Much ado about nada darn thing

Hello again....at least I'm back for this update.

Strange day, phone has died, so haven't talked to anyone today...take that back Mat, the Meals on Wheels guy was here.

Is one of the times where I've been intospecting my sorry ...rear end.... So have just turned on a sermon by John MacArthur, about Gods Love for us.  Really need this today.

Ohhh, storm to the east of us and while it probably won't hit us, the wind has started whipping the tree outside my window around.  Love it.

Don't have anything pithy or deep or historical to write...not even some fiction...but at least have put something on the blog.

Do have a pretty good prayer list tho'.....

Kris for travel mercies and security in her finances and a keep calm and praise God moment every day.

Fyn for an easing of her emotional turmoil and a calming period as well as a good and profitable time of employment.

Tom B.  for a clean break and finality in his divorce.  As well as a new love with Gods Blessing.

Lloyd for an easing of his paranoia and depression.  And a belief that ALL the Bible  is God Breathed.

Elaine for travel mercies and healing for herself and the kids.

Kathy ..for a time of peace and calming and the power to stay a non-smoker.

Lynn, Larry, Karen .... Health, and tranquility...as well as recovery from the flooding...

Allie, Tom and Ruth.... An understanding of what "forgiveness"  really means, and a time of calm acceptingness.   Plus a true and deep understanding of Gods Words.....and what it takes for true Salvation.

President Trump and his family....for safety and love in this time of hate and lies.

Lynelle and Sidney for belief and love in their lives...and joy at living close to friends and family.

Claire and Jenny....for  a healing of their relationship as well as becoming followers of Christ.

Brian and Val...for repentance and a true belief in God and Redemption.


That is all....for the nonce.

Frank Spencer was not Frank Spencer

Frank Spencer was not Frank Spencer.....hehe.  My Dad was born in a farmhouse (that's where his mom was and he wanted to be close to her.), outside of DeKalb, Missouri which is just outside of Saint Joseph, Missouri.  Well, sort of anyway, I thought I knew that DeKalb was just to the northeast of St Jo....however according to Google Earth, there are 2 Dekalb, Missouri's, one is to the northeast of St Jo, and one just south of the city....sigh.

When Dad was born in 1912 it was spring planting time so Grampa Spencer was quite busy and it took a few days for him to get around to sending one of Dad's uncles to St Jo to record the birth....1 each, boy...named Frank Tyrell Spencer except the uncle got it wrong and the certificate said Tyrell Frank Spencer.  Actually, that is kind of par for the course for my family....Grampa Spencer was Benjamin Franklin Spencer.....who was know all of his life as Tom Spencer!   ???????

Dad had one older sister then two younger brothers and a baby sister.  The older sister (whose name I will look up) was killed in an accident at the age of 12.  The only time Dad ever talked about it to me, he said something about some boxes fell on her.  

Dad said his earliest memory was (and it stayed with him, his entire life) was when he was a toddler, running across a plowed field, holding onto his mothers hand and his sister runing with them, looking back he saw their house burning!

The outcome of that was the family selling the land, and loading their few remaining possessions into a boxcar and riding in the boxcar  all the way to Colorado.  Gramps set them up in a small town in the Colorado Rockies and worked for a short time in the mining industry, before moving back down to the flatlands of eastern Colorado. 

I'm not really sure about the chronological order but over the next 30 some odd years they lived in Ordway, Rocky Ford, Las Animas and La Junta Colorado.   I'm pretty sure that La Junta was the last one that they lived in as I believe that Vanita (the baby of the family) was born there.
Grampa Spencer was a farmer for a lot of those years, but also had some other jobs. Dad was able to go to school until he was  12.  Going to school, dad was still working on the farm, just as most kids of that time did.  He was able to play sports for a few years and played both baseball and  football for his school which helped give him his lifelong love of sports.
In 1924 when he was 12 times were very hard for the dirt farmers in the great plains.  So dropping out of school he went to work driving a mule team hauling gravel for a construction project for the government.  He did this while still working on the farm in all his free times.
After a few years of this, he got a job working for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad.  His job was putting ice blocks in the old refrigerator cars that came thru the yard.  This involved standing on top of the freight car in all weather and lifting. 50 to 100 pound blocks of ice off of a conveyer belt and putting them into the car through a hole on the roof.
After a few years of this he got another job with the railroad, working on the telegraph and telephone wires that the company had.
I'm not really sure how long he worked for the railroad, but at sometime in the late 20s and early 30s he drove a car from the La Junta area to Trinidad carrying bootleg booze... I understand that this was at least a semi-regular job for him.
I'm very hazy on what happened throughout the 30s as Dad was quite reticent

