This . . .
My memory doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be. And another thing is, my memory doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be.
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That . . .
I have been going down "The World's Largest IHOP Blog Roll" on Chris and Yvettes blog. I don't know Brooke Turner, but I like the story she told about her dad having lunch with Art Katz a number of times in the "old days". I think that if that had happened to me, all my kids would have heard about it many times . . . for sure.
But Brooke was amazed when she recently found this out and I love what she said, "OH MY FREAKIN BLUE JEANS".
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I also like this statement from "Random Facts About Charity Bates" . . .
"During my senior year of college, I got so burnt by my church that I switched churches and started going to a church that meets under the overpass of I-35. The congregation was mostly made up of homeless guys, hippies and bikers. It was awesome."
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Quote from my Aunt Mae, "Keep your eyes on Jesus".
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A favorite comment, "I like your face".
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This is That . . .
Maybe the all time best thing to ever hear someone say,
"I Love You".
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My memory never has been very good.
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Olly Olly Oxen Free!

This . . .
Chris & Yvette Ferguson left a comment on my "God hides" post saying they were adding me to "The World's Largest IHOP blog roll"
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That . . .
Now my readership is supposed to increase 100 fold!
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This is That . . .
I usually get 0 comments, so take that times 100 and WOW . . . you get 0.
I know God hides and I'm pretty sure some blog readers do too.
Olly Olly Oxen Free!

(נצרות) ישו

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This . . .
When I was about six years old, my sister Jeanette had a friend named Rosalee. I can remember being so excited when she would come over to play with Jeanette. I was all about playing with them, and they were all about not wanting me anywhere around. There were a couple of games I remember playing with them.
One of the games was called house. Rosalee would be the Mom, I would be the Dad, and Jeanette would be our little girl. Our play 'house' was downstairs and the main idea of the game was for me to go to work - upstairs. The rest of the game involved me yelling down the stairs, "Is it time to come home yet?" And the answer, "no".
Another game went like this. Jeanette and I would tie Rosalee to the bed and then go hide. Rosalee would get loose and then come find us. Then Rosalee and I would tie Jeanette up and go hide. Jeanette would get loose and come find us. You're probably way ahead of me. Lastly, Jeanette and Rosalee would tie me up and go hide. I would try to get loose for a while and then yell till Mom would come down stairs and untie me. At this point, Jeanette and Rosalee were somewhere over the horizon.
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That . . .
I just started reading "The Hiding God" by Raymond L. Scott. I found it on ebay, liked the title, and ordered it. Good choice.
I remember while playing hide 'n seek with my kids, I always wanted to hide well enough to make it interesting, but always hoped they would find me after just a little effort. If it is too easy to find the person hiding, it's not much fun. If it is too hard, it can be discouraging, but in the end the "finding" is more rewarding.
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This is That . . .
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Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
Isaiah 45:15.
I believe God hides because He desires that we come hard after him. He wants us to knock and keep knocking; ask and keep asking; believe and keep believing; seek and keep seeking. And the purpose of it all is that He wants us to find Him. When playing with my children I always went to hide with great anticipation of them finding me.
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Matthew 7
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus is hiding all through the above verse. He is hiding in a narrow place, and the verse says that the way to life (Jesus) is difficult. The good news is that all who diligently seek Him . . . will find Him.
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The title for this post is the name of Jesus hiding in Hebrew.

Take The Bus

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This . . .
If you would like to keep up with a photographic history of all the adventures of my grandson Elijah, just check out his mother Amy's blog, or his father Nathan's blog. They are in the good stuff links.
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That . . .
I just got back from the "Passion for Jesus Conference" at IHOP in Kansas City. It was great to be there with new friends Shane, Wendy and daughter Loren; Corey, Enid and their six children; and Mark, Amy and their five children. It was also great to see Tarah and to spend an hour or so with Charity at Higher Grounds (Mission Base Coffee Shop).
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Enjoyed being in Fayetteville Sunday afternoon with Gari and Tarah to see Elliott perform with the "Mashburn Singers". The show was called "Love and Laughter" and was presented at the Walton Arts Center. This was "Elliott's Show" so to speak. He wrote the dialogue, chose the songs, staged the production and directed the lighting. He performed a duet with a girl about a date to the movies. The movie is making him want to cry, but he is trying to stay macho. He winds up boohooing in the arms of his date. Very entertaining. Very funny.
Another duet was from South Pacific. If you know that musical, it was the song where the guy is dressed like a hula girl complete with a coconut bra. Of course that was Elliott and again . . . hilarious.
Elliott graduates this spring with a degree in Mathmatics, a degree in Theater, and maybe a minor in music???
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This is That . . .
If IHOP was a volcano, I would say it is about to errupt. For a long time and even now the feeling there is one of a slow but steady march forward. This is their 8th year of 24/7 non-stop worship and intercession. Just slowly but fervently pressing in to the heart of God thru intercession, worship, and study of God's word. A place of deliberate positioning to be exactly where God wants them to be.
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Bob Jones had a vision 25 years ago of a bus going slowly up a mountain. The bus had seven windows and the leadership of IHOP were seen in each window, only it wasn't IHOP 25 years ago. Jesus was driving the bus. Many were complaining because the bus was traveling up the mountain too slowly. "Come on Jesus, can't we go faster?"
Then the bus reached the top and began coming down at an extremely high speed. Everyone was fearful that the bus would crash. "Jesus, slow down! We are glad that you are now pouring out your spirit with signs and wonders, but let's keep it under control, we don't want to go off the cliff!"
IHOP has the feeling of approaching the top of the mountain.
Jesus is a great leader. His love is perfect. His mercy is perfect. His judgements are perfect. His ability to drive the bus is perfect.
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As believers everywhere continue up the mountain, we need to position ourselves in holiness. Wholeheartedness is required - no riding the fence. Fervent prayer is required. Wisdom and revelation of Jesus in the scriptures is required. This is no time to be slack . . . no time to be apathetic . . . no time to wait til tomorrow.
Let us encourage one another as we meet together in solemn assemblies and press in and pray, press in and pray, press in and pray.

This . . .
In case you haven't heard, Anna Nicole Smith died. And then there was all the hooplah about where to bury her . . . Texas or the Bahama's. To me, the solution was simple: Half in Texas and half in the Bahama's.
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That . . .
What do you think? Is winter weather over, or will it yet snow again before summer?
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This is That . . .
I really do not mean to make light of Anna Nicole's death. The whole thing really shouts out how lost so many people are. I have a feeling that Anna Nicole would love to come back and do things differently, and I am sure she would have a thing or two to say to all of her friends and family. I wonder if they would listen?

This . . .
Someone came by and took a picture of "the branch", but it didn't turn out very well so they only left $2.50 in the mailbox.
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That . . .
I remember a thing David Letterman used to do on his show. It was something they called "Is it real?" They would show something totally whacko and then ask, "Is it real?" Dave and Paul would make their choices and then the answer would be revealed.
My game is a little different, I call it, "Whacko or Real?"
Wanna play?
Jesus is coming back soon . . . whacko or real?
Satan . . . whacko or real?
Millennium (1000 year reign of Christ) . . . whacko or real?
Demons . . . whacko or real?
Miracles . . . whacko or real?
Power of the Holy Spirit . . . whacko or real?
Prayer . . . whacko or real?
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This is That . . .
Mark 9:24
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
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