tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247801740974125662024-02-07T06:51:38.600-05:00Fred Altons PageEvents, thoughts and pictures of parts of our lives that are special to me. Spent 24 years as a pastor in Tennessee, 24 years as a missionary (18+ working in Africa)and 3+ in South America. Now Retired!Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-26131210479352599602013-11-14T18:33:00.001-05:002013-11-14T18:33:05.117-05:00Still Hanging On!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Chemo Treatment Center in Chattanooga, TN</div>
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It's a bumpy detour - but we continue traveling because we know the end of the road is closer than it was. Since my last post was in May - there has been many changes in scenery. I came home and dealt with the "shock" of knowing that it could well be that my time on this earth would soon come to an end. The "guess-timate" (based on many cases similar to my condition) was that I had four to six months before that fateful event. It has now been a few days past six months and today I was able to .... well, first ...<br />
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In June of this year Frances and I celebrated our 56th Wedding Anniversary. We attended the Tennessee Camp Meeting and had guests in our home that week. In July I reached my 75th birthday. On the last Sunday of August I gave up my much loved Sunday School class (an activity which I dearly loved) because I did not/do not want to continue teaching when the ravages of disease have begun to affect my ability to focus and deliver the message with clarity. Tho that was a sad thing and I dreaded to do that - Life continues to be full and sweet as I continue singing at church; at the Senior Citizen's Center; at Gaddy's Gospel Sing; and at our local church - the Victory Drive Church of God here in Cleveland, Tennessee. If you want to see and hear that happening you can get a small taste of it by going to YouTube and searching for <strong><u>Chris Chastain. </u> </strong>Once there, scroll down his list of songs for my name: "Fred Alton Brannen". No - it's NOT great - unless you like old time southern gospel/bluegrass gospel. You will find some of many other good singers there also. The BRANHAM FAMILY are not related to us. We are the BRANNEN BOYS. :d<br />
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"If You're Talking About That Old Time Religion"</div>
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So... we continue our lives. Also I have been placed on Hospice Care. I am still able to do most things but am grateful for the adjustable bed so that I sleep sitting up when my food doesn't want to go down. I believe that I am most blessed to have such a supportive family and group of nurses that come to my home once a week to support and assure me that they are here for me when I need medical assistance. Hmm. This paragraph doesn't sound like I want it to. <br />
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What else? Well - today we celebrated our middle daughter's 48th birthday by taking her to Logan's for lunch. Filet Mignon, baked potato and a salad, Coca-Cola and a lot of love shared with her Mother and me. She has been so helpful. Our older daughter (#1) who also lives nearby is a wonderful and strong daughter who lends her strength to Mom and me with visits and prayers. My two brothers and two sisters living near us is also a great thing for we get to see each other frequently. Our baby daughter and her husband with two young girls - live in Watertown, NY where they pastor a church. I'm strengthened by prayers and frequent calls from "the Pet". My heart is warmed that they are in the work of ministry and are giving themselves lovingly to souls.<br />
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Two Beautiful Women I took To Lunch Today!</div>
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Oh my - now I will have to get busy and do some writing as my Mom has been after me some time now to give her one sermon for her book of sermons. She is putting together her own book of sermons and will add one from each of her three preacher sons. I think the other two are ahead of me but I found one today which I hope she finds acceptable. <br />
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Keep looking up! Jesus may come - or call for you - today!<br />
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Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-41554126899937105272013-05-11T19:04:00.001-04:002013-05-11T19:04:57.605-04:00Bumps In The Road AheadOh My! Another bump in the road. But we've crossed some in the past, haven't we? Yes. But not exactly like this one.<br />
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Frances and I went to my Oncologist last Monday the 6th and were surprised to hear him say that the latest CT Scan did not look good. They saw multiple tumors/nodules in the area of my abdomen which look to be "not operable" - and - he was not recommending chemo-therapy as he did in January 2012. It was a shock. We go back again on Monday, the 13th, to discuss which direction we take from here.<br />
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Now we have an opportunity to TRUST in the Lord. My brother Lowell reminded me this morning of words written in Hebrews, Chapter 11 - the well-known "faith" passage in our Christian Bible. If I remember correctly after the writer had listed the great heroes of faith, like Noah, Abraham, Daniel, The Hebrew Children, and others who overcame major obstacles to faith and received great deliverances in their lives he then says that "others" had cruel punishment, were cast into dens and caves, suffered greatly and some were sawn in two. Then he concludes the thought with: <br />
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<strong>Hebrews 11:36-39 (KJV) </strong><sup><span style="color: black;">36 </span></sup>And others had trial of <i>cruel</i> mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: <br /><sup><span style="color: black;">37 </span></sup>They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; <br /><sup><span style="color: black;">38 </span></sup>(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and <i>in</i> mountains, and <i>in</i> dens and caves of the earth. <br /><sup><span style="color: black;">39 </span></sup>And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: <br />
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This is the kind of trust that the three Hebrew children had when they were faced with the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel. Listen to exactly what they said to the king. <br />
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<strong>Daniel 3:17-18 (KJV) </strong><sup><span style="color: black;">17 </span></sup>If it be <i>so</i>, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver <i>us</i> out of thine hand, O king. <br /><sup><span style="color: black;">18 </span></sup>But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. <br />
If you are not familiar with it, I recommend you go to Daniel 3 and read this story. I like their attitude. They said, "Our God is ABLE to deliver us." They knew that God was still in charge. Then they added the thought that if God chose NOT to deliver them from the furnace the He would certainly deliver them from the King's hands.<br />
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This is where I am with my faith today. God IS ABLE to completely heal this attack. But if He chooses not to deliver me and givc me a few more years, it's o.k.! I'll be in His presence sooner.<br />
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I'm Aware that some may find this very strange. However, the Bible says that "With his (Jesus') stripes we are healed." That means I can pray with faith that Jesus will heal me. However - we also know that we humans do not live forever in our present state. The Bible also says, "It is appointed unto man once to die; and after death the judgment." We must rightly divide the Scripture. We cannot take only the parts that please us. We must accept the whole Bible. I choose to put myself into God's hands and not worry over the future. <br />
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Oh yes - I have my moments - but I choose to believe we will make it through these road hazards and arrive safely at the end of our journey.<br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-33534622138837554642013-04-11T10:57:00.000-04:002013-04-11T10:57:02.739-04:00Pentecostals are Saved By Grace, Through Faith (Ephesians 2:8)
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma Jones with Mother and Dad at the General Assembly<br />
Indianapolis, Indiana</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Dad</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As I write these words it occurs to me
that many may take it that we are saying we are more deserving of God’s
blessings than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me state two things here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Number one, You do not receive salvation (nor
any other gift of God) by doing good works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is <u><strong>by grace, through faith</strong></u> that we receive from His bountiful
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Number two, speaking in tongues is
not as important as being sanctified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> God <u>demands</u> a lifestyle of holiness. That does not mean we are perfect but that we strive for perfection.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But then, why would
God give one person such blessings and not give the same to others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it because one is perfect and the other is
flawed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it because one is doing a
myriad of good things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would one
individual’s life be so full of good and another’s be filled with nothing but
turmoil and strife?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know from personal
experience that it is not because of one’s goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m reminded that the Psalmist said, “</span><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They are all gone aside, they are <i>all</i>
together become filthy: <i>there is</i> none that doeth good, no, not one.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<b>Psalm 14:3)</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A man came to Jesus in Matthew 19 and –
calling him “good master” – asked what he could do to inherit eternal
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe Psalms 14 was in Jesus’
mind when he asked the man,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
“Why callest thou me good? <i>there is</i> none good but one, <i>that is</i>,
God.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<b>Matthew 19:17 ) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Now all believers know that Jesus was
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what did these words of Jesus
mean? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that Jesus was saying to
him, “If you recognize that I am God, then you have your answer.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned some years after my
spiritual crisis from some well-meaning folks that a person could not even be
saved until they were at least 12 years of age. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just came too late to tell me that
because I knew beyond any shadow of doubt that God had saved, sanctified and
filled me with the Holy Spirit. I have thanked God for that experience many
times in my life as I went through times of doubt. Thinking back to that time
even as I write these words gives me strong assurance that God is real. As
wonderful as my experience was = there were many other things which I was told
later that would have negated all of my experience had my faith not been based
in the Bible. Of course I have had questions. I have doubted. I have failed the
Lord and had to repent again (more than once) – but I KNOW that God changed my
life that night in 1946 and that I’ve never been the same since. </span></div>
Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-89698615100124827142013-04-09T07:57:00.001-04:002013-04-09T07:59:23.833-04:00Just A Quick NoteGood Morning! I have a busy day today but will take time to give you the most inspirational blog I have read in the last few days. Go to <a href="http://littlepetuniaspages.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/let-us-run-with-perseverance-part-i/">http://littlepetuniaspages.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/let-us-run-with-perseverance-part-i/</a> and be encouraged.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brannen Boys and Brother Wil's 1930 Model A Ford</td></tr>
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Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-60814130055354403882013-04-03T08:50:00.000-04:002013-04-03T08:50:46.835-04:00Pentecostals Speak with “other tongues” (2)
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa3VdnBGw7UKHmw_jM0ZQKEGNmvmuQ0FTN2i38TK4_mdZwCsvZ5Htr28-_m2WQ79h_IOASH1bT_JFvNxP4lwbmtIxC7y14eZMee10KnvC-n22mL6a7Gav4oMajBqpXEcEYpcXo51w7ZJV/s1600/Grandma_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa3VdnBGw7UKHmw_jM0ZQKEGNmvmuQ0FTN2i38TK4_mdZwCsvZ5Htr28-_m2WQ79h_IOASH1bT_JFvNxP4lwbmtIxC7y14eZMee10KnvC-n22mL6a7Gav4oMajBqpXEcEYpcXo51w7ZJV/s320/Grandma_003.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor Lula Lee Pearce Jones ca1938-40<br />
Lacoochee, Florida</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4_R5amkaaQTwWsjbutWwTL9tYSyDWN3NVAVnf8NzvRGCKN9mg1sjj275EDSDmr3R6UINgwPRnjii7vgxkkyY3nAht0ZbMrHfapFkb9zGi0KhUuOk8pLvBxDKe_3RCXx97kyx6DEieUgK/s1600/Bonnie+@+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4_R5amkaaQTwWsjbutWwTL9tYSyDWN3NVAVnf8NzvRGCKN9mg1sjj275EDSDmr3R6UINgwPRnjii7vgxkkyY3nAht0ZbMrHfapFkb9zGi0KhUuOk8pLvBxDKe_3RCXx97kyx6DEieUgK/s320/Bonnie+@+15.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the Beauty which Daddy saw through the Church Window<br />
(She was 15 years old)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6LzjHwh9f6i4p8gAn_MPhQRrzhhUWXzyGOCTuqQP_cSsIFeFjOZq19RmyLilI-vYA82SxEWCsQRh4BXVcU7U4IxGDccLSjOiMCGhrS4tFlb61fMCfSUx2ZMYawEvxlYnMy_0DhQikvrQ/s1600/Louis+@+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6LzjHwh9f6i4p8gAn_MPhQRrzhhUWXzyGOCTuqQP_cSsIFeFjOZq19RmyLilI-vYA82SxEWCsQRh4BXVcU7U4IxGDccLSjOiMCGhrS4tFlb61fMCfSUx2ZMYawEvxlYnMy_0DhQikvrQ/s320/Louis+@+21.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis Alton Brannen<br />
(Recently Converted Saw-Mill Worker ca1938/39)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 Corinthians 14:21 says, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #0f243e; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 128;">“<sup>21</sup>In the law it is written, With men of
other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all
that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 0in .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In 1946 - </span>At the age of eight years, while Dad
was pastor of the Church of God at Morristown, Tennessee, I received the “baptism
in the Holy Ghost” or Holy Spirit in the "old time way" with the
initial evidence of speaking in other (un-known) tongues. The old time way was that
after a person was saved from sin, he/she was encouraged to seek to be
sanctified and to “pray through” to the experience of speaking in other tongues
as the Spirit gave the utterance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Calvin
had preached the experience of “salvation by grace” through faith. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Wesley had preached the doctrine of a “second
definite work of grace” in a person’s heart which was called “sanctification”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Since the late 1800's and the renewed out-pouring of the Holy Spirit,</span> we were encouraged to have the “fullness”
of the Spirit in our hearts and lives by seeking for the same experience that
fell on the 120 believers in the upper room in Acts 2:4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
never forget the time and the great feelings of exuberant joy which came over
me that night in the altar. I remember praying and hearing others praying for
me as I knelt at the bench in front of the pulpit which was called the altar. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those praying for me were saying things like,
“Hold on, son. Hold on.” “Turn loose, son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turn loose.” “Don’t turn loose.” “Give up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t give up!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Keep on praying.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>understood their intent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were suggesting that I surrender everything to Jesus, and that I should allow
God to have His way in my heart and life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe you have heard someone else testify to
an experience like this before and think that I'm being a Magpie or a parrot –
but this is actually how it happened with me. In those days most everyone
seeking an experience with the Lord was prayed for (out loud and fervently) by
the faithful. This was all done by the most devoted believers, all speaking
their words of encouragement at the same time. The encouragers were also patting the seekers on the back enthusiastically. Some called it "slapping them on the back". Plus, the musical instruments
were playing and the people were singing in the background, something like, “Oh
Lord, Send The Power Just Now” or "Send Down The Rain, Lord" or
"Jesus, On the Main Line (Tell Him What You Want)". Confusing? No!