Oh what the heck...it's only been a gazillion years since I've said anything here....oh well, will fall down if anyone actually reads this crap....

Having a different kind of day today, slept in until 11am..!!!!  Ain't that summpin?  listened to Reverend MacArthur sermon on Prayer....listened to almost the full Rush L show.... now have just been listening to my music and sitting back and enjoying it....feels good.

Of course the animals are looking at me while I sing along with Hoyt Axton and assorted old time moosik....

Having lots of thoughts about politics currently.   Prediction...okay....Trump should win in a landslide, however the leftists know this and will either assassinate him or Hitlary, and the elections will be "postponed" until they can rig it completely .... meanwhile they will declare martial law and attempt to disarm the citizens...what is really sad, is there will be Americans that go along with this and it will get very, very bloody.  Please come soon Lord Jesus....Please....

All of this has to happen sooner that we would like because the book of Revelation has predicted it....and the Bible has been correct every time it has  predicted something ( go figure).....

Whew, how did I get into that?   Time to actually get up and feed the various and sundry furkids in the house....then the old pfhardt that is currently typing....

Adios, por favor, hasta luego.....con mucho gusto y frijoles...

UP n atom

Many Thanks to Ruthless for sending this to me...or was that at me?

 You think English is easy???   Read on

 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 

 2) The farm was used to  produce produce . 
 
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
 
4 ) We must polish the Polish Furniture. 
    

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
 
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
 

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was        time to present the present . 
 
8) A bass was painted on the head of  the bass drum...
 

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
 
10) I did not object to the object. 
 
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 
 
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row 
 
13) They were too close to the Door to close it.

 
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
 
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
 
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong  to wind the sail. 
 
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
 
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 
 

20) How can I  intimate this to my most intimate friend? 
  Let's face it - English is a crazy language.. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. 
  

We take English for  granted. But if  we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.  And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?  One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? 
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If avegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
 

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what 
language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? 
 
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on. 

English was invented by people, Not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. 
 
PS. - 
 Why doesn't 'Buick' rhyme with 'quick' ?
 

You lovers of the nglish Language might enjoy this. 

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.' 
 
It's easy to understand  UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a. topic comeUP ? Why
 do we speak UP and why are the  Officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary  to write UP a report? 
 
We call UP our friends. And we use it to brighten UP aroom, polish UP the silver; we warm UP theleftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lockUP the house and some guys 
fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UPtrouble, line UP for tickets, 
work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special... 
 
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP 
because it is stopped UP.  We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. 
 
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be  knowledgeable about the proper uses of  UP, look the word 
UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP 
almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP toabout thirty definitions.  If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will It will take UP a lot
of your time, but if you don't give UP, you maywind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.  When the sun comes  out we say it is clearing UP..  When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn't rain for awhile, things
dry UP.
 
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP,
for now my time isUP, so........it is time to shut UP! 
 
Oh
 one more thing: What is the first thing  you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night?
 
U-P  

Later y'all

God Bless

Salvation part deux

So how ya' doing this fine morning?  That's ok, me neither.   

Oh, and why aren't you in church?   Me, I'm waiting for my ride.

Wrote about Salvation yesterday and want to touch on that again.  The why on that is because it makes all the difference in my life and I want to share the joy with everyone.

So there.

