...too small a thing...

It Will Be Interesting

2008 will bring us the election of a new president and whether you have made up your mind who you want to support you have to admit there is a broad selection. I do not ever remember in my life this many who actually had some chance at getting the nomination of a major party. I am also hearing many rumors and suggestions of a 3rd party candidate.  It is a first for  minorities as there is  both a  viable and  even  likely candidate who is either a woman or an African American. The new year will bring Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire  primary in the first eight days.  So  as you are now in the holiday time of year get ready when you come out into the next year it is election circus time.

I have been watching for several weeks and I really like the former governor of Arkansas. That has a familiar sound to it but it is very different person.   The fact that Bill and Hilary are products of Arkansas and that the up and coming Mike Huckabee comes from the same political path is ironic. They are very different people. I like this guy Mike Huckabee and will continue to watch and see if he is as good as he has looked as I made my first digs into what he believes and says he stands for. So much for my politics. But how about yours. The upcoming election is extremely important and you should be concerned. Check it out. You obviously read internet stuff because you are reading my blog. 

  Here is a good link to compare candidates  and find out more information about different ones. http://selectsmart.com/president/2008/comparethem.html

Whatever happens as an American we all have a duty to be involved in the process.
 

Beenie Weenie Thanksgiving

When I was a 10 year old kid my Mom and Dad did the greatest thing that could be done for a kid. They bought a lot on the lake. We were far from wealthy, but dad was hard working. So over the next few years we began an adventure of building the "cabin."  Some of my greatest memories are of those hard working days. We tore down old buildings, and pulled the nails out of lumber to build the home of my dad's dreams on the lake. When we needed the roof we tore some roof trusses off a building and loaded them up and brought them home. A few weeks later on Thanksgiving Day Dad, my brother Jeff and myself set out to deliver these huge works of art (from the perspective of a 11 year old) to the cabin in process. What happened on that Thanksgiving Day is the story here.

We made the 100 mile trip in a big borrowed stake body truck without incident. Big trucks with stickshift were fascinating to a kid. 

Disney Doo Doo

To come to Orlando Florida and visit the theme parks is to go from the real world to the world of make-believe. How they come up with all this stuff is amazing. The human mind is creative and full of design. We visited MGM and Animal Park on our first day and saw several of the main attractions. I am a person who notices people, and I watch people closely. In such a beautiful setting, with everything so perfect to fascinate and thrill everyone, you would think that there would be nothing but happiness. Well I did have a great time and so did the family, but you know I noticed the doo doo.

I Love You Old Girl

Sixteen years is a long time. A little over sixteen years ago a young preacher and his three boys set out one afternoon to find a dog. We found Molly. We have always debated if she is pure breed. My wife says she thinks Molly has some basset hound. Regardless she was the best dog ever. The boys loved her, played with her and of course left it up to Kathy and I to feed and take care of her. When she was a pup she got the mange and we had to doctor her for a few weeks. And that was the way she was all of her life resilient. She has done so much to add to our lives for these last years.

Last night in  tragic accident poor Molly who didn't move very fast to get out of the way of cars in the driveway, didn't get out of the way. We took her to the 24 hour vet, but I knew as we drove her there it did not look good. The Vet said there were extensive injuries and that at her age there was little choice but to put her to sleep. I patted her head and held a paw with Brittany rubbing the other side as the Vet gave the medicine and she went to sleep for the last time.

It has been pretty sad even though we have been expecting this day for a while because of her age. I built a wooden box and labored a couple of hours to dig a hole deep and big enough to bury her on the back of the property.

Pulling Together

My most recent trip to the Ukraine was a great opportunity in the life and work of Mission Team Inc.  I  went to Kiev and Kharkov with Tom Rudelich to try to help him in the organization and try to simplify the work he is doing with orphans. We met some wonderful people. We met Denis who is the director of Life International for Children a non profit Ukrainian group that is impacting  orphans in in the Ukraine in  a powerful way.  Denis is a remarkable man starting the ministry from scratch about 5 years ago now they have over 30 employees and over 200  volunteers. They are improving orphanages with  gyms,  farm equipment, computers, craft rooms and more. They are US A  funded and yet they are enlisting many from local Ukrainian churches to touch the lives of the children. Check them out at www.lifeintl.org 

(See the new Photo Album in the right margin)

The Road Home

I love to do mission work and the trip to Ukraine ended last night when I got home. I will be writing about this in my newsletter and some on this blog in the next few days. It was a quite successful trip. The road home from the Ukraine was quite a long one. We left Khrakiv on Sunday afternoon about 5:30 to travel 500 km to Kiev for our departure on Monday. Normally about a 5 hour trip we encountered a little difficulty with the 6+ inches of snow that fell as we traveled. The road was slick and the way was difficult but we were in good hands as the director of Life Song for Children Denis. We arrived in Kiev after midnight and slept for about five hours and then up to fly and travel for 19 hours home.  The  arrival at home is always a blessing and when you awake the next morning there are a 1000 images of the things you have seen and experienced. I will be writing a few of these in the next day or so but this morning I am just glad to be home.