Not to me. I knew exactly what they meant. So I did exactly what they were
suggesting: I held on in prayer until I could not hold on any longer and then I
turned loose. I "let go" and gave everything I had (or would ever
have) to God until tears of joy mingled with my tears of repentance. I kept on
praying and giving everything to God until total deliverance from sin came! I
was overcome then with the joy of salvation.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"Ah...just an emotional experience," someone said. "He'll
be the same tomorrow that he was yesterday," said another. God was so good
to me that he gave me an “out of the body” experience similar to the passage of
scripture from the hand of the Apostle Paul that says, “Whether in the body or
out of the body I cannot tell.” (2 Corinthians 12:2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No - I'm not claiming any of Paul's
excellence - but I am claiming that the same Lord that transformed him also
transformed me. Anyway, as I prayed that night at the altar, the last thing I
remembered before being filled with the Spirit was praying and leaning forward
and slightly to the right while earnestly asking God to fill me with His
Spirit. The next thing I remembered I was standing at the back door of the
church with both hands raised while tears of joy were flowing down my cheeks
and I heard myself speaking in a language I had not learned! I do not know how
I moved from the front of the church to the back of the church. My soul was
singing praises to the Lord Jesus Christ who had forgiven me of my sins. I was
elated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After only a few moments I
closed my eyes again and next thing I knew was when I opened my eyes and
stepped over someone who was lying prostrate in the floor. I was speaking in
tongues. I know that I walked (or ran) to the front of the church while under
the Spirit’s influence…but I was not aware of what was happening until I was
already back down front. I cannot explain why, or how, this happened – except
that I knew I had been filled with the Holy Ghost.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdNsVrtOrCudpnDX9RmZh0FfsKk9IwFie8Nj9T4LfZMkHZc96t3BizyS2lN8ehEtGXeK9tRGk21WZpogzlyJtJEUmo9lI1owgM3a3aDDVCjmEB7RDVfae09WNZ7P-K87Ox1SD_z1sWJeD/s1600/Granspa+Ed+Jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdNsVrtOrCudpnDX9RmZh0FfsKk9IwFie8Nj9T4LfZMkHZc96t3BizyS2lN8ehEtGXeK9tRGk21WZpogzlyJtJEUmo9lI1owgM3a3aDDVCjmEB7RDVfae09WNZ7P-K87Ox1SD_z1sWJeD/s1600/Granspa+Ed+Jones.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Edward Jones, ca1945<br />
(My Maternal Grand-father)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-84043989628817857782013-03-07T16:16:00.000-05:002013-03-07T16:16:19.953-05:00My Story: Pentecostal (1)
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQJCt6YyESB7syPzA50MON4ZIuldr5Au9rZdJiERKblKjNVTkYAvDwPbIJh7Yi3RCSGvuOWmTiUr1J95PKU6MjYSoEsEZzskMBLXQQNp9DGJ7G56zhtB1RMdCSUGQ9IOeklEtL_uRhrEa/s1600/Louis+Brannen+Family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQJCt6YyESB7syPzA50MON4ZIuldr5Au9rZdJiERKblKjNVTkYAvDwPbIJh7Yi3RCSGvuOWmTiUr1J95PKU6MjYSoEsEZzskMBLXQQNp9DGJ7G56zhtB1RMdCSUGQ9IOeklEtL_uRhrEa/s320/Louis+Brannen+Family.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Dad, Mom, Sister 1, Sister 2, <br />
Back Row L to R: Brothers Lowell, Wil and Me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4 style="background: white; margin: 1.33em 0in;">
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<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
</v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acts 2:1-4</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“ </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt;">1</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt;">2</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
</span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt;">3</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each
of them. </span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt;">4</span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yes, I was born in and
grew up in a Pentecostal Family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
maternal grandmother was the pastor of the local Pentecostal Church in the
little saw-mill town of Lacoochee, Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hearing people speak in tongues and seeing them dance ecstatically in
the spirit was as common for me as drinking water from a glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praying for the sick that resulted in Divine
Healing and miracles was not at all strange or different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew up thinking that this was the way
“church” was supposed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen
people “slain in the Spirit” in the church as far back as I can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me give you some background to my faith.</span><br />
<h4 style="background: white; margin: 1.33em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Dad had left home at 15
and had become a “hobo” on the freight trains which traveled up and down the
eastern seaboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There he learned to
smoke and drink and swear with his buddies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was 1934-1937.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he and his friends would come back home
after a long trip they would play music to entertain the patrons in the dance
hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He worked awhile in the Cummers
Saw Mill, where orange crates were made, making the fantastic sum of $9.00 per
week for a full week’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t
long until he cut off the first joint of his index finger on the saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He refused to go to a doctor but just stuck
the joint of his finger on, wrapped it in a wrag, poured on the rubbing
alchohol and let it heal back naturally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Natural” in this case turned out to be a crooked “pointing finger”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While playing his guitar in the dance hall in
the evenings, slipping a sip of whiskey from the bottle and getting himself
generally drunk - the little Pentecostal church across the railroad tracks
could be heard with characteristic singing, praying and shouting (in the old
time way) for, you see, it was summer and the windows were left open for
ventilation in the small wood-framed structure so typical of country churches
of that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Daddy explained it to
us, “While playing at the dancehall, when we heard a shout break out at the
church, we would run over and peep in the windows to watch the show!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While peeping in the window, Dad saw the
“most beautiful girl in the world” and was captivated by her beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made up his mind that he wanted to get
better acquainted and soon learned that this 16 year old young lady was the
Pastor’s daughter.</span></h4>
<h4 style="background: white; margin: 1.33em 0in;">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Sister” Jones was a very charismatic
leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have had exposure to
almost any Christian church here in the Southeastern United States, you soon learn
that all Christians are called “Brother” or “Sister”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, Sister Jones was Grandma Jones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was charismatic before most of us ever
knew what that word meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She found out
that Louis could play the guitar and invited him to play with the church
band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not believe that was normal
for Pentecostal churches in those days for they were also “Holiness” churches
but this may give some insight into the wisdom of Pastor Jones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[“Holiness”: That will be a subject for a
later blog] She eventually won the young man to a deep experience with
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During a Revival, while the
house was full of fervent worshippers, Dad had “slipped a sip or two” before
the meeting started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one high point
of leading the service, Sister Jones, removed the fiddle from under her chin
and called out to the crowd, “Saints!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
feel the SPIRIT in this place tonight!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad, by now feeling the effects of his “slippin’ and sippin’” shouted
back, “MEEEE TOOOOOO!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma then called
to the congregation, “Praise God, Church!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Spirit’s move is so powerful here that even these old sinners are
feeling it!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not positive that it
was the same night – but during that or a similar service, the house was so
crowded that there was no room to sit in the back of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After playing his guitar for the
preliminaries he looked back for a place to sit down somewhere near the back of
the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There might have been a
place he could have squeezed into but since he was a shy young man he wanted to
get into a seat and “out of sight” as quickly as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So – young Louis Brannen sat on the only
available seat – the front row!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
the sermon was finished a woman directly behind him leaned forward and half
whispered into his ear, asking, “Louis, don’t you want to go to the altar and
get saved?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that happened, He says,
“The Devil said to me, ‘Just back-hand Sister Rosier in the face and tell her
NO!’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I thought…now that wouldn’t be
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in the church house.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So instead of obeying the Devil, he obeyed
the Lord and, “took two steps and fell into the altar” where he was gloriously
converted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h4>
<h4 style="background: white; margin: 1.33em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Events moved swiftly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Louis was “Sanctified and Filled with the
Holy Ghost” with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as mentioned in Acts
2:4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Glossalalia Phenomenon was for
the common man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Louis became a changed
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He immediately stopped
drinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more cursing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more smoking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was permanent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was 60 years of age when he died and I can
honestly tell you that I never ever observed my Dad say or do anything that
would make me doubt his experience with the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon he became the clerk of the church and
asked for the hand of Bonnie Jones in marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was just 20 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bonnie
was 16 when they married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True to her
oft repeated words, “I’ll NEVER marry a preacher, she married this saw-mill
worker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it was only a few short
weeks after they were married that Daddy announced to the congregation that he
now felt “called” to preach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
the beginning of 62 years together in full-time ministry before Dad passed from
this life into the presence of his Savior.</span></h4>
Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-29131798783775387712013-02-28T09:44:00.001-05:002013-04-03T08:51:23.292-04:00Time Flys When?Where Did the time go? Could it have anything to do with the old adage: "Time flies when you're having fun"? We sure have been having fun this month with the Brannen Boys! My two brothers and I have been meeting every Saturday morning this month to have breakfast together, and then off to practice singing together. Our good friend and helper is Eddie. He is a skilled musician, song-writer, who says he doesn't sing. He plays the keyboard and has been helping us towards more skillful harmony. If you would like to hear us sing, go to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7KiYN0p5uc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7KiYN0p5uc</a> . We did this on a Friday night in a local singing at "Gaddy's Gospel Barn". Then on Saturday we drove to Chattanooga and did this number in our denomination's state-wide Senior Talent competition, and then sung again on Sunday night at our local church. We did have great fun.<br />