I have a mental box that I have labeled "DNAARN"  translated in to human it reads, Don't Need An Answer Right Now....The thinking/reasoning/questioning part of my mind is always asking things that quite frankly can't be answered in this life.   So when something comes up that perplexes me, I set it in that box and know that the answer will be given when I'm ready and able to understand it.

So many things about Heaven are (probably) myth conjured up out of thin air,  you know floatting around on clouds with harps and such.....the book of Revelation tells what Heaven will be like, and it t'ain't nuttin like that for sure.  I (being an inquireing mind) want to know what it will be like....or so I thought, I'm at place with myself now that allows me to set that line of questioning aside.  

You see, when you have been Saved or as the Bible calls it "Sanctified" you are really "Born Again" .  When I accepted Jesus fully into my life about 6 years ago, I was very litteraly an infant in my understanding of living as a child of God.   Now at a born again age of 6 I'm still just a toddler, but when you compare a toddler or a 1st grader with a new born, you see vast differences.   When I was born again, I walked around with a big silly grin (ok, I've always done that), and people in the church said that I was in the honeymoon period of salvation.....still am and that is great.  When God sanctified me, I thought ...ok that's it....  but being a willing student (for a change) and also an eager one, I kept trying to catch up on what a life-time of sin had deprived me of.   The more willing I became to learn and grow, the more that God showed me.  This is a never ending cycle that just gets more and more awsome.  As my Pastor said, "There are verses in the Bible he's read 100's of times, and each time he reads one, God reveals more of its meaning to him."   This is so true on many levels, the more I try to please God and to live in a manner that will show my Christianity to the world, the happier I become and the happiness is a God given gift that builds from deep within your soul.

There are so many out there that try to find their happiness and feel good moments through the pleasure of this world.   Thourgh the flesh, drugs, alcohol, intellectual pursuits, power, money, fame....have you noticed how quickly in those areas that too much becomes not enough?   You are in a never ending downward spiral  of trying to get just a little bit more than the last time!   Because the the last time, was good but not perfect.....or maybe the last time just didn't satisfy you, or left you empty.

Try my drug.......Salvation....... every day brings a greater and more fulfilling joy than the day before.  The neat part about it is the fact that it's FREE....it's there for the asking!  Something that is so valuable that all the money on earth can't buy it.  So joyfull that all the stimulants on earth can't begin to touch the high.   It's yours for the  asking.   Just ask, sit back in your chair, close your eyes and think of the wasteland that your life as become.   Even a wasteland with all the trappings of a mansion,  fancy cars and clothes, and vacations around the world....hey, it's still a wasteland.  Why, because you arn't happy, there is something missing.   If you haven't been born again of the Spirit, then I will guarantee that if you admit it or not, there is a hole in your life....

Friends, Step right up,......you, yes you......come on over, step inside step inside for the show that never ends....See the mysteries of the ages, right here before your very eyes... 

You've seen it on tv, you've heard about from your friends... yes, the answer to lifes problems folks...right here, right now.... 

This is your chance, you can have it all.....

For you, yes you, just you....why you?  Because you're you and we love you.....that's why......COST? What's it cost?  you ask....well let me tell you....I could charge you anything I want and it would still be cheap.  My competion down the street will scoff at this offer and even give you incentives to buy their plan....but let me tell you right now folks  READ THE FINE PRINT on his offer, cause there is always a catch!  So, we're back to the cost are we......well since ...ok, let me put it this way.....I'll give you the eternal happiness, and a new body that doesn't hurt or age.....hey, since you're obviously a person of fine breeding and distinction I'll even throw in a manion on a street paved with gold.  And as a special incentive, for the rest of your life on earth, a deep seated happiness coupled with the fellowship of  good decent people that like to be around you and share with you.....and the best part is......

Now.....get out your check book...get out your wallet... got your credit cards handy.....ok, now tear them up...yep...don't want anything for this special offer!  That's right all free.... oh there are couple of caviats....we would like it if you give up the drugs and swearing and carnal pleasures....but you wanna know something?   Once you've signed up... that's it, you're in.....all you have to do is believe.... no signature on the dotted line.....no pact in blood.....no arm twisting.  The rest, the commandments......(I love this part)  you won't want to do those things anymore!!   Sure it's a process getting to that stage, but it's not as bad as you'd think....

