Kathrine had loaned me, quite a while back, a book that was her late husband Ronnie’s, who also was a good, good friend of Deb and myself.

Deb, God bless her soul, got no more enjoyment anywhere that simply aggravatin the fire out of him.

She nicknamed him “Turtle,” after her and I getting behind him in our vehicle one day, with him in his. At first we didn’t know who it was goin SO slow down the highway. Then, once we were able to pass him, there he was, bigger than life sittin up behind that steerin wheel, his windows rolled down, and his hair…NOT EVEN BLOWIN!

The man was on a major highway, here in Central Florida of all places, holdin up the flow of traffic, poking along, with ALL HIS WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, and…his hair not even movin.

Ronnie had found God the last year to year and a half in his life, and once Ronnie found God, this too was not unlike anything he’s ever done in his life…it was taken very seriously, and he poured himself into studying the Bible and researching any and every thing that he came across.

To have known Ronnie as Deb and I had, then to attend his service and hear his Pastor speak of Ronnie in the way he did was incredible to me.

Pastor Mike spoke of Ronnie calling him often asking, “Okay, I’ve finished these books in the Bible…where do I go next?”

Even telling of his need to roof his house one weekend, and because of this, he’d given Ronnie a little extra to study, with his intent being to “bury” Ronnie in study for a few days, literally…so he could fix his roof.

Well, Pastor Mike then spoke of being on his roof working on Saturday, and hearing the phone ring. His wife brought the phone outside and Pastor Mike asked, “Who is it?”

His wife’s reply… “It’s Ronnie…says he’s finished what you’d given him…wants to know where to go next??”

You know, I’m sure Pastor Mike spun this story just a little, but for all who knew Ronnie…that’s exactly the way he was.

Again, he’d dive headlong into a project, BUT ONLY, after studying how and why were the best ways to attack it.

He was quite a guy, and I think of him quite often to be honest.

I know Kathrine has made the statement a few times where she’d find something, a box of shells, or some fishin tackle she’d need, and state, “Ronnie is still helpin us out.”

I believe that these types of things do happen because…you’ll find something, or see something, or think back of something, and again, I too believe these things happen. I’ve experienced this in Deb’s regard as well.

Anyway, Kathrine had loaned me this book to read, again, of Ronnie’s, and a couple nights back, I started reading it in earnest.

Let me own up that my personal walk with God is filled with trials and tribulations from time to time, and it’s not an “easy” path, and the last few weeks I’d felt I was needing something to again, get me back on the right track.

I started reading this book, and very shortly, I’d gotten up, got a pen and notebook, and I went to scratchin down notes.

I was INTERESTED in what I was getting out of this, and I honestly was layin in bed readin, thinkin to myself, “Dern if ole Turtle ain’t…helpin me out!”

Along with God of course.

But anyway, I find this book very, very helpful, so much in fact, I thought I’d post of it today.

Actually, I’m goin to order 30 copies or so and pass them out to close friends, as it is literally a teaching tool, and thoughts can be shared among friends after reading a chapter or two, maybe once a week.
Basically a fellowship among friends and family.

My dad is on the list for receiving a copy of this book.

Although he and I get along well anymore, there were far TOO MANY years that we didn’t get along very well at all.

Neither of us are too old to get to understand and KNOW each other better.

Also, I’d kinda like to shock him with the mere fact that…I CAN read!

Many of you I know have probably read this book, but for those who haven’t, I literally consider it, a must read.

I’d like to share just a little of it with you guys this morning, if ya don’t mind.

The title…

“The Measure of a Man…(Twenty Attributes of a Godly Man)”

It was written by, Gene A. Getz.

As the title suggests, it lays out twenty attributes taken by the author from Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, profiling our maturity levels in Christ. (1st Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-10)

PAUL’S MATURITY PROFILE

1- Overall Spiritual Maturity (a well-rounded man)

2- Above Reproach (a man of good repute)

3- The Husband Of One Wife (morally pure)

4- Temperate (balanced in words, and actions)

5-Prudent (wise and humble)

6- Respectable (good role model)

7- Hospitable (unselfish and generous)

8- Able To Teach (communicates sensitively in a non-threatening and non-defensive manner)

9- Not Addicted To Wine (not addicted to substances)

10- Not Self-Willed (not self-centered and controlling)

11- Not Quick-Tempered (void of anger that becomes sinful)

12- Not Pugnacious (not abusive)

13- Gentle (sensitive, loving and kind)

14- Peaceable (non-argumentative and non-divisive)

15- Free From The Love Of Money (non-materialistic)

16- Manages His Own Household Well (a good husband and father)

17- Loving What Is Good (pursues Godly activities)

18- Just (wise, discerning, non-prejudiced and fair)

19- Devout (holy, devoted to God)

20- Self-Controlled (disciplined)

And there they are…

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but it dawned on me pretty clearly that I was terribly lacking in most all of these.