<br />
Oh - I must tell you that our 91 year old Mom is as good as new! She has been back to church and singing publicly again after her fall last month. Then, Frances' sister, Beth, fell in her home and broke her hip. Beth had to have surgery and have a pin inserted into the bone. Altho she had to go to re-hab she also seems to have made a full recovery. Beth is 84. We went to visit her in Lenoir City and took her out to the Cracker Barrell (a local restaurant) for dinner.<br />
<br />Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-89020439104088425342013-01-11T11:42:00.001-05:002013-01-11T13:00:27.536-05:00Mama<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJ4uSqpVAko7Ub3zaUmfJN3dUSljO_fZF0fqZulGM_ZWybvLDl12oDRieGTQ92kVknlOKAnysfTaWJPenqlevVoNM7tGGjia-qi-G9UfsHdqG1lbMH8zMKg7mgYkGYBSZrhsKfqdPdV91/s1600/DSC00028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJ4uSqpVAko7Ub3zaUmfJN3dUSljO_fZF0fqZulGM_ZWybvLDl12oDRieGTQ92kVknlOKAnysfTaWJPenqlevVoNM7tGGjia-qi-G9UfsHdqG1lbMH8zMKg7mgYkGYBSZrhsKfqdPdV91/s320/DSC00028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama, Addressing City Life Church, Tampa, Florida</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That's what I've always called my wonderful mother; Mama. She is so specially gifted. She will reach 92 years of age in March. She has retained her beauty so well that when we are out together and Frances is not with me, she has often been mistaken for my wife. However, on Wednesday night, walking from her apartment over to the church (less than 100 yards) she fell flat on her face and ended up in the emergency room at our local hospital. I was at my church when I received the call and went to the ER immediately after our service. Stayed there until the doctor finally came (after four hours) and started the two stiches in her lip. Yesterday, she was up, smiling the best she could, and worrying about the fact that she could not see because the eyeglasses cannot be repaired before next week. I went to the drugstore and bought her a new pair of 3.25 reading glasses which she says help her a lot.<br />
<br />
Interestingly - I had sung a song she taught me that she had learned as a child. Here are the words:
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><u>I Don’t Want To</u></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><u></u></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Some men chew their cud – they say it’s oh so good</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They urge me the same to do</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But this is my reply – as I pass them by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I don’t want to!</span></div>
<br />
CHORUS:<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Cause Jesus took the want to outta me a long long
time ago</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The pleasures of this world – don’t charm me any
more</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So this is my reply – as I pass them by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I don’t want to!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Some women powder and paint – to look like what they
ain’t</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They’ll urge you the same to do</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So make this your reply – As you pass them by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I don’t want to!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Some men cuss and smoke – tell lots of smutty jokes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They urge me the same to do</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But this is my reply – As I pass them by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I don’t want to!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Some men drink their wine – they say it’s oh so fine</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They urge me the same to do</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But this is my reply – As I pass them by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I don’t want to!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Some won’t pay their tithes – they say it’s just not
wise</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They urge me the same to do</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But this is my reply – As I pass them by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">(Since I got saved) I JUST WANT TO!</span><br />
</div>
Once, I was at a meeting with Mom and we were browsing through books in the bookstore when a preacher friend whom I had known for years approached. I had been away in Africa for about five years and we had not seen each other during that time. He said, "Oh, Bro. Fred, I was so sorry to hear about Sis. Frances. Is this your new wife?" Boy, did Mama beam! More recently I took her for a doctor's appointment and the young receptionist asked mother how old she was because she could not believe she was reading the date on her chart correctly. When Mother said, "I'm 89." I chimed in and said, "Don't you think we look pretty good to be in our 80s and 90s?" To which the young lady replied, "Well, I believe you...but your wife just doesn't look old enough to be 89!" Those moments are really good for one's ego. Yeah. Right.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByxTNEYxMSR7mAXMYFl03A7VNUryK5gWJ_nblSJ2phrwTrG-hOaTmogjE2J7U3YQanbcT-3MRMR3LM2ZCOvly3fX7jrwE9Ndw_jXB_VgtJVlL-1wfCldmAlGU1CfVCgqnjepsWgqx4s-4/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByxTNEYxMSR7mAXMYFl03A7VNUryK5gWJ_nblSJ2phrwTrG-hOaTmogjE2J7U3YQanbcT-3MRMR3LM2ZCOvly3fX7jrwE9Ndw_jXB_VgtJVlL-1wfCldmAlGU1CfVCgqnjepsWgqx4s-4/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugh! That looks like it would hurt.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well - here we are with the picture I took yesterday morning. Looks like the famous "morning after" to me. Don't ya think? But don't worry. She'll be back looking good as new in a couple weeks - or is that months?<br />
<br />
<br />
Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-89972657684886613912012-12-31T19:57:00.003-05:002012-12-31T19:57:56.599-05:00Christmas ReflectionsChristmas! What a wonderful time of the year. This year is especially wonderful as I reflect on all the wonderful things goin on in our lives. I had another colonoscopy and the doctor's visit last Friday was very affirming. Dr. B said, "I'm writing this into your medical file. You are special." I was happy to tell the doctor that the Lord has kept His word given to me in a dream last year, "I'm healing you." This is cause for great rejoicing. Wild. Crazy. Exuberant praise! What a wonderful Christmas gift. I asked Frances, "Why?" I know it is not because I am any different than anyone else. God knows how weak and frail and insignificant I am. I did not fast a long fast, or give extra money to the church or have a special preacher lay hands on me. I did have many friends praying for me, I know...but all I can say is that God, in his sovereignty CHOSE to heal me. I'm grateful.<br />
<br />
Family. This year for the first time in many years I find all of my brothers and sisters and our mother living in the same town. This is most unusual for our bunch. I've lived in South America and in Africa for 24 years. One brother lived in Corpus Christi, TX and one in Louisiana for many of those years. Mom and Dad lived in different states over those years, pastoring churches. But now - this Christmas, we were all together for things like caroling, church attendance, parties, gift exchanges and giving thanks for each other and how the Lord has directed our lives.<br />
<br />
Our Fred Brannen family - Frances and I and our three girls and their children and their children's children all live in America. Actually we are most proud to have a daughter married to a pastor...and they are serving the Lord way up north in Watertown, NY. We were able to talk with them in the past few days via Skype. How wonderful to see the beautiful faces of our two grand-daughters who are still at home there. Our other two girls and their children were all able to be with us. I managed to be there for a Christmas play in which a son-in-law and a granddaughter participated. What a treat. Our children make us very proud as they serve the Lord.<br />
<br />
Our church - We joined the Victory Drive Church of God here in Cleveland this year. We both enjoy the fellowship of all the members. I teach Sunday School part time and have filled in for the pastor when called on. Music is a special part of our church life and I've been privileged to sing with two wonderful families who are professionals. The Ray Branham Family and The Vaughan Cunningham Family are really talented musicians. We are blessed in this spiritual haven.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GOvgHBxf4sp51XiGG07ytf8wvemW-aatxIQtVDFDxv-Mv-uhgVkhTcE8t53FUHrwEihUGiTBdF9ATzPdTEg6dW4DAwU7W3zMyUPkrt_-8Az5QggCYLxtR8nkHEUgkSfxTZHPmvuBVykf/s1600/CIMG0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GOvgHBxf4sp51XiGG07ytf8wvemW-aatxIQtVDFDxv-Mv-uhgVkhTcE8t53FUHrwEihUGiTBdF9ATzPdTEg6dW4DAwU7W3zMyUPkrt_-8Az5QggCYLxtR8nkHEUgkSfxTZHPmvuBVykf/s320/CIMG0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our angels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fX3mzb_eFUQ9MjnK8rxAtUq5mClMKZAyAdorSLDwb1mAwzbSPFOUlvj6QWj92CpDsrguGN4dEQa2Yz62Towj6Qlrz_YTpmCesfM-7gCqAWzkF4gdM2urDqUoZ2JyBLqDkYmawGp0XFJq/s1600/CIMG0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fX3mzb_eFUQ9MjnK8rxAtUq5mClMKZAyAdorSLDwb1mAwzbSPFOUlvj6QWj92CpDsrguGN4dEQa2Yz62Towj6Qlrz_YTpmCesfM-7gCqAWzkF4gdM2urDqUoZ2JyBLqDkYmawGp0XFJq/s320/CIMG0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daughter Ruthie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44gEtmbNGUkv96DhcM164Hf-ygsKksonh1RZf9vwtyZaP9q5z4niGqd8dULhQuCME-SI5nDu9SB9LpdummGQMquagk-JY2IaUCqyKRprNmql5L7zBz2SXmdMQ4KwyGpWcfdsmvqnzlsuq/s1600/CIMG0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44gEtmbNGUkv96DhcM164Hf-ygsKksonh1RZf9vwtyZaP9q5z4niGqd8dULhQuCME-SI5nDu9SB9LpdummGQMquagk-JY2IaUCqyKRprNmql5L7zBz2SXmdMQ4KwyGpWcfdsmvqnzlsuq/s320/CIMG0035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom with a fruit basket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylGvxSV3UUOqgwEwsJUJtZQRI6Q16NQ9dmQu7fyg93srDxaADSKsFWWPKnFJNifG-CheHX7Ftfnojrq73LNtnDd0ZIIEBy9INE3PYZRFRyFLuQlZgtLJswdxLe9ZVrVdkm4_-MPnvAbxP/s1600/CIMG0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylGvxSV3UUOqgwEwsJUJtZQRI6Q16NQ9dmQu7fyg93srDxaADSKsFWWPKnFJNifG-CheHX7Ftfnojrq73LNtnDd0ZIIEBy9INE3PYZRFRyFLuQlZgtLJswdxLe9ZVrVdkm4_-MPnvAbxP/s320/CIMG0039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother-in-law, Michael</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M5Vl9cMZXonHPjuiA3GDePRYEZX5rq2no739Rkdc11rxeSEnrVN-rp9utnzpR5hjwF2EY_YkZhUKPKESM-Q8MC0rr_p4mToC4JG7AfdG4JnUoRm_w4AXo54PdDQ25OBprVrfeDJGYWNQ/s1600/CIMG0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M5Vl9cMZXonHPjuiA3GDePRYEZX5rq2no739Rkdc11rxeSEnrVN-rp9utnzpR5hjwF2EY_YkZhUKPKESM-Q8MC0rr_p4mToC4JG7AfdG4JnUoRm_w4AXo54PdDQ25OBprVrfeDJGYWNQ/s320/CIMG0045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friend, Rob D. that we met in Kenya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp30bz8oxXxMeGzyQUMPDaVatNQxh0-FEWqxljSgRvrqQJuX2SLnNHJ9ZeGa8-c6ZWUE6Rf3-P24VIX2Y_o6f8_HWanMLOWHDr83ryTjD81_P7D_VEWf6bjmtFNd58CKEAjn7hAEFHFiM/s1600/CIMG0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp30bz8oxXxMeGzyQUMPDaVatNQxh0-FEWqxljSgRvrqQJuX2SLnNHJ9ZeGa8-c6ZWUE6Rf3-P24VIX2Y_o6f8_HWanMLOWHDr83ryTjD81_P7D_VEWf6bjmtFNd58CKEAjn7hAEFHFiM/s320/CIMG0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music at our church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C_imC1aqoUX43GacbjLJySUsyTUiKYRJ6Y-Gt8YbtEr6z0JTDsBVweicdbVvmgqCtRDIPXIPFvaheJMbs1-lRiHbbDEJ6mlb1fXaY6LzJbwBHRRYHuGGaqvnJtEiAjRAgFXVzthOh_Oe/s1600/CIMG0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C_imC1aqoUX43GacbjLJySUsyTUiKYRJ6Y-Gt8YbtEr6z0JTDsBVweicdbVvmgqCtRDIPXIPFvaheJMbs1-lRiHbbDEJ6mlb1fXaY6LzJbwBHRRYHuGGaqvnJtEiAjRAgFXVzthOh_Oe/s320/CIMG0016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chirch Christmas Party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHWF445_loraa1Ldj4Qf_pa_4NslySztOC-jvNuX1DvyBrLaGQVNgk3eU8jnptPnIfU_p3_ope7MME7l7g4iMORDOHcnKQhh6dUPFznzMXAxRFLc2xh1mMH-eCN8yDvp2pgqI3Kz-SXgD/s1600/CIMG0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHWF445_loraa1Ldj4Qf_pa_4NslySztOC-jvNuX1DvyBrLaGQVNgk3eU8jnptPnIfU_p3_ope7MME7l7g4iMORDOHcnKQhh6dUPFznzMXAxRFLc2xh1mMH-eCN8yDvp2pgqI3Kz-SXgD/s320/CIMG0023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Pastor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My computer friends - You - maybe you don't know what a lift some of you give to my spirit when I read your blogs. I pray for you and yours to have a blessed and prosperous New Year!Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-60821678197231651472012-11-22T13:15:00.001-05:002012-11-22T13:15:31.572-05:00HAPPY THANKSGIVING!<br />
