what he is talking about in this video- maybe you can help me understand? For you who cannot view the video, I posted some thoughts from my Wisdom, Wonder and Wit humor book, on Being over 40. That just happened as well.

You Might Be Over 40 If..

Instead of combing your hair, you arrange it.

You stop to think and sometimes forget to start again.
Work becomes more fun and fun becomes more work.
Your doctor is younger than you.
You develop a taste for bran flakes.
You appreciate the luxury of a nap in front of the TV
You are cautioned to slow down by your doctor instead of by the police
when getting a little action means the prune juice is working
even your teeth have wrinkles....
you go to an antique auction and people bid on you
you remember when the dead sea was just sick...
people say your look like a million, and they are serious..
you streak through the garden Club Flower show and the judges give you an award for the best dried arrangement..
When you don't care where your wife goes, just so you don't have to go along.
When getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
Your try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren't wearing any.
At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you're not eating cereal.
Your back goes out, but you stay home.
Happy hour is a nap.
It takes twice as long - to look half as good.
Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt - doesn't work.

Dog Assistance

Someone posted a photo of a dog on facebook (below)that reminded me of this video I copied several years ago and want to post it for you. I will let you decide if it is true or just a skit. I posted the photo below from facebook as well. We have a Attack Bird and an Attack Cat that I think eats less than the dog below does. And just last week in the news, a homeowner is upset when his dog was shot in his own backyard by police. Police were looking for a lost child, opened the owners fence and felt threatened by dog, so the policeman shot the dog? Now there is a lawyers dream$$$.

Why did the snowman call his dog Frost ? Because frost bites !

Why did the poor dog chase his own tail ? He was trying to make both ends meet !

What happened when the dog went to the flea circus ? He stole the show !

What happens when it rains cats and dogs ? You can step in a poodle !

Diplomacy is saying "nice doggy" until you find a rock.

What has four legs and an arm? A happy pit bull

Going Home

Everett Melton joined his wife of 71 years who went before him, (in Heaven) as well as his Lord and Savior, "The King". Everett was 96 1/2 and always so faithful to attend church- even as of last month I prayed with him. He would always find a way to be in church no matter how he felt or how old he was or was not or with or without a wheelchair.  He and his wife were one of the Sunday night "faithful ones". He always had time to listen or talk to you- and shared that smile of his with you. We used to visit along the hiway when he was Pilot car driving and I worked at scales for WUTC. You could tell his priorities and what was important to him- God, his family- and he had room to make you part of his family too. Service is Tuesday at 11am at Wenatchee First Assembly. I look forward to meeting him and others on the other side-I believe  Heaven is Real- I hope you will join us and have made your reservations. Please don't ever gamble on that issue.- Life may be short but Eternity is Not.

Not all sermons I hear come from the pulpit on Sunday mornings- Many come from friends God placed in my life for a reason. Thanks Everett Melson for "living sermons" for me in how you treated your family, your wife and even me. Thank you to his children on how they honored their father by example and all they did for him in his final years. I am sorry I will be out of town and cannot attend the funeral on Tuesday.

