May 26, 2026. Holiday Island. My Trusted Companion. TOM GRAY

 

May 18, 2026. Holiday Island, AR. Accept the GIft……you deserve it

I know I wrote a blog yesterday about how I first became aware of the fact that I was entitled to VA health benefits after a chance visit in 2009 to Debbie Pierson, the Larimer County, Colorado Veteran Service Officer. I made a simple request to have my DD214 corrected to show that I had earned a second Bronze Star in Vietnam and not just one, I told her that the previous year I had suffered a heart attack and she told me that Ischemic Heart Disease was about to be added to the Agent Orange presumptive list of service-connected illnesses and I could be eligible for monthly disability payments. Within seven months I was rated as 100% permanently and totally disabled and since then have received a disability payment every month. i receive all my health care through the VA and have other benefits as well. There are now 20 conditions on the Agent Orange presumptive list including a number of cancers, PTSD, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, and Hypertension. Not only are Vietnam Veterans affected, but Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who may have been affected by burn pits and other toxic exposures even Korean War Vets exposed to asbestos are now being considered. i was 63 years old when I had the heart attack and the other conditions came about in my seventies. If you have any indication that you may be eligible for disability payments, call Joh Contreres, the Carroll County Veteran Service Officer at 870-423-4000 and schedule an appointment. Bring your Dd214 and any medical records!you may have and john will file the claim for you. If you live outside of Carroll County see The VSO in your county, but John can file a claim with the VA no matter where you live. Ministry of Miles is also able to find anyone with a problem someone who may be able to help with any issue. We may not be able to solve every problem, but we can find someone who can help you. Visit our website at: ministryofmiles.blogspot.com for new posts every so often. We try to meet needs and share the burdens of life, not that we may boast but that the Giver of all gifts may be praised and glorified. Thank You Lord for life and the hope of an even better future with You. Thank You, Jesus.

It’s so good to be back. Holiday Island, AR. May 12, 2026

 I feel like Spring Training has lasted too long and Opening Day in “The Bigs” is still in the future.  But, I have learned;  Don’t wish your time away,  live  every moment, practice hard, and get your rest now, because later it may be hard to come by.  

We started at Easter, took a whole month “off”, did two performances the first weekend of May, took two weeks “off” and have a single performance this week   Everyone has plenty to keep them busy besides the Passion Play, so when the Play is on, the rest of our life doesn’t change.  But for some, the Passion Play is their main job and main source of income, and for them it’s a welcome activity and a way to show their love for Jesus, to glorify God and a way to witness to others and plant seeds which will hopefully bring others to see this presentation.  The improvements in the sound, lighting, music and small changes to the script have brought a new enthusiasm to all of us and encouraged us to stay, or in my case, return to the cast after a year’s absence, returning to blow the shofar and find others to blow. There are a few  ideas floating around about the shofar and how we might be able to introduce people to it.  There are more references in Scripture than you might think about the shofar and we’ll explore some of them in the blog and at the play when people come to see the Holy Land, the remodeled Bible Museum, the interactive Art Gallery, the Prayer Cross and Christ of the Ozarks Statue.  A lot to experience in person.

For now, thank you for coming back to the website, I’ll keep you  informed and amused as best I can and let you know how Ministry of Miles is being rebranded and refreshed and what we are doing to reach the world for Jesus Christ and share His blessings to us with others.  In His love and Grace……

  

Meet Tom. Holiday Island, AR May 5, 2026

 My mind is full of thoughts of the goings-on of life, but  my lap is full of a feral cat named Tom.  He came to me a while ago when I was about to feed Miss Hissy our first feral cat who has been a work-in-progress since we moved into our cabin almost six years ago.  Tom, who I initially named Gray, walked right into the kitchen nook and laid down across my feet and stayed there purring loudly.  He has been a constant companion, talking with me, telling me all kinds of things, wanting to share my food, and trying to sleep on my chest until I shoo him away.  He introduced herself to Timber, Patches and Loki the three dogs now living with me and made it very clear who is in charge. Loud yelps could be heard when a quick swat was skillfully landed on the nose of an inattentive pup.  The four of them get along very well now and are a real comfort to all of us and our visitors.

Over the years, I remember the cat wandering on a farm road in Iowa during RaAM 1983, Earl(Jarrell), Gus and Cream (Edwards), Monster(McCullum), our own Sweet Pea(Passion Play), Scooter(Briniger), Snoop (our stuffed dog) who has been with us since 1974 when he was with me in the hospital in Tulsa during my first bunion surgery, Ginger and all the Jackson dogs in Colorado, Muffin(Phil and Sharon’s cat), TarBaby(Gledhill) Bonnie’s Papillons, Etta Fay, Emmie Lou,Tom and Susie(Ludig), Hissy, Mo, Peggy (Schatz)……..and a host of others. 

 What joy pets bring to us.  They are part of God’s creation although The Bible speaks little about pets and mostly about animals and our duty to be good stewards of them while having dominion over them.  Interesting topic to consider.  Think about the Tabernacle and Temple:  the thousands of animals sacrificed  to atone for our sin, and then there was Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice to take away ALL sin, past, present and future.  The Lamb of God….the only Son of God…..God Incarnate.  Heavy stuff to ponder…..Thank You, Jesus