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Yes, it's a happy one for me. One year ago, today, November 22, 2011, I arrived before daylight and checked into the hospital in nearby Chattanooga for surgery to remove three cancerous tumors from my colon. At my last check-up (Nov 5) the Oncologist gave me a clean bill of health and stated that he wanted to set up a date now for the removal of the "surgical port" from my chest as he could not see any further need for it. The LORD has kept HIS WORD to me: "I'm healing you!"<br />
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Two days after my Oncologists visit, I visited my Optometrist - and she said sshe was surprised that she did not see more damage to my eyes. "In fact," she said, "Your eyes look better today than they did a year ago!" Isn't God good?<br />
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I was up at 3:30a.m. last Saturday, drove an hour and a half with my 4 wheeler on the trailer behinc me and hunted for deer all day. Came home in the evening and then went to church the next morning and night and sung in both services. Came home and fell asleep with no trouble. On Monday morning I got up, collected my Mom and we went out to sing at the Senior Citizen's Center. Tuesday I drove an hour north of here to Madisonville to collect 55 lbs of deer meat given to me by my friend who owns the property where I hunt. How blessed can a man be? Too much? I don't think I'll get to the place that I think it was by my own strength, nor because I am any better than anyone else. I know it is all because of what the Lord has done.<br />
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To HIM be all glory, honor, and praise!<br />
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I just finished off two bowls of deer-chili and am preparing to go out to my sister's for our annual Brannen Family tradition (which we call Thanks-mas!). Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-54012717453196308852012-09-20T20:42:00.001-04:002012-09-21T21:31:36.298-04:00The Appalachian Trail - Only 2180.7 More Miles To Go!In Africa I learned that I can eat an elephant - if I eat it one bite at a time! The Appalachian Trail is like an elephant. It is 2,184 miles of footpath, leading from Georgia to Maine. I began this most exciting and chilling, awesome and aweful, wonderful and full of wonder walk on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. The section we walked was the "100 mile wilderness" section. There were 4 of us who entered the trailhead at 1:00pm that day with intentions to walk to the Hurd Shelter where we were camping for the first night of ten anticipated nights on this trail.<br />
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Just a month before (on August 2) I had a CT-Scan showing that there were no more signs of colon cancer. Jesus had kept his promise which he spoke to me last fall before my surgery. In that dream He said, "I'm healing you." My great friend Jack L. Darnell and his dear wife Sherry invited me at some point to go with him for a hike of the "100 mile wilderness" section of the trail beginning at the base of Katahdin and walking south to Manson; something I have always wanted to do.<br />
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My grandparents on my Mother's side were an outdoors family. They hunted in central Florida out of Yankeetown - mostly in a place called Gulf Hammock. I always loved the time I spent with them: mostly Christmas and Spring, just at the time when school was out. Sometimes I was also allowed to stay the whole summer with them until it was time for school to begin in the fall. I have always been healthy and never was in the hospital except for a bout with malaria, sufferred after a mission trip to the Pomeroon district of Guyana, South America. That was 1985. I recovered quickly and went on to serve in Africa for 20 years without ever suffering with malaria symptons again.<br />
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For over 20 years I had been a pastor in the Southern USA. My first church was at Tellico Plains, Tennessee. There I learned many things about hunting and fishing in a mountain environment. I was a scoutmaster for the Tellico Plains Kiwanis club. I've hiked short distances in Alaska, carrying skis on my shoulder, never having skiied before. It was "breath-taking" adventure to say the least. That is all to say that I have had some experience in the outdoors before0 the beginning of this venture. (Reflection: I was younger then - and I had not had cancer surgery nor had my body been bombarded with chemical cocktails for a solid 6 months. Haha.)<br />
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However - after all of my experiences with the few pieces of the trail I've been on, I had no way to anticipate the difficulties I encountered on this trail. It was absolutely "R&R" as my good friend Jack Darnell said. "Roots and Rocks"! That's o.k. Cause I'll be back, friends. <br />
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So today I went out and bought a map of Springer Mountain to Bly Gap (the southernmost leg of the AT) and started my plans for another big adventure on the trail!<br />
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<br />Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-14618847894150389572012-09-18T21:10:00.000-04:002012-09-21T21:32:50.995-04:00On The 100 Mile Wilderness In Maine<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your's Truly - Enjoying The Trail<br />
But Can You See The Tiredness In My Eyes?<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It's because I had to fight with my ENO Hammock Most of the night. (Well, that plus the five hour hike I had into here to the shelter). Man - was I tired? I had stretched out the hammock and slept in it a couple of hours at home - but without the sleeping bag. Now I had a wonderful sleeping bag that was toasty warm to my back - but it insisted on staying bunched up in the middle. It was a "Mummy Style" bag, which requires putting one's feet into before zipping up from the bottom. It was dark and this bag was so warm - but I could not pull enough of it up around my body to stay warm. I pulled at the legs first - then I pulled at the edges of the bag behind my shoulders. While doing this I could not, no matter how hard I tried, pull the bag out froim under my back. I would lift my hips high and try to jump-pull and push at the same instant - all to no avail. The more I worked the hotter I got. Then I felt warm. Warm, that is, until the sweat I had worked up began to turn to ice-water! Ha. So - I'll roll over, I thought. When I did - OUT - onto the roots and rocks. When my knee hit that root I called out, "OH!" "Are you all righ down there, Fred?" Mark called out. "NO!" I replied. So at One o'clock A.M., Mark came down to help this old man get back into the hammock. What a WONDERFUL NIGHT!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherry D And Her Two Sons, Mark and Jack, Jr.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missionary Friend, Gordon B., President Of The Bible College<br />
In Kenya For Fourteen Years</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone Needed To Rest On This Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurd Shelter<br />
By the time I reached here my vision was blurred. ☺</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside The Shelter Where The Others Slept</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trail of Roots And Rocks<br />
Goes Right By The Base Of That Tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack and Sherry D.<br />
Two WONDERFUL Friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside The Shelter of My ENO<br />
I fought all night with my Sleeping Bag<br />
Which I could not get to cover my shoulders!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing into the ENO Hammock<br />
Thru The Bug-Net<br />
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<br />Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-25393843412228619712012-09-11T09:30:00.000-04:002012-09-21T21:33:16.192-04:00A Taste Of The Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Trail-Master and good friend, Jack D of Shipslog<br />
Attempting to get a signal on his cell-phone</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark, Jackie and Sherry the morning we began our hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack, Gordon, Me, Mark at the beginning of our trek<br />
The sign says<br />
It's only 3.3 miles to the shelter where we will camp<br />
the first night</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon getting settled into the shelter</td></tr>
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On Tuesday of last week my missionary friend (Gordon) and I boarded a plane and flew to Bangor, ME to begin our trek on the Appalachian Trail. We were two kids again! School was out. And we were both excited about the adventure that lay before us. Jack (of Shipslog) had invited us to join him and one of his sons for the "100 mile wilderness" section of the trail that begins at Abol bridge at the base of Mt. Katahdin and travels southwards to Manson. <br />
<br />
To sum it up, it took me 5 hours to lead the group in to the first shelter where we camped for the night. I had begun to run out of steam by the time we got through the bog; the first hurdle along the trail, which took about an hour of walking. Did I say walking? It was more like slowly creeping as I tentatively sought for a solid place to plant my hiking stick without it sinking into the marsh from six inches up to two feet! I would say hahaha - but it wasn't funny at that time. Plenty funny now that I'm safely home anmd sitting in the comfort of my office. <br />
<br />
After reaching what I think was about the half-way point I became over-heated, so much so that my glasses had gone from fogging over to being wet and streaked completely with sweat. When I stopped and took a drink from my canteen I decided to pour some water on my head and face. Steam flew into the air like you had poured ice onto a hot Model A Ford engine. (Well, that's what it seemed like to me.) I was nauseous. I felt I would surely lose my lunch. My pack felt like it weighed 450 lbs instead of the 48.5 lbs that the airport scale had showed. <br />
<br />
At that point, my good friend Jack insisted that we swap packs. I believe his pack weighed 30 lbs or less. He carried my pack and I carried his for a couple of hours. Then Jack's son, Mark sped on ahead to the shelter and hung his pack in a tree before returning to take the pack I was carrying on the rest of the journey. I knew at that point that I was not ready yet to hike the entire trail on this trip so decided that if we could possibly get a cell-phone signal that I would do the smart thing and go back out in the morning. <br />
<br />
Sure - I struggled with my male ego before making this decision. The "man" in me wanted to "do it or die" but I thought - I don't have to die from my an attack of over-grown ego. Ha. Common sense told me to let the others go on and for me to turn back. I was to learn from Jackie (Jack's first-born son) that this was not "common sense" but rather "uncommon sense". Just like his Dad! Always trying to make others feel better about themselves. <br />
<br />
More to follow. However, I can't wait to show you the Tee Shirt that Frances bought for me and presented to me when I reached home! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6HSplAcHzCnXymnJFJ3sn5P9bH_T3HO4yDj1eJ72yTGNH_DMEs97R89M3AI6vDI6ZnTqccdmjaaR9vT9bpG2pIGAWT9Z1HwVq0js4mAZswFgMMnnsJpyL8JJaIMCTYXPqyvoptX45oVv/s1600/CIMG5591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6HSplAcHzCnXymnJFJ3sn5P9bH_T3HO4yDj1eJ72yTGNH_DMEs97R89M3AI6vDI6ZnTqccdmjaaR9vT9bpG2pIGAWT9Z1HwVq0js4mAZswFgMMnnsJpyL8JJaIMCTYXPqyvoptX45oVv/s320/CIMG5591.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had seen this shirt in Gatlinburg, TN and remarked to <br />
Frances over the phone that I wished I had bought it.<br />
So appropriate for a beginning of an<br />
Addicted Trail Hiker!<br />
Don't you think?</td></tr>
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<br />Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-42445585169366628032012-08-09T12:10:00.001-04:002012-09-21T21:34:00.281-04:00Preparing To Hike<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ab2NoP6f6TaFhiETJgGFUZx4NeIhNt4pmqVV3kAeJCfeMroxz9HOXS4ftiMOsw-F5_c6YwGQXw6ssfr89mJ4TBdHFZUrOteBPgVgbv61-1SE-WVEHTEBK32t6TO3Zaxe-j1qK5ntU9Qw/s1600/CIMG5374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ab2NoP6f6TaFhiETJgGFUZx4NeIhNt4pmqVV3kAeJCfeMroxz9HOXS4ftiMOsw-F5_c6YwGQXw6ssfr89mJ4TBdHFZUrOteBPgVgbv61-1SE-WVEHTEBK32t6TO3Zaxe-j1qK5ntU9Qw/s320/CIMG5374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Brother Wil and his Wife join me on the Greenway</td></tr>