Everett A. Melton
December 1, 1927 ~ June 30, 2014
Everett A. Melton; The BEST Dad, Grandfather and Great-grandfather anyone could ever have. The Lord chose to take him home on June 30, 2014. His work here on earth was done and he was ready to meet his wife of almost 71 years, Imogene W. Melton. Everett passed away at Confluence Hospital; he was 96-1/2 years old. He was born to Calvin and Clara Melton December 1, 1917, in Violet, AR. He really wanted to live to 97 years of age, the same age that his mother lived to be. In his early days, Everett worked with his father in the coal mines, which you didn’t get paid unless you found coal. Following the sudden passing of his father when Everett was only 15, he continued to live with different family members in Arkansas until 1939, when he moved to Wenatchee, where he took a job working for ten cents an hour in the orchards. He returned to Arkansas in 1940, where he met and then married Imogene Melton on December 24, 1940, (they woke up the Justice of the Peace to marry them). They moved back to Wenatchee January 15, 1941. Later, his father-in-law moved up for health reasons and slowly all the Melton and the Johnston families followed. Everett was the main reason that many family and friends landed in Wenatchee.
Everett served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 during WWII and was first stationed in North Fork Virginia, before serving time in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans aboard the Destroyer USS O’Brien and Battleship USS Wisconsin. Everett’s ship was a part of the fleet during the invasion on Okinawa Island. He was injured during a Kamikaze attack upon the USS Wisconsin. Everett was awarded the Purple Heart from his service in the Pacific and Silver Star from his service in the Atlantic. He was also aboard the USS Wisconsin at the time of the formal Japanese surrender and three days later, was in Tokyo Bay as a part of the occupying force. Everett was honored to be able to go on the Honor Flight back to Washington D.C. as a WWII Veteran in 2012. He really enjoyed seeing Washington D.C. and sharing it with his daughter. After WWII, Everett worked for Coca-Cola for many years, before starting a 28-year career at Alcoa Wenatchee Works, where he retired. During that time, he was the secretary for the Aluminum Union Trade Counsel for Alcoa and also member of Aluminum Brick and Glass Local #310. Everett later owned Central Washington Pilot Car Service, which he operated with his daughter, Darlene. During this time, he became known as “Hoghead”. This CB handle came from a time when he was driving down Wenatchee Avenue and a hog got out of his truck. Everett was seen running down the Avenue trying to catch him.
Everett loved going fishing and bird hunting with his dog, Tina and enjoyed taking his son with him. Playing dominos with his grandsons and great-grandsons was very enjoyable and he would also pass the time doing crossword puzzles. He would also spend time helping his son, Cal, as the “supervisor” on fencing jobs, where he would make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the crew. Everett loved having a BIG garden, that he would share others. His rose garden was very special and he would always bring Imogene roses, because she enjoyed the smells. The two of them spent a lot of time canning vegetables and fruit from their garden and fruit trees. Everett had a favorite canning recipe for his pickles and loved the zucchini bread that his daughter, Darlene, made from his garden. His signature dish was made-from-scratch cornbread, a side dish of pinto beans with an onion from his garden; everyone loved his cornbread. Everett and Imogene loved to travel and joined their children on many vacations, including a trip to Pearl Harbor. Everett viewed many of his friend’s names on the plaques of the Arizona Memorial. He was blessed to enjoy one last trip to Arkansas, this past October. Watching baseball and wrestling with his son became common after the passing of his wife. However, his little dog Ramon became his constant companion and brought him so much joy. Whenever “Papa” would go out to eat, he would always save some to take home, because Ramon would come up and smell his breath to see what he’d eaten and wished to have some as well. They were best buddies.
Everett really shared a lot of himself to many people. He cared for his family very much and loved to spend time with his grandchildren, always kidding around with them. The most important thing to Everett, was that we would all meet again in heaven. That was his final statement before he passed away. His family and friends will deeply miss him and he will always be in our hearts. Dad and Grandpa Everett, we will meet you and Grandma Jean in heaven!
Everett was preceded in death by his wife, Imogene; parents; two sisters, Pearl Harvey and Lela Markum; a grandson, Scotty Daniel Curtis. He is survived by his son, Calvin (Liz) Melton of Wenatchee; daughter, Darlene (Dan) Curtis of Malaga; grandchildren, Katrina (David) Anderson of Wenatchee, Todd (Cathy) Melton of Wenatchee, Kevin (Amanda) Curtis of Butte, MT, Chad (Shauna) Melton of Mountlake Terrance, WA, and Cary (Christa) Melton of Wenatchee; great-grandchildren, Brenden Copner, Grant Anderson, Dalton Anderson, Everett Anderson, Gage Melton, and Grace Melton, all of Wenatchee, and Dylan Melton and Devon Melton of Mountlake Terrance, WA; a brother, Albert Melton of Leavenworth; a sister, Vesta Harvey of Michigan; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Everett attended the First Assembly of God Church in Wenatchee. He was a member of American Legion Post 10 and a 70-year member of Riverside Lodge #112, where he was a Charter Member, and Past Master of William H. Jett Lodge #285. Everett, his son, Calvin and grandson, Chad, became the first three-generation family in Lodge at the same time. Everett was very active in Lodge until the end.
The family would like to thank, Dr. Bethany Lynn, Dr. Cummings, Dr. Schroeder, and the staff at Colonial Vista Therapy. And a special thank you to all the nurses who he would tease and laugh with up until his last hours.