Ending each chapter of this book, there are a few thoughts to ponder about yourself, and your relationship with God.

These I found most helpful simply because they make you stop and THINK, what areas do I need work…and why?

The book is literally a teaching tool, and should be shared

Examples of this I’ll use from the first chapter, “Becoming A Faithful Man.”

1- Why do some men grow rapidly in their Christian faith once they become believers, and why do others struggle, seemingly taking as many steps backwards as forward? (Think of examples YOU can sensitively share. If you feel free to, share your own personal experiences.)

2- As you look back at Paul’s Maturity Profile, what would you consider your areas of strength?

3- As you look at the same profile, in what one specific area would you like to grow the most? Can you identify the factor or factors that are holding you back?

It then asks for you to set a goal that you’d like to achieve as a result of this study.

Again I feel, at least in my case, that this book is simply an incredible learning and teaching tool, if for no one else…but me.

I know once completing this read, and taking a look back at myself, that this will be a tremendous plus if for no other reason, but understanding more about me, and my own walk with God.

If you feel so inclined, order a copy. If you’ve read it prior, I’d appreciate any feedback of what this book taught you. Possibly, through this, we may touch others, and actually, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Thank you all so very much for droppin in today, and God Bless you and yours.

Why don’t we close this out today with a little humor sent to me from our good friend Gary, over in Salt Springs, Florida.…

Catholic Dog

Muldoon lived alone in the Irish country side with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, ‘Father, my dog is dead. Could ya’ be saying’ a mass for the poor creature?’

Father Patrick exclaimed, ‘Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn’t ya tell me the dog was Catholic?

Again, you guys have a great day, and God Bless.

Please be sure to, “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart.

Dub and “Lucky”

You know, I knew a man who really enjoyed going to the dog track. This guy just loved to go and watch those dern dogs run.

When he could find the time, he’d be at the track. He literally loved it.

Anyway, you all probably have little things that trigger you to think, “Dern, I oughta play that number,” or you see something that makes you think, “I oughta play the lotto tonight.”

Even things such as wearin the same shirt to your favorite college football team’s game, time after time, after time.

Why?

Cause in your heart, you feel by doing this…it brings you luck.

You ever done that, or something similar?

Well, back to my buddy’s story. He got up one morning, at 5 am, which was about an hour earlier than his normal wake up time…wide awake.

He decided to go ahead and get ready for work.

He grabs his socks and drawers, both of which were in the fifth drawer of his dresser, walked into his closet and grabbed a shirt, which by chance, happened to be hangin on the fifth hanger from the left.

He went down, took out the egg carton out of the fridge, and lo and behold, there were five eggs missing.

He left for work, and caught the first four lights, but upon approaching it, light number five stayed green, allowing him to keep on truckin.

He gets to work and realizes today is Friday, the fifth day of the work week, and sees that today just happens to be in the fifth month of the year as well.

Well, he begins to see the pattern, and can’t wait for the work day to end at five o’clock, so he can get to the dog track.

He leaves work immediately, gets to the track and unbelievably, you guessed it…he’s the fifth person in line to place his bets, the whole time thinking to himself…I’m playin…NUMBER 5!

He puts 500 hundred bucks on the fifth dog, in the fifth race, and sure enough…

The dog came in FIFTH!

You guys ever had days like that?

You’re going along, bein kicked “through the goalposts of life” bout half the time, struggling to make ends meet, workin your butt off, and suddenly, out of the blue, you feel as if something you see or hear, just clicks with you…

This just has to be an omen of some sort, and by following your instincts, this may just be the opportunity you needed to literally turn your life around, only to find…

You came in fifth???

It happens, doesn’t it?

I know in my own experience there have been many times I have gone through exactly that…comin in fifth.