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I'm so happy to report that I'm finished the Chemo and am now preparing to hike the "Hundred Mile Wilderness" with good friend and fellow blogger, Jack Darnell. My brother and a missionary friend, Gordon B. are also going with us. We anticipate a great time of solitude and evening stories around the campfire!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdmSezgAW-W2WrMR8nJsAu2JG4TRQC8hQ7HMlmmNGtUzNeojDyH0x3abqUBfFIf-Pd9DYq9LjfcKFu9VRk20DwowgjmfjhGJaDyCcUx6Y0IeTltZKRbNblz9afOOUojKeKWgAM3cA-TwH/s1600/CIMG5376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdmSezgAW-W2WrMR8nJsAu2JG4TRQC8hQ7HMlmmNGtUzNeojDyH0x3abqUBfFIf-Pd9DYq9LjfcKFu9VRk20DwowgjmfjhGJaDyCcUx6Y0IeTltZKRbNblz9afOOUojKeKWgAM3cA-TwH/s320/CIMG5376.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner?</td></tr>
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I have been so busy this summer that it was next to impossible to do anything here at the Blog. Missionary friends were taken up to the cabin, one of my brothers and his wife (Lowell and Janis) were taken to the cabin specifically to pick black berries. One day Lowell and I dug sassafras roots for tea. At other times we just went to mow the grass and check for storm damage.<br />
<br />
It seems we have had an unusual amount of storms the last couple of years. Our cabins were spared - but there have been numerous trees that were felled by the winds, clogging the roads. Our neighbor lost several huge trees. Power outages were caused by trees knocking down power lines. But we and our families were spared. Thank you, Lord!<br />
<br />
It seems I have more to thank God for than anyone I know. I had my last chemo-treatment about three weeks ago. Then at the CT Scan two weeks ago - the doctor said he could see no more cancer...but...he referred me to another doctor for an ultrasound on my thyroid gland as he thought he saw a nodule there. I had a call a couple of hours ago from the ultrasound doc and they said "ALL CLEAR" on that! Ain't God Good?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf395yO4BI5QzLUHtUQcZzVRzhKJ7G-AbObrJb6LbQjppmU698jAp1Od-teXOj295yJUJVUs0W9Mb7HGzYuspKLUoz8i0q6PpEnj-sAuVfWAPOc-D2Xl5s_413lCaXcnI4NJHYXjNSoo-n/s1600/CIMG5380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf395yO4BI5QzLUHtUQcZzVRzhKJ7G-AbObrJb6LbQjppmU698jAp1Od-teXOj295yJUJVUs0W9Mb7HGzYuspKLUoz8i0q6PpEnj-sAuVfWAPOc-D2Xl5s_413lCaXcnI4NJHYXjNSoo-n/s320/CIMG5380.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through All Kinds of Weather</td></tr>
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Brother Wil and I have been hiking on the local hiking trail in anticipation of the AT. We have been also preparing our backpacks, meals, shelter, etc. This is the brother that lived in Texas for over 40 years and only recently retired and moved here to our town. I'm enjoying having him around. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEstJER71By5VzSzTnM7UfCesE3V5Qc8vMZiW4FVmSjI-LBD-D64qeltB_n7aQ5udFtC7MkZkN7ryNxqweKTf6ccdJqAtlIzNfogR2V8WP6cvDMES3JxozTCClhIpzw5oRzscfQWIjX0kp/s1600/CIMG5408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEstJER71By5VzSzTnM7UfCesE3V5Qc8vMZiW4FVmSjI-LBD-D64qeltB_n7aQ5udFtC7MkZkN7ryNxqweKTf6ccdJqAtlIzNfogR2V8WP6cvDMES3JxozTCClhIpzw5oRzscfQWIjX0kp/s320/CIMG5408.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Ducks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missionary Gordon Bloodworth Shows His Strength</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing The Trail</td></tr>
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I MUST SAY - Thank You, my friends who have prayed for me so often over the last six to eight months as I battled cancer. Thanks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2aA-Mv2294E4q7gIbPjTSMuQ-0m4HPUIRbt45mjFjoOwab_T4z9AqjV0ZdAmOjDJ5X659SbalGvdg6xuCvFnka4TH3Nrj-lNJ84MUJIEQrCSCEG0PyZwj7WbG0XDo7JwZ-xG09ktrcw6/s1600/CIMG5330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2aA-Mv2294E4q7gIbPjTSMuQ-0m4HPUIRbt45mjFjoOwab_T4z9AqjV0ZdAmOjDJ5X659SbalGvdg6xuCvFnka4TH3Nrj-lNJ84MUJIEQrCSCEG0PyZwj7WbG0XDo7JwZ-xG09ktrcw6/s320/CIMG5330.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missionary Jack Morris Takes Aim<br />
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Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-56415882429431142642012-08-09T10:18:00.003-04:002012-09-21T21:34:48.896-04:00Having Difficulty Reading The Bible Through?<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 75pt 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">For several years now I have made it my personal goal to read my Bible through four (4) times a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This requires only <strong><u>twelve</u></strong> chapters per day and <strong><u>twenty</u></strong> chapters on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To read it through once in a year only requires <u><strong>three</strong></u> chapter per day and <strong><u>five</u></strong> chapters on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (<em><strong>Sorry folks - In this original article I made a mistake and said <u>one</u> chapter per day when it should have been <u>three</u> per day in order to read through once in a year</strong></em>!)</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 75pt 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was a pastor in my younger years (started at the very young age of 22 years) and I felt that it was part of my duty to read the Bible through at least once a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span>s I began, I would do fine until I came to the long lists of difficult names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would often come to the end of another year filled with guilt and disappointment because I had read only the Old Testament and sometimes a few chapters of the New Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It was not easy in those early years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had tried from my very first day as a pastor to pray one (1) hour each morning as I began my day – a habit I acquired from watching my Dad who was a pastor before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After prayer, I would read the first few chapters of Genesis without great difficulty – but then I would come to the genealogical sections with all those foreign names that were so difficult to pronounce and I quickly lost interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some suggestions that I hope will help you if you are one of the few who really want to be knowledgeable of the Word of God</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Know that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>YOU CAN </u></b>do it!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even if you cannot read, you can now get an audio Bible in some form.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can now have someone read it to you as you read along silently by going to BibleGateway.com or YouBible.com on the Internet.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can get a CD or DVD or cassette tape<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the Bible being read aloud.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">II.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Know that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>you should</u></b> do it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is prayer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it not conversing with God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is a conversation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it not when two people speak to each other?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one does all the speaking while the other only listens and never says anything, is that a conversation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course not. So I decided to let God do most of the talking. Yes, I still pray, and at times can get "lost" in prayer, asking God to meet many of my perceived needs.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does God speak to us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through visions, dreams, prophets, tongues and interpretations, circumstances, and also our feelings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Yes. But human lips can make many mistakes. Paul the Apostle indicates that "Prophecies shall fail and Tongues shall cease - but the Word of God abideth forever." </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">d.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the single most reliable way to know what God wants to say to us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is found in the written Word of God. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">e.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I am suggesting that if you really want to hear from God – then READ HIS WORD!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">III.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Get an easier translation</span></u></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> to read than the KJV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly recommend the Living Bible if you want a read that is easy to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOW - For Bible Study (especially when it comes to debatable points) I prefer the King James Version,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know – the one used by Jesus and Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Of course, you know the KJV was not first printed until the year 1611) so that statement was completely “tongue in cheek”.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">IV.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Get Started</span></u></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> by making up your mind that you will do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will not accomplish anything unless you make a start.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">V.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Set a time</span></u></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> that is convenient.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you a night-owl?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then make it the last hour before you sleep.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you (like me) a morning person?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set your clock an hour early and spend that first time of the day with your Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have as much time as the King or a Queen has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use it wisely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you work 50 to 60 hours a week, you can still find time to do whatever it is that you strongly desire to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only takes an average reader 15 to 20 minutes to read three (3) chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to watch a movie you will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most Americans will watch TV or the Internet or read the newspaper for hours with very little complaint.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">d.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Find a specific place that is comfortable and well lit but gives you as much privacy as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find a place where you can read for an hour without interruption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may require spending time with your wife and family and letting them know your plan.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">e.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t answer the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the caller leave a message and then call them back after your Bible reading time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inform your family of what you are doing and seek their cooperation in not disturbing you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">VI.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Git-er-done!</u></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whatever sacrifices you have to make will be well worth the effort!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">b.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Get started NOW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t wait until tomorrow for tomorrow never comes.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">c.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you find yourself reading and suddenly discover that you don’t understand – DO NOT GO BACK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply focus at that point in your reading and keep moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest assured – you will never understand it all – but as you read over and over each year you will find more and more meaning as you read.