Going and Telling

I cannot believe my life sometimes as to how wonderfully blessed I truly am.  I have a life of knowing that I have an ongoing relationship with God. This is the most important and single most dynamic thing about life. Life comes from God and He has given life to me. What is remarkable is that I still from time to time act like a fool and turn away from God and yet because of His grace and love he forgives me when I come to my senses and say I am sorry for what I have done against Him. What is the best is though is What God has given me the task of doing. My life is to Go and Tell what God has done and is doing. My task is further to try to help others to Go and Tell also. Even if only one will catch the vision that you can GO and TELL. What a difference one can make. But my Goal is not one but many. Many groups getting a vision, getting the leadership and then getting the job done.

I Love My Dogs

I am leaving for the Ukraine tomorrow.  This will be the last mission trip of the year for sure. I have made a total of 10 trips this year after promising in January that I would make less than the seven I made last year. Some might think that would put me in the doghouse. But since I have the most wonderful wife in the world I am not really in the doghouse. But the doghouse is not so bad at the Davis house. In the photo I am shown with 3 of our 4  wonderful canines.  These guys have it made. They sleep in the bed all night, lay on  the sofa all day, and  when they beg they get a treat.  Let  me introduce you to these 3 Shih-tzu rulers of the Davis home. From left to right Dillon (the only boy) Tori in the middle the oldest of these three and Momo the year old pup. They make our life fun. We have to constantly feed them, take them out, and yes even clean up after them, they have us well trained. But we do love them. If you are a dog person you know what I mean.
I am going again tommorrow for another week but Kathy and Brittany will have these guys to keep them company and  certainly to keep them busy.  While I miss  my  wife and daughter when I am gone I have to admit, I miss these guys also. As much as we baby these three pups we have one more who is the queen of all the dogs. Molly is the unquestioned queen of the dog world.  She has been......

Thanks for Stopping By

When people leave after a visit we always say (here in the south) "thanks for coming by" so I wanted to write a blog to you for this very purpose. I have seen the traffic on my blog grow over the last few months and I am amazed at where you all live and how close the world can be by just getting on the internet. If you have read more than once thank you. If you have been here before you probably have become aware of the fact I love the Lord with all my heart. I have been blessed in my life with the most wonderful woman in the world to live with and raise 4 of the most wonderful children in the world. Life is good as I have four dogs and a motorcycle. I travel a good bit just to tell folks about Jesus and here you are stopping by to say hey!  Hey thanks for stopping by. Let me say a prayer for you before you Go.

Lord I do not really know who may be reading this blog but YOU DO. God bless the reader right now as they read the words and give them strength and encouragement for today. Let them feel your presence and realize your goodness and grace in this moment. Thank you Lord for the guest who have stopped in to this blog. In Jesus name Amen   Hey Thanks for coming by.

Two Prayers Today

I would like to ask you to make two items a part of your prayer list for the next week or so, First I am going to the Ukraine next Tuesday with Tom Rudelich. We will be looking for ways to improve the Ministry that is ongoing there with the orphanages that Burnt Hickory Baptist has been involved with for  several years.   I am excited about the trip and the opportunities that will present themselves by being a part of this work. We will travel into Kiev first and then onto the city of Kharkov and the orphanage there.  Pray for safety for our Journey and for wisdom as we speak to pastors leaders and other about the work and service unto the Lord. The second request is for a young lady named Darby Pushic who is right now in at the ILC in Richmond VA. If you want to know more about the ILC Click Here.

Darby needs your prayers as she prepares to go to Spain after the first of the Year as an IMB journeyman. I met this dynamic yourng lady on the BCM trip to Nicaragua this summer as she was one of the translators for the group. I believe she will do well in service for the Lord in Spain for the next two years. (The picture of Darby is on of her in action in Nicaragua  washing lice out of a child's hair.)

Thanks for your prayers