I gotta tell ya’ll, I HATE to lose. There is NO second place, at least not in my book there ain’t. You win, or just as simply…you lose. That’s my mentality. I cain’t help it.

I have struggled so many times, lookin back now, and I have to tell you, there have been many failures in my life, and from these experiences I too have felt as if…good night, what am I doin wrong here?

Losing Deb, for what seemed like far too long, whatever I attempted, whatever project I started, whatever I tried to help ease the pain over her loss, I kept comin in fifth.

I couldn’t focus on anything.

By now, God had come into my life, but this was all new to me. I could feel His love. I knew without a doubt that this was all good and a major upside was taking place in my life, but dad-gum…it still seemed as if I was stuck in fifth place.

This continued up until just a little over a month or so ago.

This post today, although using Deb’s loss as an example of my inability to focus, is not about Deb.

Today’s post pertains to any circumstance you may find yourself in that literally deals you a bad hand.

The loss of your job, your seeming inability to communicate with your kids, or a friend, or your spouse anymore.

Just anything…

Then one Sunday, “Preacher Charlie” was speaking on trusting God.

He spoke of a simple prayer that he used when things seemed they were taking a turn for the worse, and through this, he was having a major problem focusing on the tasks ahead that would be needed to…turn his life back around.

He shared with us that he’d sat down and spoken with God about this dilemma he was facing and told God that, “Charlie is done Lord. I cannot overcome the adversity in my life without some help…YOUR help.”

“Without you’re taking control of my life, things will only continue to spiral out of control, again, Charlie’s done. So please Lord, step into my life, fill me with the Holy Spirit and let me TRUST YOU in all things. ONLY You, can make this right.”

He couldn’t have hit me over the head with a sledgehammer and made his point any clearer.

Once again, Dub was attempting to grab the bull by the horns, and force things to just…turnaround.

Basically, just a me, me, me attitude. I controlled my life. I made things happen. I had the ability to do any and everything I needed to do, shoot, I’d done it all my life, right?

WRONG!

I understood after listening to “Preacher Charlie,” that I WASN’T the ONE controlling my life…it was GOD. All the good things that take place in your life are from Him…not you or I.

Of course we have that “other fellow” to contend with as well, and boy, oh boy, he’ll test your faith!

Just recently, that guy tested me big time, but you know what, I actually handled it pretty well, and I gotta say, I was quite proud of the way it was handled.

BUT, without God in my life, this would not have happened.

I’m coming to realize, more and more, that if you’d just trust God, and let God run your life, good things happen. I personally can attest to this.

I ask God daily anymore to show me the way. Let me learn to trust You more and more, and in all honesty…my life is really beginning to get back on track.

This is real folks…

I’ve seen God work.

Deb was a fine example of someone walking with God, talking with God, and showing others, myself included, the strength bestowed by God that enables you to face adversity, even a “death sentence,” with a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

But you know, throughout Deb’s journey, she understood that although, and she told me this in our swing, actually the last time we sat in our swing together, the hardest thing she faced…was leaving her family.

This was the only thing that she would regret.

She also told me that she KNEW…she KNEW…where she was going, and that she was ready, if this was God’s wishes. Deb was in reality, ready to begin her life with God…in earnest.

ETERNAL LIFE!

I have to tell you all how very fortunate I was to have been around someone like Deb. A finer example of God being involved in someone’s life I could never imagine.

I’ll always love her…

Acts and Isaiah

There’s a scripture, Acts 20:22-24, that reminds me of Deb, and the faith she exhibited throughout her struggle with cancer, not only to me, but anyone who came into contact with her.

It goes…

“And now I am bound by the spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what waits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.”
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

Isaiah 12:2 states…

“See, God has come to save me.

I will TRUST in Him and not be afraid.”

I’ve also seen firsthand how God will put people into your lives, and to all my friends out there who cared about an “ole red neck” enough to talk with me about God, and the difference He’s made in their own lives, I’d just like to thank you all one more time.

I’m indebted to each of you!

I’m going to start closing this out by asking you guys a question or two?

Does life seem as if you’re missing out on something?

Do you feel as if you’re trying as hard as you possibly can, but things just seem to not be workin out for you in many instances, or at least not as how you might have imagined?

Does it seem as if no matter what you touch, you always end up… “comin in fifth?”

Then why not ask for God to come into your own lives?