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Postscript:</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you have questions or comments you would like discuss in a reasonable manner, please feel free to post your comments here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to hear from you, especially if you have discovered a method or some way to make the reading of the Bible easier and more rewarding.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-18469082731628369552012-06-29T11:19:00.000-04:002012-09-21T21:36:08.955-04:00Apologies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9cBtTo7rDWUpiLLnrlJxMqfGmYpwOwfzaE9-dD5kAoa1CrFJd3CLJPvspCcWMdqwQETuCeJMgMeP6aE4j6KrSW89Kq8o2wOCaLnc52dDeUwMWb2r0YpHW4XP73yd098gY53ScTJ2eNy9/s1600/CIMG4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9cBtTo7rDWUpiLLnrlJxMqfGmYpwOwfzaE9-dD5kAoa1CrFJd3CLJPvspCcWMdqwQETuCeJMgMeP6aE4j6KrSW89Kq8o2wOCaLnc52dDeUwMWb2r0YpHW4XP73yd098gY53ScTJ2eNy9/s400/CIMG4129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recognize These? Be glad if you don't! Ha.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPERBcScj-MLILgby6hyphenhyphenNNOCJnuEv2avpZpqQPMLsVey5pYqDTEjUbxTGL3VKN8hnMvJvf51SBWnu5Nb4JHwrf8UytzBRDu5VQbjK2vFHf4IMDkm5hQLNHivr0S-yM18AlT6tFKRHpquWa/s1600/CIMG5063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPERBcScj-MLILgby6hyphenhyphenNNOCJnuEv2avpZpqQPMLsVey5pYqDTEjUbxTGL3VKN8hnMvJvf51SBWnu5Nb4JHwrf8UytzBRDu5VQbjK2vFHf4IMDkm5hQLNHivr0S-yM18AlT6tFKRHpquWa/s400/CIMG5063.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep Smiling Through It All...It takes lots less muscle to smile than to frown.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZcZ-0aPG972n8anYUBro99M80rAdmZjY9PxS7qMl9d-u55Go8I7XGmfNtY6WUnt7yCbYMJkk9FEy752wi8JUeZAs7uUzJdhKrs2BnIgsCC6GrxkHTlavkTgXL-auMFUsk7EUPqVv8431/s1600/CIMG5065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZcZ-0aPG972n8anYUBro99M80rAdmZjY9PxS7qMl9d-u55Go8I7XGmfNtY6WUnt7yCbYMJkk9FEy752wi8JUeZAs7uUzJdhKrs2BnIgsCC6GrxkHTlavkTgXL-auMFUsk7EUPqVv8431/s400/CIMG5065.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nurses At Work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My apologies to all of my blogger friends. (All of you) * ld like to give you an update on what isd going on here but with the "chemically induced nejuropathy pains I'm having - it is most difficult to tyupe because of teh pain I am experience in my fingers. It's a taski top type without hitting un-wanted keys as you can plainly sdee. Horrible! ☺ so I'm smiling anyway!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank God I can do as well as I can and the doc says it will go away in time.Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-12927167361140635912012-06-22T19:50:00.000-04:002012-09-21T21:36:36.806-04:00Last Treatment<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_y45tiWwlnkYs93DqhU382Rlj9TONLyl58DEO3pCt5-8F6nKixfeHHnoJ7PcKAyYjszUcDLsGJP13ziAgsYmEAn50l9w0oGr-puzCcNpMmxVuxp5QwMbzc38jbxtfAoRHj_HlnZ3mEeqE/s1600/CIMG5112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_y45tiWwlnkYs93DqhU382Rlj9TONLyl58DEO3pCt5-8F6nKixfeHHnoJ7PcKAyYjszUcDLsGJP13ziAgsYmEAn50l9w0oGr-puzCcNpMmxVuxp5QwMbzc38jbxtfAoRHj_HlnZ3mEeqE/s400/CIMG5112.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of God's Angels <br />
(Frances Durham,. Frances Brannen, Ruthie Crockett)<br />
who worked and prayed with me from start to finish <br />
Through the process of healing from cancer.<br />
Thank you girls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC9KssIcQPb9wGCAipPwJNgAiP6lk9U7QpVRNZp7yO1uDlSRBFpXVQ8AWwvU1biYaRp1mIkj3_OqarVIKSKVycySwRTbeJ22QpBtruwRYH_Aow9d5uRJvtrNE02ajqsh7vI31XmZJETX8/s1600/CIMG5113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC9KssIcQPb9wGCAipPwJNgAiP6lk9U7QpVRNZp7yO1uDlSRBFpXVQ8AWwvU1biYaRp1mIkj3_OqarVIKSKVycySwRTbeJ22QpBtruwRYH_Aow9d5uRJvtrNE02ajqsh7vI31XmZJETX8/s400/CIMG5113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This crown was mine to indicate that I was "King For A Day" after completing 6 months of chemo-therapy. <br />
All I could think of was that if we win any crowns in life - we will cast them all at the feet of Jesus<br />
For He IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.<br />
I know that it was His healing at work in my body which enabled me to pass through this <br />
battle with cancer successfully.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ4Us3iKUMM0cTRLahTyXhrGP3WslmsuGGJXMSDNINE96V7E3gtAwH_dR6mAuaGcN__jFLVTkBxfG2X5hhTNqkMqT886uOERMuh7mvCYfy4gLtO8tzES5DZyH5CMbi5A3K31YaDhvCL0v/s1600/CIMG5114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ4Us3iKUMM0cTRLahTyXhrGP3WslmsuGGJXMSDNINE96V7E3gtAwH_dR6mAuaGcN__jFLVTkBxfG2X5hhTNqkMqT886uOERMuh7mvCYfy4gLtO8tzES5DZyH5CMbi5A3K31YaDhvCL0v/s400/CIMG5114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This placard is displayed on the counter in the Treatment Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-20537577506022808592012-05-14T11:03:00.001-04:002012-09-21T21:37:08.353-04:00Mother's Day 2012 and Chemo-Treatment #9<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMhSQCkuffx9jy5HsxVYGIClGAb-140Qy0GtvZBwShKHPrmRFLS0-urTXuHECkFxBDSBMoqAiDrHeBmwiOr-XD4beAHGlR20DylW4q_hX7X-isoNshAcTTJjxXgRe6D0MF8-xwG16HBrY/s1600/CIMG4954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMhSQCkuffx9jy5HsxVYGIClGAb-140Qy0GtvZBwShKHPrmRFLS0-urTXuHECkFxBDSBMoqAiDrHeBmwiOr-XD4beAHGlR20DylW4q_hX7X-isoNshAcTTJjxXgRe6D0MF8-xwG16HBrY/s400/CIMG4954.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my siblings with most spouses were together with Mom on Saturday<br />
The day before Mother's Day. I think she looks good at 91 years!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvjzJOZHlm5LKGbLfe6S91zyct6kxFKEQ_g8n1soO1SJxJKkhLwFPUf6bD9MrHJXEv-IBZdB8lW8ofkrPA0w2iF68hcGQzujVU67pQNPI5rXeLXos8QphdeHTYf8w5PcDWBEY0YlxOnW8/s1600/CIMG4958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvjzJOZHlm5LKGbLfe6S91zyct6kxFKEQ_g8n1soO1SJxJKkhLwFPUf6bD9MrHJXEv-IBZdB8lW8ofkrPA0w2iF68hcGQzujVU67pQNPI5rXeLXos8QphdeHTYf8w5PcDWBEY0YlxOnW8/s400/CIMG4958.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first-born daughter, "Frankie", giving her Mom flowers for Mother's Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbFNbDsZKGpd3bw2x5PKTZrd4ppss-aNWRXdcZF63IxGrjg7JX55jx0N1RYeuQJqHS8U0TMf4EtHj5tgwR1XHLFseqOmxxxTW7K5q_B0h3b4OFAP0Ag_8LIOEJrARfvRROhQ1LCpEPY8G/s1600/CIMG4961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbFNbDsZKGpd3bw2x5PKTZrd4ppss-aNWRXdcZF63IxGrjg7JX55jx0N1RYeuQJqHS8U0TMf4EtHj5tgwR1XHLFseqOmxxxTW7K5q_B0h3b4OFAP0Ag_8LIOEJrARfvRROhQ1LCpEPY8G/s400/CIMG4961.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last-born daughter, Tabitha (aka: The Pet) sent this Beautiful "in-depth" card <br />
with a gift card inside!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu99tgcjiH3CPsuZuXDFwpyAo1pNt7XDa0c5PRgOEl2J0ymHZjNj5fagoDMk6B-CC_qSaGo9IZ2FMEl0FBTP1xP5PcMAHA3xO8X_i8g-5gEOw0evo3nerML1GxKgpKKW0D0ngNHRuRI_X/s1600/CIMG4944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu99tgcjiH3CPsuZuXDFwpyAo1pNt7XDa0c5PRgOEl2J0ymHZjNj5fagoDMk6B-CC_qSaGo9IZ2FMEl0FBTP1xP5PcMAHA3xO8X_i8g-5gEOw0evo3nerML1GxKgpKKW0D0ngNHRuRI_X/s400/CIMG4944.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our middle daughter, Ruthie (aka: The Favrite One) had taken me to the <br />
Oncology Department for treatment #9. She also went by Cap'n D's and brought <br />
a complete fish dinner to our home on Sunday so Mom did not have to cook!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS3CdyJCZinZ71Sv3JY92v4beWqm3zhdnp9wcP5m9R2uj9pr-1QDEFBbj-oNaVDusZIV5uO0hKX5_wtduxmKzO5a7OoVdguslAr76I-J7Jom6cenftjtY7qA2GjgVVTmtZl7LZO1r1Xg0/s1600/CIMG4946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS3CdyJCZinZ71Sv3JY92v4beWqm3zhdnp9wcP5m9R2uj9pr-1QDEFBbj-oNaVDusZIV5uO0hKX5_wtduxmKzO5a7OoVdguslAr76I-J7Jom6cenftjtY7qA2GjgVVTmtZl7LZO1r1Xg0/s400/CIMG4946.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first-born child gave me this Tee-shirt to encourage me to "Crush Cancer"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQPHF1qsXX1dy_CdhXinW981mNrO8HTlVx1UCNoJYEFmx9CK5WbClS7qTO1g1T6rk4GRw01PbXAZf_CrBJTpdtqd2zAHD9XtXABLqMLs9I94bFuw6bY1q8N6nOL3zaZ76R3zsN3bAQDWB/s1600/CIMG4947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQPHF1qsXX1dy_CdhXinW981mNrO8HTlVx1UCNoJYEFmx9CK5WbClS7qTO1g1T6rk4GRw01PbXAZf_CrBJTpdtqd2zAHD9XtXABLqMLs9I94bFuw6bY1q8N6nOL3zaZ76R3zsN3bAQDWB/s400/CIMG4947.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After chemo-treatment #9, Frances had boiled eleven squirrels for me!<br />
This is highly recommended treatment for cancer! By whom?<br />
Me - Of course! Only 4 more treatments to go!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-11354075971510377212012-04-09T06:44:00.000-04:002012-09-21T21:38:09.559-04:00Happy Easter!I pray that all of you had a very Happy Easter. Ours was blessed because we were able to go to church together with our first-born daughter (Frankie) and hear the special music presentation. Our daughter sings in that choir but had surgery on her thyroid just a couple of weeks ago and was unable to participate this year. I'm sure that was dis-appointing for Frankie but was a blessing for us as we were able to sit with her during the service. Afterwards we all came to our house where we had a wonderful meal which had been prepared for us by a friend of our second-born daughter, Ruthie. It was a blessed time of fellowship.<br />
<br />
I have now passed through chemo treatment #7, which puts me "over the hump" of the 13 treatments that have been prescribed for me. Thank God for the strength He is giving me as I go through this process. One of the Easter songs really resonates in my being - "Because He Lives". The chorus says, "Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He Lives, all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future, I now can face uncertain days, Because He Lives!" Yes, just as He said to me in that un-forgettable dream, Jesus is healing me.<br />
<br />
Be Blessed!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusS77u1BjJH9k4jKG-TR_x4zjlNcvlVgzHKRP5yLhYNOCrrZGaT07QVbjg_zexpuM8ZpCNkVUIOfxDqxOkQBABZ9n5Cndb9wXWigOlNY3t5sLBsTpsVp-RYkjanuXQj6yZNkfncsXt2I7/s1600/CIMG4782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusS77u1BjJH9k4jKG-TR_x4zjlNcvlVgzHKRP5yLhYNOCrrZGaT07QVbjg_zexpuM8ZpCNkVUIOfxDqxOkQBABZ9n5Cndb9wXWigOlNY3t5sLBsTpsVp-RYkjanuXQj6yZNkfncsXt2I7/s400/CIMG4782.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris in bloom by the carport!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpngB27L-wT9YJgphDcufpX9Ek_D2R52dVGawPJMw13r8UmYGqOQRJnEsGEU6j4Wx7J7SW7SjatYksh1mG9tOy18trschADC3XdAbtijuG7qRuxIWTjWr8UH6-_sg7dUSlK32-nN0445R_/s1600/CIMG4803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpngB27L-wT9YJgphDcufpX9Ek_D2R52dVGawPJMw13r8UmYGqOQRJnEsGEU6j4Wx7J7SW7SjatYksh1mG9tOy18trschADC3XdAbtijuG7qRuxIWTjWr8UH6-_sg7dUSlK32-nN0445R_/s400/CIMG4803.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clymatis (Sp?) in bloom at the front porch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MwVeapWLA2CJlYabxiIomMRyeD1xToEJADrlAZgKSRSiX_CKqiTDQ3GXVE0o-SLNRRdblk2MAJ4rVTzr7qpcjEi4jKjEZsijLOwE_HISqHyDws9uZ_Tuec9WR_rMZui-jf3yyKWQJNsa/s1600/CIMG4816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MwVeapWLA2CJlYabxiIomMRyeD1xToEJADrlAZgKSRSiX_CKqiTDQ3GXVE0o-SLNRRdblk2MAJ4rVTzr7qpcjEi4jKjEZsijLOwE_HISqHyDws9uZ_Tuec9WR_rMZui-jf3yyKWQJNsa/s400/CIMG4816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roses starting to bloom! It's too early?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YNIeiZdiJ220zyTMdgyGost7wmHptiuyuMh1JEr8yjRjv46cQpPAqRqF3r4pyOuQ91AbMYFYy9NjpXnmx5Txu65EtlBWczdki3U-XtC_-hzGwyH-K8KjjEAptoS3EevV0UXdXO2-nx_H/s1600/CIMG4826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YNIeiZdiJ220zyTMdgyGost7wmHptiuyuMh1JEr8yjRjv46cQpPAqRqF3r4pyOuQ91AbMYFYy9NjpXnmx5Txu65EtlBWczdki3U-XtC_-hzGwyH-K8KjjEAptoS3EevV0UXdXO2-nx_H/s400/CIMG4826.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Roses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z18WDGqlxgw0YDsglVordtwtEOXRQkXMAcwI4uzYDTKF4fL9Mib4Nb96IRgrhgkNT4ogaaR1YrRxSrq4TLYjYQjbgpQfNmwozmk9ZcsaJXPoWu1ghOPd3I9TOqWvu6bOW3UrQwMlm_qw/s1600/CIMG4840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z18WDGqlxgw0YDsglVordtwtEOXRQkXMAcwI4uzYDTKF4fL9Mib4Nb96IRgrhgkNT4ogaaR1YrRxSrq4TLYjYQjbgpQfNmwozmk9ZcsaJXPoWu1ghOPd3I9TOqWvu6bOW3UrQwMlm_qw/s400/CIMG4840.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And More Roses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODfURTQp2usZ_X_tIlXcbdWPh5L-TUEUpm9bPap-ttlVB7NkmjEV_xwGywmIK-VimJRf51bimpgkt1SvXwd8P7q76GHre5-pThzoeyDGfCAD6atdetMN3wVppv9sN2GgZsER7YenJVUew/s1600/CIMG4842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODfURTQp2usZ_X_tIlXcbdWPh5L-TUEUpm9bPap-ttlVB7NkmjEV_xwGywmIK-VimJRf51bimpgkt1SvXwd8P7q76GHre5-pThzoeyDGfCAD6atdetMN3wVppv9sN2GgZsER7YenJVUew/s400/CIMG4842.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Beautiful Frances<br />