Visitation is scheduled for Monday, July 7, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Telford’s Chapel of the Valley, 711 Grant Road in East Wenatchee. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at Wenatchee First Assembly of God, 1520 McKittrick Street, Wenatchee, with Interment and Military Honors presented by the Wenatchee Masonic Lodge to follow at Wenatchee City Cemetery. Donations, on Everett’s behalf, may be made to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. Arrangements made by Telford’s Chapel of the Valley.

Stupidity Is A Gift

The Bible lists gifts he gives the church- I sometimes wonder if Stupidity is a gift as well, since so many people have it? Don't hear many sermons on that topic or people seeking it?  I hope you can have a good laugh as you watch todays video humor called Stupidity is a Gift.  I have never heard Mike William in person- I enjoy his clean everyday humor.  I also know you will enjoy his testimony.  For you who can only read this blog- let me post some humor for you below from one of my humor books- I believe God wants us to laugh. I know of a scripture that talks about fools....

Report from the Pastor Search Committee:

We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect. Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with interviews or by calling at least three references. The following is our confidential report.

ADAM: Good man but has problems with his wife. One reference told us how he and his wife enjoyed walking nude in the woods.
NOAH: Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic building projects.
JOSEPH: A big thinker, but a braggart; believes in dream interpreting and has a prison record.
MOSES: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator; even stutters at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly in business meetings. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.
DEBORAH: One word --- Female.
DAVID: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor's wife.
SOLOMON: Great preacher, but serious woman problem.
ELIJAH: Prone to depression; collapses under pressure.
HOSEA: A tender and loving pastor, but our people could never handle his wife's occupation.
JONAH: Told us he was swallowed up by a great fish. He said the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
AMOS: Too much of a country hick. Backward and unpolished. With some seminary training, he might have promise; but he has a hang-up against wealthy people.
JOHN: Says he is a Baptist, but doesn't dress like one. May be too
Pentecostal. Tends to lift both hands in the air to worship when he gets excited. You know we limit to one hand. Sleeps in the outdoors, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
PETER: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper, even said to have cursed. He's a loose cannon.
PAUL: Powerful CEO type and fascinating preacher. However, he's short on tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh, and has been known to preach all night.
TIMOTHY: Too young.
JESUS: Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5000, He managed to offend them all; and his church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he is single.
JUDAS: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this Sunday in view of a call



Big House

My wife is the greatest- her first day of retirement and she took off with me early Tuesday to go work on our Tumwater House- and did she work! She cleaned the inside of house- I think we had over a dozen bags of garbage and grass clippings as well  as over two rooms of carpet that needed to be disposed of. We slept in the Dining room on our blow up bed that I think has seen better days- it leaked- so about 3 am we were almost on top of each other when center collapsed. I think Taco Time was the only fast food restaurant we ate twice at- well besides starbucks. While she took charge of inside, I worked on outside,- mowing, painting weed wacking, and awning repair. We did not get everything done, but a good start and plan on replacing roof in two weeks if its not raining. We got home last night- a bit tired, but animals missed us  and it is good to be home. She did not want me to take photos of her working- but here are a couple photos taken.

Super weather all week-my good old fashioned painting coveralls. Paint colors are same as our house here.

Our car was full both ways- with mower, ladder, tools and even disposal of carpet.

This video was made several years ago of the house, It has hardwood floors in kitchen, Dining room and Bath, 4 bedrooms, corner lot that is fenced, garage and one block from city park. We need a miracle from God- let us know of anyone looking for a home in that area. 

We lived in this house after moving from Spokane in early 80's. We had Darcie while living there and did home school and daycare in that house. Jan and I turned 30 while living in that house. The neighbors are super, (several still live there) we still have many friends there, and the location cannot be better. I worked for Allen Homes, Dennys Restaurant, Dairyfresh, and Charlies Home Center while we lived there. Evergreen Christian Center was our church home. I love the memories and it needs a family with lots of kids to move in again.

