Pray for Selena

Selena Dittmer Boyts, her husband Christopher
and the newest member Annabella Christine

Continue to pray for my niece Selena Dittmer Boyts who was recently put back in the hospital with hemmoraging. She recently had her first baby, a beautiful girl named Annabella Christine Boyts.
To deal with her continued bleeding, the doctors performed a heart breaking surgery on Selena. She waited so long to have a child of her own, and Annabella will be her first and last child. Thank God for Annabella's good health. Keep Annabella Boyts, Selena Boyts, and all of my brother Ted Dittmer's family in your prayers.

Thoughts On Home Schooling

If you help a child discover their passion, as God helped me with mine, you don't work hard to motivate them, you work hard to keep up. Every child has a passion, because God is a passionate God about life, and we're created in His image. Of course, before I helped my children discover their passion, I had to discover mine.
Just thought I'd add that there is the hard work that comes with trying to stay ahead of your children's passionate interests, and there is also the hard work of keeping up with the expectations of others. The latter is totally unnecessary. Have faith in the process that God Himself designed, and trust in the image of God built into your children. You are doing better than you know, and when you relax in Him you'll do better yet. Hope this helps.
Been there, done that, heard it (about the flack you get when you decide to home school your children) Homeschooling was viewed much more skeptically over 20 years ago. I lost several school teachers that attended my church at the time. Now they are our biggest fans.
When we started homeschooling the children, we didn't have the money for tuition at even a low cost school. Lynne had started her battle with cancer, so her endurance was limited. We had to pray through until God revealed the answer to us, that parents don't teach, children learn. In fact, God warns all of the church about every one desiring to become a teacher, which displaces the Holy Spirit as THE TEACHER (see James). We must have an aptitude to teach, but always remember that whatever we can do, God can do better, and He should always have the first shot.


I also had some thoughts on home schooling in this blog:
My Home Schooled Sports Freak Grand Daughters

What Parable Promoters Need to Know

What Parable Promoters Need to Know!

Very early I selected both Amazon and Google as the organizations I would like to have support my blog, because of their stellar reputations. I was delighted to find out they were willing to sponsor my blog.

Click and buy on any of the Google ad links and Google supports my blog. Buy anything from my stores, 
including the endless shoe and clothing store with free shipping US and International, and free return shipping USA, 
or smallparts store for industry, 
 or Amazon Wireless, phones and contracts for 4 major carriers, and Amazon contributes 4% to 15% per sale or $50 per wireless service contract to The Shepherd's Heart Journal. 

If you're going to shop anyway, shop here and become a Parable Promoter! 
Remember, you have go to the stores through my blog, so that The Shepherd's Heart Journal receives credit for the purchase.  Click on any of the banners here or on my blogs and you'll be directed to the appropriate store. Remember to bookmark the page!
Thank you, and God bless the Parable Promoters!
By the way, all my Ad links are monetized, which means that if you click and buy, I get paid.
Safe, simple, no pressure, value loaded armchair shopping! Click, bookmark and shop this link to sponsor my blog.
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A Note to a Soldier

A young friend of mine, James Hittle, (the boy from The Parable of the Snowmobile ) is going into the Marines. He invited me to his farewell party. Of course, I wrote him a note.
James,
God is at work in your life. let Him also work in your heart. Let Jesus be the only One you surrender to.
Mary's prayers, my prayers, and God's Presence will always be with you.


Can you read? Thank a teacher. Can you read English? Thank a Marine!! -unknown
Marines are soldiers with a shepherd's heart. Shepherds run towards attacking wolves, lions, and bears. Marines run toward the attacking enemy.
Jesus ran towards the Cross.
Follow the Master Shepherd, the Warrior-King Jesus!