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Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-42437911337364427032012-03-11T19:23:00.000-04:002012-03-11T19:23:36.417-04:00Up 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!"<br />
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That's my stock answer these days whenever anyone asks how I'm doing. <u><strong>"Oh...Up and down!"</strong></u> 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. <br />
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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.<br />
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Go ahead, make that decision today to "Try Jesus! If you don't like Him the devil will always take you back!"Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-69478403078383133942012-02-22T12:55:00.001-05:002012-02-22T12:58:00.228-05:004th Chemo TreatmentOn Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 I went into Memorial Hospital for my fourth chemo treatment. I had a really bad week leading up to the treatment. However, my lab work showed my blood-count to be better than it has been since my surgery. I have just returned from another visit for only lab-work, and the blood work continues to climb. I know that this has to be God at work, healing me, as he has promised to do.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinERccI9qK71bmui4OFIMwnhxoR2LD_a-2WqP3oPtunFXbLP64IPKK9fn2Huqk4I0DoLI8hL476NWNemMJ4PkIrjy15tKQuOmuD642EQDMgLkttaMi22o871HQg4AIGkx3MM6OMDu_5Rm5/s1600/CIMG4703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinERccI9qK71bmui4OFIMwnhxoR2LD_a-2WqP3oPtunFXbLP64IPKK9fn2Huqk4I0DoLI8hL476NWNemMJ4PkIrjy15tKQuOmuD642EQDMgLkttaMi22o871HQg4AIGkx3MM6OMDu_5Rm5/s320/CIMG4703.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm getting a Boost along the way!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKcfAkpKIV0kakiSveeuAqs1K_sdgsLeGwVsQHSsWWCRyAIsezKWiA6kPklArwfZQt3OUNBQhx1fw6LH8eb1ceZXjEdgLMOoLmcrO2cB_-EzTg0lRATWS1PuZB7LkzKIKJMLrnobJQyup/s1600/Soup+and+cornbread+fm+Williams.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKcfAkpKIV0kakiSveeuAqs1K_sdgsLeGwVsQHSsWWCRyAIsezKWiA6kPklArwfZQt3OUNBQhx1fw6LH8eb1ceZXjEdgLMOoLmcrO2cB_-EzTg0lRATWS1PuZB7LkzKIKJMLrnobJQyup/s320/Soup+and+cornbread+fm+Williams.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good friends supplied chicken soup and cornbread<br />
This cornbread is just like I like it - thin and crispy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAbi5wS8mhzp1HFhKaolvTZ6Qs1Ao_Jo2Mn3K8gzG2Dr3c0GGdHKMv1qNwwmCOzqBZgKWpUWzQSWj2cmech2yEvpZhxNHAgHjHbeyXvfrov7kulo3ebgVOY-G3NGtGx3JckSSkgn1-fvJ/s1600/CIMG4707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAbi5wS8mhzp1HFhKaolvTZ6Qs1Ao_Jo2Mn3K8gzG2Dr3c0GGdHKMv1qNwwmCOzqBZgKWpUWzQSWj2cmech2yEvpZhxNHAgHjHbeyXvfrov7kulo3ebgVOY-G3NGtGx3JckSSkgn1-fvJ/s320/CIMG4707.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really surprised Frances for Valentine's day - with this Barbershop Quartet arriving at our home and singing three love songs for her. She was overwhelmed to tears. I have to confess I also shed a tear before they were through, but I was so proud of myself because I have never been able to surprise her so completely for anything (birthday, valentine's day, christmas or anything else) but on that day I did it. I still feel somewhat smug.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DipvOVo0tv7XmVZb-TVmdgH2C5KM5WgOyrFRKSyW5xMjHgzTvQskX9GMomz9zqkV70WZ1LMq0txIAhd_PFRBskkvM4djdEWdb2JRpJ0QDZp04s3LjGvFxmYqUOQT1amo48MKpUl5pJuO/s1600/CIMG4710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DipvOVo0tv7XmVZb-TVmdgH2C5KM5WgOyrFRKSyW5xMjHgzTvQskX9GMomz9zqkV70WZ1LMq0txIAhd_PFRBskkvM4djdEWdb2JRpJ0QDZp04s3LjGvFxmYqUOQT1amo48MKpUl5pJuO/s320/CIMG4710.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another thing that was part of this package was the large box of chocolates I managed to sneak into the house and set up by the kitchen counter so it was the first thing she saw when she came into the kitchen that morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyVGhUNXJsBOrb6RwUtWsdsHjFfNX9qwqwqBEwXnaxtKl3OFJ-9qFhClz9u9fSFRrmFq76R0AU-dEg0sr_L_U0p5HDM-ZcvC9bAgKOC-hP0EmdZhbqM40NwAhQTQD8AomZ0H_N4cM-y_Z/s1600/CIMG4714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyVGhUNXJsBOrb6RwUtWsdsHjFfNX9qwqwqBEwXnaxtKl3OFJ-9qFhClz9u9fSFRrmFq76R0AU-dEg0sr_L_U0p5HDM-ZcvC9bAgKOC-hP0EmdZhbqM40NwAhQTQD8AomZ0H_N4cM-y_Z/s320/CIMG4714.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another visit from Frances' neice, bring food! Yummmmm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ10DHzdo15x_AP2G82hFEpNTBVR1R8eyEzq4NDhabuW6IGCZm2tectqULtL5yql6gIka8B49RRQ1qTpXrGZBEuw_Ag25TTgmkAvf0lcE-x_LtBnA3K0C3wFGjt_1UA8pugok4XPPtUlv8/s1600/Cardinal-close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ10DHzdo15x_AP2G82hFEpNTBVR1R8eyEzq4NDhabuW6IGCZm2tectqULtL5yql6gIka8B49RRQ1qTpXrGZBEuw_Ag25TTgmkAvf0lcE-x_LtBnA3K0C3wFGjt_1UA8pugok4XPPtUlv8/s320/Cardinal-close.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cardinal came to visit me while I sat in the warm afternoon sunshine one day last week.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o-wl0ns89cik9pnwEXDc1lnOVdbsOtrwyx6bPDNL2P2ImL6ndK_Vr0HDV31Cbr92xvbAkIMCJt6kJ5pS5RK5XtilFPrxoMOOc09msaoO2SpetX1i66JfJt6pYsZA_vWZUkFG9ncdsLKF/s1600/CIMG4716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o-wl0ns89cik9pnwEXDc1lnOVdbsOtrwyx6bPDNL2P2ImL6ndK_Vr0HDV31Cbr92xvbAkIMCJt6kJ5pS5RK5XtilFPrxoMOOc09msaoO2SpetX1i66JfJt6pYsZA_vWZUkFG9ncdsLKF/s320/CIMG4716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful buttercups clipped from our yard and brought into the house for me (with love) from Frances! Spring is almost here folks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-82424598880193025502012-02-02T09:44:00.003-05:002012-02-05T07:36:26.283-05:00Third Chemo Treatment<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTDT8KHIIW9k4999hqqMB3rwj3G3muHojvyhntHqG6niOgeURM29ZDyFYcq80JUum-fRXMK94mC04qA423vOIjJ9GR8FL-qDMESjf1Y2m_4Cm7gAlS0KEF-yjpHHkvbmkjGJ-gUklO2Yy/s1600/CIMG4646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTDT8KHIIW9k4999hqqMB3rwj3G3muHojvyhntHqG6niOgeURM29ZDyFYcq80JUum-fRXMK94mC04qA423vOIjJ9GR8FL-qDMESjf1Y2m_4Cm7gAlS0KEF-yjpHHkvbmkjGJ-gUklO2Yy/s400/CIMG4646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonquils are popping out in our yard. Spring is Coming!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdkSUYTB3xg0b0-e3sZbIPdKJ0jVjoq5iHL2PIpwhFHOqMSplSYVp50cty33mTaiUVa6LcdN7_k1UmoYPuxuEIpKhKocuy8GYjk9MtvB_X7J2NtRCL8LMbMZABB48QcQo9Tu_ExcYEnpr/s1600/CIMG4639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdkSUYTB3xg0b0-e3sZbIPdKJ0jVjoq5iHL2PIpwhFHOqMSplSYVp50cty33mTaiUVa6LcdN7_k1UmoYPuxuEIpKhKocuy8GYjk9MtvB_X7J2NtRCL8LMbMZABB48QcQo9Tu_ExcYEnpr/s400/CIMG4639.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the pump that fits into the pouch and is attached to the surgical port under my left clavical.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I can hardly believe it! But here, just outside our front door the jonquils are already popping out. And I think that in just a few more weeks all this chemo treatment will pass and I'll have new life also. Jehovah God is an awesome God! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6Uys4QfXHlPw61JAgLQyLFRE9zuPig_hxpAq7Rok7uapj_nTXg927oaAENqVl3n7QKDzFYH_CItvee4ydBCHd_cDfmYaVvZuO_bfxEDoJ5eew__2r4G4vUl8OhfSUyo7xU8b59bYAu2Z/s1600/CIMG4636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6Uys4QfXHlPw61JAgLQyLFRE9zuPig_hxpAq7Rok7uapj_nTXg927oaAENqVl3n7QKDzFYH_CItvee4ydBCHd_cDfmYaVvZuO_bfxEDoJ5eew__2r4G4vUl8OhfSUyo7xU8b59bYAu2Z/s400/CIMG4636.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the belt pouch that holds the chemo-pump which I wear for two nights.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1HgcCgx8tNKoL0DzftqMzyVevIrOBUPQIuEQIuxdhAdoD87gN8wFqLWPZQjig8Ry5sCR3cMHvgPrVN3oG0uWwGtZ9HcyOBtHuG8kL-oYeYVNmtab7_8or0_kbe0jrR9KA5oost2RXspY/s1600/CIMG4637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1HgcCgx8tNKoL0DzftqMzyVevIrOBUPQIuEQIuxdhAdoD87gN8wFqLWPZQjig8Ry5sCR3cMHvgPrVN3oG0uWwGtZ9HcyOBtHuG8kL-oYeYVNmtab7_8or0_kbe0jrR9KA5oost2RXspY/s400/CIMG4637.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I decided to get a new haircut!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfYMkS8n0CEswPLfHA6cVF1NXz36caUnBYNFzmZrFzsTDRMVXH8IZn34ziQjVf26HlsSeD4WGbytW2pMRpugFpiWpbWFdZyai1BiXVSCetK7U0hLbyOaQKD2t5frvQv11lvXrBvdiBvsG/s1600/CIMG4650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfYMkS8n0CEswPLfHA6cVF1NXz36caUnBYNFzmZrFzsTDRMVXH8IZn34ziQjVf26HlsSeD4WGbytW2pMRpugFpiWpbWFdZyai1BiXVSCetK7U0hLbyOaQKD2t5frvQv11lvXrBvdiBvsG/s400/CIMG4650.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of the scenes I passed on the way to Church last Sunday, January 29</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigis60qZYlyxbueHrCU00EEJuJnJCCM7Hs1NZRJQDm5Xv_bpyk5Tlad_YXESk3ecyK4RCuok1f_-TNWxOmfh0YVcd2N0aXDh3CtLGa0uni0mgLKNTuS1e_CWPY-BdHeD8iWhzg6D8Ow8xC/s1600/CIMG4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigis60qZYlyxbueHrCU00EEJuJnJCCM7Hs1NZRJQDm5Xv_bpyk5Tlad_YXESk3ecyK4RCuok1f_-TNWxOmfh0YVcd2N0aXDh3CtLGa0uni0mgLKNTuS1e_CWPY-BdHeD8iWhzg6D8Ow8xC/s400/CIMG4652.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Youth Group at the Tellico Plaina, TN Church of God Singing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>For now, here's what happened: <br />
<div><span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_3_1328190188663176" style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday morning, at 7:20a.m., my brother Wil joined me for the trip to Chattanooga Oncology center and stayed with me the during the lab-work, doctor visit and chemo treament. We started chemo at 9:45 and finished at 12:00p.m., at which time a "chemo-pump" was attached which I must wear until Friday. It's un-comfortable to wear - especially while trying to sleep - but not un-bearable.</span></div><br />
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Everything went smoothly. The doctor was pleased with the results of the blood work and feels we are making good progress. </span></div><br />
<div><span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_3_1328190188663179" style="font-size: medium;">I so appreciate your praying for me. May the Lord bless you in return. I'm convinced that your prayers are making a difference in the level of side-effects being felt. They have been very minimal to date. </span></div>Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-28910505010853568022012-01-17T19:24:00.001-05:002012-01-17T19:31:31.884-05:00Supportive Friends and Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBiROhPRSV7C5zMyQuWkqP9Byi6AVteguAYaQfE31QwF2P4nI04PV1M6uSVf0OcjHhbpud4YEnIZ21OwhT5OQVsLcIFM7szAJzJDQ0jKu85N6VTHpxcSrml4tiZnnujyHoDtTDyAS8zzM/s1600/CIMG4411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBiROhPRSV7C5zMyQuWkqP9Byi6AVteguAYaQfE31QwF2P4nI04PV1M6uSVf0OcjHhbpud4YEnIZ21OwhT5OQVsLcIFM7szAJzJDQ0jKu85N6VTHpxcSrml4tiZnnujyHoDtTDyAS8zzM/s320/CIMG4411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother, Frances, and my youngest brother, Lowell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-K-_kl8ncrSUYpPjyJ9QeLk5TR6va-y2_gjODQrbs4KQZo-tZ4aiIsbLC02noKuJVnW3CHqjqrfr16lpoRR9bMrHAx50hmp1LAuRQ9KOn32Pnpex-VMJ7ywCLPrij-q7qDgeQHSD1Uz6/s1600/CIMG4424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-K-_kl8ncrSUYpPjyJ9QeLk5TR6va-y2_gjODQrbs4KQZo-tZ4aiIsbLC02noKuJVnW3CHqjqrfr16lpoRR9bMrHAx50hmp1LAuRQ9KOn32Pnpex-VMJ7ywCLPrij-q7qDgeQHSD1Uz6/s320/CIMG4424.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie and Dewain and Me after a meal at Cracker Barrell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mwhV7hQyc4m3VSE57luXLNoTRIFeI24SDHuahH-a-WCvOKUe5-9P3cnekK8eqrBhp6y6cHiFeAX_VxPD8_VmITUdZPrHy4TS5KDqBAn3T8-73m1YSgAMy1tn-vcuc2eCej-CMacH16Fp/s1600/CIMG4602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mwhV7hQyc4m3VSE57luXLNoTRIFeI24SDHuahH-a-WCvOKUe5-9P3cnekK8eqrBhp6y6cHiFeAX_VxPD8_VmITUdZPrHy4TS5KDqBAn3T8-73m1YSgAMy1tn-vcuc2eCej-CMacH16Fp/s400/CIMG4602.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two wonderful meals that my neice, Jean Hamilton prepared and brought for me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thank God for my Family. We are close friends and spend time together regularly. Any excuse for a party (Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New years,) brings us together at some one of our homes or in a restaurant where we socialize, tell stories (some true, some embellished), tell jokes, maybe sing awhile, pray together and enjoy one another's company.