Here is an old photo from 80's- that is probably Dawn and Jeremy and it does snow in Tumwater

 We didn't take any inside photos, but this was from 3 years ago.

I Love America

I Love America. I am thankful for those who have paid for and assured that I would have my freedom (even though my grandkids may never know some of the freedoms we knew before the 9-11 attack.) I am thankful for memories that seem to turn to Gold, as I age- like the 4th of July parade in Stanley, North Dakota with family; potlucks and ice cream in the park as a kid, haybales, the summer sun, vacation trips with my folks in dads vw bus, the 200 year celebration of America while we lived in Grand Coulee , (Dawn was born that year too) working on the house I would do since I had the 4th off,  the fireworks shows each year, food we would share, friends we fellowshipped with, the many different places, homes, and ways we celebrated this day- wow. I love America. I hope you have a wonderful 4th with many old and new memories.

I am not sure how this fits in with July 4th- but perhaps it will remind you how important you are to God today, or to not loose hope, or maybe remind you of the freedom that comes from Jesus Christ.  I pray you can share today with someone who really loves you and  you will count your blessings. Let me post from an earlier post, a article I carried in my Bible when I would teach sunday school, called;

WHO CARES? by Charles R. Swindoll (Hebrews 13:1-3)

Who really cared? His was a routine admission to busy Bellevue Hospital. A charity case, one among hundreds. A drunken bum from the Bowery with a slashed throat. The Bowery . . . last stop before the morgue.

The derelict’s name was misspelled on the hospital form, but then what good is a name when the guy’s a bum? The age was also incorrect. He was thirty-eight, not thirty-nine, and looked twice that. Somebody might have remarked, “What a shame for one so young,” but no one did. Because no one cared.

His health was gone and he was starving. He had been found lying in a heap, bleeding from a deep gash in his throat. A doctor used black sewing thread to suture the wound. Then the man was dumped in a paddy wagon and dropped off at Bellevue Hospital, where he languished and died. But nobody really cared.

A friend seeking him was directed to the local morgue. There, among dozens of other nameless corpses, he was identified. When they scraped together his belongings, they found a ragged, dirty coat with thirty-eight cents in one pocket and a scrap of paper in the other. All his earthly goods. Enough coins for another night in the Bowery and five words, “Dear friends and gentle hearts.” Almost like the words of a song, someone may have thought.

Which would have been correct, for once upon a time that man had written the songs that literally made the whole world sing. Songs like “Camptown Races,” “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” “I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Old Folks at Home,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” and two hundred more that have become deeply rooted in our rich American heritage. Thanks to Stephen Collins Foster.

Today, some of these forgotten souls are in prison. Some in hospitals. Some in nursing homes. And some silently slip into church on Sunday morning, confused and afraid.

Do you care? Enough “to show hospitality to strangers,” as Hebrews 13:2 puts it? It also says that in doing so, we occasionally “entertain angels without knowing it.”

Angels who don’t look anything like angels. Some might even look like bums from the Bowery, but they may have a song dying in their hearts because nobody knows and nobody cares.

Deep within many a forgotten life is a scrap of hope, a lonely melody trying hard to return

America, Why I Love Her

One of the things I enjoy about my job is the beauty I see each day in North Central Washington and the variety of beauty we see. We  live in such a beautiful state. Then to travel America has even more unique and beautiful locations. Tomorrow is July 4th- its hard to find a video that captures all my thoughts and prayers for America. I am so blessed to be born in this country and for the freedoms I still enjoy.  This video features the late John Wayne in "America, Why I Love Her." and some photos of Americas Beauty.  God  Bless America! Happy Birthday America!

