BringHope’s blog

Ben's graduated from High School Friday, May 23. 2008.

Here he is with his siblings.
And here Ben is with two of his best friends.

Chad, Andy, and Ben

The ceremony was held in a stadium. The same site where Ben has played in the "pep" band many many times.

The weather was great.

I think binoculars are a great thing for these type of things.

The Following is completely taken from http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/
and is posted with admiration of the clear thinking this comment represents.

Posted on May 22, 2008 at 02:36 PM

Giving Nothing Back

A few minutes ago, on some cable show, I saw a viewer comment that said something like "I am tired of big oil taking in billions and billions of dollars and giving nothing back.  It is time for the era of big oil to end."

Wow -- I would sure suggest he trying going to a different gas station.  Every time I give the oil companies some money, they give me back a tank of gasoline.  This gasoline has great value to me, and is something I could never produce for myself (OK, actually, I bet I could, but you know what I mean).  In fact, the only organization that takes my money and gives me nothing back in return in the government.

Coyote Blog is the work of Warren Meyer, a small business owner in Phoenix, Arizona.

Actually, government does give something back - acts like an insurance, provides fire services, helps the unfortunate, ...
But sometimes, argh!

Not quite a  Bar Mitzvah but truly a milestone in a young man's life is the crossing over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

Two young men from Cub pack 314 in a cross over ceremony moving up to Boy Scouts.

Free Rice
For each word you get right, we donate 20 grains fo rice throught he UN Wold Food Program to help hunger.

The youth of the church are off on a canoe trip

No shuttling of canoes. Just a five mile trip.
I hope they have fun. 

This spring's Boy Scouts of America Elk River District camporee was at the Fire Training and Code Enforcement academy near Bell Buckle [see img_015].

The camporee focused on emergency preparedness and covered all the way from removing someone from a smoke filled room, to the Tennessee Highway patrol showing what happens in a rollover car wreck. Hopefully the BSA scouts picked up some information to help them respond to emergencies.
The most rewarding moment for me was when one young scout who had professed a fear of heights, managed to climb several sides of the Natonal Guard climbing  wall.

After that  it seemed a natural progression to strap in and repel off a six story building. We teased the young man about not being able to say he is frightened of heights anymore. It was most rewarding to have the scouts complete the descent and then almost immediately ask if they could do it again.

Friday night weather was leaning toward the possibility of thunder storms, so most of troop 314 came out Saturday morning. The ground was fairly saturated and to access the camping field, a culvert had to be crossed that had some spill going over it. Saturday was partly cloudy with the scouts bundled up against the chilling breeze. That evening the breeze died down and soon the clouds dispersed and a near full moon lit up the night sky.
Fabulous food was cook with using dutch ovens to make corn bread, and barbecue ribs. Green beans and mashed potatoes rounded out hte evenging meal. Even a double chocalate cake was baked and enjoyed.
At the Saturday night campfire, some skits were done; and ribbons handed out for the emergency prepardness contest that were held during the day.
Also some tattered and worn American Flags went to a honorable retirement service.

Such simple ideal and fun.
http://googlyeyewatch.blogspot.com/

How do you gently approach hard times and subjects of life?

I heard someone this week on the radio saying something like "he didn't get the deluxe package" in talking about his walk on earth. like the lyrics that say "Life is hard, but God is good".

Below are some Wayne Watson lyrics that I heard on the radio today with the story of Wayne supporting someone whose wife was being treated for cancer.  Every challange that they struggled through, the guy would say if we just get over this then we will be home free.

I would ask for prayer for "Judy Loo Who" who will be scanned for her tumors on May 5th and is praying for complete healing.

Title: Wayne Watson - Home Free lyrics
Artist: Wayne Watson

    I'm trying hard not to think you unkind
    But Heavenly Father
    If you know my heart
    Surely you can read my mind
    Good people underneath the sea of grief
    Some get up and walk away
    Some will find ultimate relief

    Chorus
Home Free, eventually
At the ultimate healing we will be Home Free
Home Free, oh I’ve got a feeling
At the ultimate healing
We will be Home Free

    Out in the corridors we pray for life
    A mother for her baby, A husband for his wife
    Sometimes the good die young
    It's sad but true
    And while we pray for one more heartbeat
    The real comfort is with you

        You know pain has little mercy
        And suffering's no respecter of age, of race or position
        I know every prayer gets answered
        But the hardest one to pray is slow to come
        Oh Lord, not mine, but Thy will be done

Let it be...

    Chorus
Home Free, eventually
At the ultimate healing we will be Home Free
Home Free, oh I’ve got a feeling
At the ultimate healing
We will be Home Free

Home Free, eventually
At the ultimate healing gonna be Home Free
Home Free, oh it’s more than a feeling
At the ultimate healing
Gonna be Home Free

Its true. My daughter's lesson Wed night was that ?sorrow looks to the past, worry looks around, but Faith looks forward."