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of Frances' neices (Jean Moore) lives here in Cleveland, TN where her husband Rick teaches Old Testament at Lee University. She is an RN and works with hospice. She is a twin and has another sister and a brother. Frances and I have always enjoyed all of her siblings as we have watched them grow from the time they were born. With her busy schedule - she still found time to come check on her Uncle Fred when I first came home from the major surgery in November. Then - a few nights ago - she and Rick came by and delivered the delicious meal that you see laid out on our kitchen stove. What a sweetheart she is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0d5kzFHcqbbPCl5XmVXw0GcnCx-yv1QxUg0jeZsRtTXwT8eMdjczcv1M1_MyGuLnRe7owAxVQpEAMF-9thm91boBQmUuOxWSF7d4wNRrMC4XQYQfl7Aa4VYau3bCqh6KGALBXmVhTFXeL/s1600/Dewain%2527s+Story1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0d5kzFHcqbbPCl5XmVXw0GcnCx-yv1QxUg0jeZsRtTXwT8eMdjczcv1M1_MyGuLnRe7owAxVQpEAMF-9thm91boBQmUuOxWSF7d4wNRrMC4XQYQfl7Aa4VYau3bCqh6KGALBXmVhTFXeL/s320/Dewain%2527s+Story1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mamaw, Dewain, Frances, Frank, Elizabeth are Frances' family visiting in our home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes I like solitude. I enjoy being alone for two to three days at a time now and then. Some of you know of my love for the out-of-doors and that I go to the mountains alone and spend time there reading and thinking and praying when I'm not hunting or fishing. But I love being with my family and close friends. When you are in a crisis, your family and friends really matter (or at least I can say it seems to me that they matter) more than ever. Tomorrow, as I go for my second chemo-therapy treatment, my closest minister friend (Dr. E.L. Williams) will be driving for me. It's thirty miles to the treatment center. He will spend about 8 hours of his valuable time waiting on me. I am a blest man to have such a wonderful family and friends.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qnVE6F-VOeoj7PmeVtB7kS6IesU7D9H4ZJzA6qXAe_vV4GQ2LmZSBTcvCroPUZh1Ajwl5paMry4fy1dSUdDPjr-I320fO-5YF81n_dREoi8iiJjlQ2ToTWtJYVv8XZ5X1SreTyT2mfZN/s1600/CIMG2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qnVE6F-VOeoj7PmeVtB7kS6IesU7D9H4ZJzA6qXAe_vV4GQ2LmZSBTcvCroPUZh1Ajwl5paMry4fy1dSUdDPjr-I320fO-5YF81n_dREoi8iiJjlQ2ToTWtJYVv8XZ5X1SreTyT2mfZN/s400/CIMG2589.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and My Siblings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE02rFjhkhPCbc8a6BElAHwXPh0fX6m8nZENDEn9XGWDHdzb3cUaIXG8FXIdxQIC6hhv3ltl-nGuK9Cb1H5ndY2pGxpKYo2IUip6u25TjORmLiuHXh_6u6Mv8mHri0tfxZ04_yGAHhV3hM/s1600/CIMG4408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE02rFjhkhPCbc8a6BElAHwXPh0fX6m8nZENDEn9XGWDHdzb3cUaIXG8FXIdxQIC6hhv3ltl-nGuK9Cb1H5ndY2pGxpKYo2IUip6u25TjORmLiuHXh_6u6Mv8mHri0tfxZ04_yGAHhV3hM/s200/CIMG4408.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Ed Williams, delivering "Meals on Wheels"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw0Q8nhCZoxjxSunnoJeHGfUsTPCZwJYrsoGXLMt_3jqaQtErgjrLvtF-yZ0MRxJaOxyPpiUL9HsvhDKnXPrNvpKrqYV1i6YEkXR8zwe-itIrmI7cqdBS1DUoEeMMJxVCko5rr-quw_sj/s1600/CIMG4409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw0Q8nhCZoxjxSunnoJeHGfUsTPCZwJYrsoGXLMt_3jqaQtErgjrLvtF-yZ0MRxJaOxyPpiUL9HsvhDKnXPrNvpKrqYV1i6YEkXR8zwe-itIrmI7cqdBS1DUoEeMMJxVCko5rr-quw_sj/s320/CIMG4409.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed and Me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-58442114577148682182012-01-13T19:26:00.003-05:002012-01-17T11:25:38.529-05:00Music To Grow On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMPVmkNuwedpMcWEl9U8Ahhsa79cQBlv1fYVu3g8qsP-U7_wIUTI2RH3OZq67D8SouOqHS369ThxoLJMoNfxEpDjQMvPVDW5zAs1aajYkXPgJz9PiZWSm798DUw4JobFftJTFU0ZZW7zm/s1600/CIMG4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVMPVmkNuwedpMcWEl9U8Ahhsa79cQBlv1fYVu3g8qsP-U7_wIUTI2RH3OZq67D8SouOqHS369ThxoLJMoNfxEpDjQMvPVDW5zAs1aajYkXPgJz9PiZWSm798DUw4JobFftJTFU0ZZW7zm/s320/CIMG4603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was just listening to a site on You Tube where many of my friends and acquaintances are involved in singing from a song book that came out many years ago and was widely distributed by Pathway Press. This was the main song book for our local churches in the organization known as Church of God, with International Headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee. This chapel is on the campus of Lee University and I pass this chapel each time I go over to visit my Mom - which is fairly regularly. I just thought you might like to listen also, so I'm posting the URL here. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE97KEfW2Y0"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE97KEfW2Y0</span></a><br />
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If that fails, just go to you tube and search for "red back hymnal night"<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This particular video is one hour and 40 minutes long - so you may want to be sure to have something to snack on sitting beside your chair. That is if you like southern gospel music! ☺ These songs bring back so many memories. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now we also had a "Convention" book, which was a collection of new songs written and collected and placed in a smaller paper-backed book. At the annual Camp-Meeting, someone (sometimes the author - like Charlie B. Wycuff or Otis McCoy or Vep Ellis) would lead their new song from the Convention book. I remember when Charles Wycuff first led us in his song, "What A Lovely Name, The Name of Jesus" and the crowd went ballistic with joy. Oh what powerful times of un-abashed and un-ashamed worship in song. One of my hunting buddies wrote a song after the red backed hymnal was published which became very popular in our local churches. You may have heard Eddie Williams' song, "Jesus Will Hear Me When I Pray". And Yes, there was shouting in the camp wherever and whenever it was sung.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8WvaPp51Sp4gLcrmojHyHiSRj9UOkLdKluvZDEGIj_IN0eu5Qhk-1fw9oZb2Xip0_8MGZmypRvkmj-24g-J3tigJsD2EcgE0ZJaGLTJWrhqRINBrgNh3TfgB6C5IRFuCbYatGHH5tCW6/s1600/CIMG4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8WvaPp51Sp4gLcrmojHyHiSRj9UOkLdKluvZDEGIj_IN0eu5Qhk-1fw9oZb2Xip0_8MGZmypRvkmj-24g-J3tigJsD2EcgE0ZJaGLTJWrhqRINBrgNh3TfgB6C5IRFuCbYatGHH5tCW6/s200/CIMG4604.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Song Book - Believe by Gospel Heritage Music</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2rfrwuONVG7CwgSTYF7mFtc-8b76E1Yo5i-h08iXscEIIHqXFq15AF1uF4DuWlrORdetfzqSdn8dctx4MVhlR6K2HDPgJH_zBBrP-iGV2d-7DqzXF0QKSXNUi_GCk6r6oyGlzWmMzdOz/s1600/CIMG4605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2rfrwuONVG7CwgSTYF7mFtc-8b76E1Yo5i-h08iXscEIIHqXFq15AF1uF4DuWlrORdetfzqSdn8dctx4MVhlR6K2HDPgJH_zBBrP-iGV2d-7DqzXF0QKSXNUi_GCk6r6oyGlzWmMzdOz/s320/CIMG4605.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama's Song, "I'm Leaving Here"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">My Mom also had one of her songs recently published in one of those paper-backed convention style books (2012). It's called "I'm Leaving Here". I MUST try to video tape her singing it and put it up for you to see also. It's a good one. The book is called "Believe Gospel Song Collection" and is published by <u><strong>Gospel Heritage House</strong></u>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well ... I didn't mean to write so much here. Just wanted you to have that URL so you could have access to some good gospel music.</span>Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824780174097412566.post-77319454011959838692012-01-11T08:26:00.000-05:002012-01-11T08:26:02.434-05:00Chemo-Therapy <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBPEs-OSIhT3rTTvpzuJAzlR6hSGFf0lRBlUsoTle_sI2GUhWCJM9nQw8eQITHjIYVW6YZxMvMgDaFt26y1jJkCE-qgnfl-93FTNQdU5sjS774Ju1nRD4sc1VxoP-kz1StzGw5KzFUSL3/s1600/Now+According+To+The+Dr.+....JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBPEs-OSIhT3rTTvpzuJAzlR6hSGFf0lRBlUsoTle_sI2GUhWCJM9nQw8eQITHjIYVW6YZxMvMgDaFt26y1jJkCE-qgnfl-93FTNQdU5sjS774Ju1nRD4sc1VxoP-kz1StzGw5KzFUSL3/s320/Now+According+To+The+Dr.+....JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, Mom, Here's What The Doctor Said</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">On December 22, 2011 our first born daughter drove her mother and me to the Medical Oncologist's office for consultation on the type of treatment I was to receive. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rvt82OYsAZZ7A9NyZwrrJUfOjn1lL9EKIHwvU5PwGD-t4rglvtBbtlfh7KUwd2ak4cQB6Jpke88r_x-TxAPKlpCjq6M8qkpkC_iY9qbFOToV19fK1AbU6AQTEMT_fau4WETRZLVcWbl7/s1600/Adviser+Number+One.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rvt82OYsAZZ7A9NyZwrrJUfOjn1lL9EKIHwvU5PwGD-t4rglvtBbtlfh7KUwd2ak4cQB6Jpke88r_x-TxAPKlpCjq6M8qkpkC_iY9qbFOToV19fK1AbU6AQTEMT_fau4WETRZLVcWbl7/s320/Adviser+Number+One.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frances waits in the lobby with a handful of papers to read which tell about different options for treatment of my cancer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were three options: 1) A surgical port could be placed under the skin on my chest and this would become the entry-way for the chemicals that would be used to fight the intestinal stage four cancer. It was explained that via this port I could avoid having the nurses search for a good vein each time I came to the treatment center. Blood samples for lab testing could also be taken through this port. This would require minor surgery. 2) I could opt out of the surgery and trust the nurses to find the vein each time. Since I have had the nurse miss the vein a couple of times already, I decided I did not like this option. 3) A third option would be to take chemo via a pill (actually four pills a day) that is still somewhat in the testing stage as far as side effects go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC22wCkuWu8xOhVLygRt3BWmGzSwj_Uu8RwModsayAzTzt0H7PGGyWt9O-xULM8Z1aV3yx2V6HaV1_gHTKr-UpO53Eibgzbtudx8roNkNQWzpGPWJ6mtT-XAHRmW7wK7URPQCtETTbYPqt/s1600/Adviser+Number+Two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC22wCkuWu8xOhVLygRt3BWmGzSwj_Uu8RwModsayAzTzt0H7PGGyWt9O-xULM8Z1aV3yx2V6HaV1_gHTKr-UpO53Eibgzbtudx8roNkNQWzpGPWJ6mtT-XAHRmW7wK7URPQCtETTbYPqt/s320/Adviser+Number+Two.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Number One Daughter, who is a school teacher, sits with pen in hand...ready to take notes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I asked the doctor to allow me to sleep on this decision. At first I felt that it would be easier to just get the pills and take them - but then I would still have to go to the treatment center every couple of weeks for lab work. So with either of the three options we must travel to Chattanooga for this treatment. That's not bad for it is only about 30 miles from our home in Cleveland. Too - I wanted to talk this decision over with Frances. Fifty four years ago the two of us became as one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we stopped by the Cracker Barrell and went to the "Consultation Room"!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD_aKB2m3oTPZ8baMO5RGTOT74cVuGtkHBW_PW9GuoEjqFEnV60OlgDjOHtY1AcHzjabbOu8gNjTXBITwZ8bo-A947p1DsM7RplpMjMOCrcrTLHPQmuCh8VLd8H43Np1YFeDrHeYm89qR/s1600/My+Girl+%2526+Her+Girl_002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD_aKB2m3oTPZ8baMO5RGTOT74cVuGtkHBW_PW9GuoEjqFEnV60OlgDjOHtY1AcHzjabbOu8gNjTXBITwZ8bo-A947p1DsM7RplpMjMOCrcrTLHPQmuCh8VLd8H43Np1YFeDrHeYm89qR/s320/My+Girl+%2526+Her+Girl_002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Born, "Favrite One" daughter was available for the first day of Chemo<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So Chemo therapy sessions started on January 4, 2012. I will be going to the treatment center every two weeks to spend 5 to 6 hours in a recliner, allowing the doctors to inject chemicals into my system that are designed to kill the "bad cells". The problem with all the methods of administering the chemo remains the same. The chemo can also kill some of the "good cells", thus creating sometimes severe side-effects. I will be o.k., I know that for sure. However, I will appreciate your prayer that God will cause the chemo to do what it is designed to do in killing the bad cells and pray that at the same time it has no effect on anything that my body needs in order to get well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LeVhtqBDp6hj_plc9o_1K7K6wcq7NIS-2DvdXBMxRNyqh4NLjtZQIDzR-6RCmAEzKyD-XTjBDOGPHza6GwUTeMXKW18W4ThAeSB8-OJx9wt9Yo1ubilQBLDC7tz3vgv0wqvp9FYFwuAL/s1600/Attaboy%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LeVhtqBDp6hj_plc9o_1K7K6wcq7NIS-2DvdXBMxRNyqh4NLjtZQIDzR-6RCmAEzKyD-XTjBDOGPHza6GwUTeMXKW18W4ThAeSB8-OJx9wt9Yo1ubilQBLDC7tz3vgv0wqvp9FYFwuAL/s320/Attaboy%2521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aha! We've got it all sorted out now!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMQVPkNtbNb1REu_CHgJvNmEWDgTsZg7iH6H-z6jBQWvwdlxqmj_MMO72UOT1fYeJ1BaVI3gGc-yZKNLv2g0fMpAqPS_SimUnR_ong9DxYsI8M3CIIIDan4Gl9hdALXOlFcLAoqY8EjAa/s1600/Go+Ahead...Make+My+Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMQVPkNtbNb1REu_CHgJvNmEWDgTsZg7iH6H-z6jBQWvwdlxqmj_MMO72UOT1fYeJ1BaVI3gGc-yZKNLv2g0fMpAqPS_SimUnR_ong9DxYsI8M3CIIIDan4Gl9hdALXOlFcLAoqY8EjAa/s320/Go+Ahead...Make+My+Day.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Go Ahead! Make My Day!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fred Altonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12740055638280779519noreply@blogger.com11