For part of the past three days, Karen and I spent time in Branson with Jerry and Renee, our friends from the Passion Play. They had left the Play last Sunday to spend their 53rd wedding anniversary in Branson and then planned to head to Hannibal, MO for a Campers on Mission rally. While attending a show Tuesday night, Jerry had a stroke and was immediately taken by ambulance to the Emergency Room. In an instant their life changed drastically.
Jerry is still in the critical care unit, able to move both arms and legs, but having difficulty speaking more than a few words. He seems to understand what is being asked and said, but can't say the words to respond more than a simple yes, no, okay or yeh. In an instant, he has been changed. It's too early to know what the prognosis is, what treatment he will need and how their lives will be altered. In an instant knowns became unknowns, plans had to be changed and questions never before asked now have to be answered. Tasks once done by two people, now have to be done by one. And we realize that each and every one of us could face such a situation.......in an instant. Life has no guarantees and we, and those around us, have no assurances beyond the current moment. Something we don't think about until it happens and then we realize that we were't prepared for that instant in our life, but we have to face it and move ahead. God was not surprised, not caught unawares, and He has the plan and purpose for their life already in the works and just needs to hear both of them say "Yes Lord, Your Will be done." For each of us, the response needs to be the same......Yes, Lord.......
Sent from my iPad
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Friday, August 31, 2018
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
August 28, 2018. Eureka Springs, AR. Blessed
Karen and I spent the morning today doing tasks on the PP grounds and then hopped in the car for an afternoon in Rogers, AR for food, shopping and a time away from our usual duties. It was a pleasant ride, nice weather and a chance to see traffic lights (there are none in Eureka Springs), be in city traffic, see a $3000 big screen 3D which looked more realistic than real life, and experience things we are sheltered from on the grounds of the PP and in rural Arkansas.
But what struck me the most was how blessed we are in this country to have so much stuff, to have choices in what we can buy, where we can go, the many ways we are protected, provided for and watched out for. We have comforts like air conditioning in our cars, businesses and homes, food of every kind, medical care, emergency responders, roads and highways to get us wherever we need to go and fuel to power our vehicles. We have necessities, luxuries, credit to "afford" things beyond our means, and so many other blessings, many of which we take for granted. Granted, some have more than they need, while others struggle to make ends meet, but by and large we are blessed more so than many others in this world.
Personally, I thank God for everything. I didn't always appreciate how blessed
(blog interrupted by news that our friend Jerry had a stroke in Branson, MO. We immediately drove there, about an hour, to be with Renee at the hospital, spent four hours and returned to the PP at 5am this morning). We will be returning to Branson shortly to move their motor home from where it is now to ? But to continue my thoughts from yesterday.......
we were to be serving God or before that for the protection God afforded us as we stumbled through life without acknowledging Him or following Him. There are no guarantees in this life, just the hope we have for a better eternity with Him when we seek Him, find Him and follow Him. How blessed we are and how thankful we should be every moment. Pray for Jerry and Renee and the path God has for them........and for all of us. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
But what struck me the most was how blessed we are in this country to have so much stuff, to have choices in what we can buy, where we can go, the many ways we are protected, provided for and watched out for. We have comforts like air conditioning in our cars, businesses and homes, food of every kind, medical care, emergency responders, roads and highways to get us wherever we need to go and fuel to power our vehicles. We have necessities, luxuries, credit to "afford" things beyond our means, and so many other blessings, many of which we take for granted. Granted, some have more than they need, while others struggle to make ends meet, but by and large we are blessed more so than many others in this world.
Personally, I thank God for everything. I didn't always appreciate how blessed
(blog interrupted by news that our friend Jerry had a stroke in Branson, MO. We immediately drove there, about an hour, to be with Renee at the hospital, spent four hours and returned to the PP at 5am this morning). We will be returning to Branson shortly to move their motor home from where it is now to ? But to continue my thoughts from yesterday.......
we were to be serving God or before that for the protection God afforded us as we stumbled through life without acknowledging Him or following Him. There are no guarantees in this life, just the hope we have for a better eternity with Him when we seek Him, find Him and follow Him. How blessed we are and how thankful we should be every moment. Pray for Jerry and Renee and the path God has for them........and for all of us. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
More Photos
These pictures taken at sunset this evening from the Court of Priests of our Holy Land Tabernacle are amazing. Hope you get some feeling of what we experienced. I was waiting for Jesus to appear in the eastern sky.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
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