I have a friend who works with us from time to time…

Dale doesn’t believe in God, and would tell you this quite plainly. I mean literally, he does NOT believe in God…or, at least he didn’t. But just here recently this is starting to turn.

He has been around me for a few years now, and has witnessed and experienced Dub…prior to God coming into my life.

He saw Deb throughout her battle with cancer, even near the very end. He heard me describe the morning before her passing, of Deb, after getting to the point where our talks together has ceased, on account of her time drawing to a close, and she’d lost her ability to even turn over in bed, I witnessed something…something very profound.

I SAW, with my own eyes, Deb raise up in bed, reaching out with her arms outstretched, her eyes wide open, which hadn’t been the case for the last couple days, talking excitedly, although inaudible to me, to something that it was quite evident she was seeing.

Our dog Cheyenne, lying at the foot of her bed was just growling so very softly, as if only makin me aware that yes…something WAS in our room.

Deb did this three times that I’m guessing happened in a five minute time span.

I saw this, and I KNEW something was there, but something that only she knew what was actually taking place.

Dale listened intently to this story, and started asking me, and Bob who works with us too, a little about God.

Yesterday, he again brought up the subject of God.

It seems he’d spoken with a lady the night before, and she too had spoken about God to him. It was obvious it had touched him, and perked his interest on this subject once more.

He asked me yesterday morning, “Do you really believe…this is real?”

I replied that yes sir, it undoubtedly IS real, and spoke with him about God a little more.

I see, little by little, God beginning to work in Dale’s life, and to be quite honest with you…it makes me feel good.

God does work in mysterious ways. I too, can vouch for this.

So, finishing up here today, if you too would like for God to come into your life, you only need to ask. I strongly suggest also finding friends or attending a church where you can hear firsthand others testimonial of how God plays a role in their lives.

Read the Bible, this, maybe more than anything else, has helped me in beginning to grasp, if only a little, more and more of what this whole “walk with God” is all about.

Every answer to every question you may have…is there.

After all, it’s God’s Word!

Remember, and this from Isaiah once more, 40:28-31…

“Have you never heard?

They will walk and not faint.”

You guys have a great day, and God Bless!

Please be sure to keep that smile on your face, and one in your heart!

I guarantee you, there’s one very special lady looking down on us all, who enjoys nothing more than seeing exactly that!

Dub and Deb

Well, I have to tell ya, “Turtle’s List” has helped me out immensely! Life is turning around, and I’ve got to say that despite the confusion, moments of just wondering “how come,” and at times, “what do I do now,” all once more, is looking up.

Life IS good again!

Also, let me thank everyone for all your concern, prayers and help. They are all greatly appreciated.

You guys are great!

Funny thing happened yesterday. It’s but one more example of God’s love, and how He indeed works in mysterious ways.

It’s amazing to me how once you start to walk with God, trust in God, and basically, just try to do the “right thing,” He puts people into your life.

Sometimes its people you know, or are associated with in some way, but often…its total strangers…chance meetings, or simply just, your stumbling up on each other.

The phrase we’ve all heard so many times in our lives, “God works in mysterious ways,” is so true.

You all know that I’m a new Christian, and that although I’ve always believed in God, most times I would speak to Him on a regular basis, ESPECIALLY if things were going WRONG in my life, how many of you are guilty of just that, but I never attempted to have a relationship WITH God.

Go figure??

Looking back now, I am only beginning to see the consequences of this. Man, I’ve missed so much, and to be honest, to anyone out there who hasn’t allowed God into your own lives, I’m here to tell you, you don’t know what you’re missing…honestly!

I’m not “preaching” to you guys at all, I’m just sharing from my own experience, the turn-around, and difference He’s made in my own life!

I always was kinda offended by people coming up to me and “preaching” to me personally. So once more, I’m not preaching to anyone, only sharing with you guys something that took place in my life that made an incredible difference. That’s all.

After all, the choice is yours anyway.

God tells us this frequently, through His Word.

You either believe…or, you don’t.

You choose life eternal…or death.

It really is quite simple, the choices He provides for you, but once more…He leaves the decision entirely up…to you!

Anyway…

I spoke with my good friend Sallie Kay yesterday who happens to live in…sorry Sallie Kay, seems I just can’t bring myself to say…that word??

I’ll give you guys a hint though. It starts with a K. Thinkin on it some… it may actually begin with a dern C??