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well-educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson,Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free! We thank these early patriots, as well as those patriots now fighting to KEEP our freedom


'Is It the Fourth?' By FRC Senior Fellow Bob Morrison
Those were the last words recorded of Thomas Jefferson. He had authored the Declaration of Independence exactly fifty years before he took his last breath. He died on July 4, 1826. That same day, his great rival and dear friend, John Adams, died five hundred sixty-two miles to the North. Adams' last words were: "Thomas Jefferson still survives."
Do those self-evident truths of which Jefferson wrote so eloquently in the Declaration mean anything today? Following last month's Supreme Court rulings, do any words mean anything today?
"I have never had a political idea that did not come from the Declaration of Independence," said Abraham Lincoln as he raised the American flag over Independence Hall in Philadelphia on February 22, 1861. And he added in an uncharacteristically emotional tone for him: He would rather be assassinated where he stood than surrender any portion of that great Declaration -- or a single star of that Union's flag.
What are some of those ideas for which generations of Americans died and would die? First, we are created equal. Male and female, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, we are all created equal. Created, so it says, not just born equal. Created implies and the text tells us we have a Creator. The atheizers of today are seeking to erase any reference to God from the public square.
Second, we are not only equal, but endowed by our very Creator with our rights. Our right to life is inalienable.
The Supreme Court in 1973 denied this. And it has denied it every day for four decades. Just as the high court denied the Declaration's self-evident truths in its infamous Dred Scott ruling of 1857, so did the majority of justices in their odious Roe v. Wade ruling of 1973.
Under that cruel and unjust exercise in "raw judicial power," fifty-seven million innocents have been slaughtered. "Ultra-sound has made it impossible to deny that that thing in the womb is a human being," writes liberal columnist Joe Klein in TIME magazine. But liberalism is based on denying that truth. It lives for that lie.
As bad as Roe's unleashing of homicidal violence against the most defenseless among us was the Supreme Court's absurd conclusion in the 1992 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey equals it.
In Casey, Justice Tony Kennedy strained to give us philosophy, profundity, wisdom. Instead, he gave us this: "At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life."
Moving from overturning the homicide laws of all fifty states and removing protection of the law from unborn children, there really is no limit to what this Court might do.
Eight hundred years ago, Magna Carta was signed in England. It limited the power of the king for the first time. It is from Magna Carta, and not from some French atheist of the eighteenth century, that we derive our idea of legally binding the government to respect human rights.
Last month, that same high court, unbound the government. Marriage is no longer marriage. Their marriage proposal is to end marriage in America. Every argument for men "marrying" men is an argument for three men "marrying" or three women "marrying."
This same court ruled that in construing a law, the words of the law approved by Congress and signed by the President no longer have a fixed meaning. They can be -- in fact they must be -- revised. The words must be made to unsay what they said. And to say what none thought they said.
Such a court is accountable to none; it is unchecked and unbalanced; as such, it is subject only to its own vaguest notions of what "a living Constitution" allows.
So "Is it the Fourth?" is still a good question. Does our nation still hold these truths? Are we still a free people?
When Jefferson drafted those words two hundred thirty-nine years ago, he struck out the word Subjects and inserted the word Citizens. It was the first time Americans saw themselves as Citizens. Citizens govern themselves. Subjects must obey mandates. From arrogant bureaucrats. From unelected renegade judges.
How should we view the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? How do they complement one another? Lincoln provided an answer. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures [frames] of silver," he noted. He drew from Scripture. (Proverbs 25:11).
The Declaration of Independence is our apple of gold. The Constitution is its frame. Torn asunder, neither can long endure. Ours is the task of reunion. Is it the Fourth?

Older Ladies

I didn't know whether to post this under Oldies or Marriage- as it has some good marriage advice- Love is commitment and does not end. It could be under oldies since we can laugh at getting old, all of us will be old sooner or later. Sometimes we can learn through humor as well, so guess it could be posted under  humor- OK- just take 2 minutes and watch the video and let me know where it should be placed. And keep working on your marriage.

I attended a wedding the other day with my granddaughter and as we were following the crowd in for the reception, my granddaughter observed that my slip was showing. She quietly whispered "Grandma it's snowing down south!!!"I whispered back "Darling, Grandma is just grateful that it's not raining!!!"

At my age....when I see a pretty young woman,I wonder what her mom looks like -

You're getting older when you are on vacation and your energy runs out before your money does -

What does every birthday end with?

Y!