The evil one still will assult you......but that's ok, you've got pretty good back up now.

Sheesh......I'm going to be honest now....I don't know if any of this made sense at all....just going to hit the button and send it on the way......let me know and I talk atcha later

God Bless

On Salvation

Random thoughts upon what should be the focus of every single person's life.

Random thoughts that are being typed by a totally imperfect Christian that  is not in any way a theologian.

One of the things about salvation that astounds me the most is the sheer awsome simplicity of it all.   As Paul states in I Chronicles (I am not going to quote, I am paraphrasing and putting what I believe out there for you all); God does not want us to "think" our way to him.  He wants us to discover and find true belief by faith.   Salvation is not something of the mind.  

The whole thing is so simple that it will elude you if you try to "reason" it out.   How simple you ask, well it's like this I answer... Step 1 - Admit that Jesus the Christ suffered and died for your sins.   Step  2 - Ask God to also forgive you for your sins.  Step 3 - Hmmm well actually at this point.. there is no step three because you are saved.

If you've been really sincere, and only you and God will know that for a fact, and if you truely believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and his suffering and death were to purify you so that you will have everlasting liife.  If you can admit to yourself that you are a mere human being that is steeped in sin and wickedness, then you should know also that when Jesus was up on that cross, HE was paying the price for your sins.  Not you, no me, not your uncle  Fudd....HE paid the price.  HE paid that price willingly so that if you choose, you can spend eternity with God and Jesus and all the others that have come to accept Jesus as their savior.   

We are all alike in many more ways than we want to admit.   Meet Duane (me), Sinner 1st class with clusters, name a sin, I've been there and done that.  I know for a fact that while probably the most despicable person that ever lived, I'm really close.....but you know what?   God loves me anyway!   I don't pretend to understand why or how.   I can't begin to really understand, but I don't worry about it.

I do what little I can to live as Christlike as possible.  Knowing full well  that I am constantly doing, saying, thinking  the wrong thing that will offend God.   And because  I ask, and ask sincerly....often.... HE forgives me for being imperfect.

I was/am a drunk, a drug addict, a fornicator, an adulterer, I would get paid for hurting people,  I lied, cheated, stole, I honestly don't know how many times I've been in jail, I was/am a lousy father, a worse husband, pretty much the dregs of humanity......God spent a lot of time trying to get my attention, finally it sank in.....and since accepting salvation and deciding to live like a Christian should live....I am blessed with an inner glow and peace of mind that is so wonderful that it threatens to make me burst with joy and true gratitude.   Until you've taken that step, you can't know the real wonder of Gods love.

One step, the smallest-largest-longest step you will ever take....and if you are sincere, and you can admit to yourself that you need to take this step, well..... all I can say....take that step and (as the song says) I'll meet you at the Eastern Gate (of Heaven).

Since I could go on talking for hours about the joys and rewards of salvation, I'm not going to -grin- I'm going to let you think of what you need to think about.

God Bless

Impromptu Hymn

Are you ready for the trumpets call?

For that glorius day is  comming soon, 

when this world will fade away, upon that clarion call.

The time is short my friend,

and judgement is near.

When it comes to the end,

will your soul be in the clear?

On that glorious morn,

when Gabriel blows the horn,

will you rise to meet your God,

or wish that you'd never been born?

To rise with the Saints, will be such a joy.

It's all quite simple, let me put it like this.

Tell Jesus you believe,

and Gods bliss you'll receive.

His requirement are few, but they are absolute.

Admit that you are a sinner, and lost in the worlds strife

Ask him to enter your heart and your life.

His love will enfold you and make you secure,

in a world where all else is impure.

So  the trumpet will sound with a note so devine,

When that happens, just put your hand in mine.

We will rise together, our Savior to greet

and lay our souls down at God's hallowed feet.

So this question I ask because I don't want you to fall,

Have you given Christ your all?