Goal Post
Is it “Leaning or Leading”?
During the days and years past we’ve noticed it leaning; a bolt pulled through its plastic base. That was the culprit.  Why doesn’t someone repair it?  The lone goal post leaning to the right as we approached it from west to east.  With each walk I continued to wonder the same.  Circling around the post firmly settled at the end of Jonathan (no cul-de-sac, just a dead end).  There it loomed, a shadow against the wooded night and a barrier to passing during the …

May 20, 2011
Dagwood Opens bait and tackle shop

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Rick Goines
The Daily Southerner — Those of us fortunate enough to see our eighth decade on God’s green earth will probably be looking for an easy chair and someone to wait on us. Not Dagwood! John Abrams, called Dagwood since he was a toddler, is 82 years young and has recently opened Dagwood’s Bait And Tackle at his home on Bogey Street, a block off North Carolina highway 33 near Tarboro: Make a right turn on Dowens, …

Recently I was asked the question – “How do you remain positive with all that goes on around you.” My answer was simple.  “It’s less about me than the God who has created me.” Just take a look at Jesus in His early days of ministry.  Yes, and Simon Peter too.  You’ll find them there in Luke 5:1-11.  When we hear Him and see Him face-to face, how can we not be reassured as we begin our lives anew with every breath we take?
It’s all been placed within you to …

http://goldoilandwisdom.blogspot.com/ Meet Laura Spencer
Jerry and Sharon Graham have in some wondrous way connected me with Laura.  We’ve talked for a while and found a deep and abiding connection in Jesus.  Please visit Laura’s first post on her new blog using the link above.  You will be encouraged and will be an encouragement to Laura and her husband Bill.  My comments on Laura’s blog follow.
SPIRIT of Wisdom
Thank you Laura for opening my eyes wider than before with your words of wisdom.  Your writing style is very engaging.  What struck me most …

Victory in Brokenness
Finding Love and Trust in All the Right Places
Do you remember your moments in brokenness? I certainly do.  These moments have been for extended periods in my life when I found myself separated from Jesus.  Yes, from Him.  How often do we think of brokenness when our children or even when we run astray; away from the teachings of our Holy Bible and Jesus himself.  I’m not talking about the law as outlined in the Old Testament; I’m talking about times in our thoughts and actions that are …

Nakemo
Our Mountain Guide to Riches
Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina, that’s where Ian and I searched for treasures earlier this month; our search of riches.  Gold and rubies were waiting for us we knew full well. Or, was that so?
Just outside of the Forest, we worked together, I mean really worked for 6 hours and 39 minutes sifting and sorting through a ton of dirt in search of gold.  We struck pay dirt. That was our find.  GOLD!!  Swished, swashed and shaken down, we had it at last!  GOLD!! …

Chapter 6   Do You Hear Me Now?
Who Cut The Cheese on this Saturday morning in early May when Ian and I traveled to the local store for bacon?  While there we peered into the deli showcase and our eyes landed almost simultaneously on Swiss cheese.  We love this cheese not only for its pungent aroma, its scintillating taste but as much the holes that we’re certain little mice had created.
We waited patiently for the person behind the counter to acknowledge us as our mouths watered for the taste of the …

Chapter 3   Do You Hear Your Heart?
Whorley and Cowboy
Snapshot (Talk with Mac again to fill in story)
Jackson, NC
Moonshine at 9
Father farmed rented land from Grandfather, drank from Friday evening til Sunday night. Dry during the week as he farmed, died in the 1950’s, Mac was 12 years old, Mac is now 58 and he and his wife Clora have been caring for children in their homes for 25 years or so.
Mac has been dry since 1981 when Jesus came into his life.  Drank a little beer from time to time …

Chapter 2   Is It Your Heartbeat?

Pluto is Calling
It was a cold winter’s evening several years ago as my memory serves.  Our Grandson Ian was about 5 years old and we found ourselves in our playhouse.  This playhouse was created by us when Ian was about three.  It was a Christmas present.  The ceiling was plenty high and the inside was unfinished plywood.  There was a seat in the back where we often rested our hot chocolate on those cold winter nights as we scrunched down to stay warm.
We had …

Chapter 1   A Thief In The Night?

Coal Mining Town To Star Birth
Is there a Thief in the Night?  That truly may be the best description of the impact of Telling vs. Asking.  Think about the opportunities that you’ve allowed to be stolen from you in relationships and desired results when you continually tell others what to do; telling how you’ve been ham-strung by circumstances, telling others what to think, telling, telling and more telling.  Telling ad nauseam.  You and others just can’t wait for the time to move on …