Sunday, March 11, 2012

Up And Down!

Can you remember the first time you were ever on an elevator?  In their earlier years, most elevators, even in downtown hotels required an operator.  Someone getting into an elevator would say the number of the floor they desired to travel to, and the operator would announce when he/she had reached the floor.  In particular I remember one in Maison Blanche, a huge store in New Orleans in the early '50s.  That operator normally sat on a stool in the corner near the controls.  He went up one floor at a time, announcing, "2nd floor!"  "Door's closing!"  "3rd floor!"  Up and down.  All day every day.  I heard someone ask him, "How is your day going?"  He responded with, "Oh...up and down!"

That's my stock answer these days whenever anyone asks how I'm doing.  "Oh...Up and down!"  The ups and downs of my life are not determined by the elevator - or the "lift" as it is referred to in many European countries.  Mine is more determined by the chemo treatments I'm receiving for treatment of stage IV colon cancer.  I receive a "chemical cocktail" basically every other week in the treatment center for 3 to 5 hours; then a "chemo-pump" is attached and I return home wearing it for another 48 hours.  As more time elapses I "feel" better.  It's nice to be on the "up-side" of these chemo-lifts. 

Come to think of it, I remember reading one man's testimony after he accepted Christ as his Savior.  He said, "When I feel bad now, I feel better that I felt before, when I thought I was feeling Great!"  (or words to that effect.)  Honestly folks, it's a great feeling to know that one is in the hands of a faithful and all-wise God.  There is nothing quite like it.

Go ahead, make that decision today to "Try Jesus!  If you don't like Him the devil will always take you back!"

About Me

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Cleveland, TN, United States
I am Fred Alton Brannen, the son of Louis A. Brannen (deceased) and Bonnie Jones Brannen, Louis was an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God. Bonnie is an Ordained Licensed Minister and at 89 years of age is still actively engaged in speaking and singing engagements. I am married to the former Frances Hildreth. We celebrated 53 years of marriage this past June and we are the parents of 3, grand-parents of 10, and great-grandparents of 10. I pastored in Tennessee for 24 years and served the Church in some capacity in missions for over 23 years. I retired from full-time ministry in August of 2008 but remain active, speaking and singing and teaching whenever opportunity affords itself. In January of 2010 I received a letter of commendation for having been credentialed as a minister in the Church of God for 50 years! My family is very important to me. Our get togethers are always noisy affairs and most times will include family sing-alongs. The children love their Mom's cooking so we have the privilege of seeing them regularly! WE LOVE having them over.

TheCabin on Day One

TheCabin on Day One
Fred Alton