I do know though that this particular state spends a TON of money that they don’t have, and isn’t theirs to spend anyway, they advocate illegal immigration, and their leaders are about as far left as comrade Stalin. Well, I dunno, that’s dumpin on Stalin pretty hard, huh?

They advocate taking our money and giving it to a bunch of deadbeats, as well as themselves, with their own lavish pensions, salaries, and health care.

They speak such rubbish as, “Let’s pass this bill so…WE’LL KNOW WHAT’S IN IT?” Sometime back they even went so far as to turn the water supply off to farmers, destroying acre upon acre of rich farmland, which in turn, rid their state of thousands of jobs for…farmworkers.

Pondering that thought for a moment, I realized, JUST how stupid I really am???

Why in the world would I consider having these farmworkers, actually…having to WORK for a living??

Shoot, instead of that…we’ll just SHARE our wealth with them! As long as we’re working…why should anyone else? Seems I have A LOT to learn in regards to this… “social equality” thing???
This state’s reasoning for turning off the water???

The smelt!

In case there’s those of you out there who just don’t “get it” as well as I do…the smelt…is a fish. A little, tiny, dern fish!

IT, the smelt…is CRITICAL to our environment, AND our well -being. From the way their elected leaders laid it out, our VERY survival or at least a portion of it anyway, DEPENDS on this little, tiny, dern fish.

At least that’s what they say…

Makes me wonder at times, if these socialists, OOPS, I meant to say LIBERALS, are so concerned over this little fish, what would they possibly have thought in regards to civilization surviving such a cataclysmic event as say…the dern dinosaurs dying off?

First thing?

No meat on the grocery shelves!

Then veggies next!

How could it be any other way, I mean…many dinosaurs ate veggies too, right?

In order to “save the earth,” and the dinosaurs, they’d simply starve us into extinction first.

No pain…no gain, right?

I just have to believe though, that these leaders would have been laughin their rear-ends off at our, “We the People” mentality of sittin on our backsides, fundin our own demise, while THEY, “the elite,” were chowin down on a Brontosaurus burger…with cheese!

Which brings up the point in regards to those dern dinosaurs again, and the “global warming or cooling” scenario…

I wonder…LOL!
I don’t know how I got off on that rant, but to all you guys still tryin to guess which state Sallie Kay lives in…NO, it ain’t Washington DC!

Sounds just like it though, huh?

I just figured that we all knew DC wasn’t a state, but I CAN see your confusion after the points above! LOL!

Anyway, Sallie Kay shared with me a scripture… Isaiah 57:1

Her point was simply to help me understand, to make us ALL understand, that through your own personal loss…

God IS with you, but that also, there IS a reason for your loss.

It is in fact…God’s plan!

Good people pass away,

that God is PROTECTING THEM from the evil to come.

Great verse, huh?

It’s very comforting to realize the regard God has for us, isn’t it? Then, to understand, so thoroughly, through this verse, that these loves we’d had, but lost, have simply gone home to be with our Creator.

To share in His glory!

The incredible thing about this verse, although I have to say that I found the Book of Isaiah awesome anyway, I spoke with my Aunt yesterday, who in her own regard, had suffered a tremendous loss in her own right, just recently.

While talking with her, she told me, “Doug I have a very good friend at our church, who shared a verse with me a little while back. This particular scripture has really made a difference in my ability to come to grips with my loss.”

“It’s Isaiah, chapter 57, verse 1.”

I literally almost fell out of my porch swing!

I told Aunt Ann, that I had JUST HAD, this very verse…shared with me, not 15 minutes earlier, from a friend that lives in a state starting with the letter K (possibly C)!!

This same exact scripture!

I gotta admit. When I first started reading the Bible, the Book of John (thanks, Sallie Kay), upon turning the very first page, something struck me quite vividly…

DERN THESE PAGES ARE THIN!!!

I’m goin be A WHILE getting through this thing! LOL!

With that being the case, and the amount of knowledge in the Bible (AND ITS NUMBER OF PAGES), I found it absolutely unnerving that of ALL the scripture in this book of HIS Word, two people, literally a whole Country apart…shared this same scripture with me within 15 minutes of one another!

God does work in mysterious ways!

That’s my point this morning guys…how God does work in your life, if you’ll only give him the opportunity!!

The Book, “God Is My Best Friend”