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My Political Affiliation

My quotes are cannon fodder for both parties. I am and always will be for defending the rights of the poor and innocent, anti corruption, pro family, pro safety, pro justice, anti racist, pro citizen self protection, pro unrestricted legal immigration. I'm for lowering taxes on citizens, NOT raising taxes on aliens, and NO  punitive taxes on anyone.
I don't always vote the straight party ticket, and I'm reluctant to identify my party affiliation for several reasons, not the least of which is they have behaved in an irresponsible manner. I hate negative attack politics, and alarmist, manufacture a crisis politics. I'm alarmed and amazed at how much big business lobbyists influence my party, and both parties at the expense of the poor.
I'm also for putting the responsibility for all this on ourselves, not the government or the politicians. When we refuse to humble ourselves and pray, God sends us the government we deserve and not the government we need. Shaking an angry fist at either our politicians, our government, or our God is not humble prayer.
We debate about money, whether to raise or lower taxes, and ignore justice, protecting the innocent, and defending the right of the poor to be heard equally.We always get into these messes when we turn to politicians to solve our problems, thereby turning AWAY from God.
Quit blaming our politicians, the other political party, and government, and MAN UP! We got ourselves into this mess because we refused to humble ourselves and pray and enable God's grace to make us the fathers, mothers, and compassionate, fearless believers we should be!

Pug Attack

Has anyone noticed how much better the commercials are getting? I have to stop the fast forward process to catch my favorites. Right now I love the Dorrito's commercial.

By the way, all my Ad links are monetized, which means that if you click and buy, I get paid.
Safe, simple, no pressure, value loaded armchair shopping! Click, bookmark and shop this link to sponsor my blog.
Putting all my humorous, insane posts on this blog, also.
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Surfing Dog

Thought you all would enjoy this!

By the way, all my Ad links are monetized, which means that if you click and buy, I get paid.
Safe, simple, no pressure, value loaded armchair shopping! Click, bookmark and shop this link to sponsor my blog.
Putting all my humorous, insane posts on this blog, also.
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Soldiers and Shepherds

A soldier is a shepherd with government training, support, and armament.
A shepherd is a soldier willing to stand in harm's way watching over those in his care.
Can you read? Thank a teacher! Can you read in your own language? Thank a veteran!
The original saying was to Americans: Can you read? Thank a teacher! Can you read English? Thank a Marine!
Nazis weren't true soldiers, but political thugs armed and on a payroll. Jesus never condemned a soldier, He just admonished them to be not be a soldier for the money. According to Jesus, the man with the greatest faith in Israel was a Roman centurion, despised by Jews, who understood the chain of command.
Every country has men and women with a shepherd's heart. Shepherds run towards wolves, lions, and bears, not away. Soldiers and police run towards gunfire. Emergency workers and pastors run towards a disaster. Firemen run INTO a burning building. Thank them. Thank God for them.

Fear of the Lord - Proverbs 1

Ancient authors say the man who denies the existence of an Ever Present God through his words or his life is a fool, but fools long to understand the fierce and dangerous spiritual heart, at least according to Solomon. In my study of the heart, God has been revealing that the doctrine of Hell speaks to the man who ignores God, because the doctrine of Hell reveals the existence, power, destructiveness of the spiritual heart. It seems to be the best explanation of the popularity of my sermon blog, Why Good People Go to Hell.
A misunderstanding of God's goodness, stemming from ignorance of God's total character and plan, is the root of our dangerous, precarious state. From the beginning both man and Satan have believed that since God is good, He will not punish me with death if I ignore His instruction. We deny the reality before our eyes. Time after time, many refuse to follow instruction or it's unwritten counter part, common sense, ( every action has an equal but opposite reaction!) Leave a child unattended in the middle of the busy highway and death will follow. Ignore the speed limit, or your alcohol blood level, and carnage results. Japanese engineers built nuclear reactors next to tsunami zones, then left the diesel driven water pumps outside the concrete protection area.
What God is saying is every word, action, thought, attitude has Eternal consequences, and He must have final and total say in the directing of our lives, or Eternal carnage will result. God is aware of our every failure, and His vast infinite anger is building, being held back by the dam of Mercy, but still increasing. 
Every proud, arrogant, ignorant action and word will be brought up to those who have turned their back on His Great Gift of Mercy, the Death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus, on the day of Mercy. God will separate those who ignored Him from those Who sought Him, and will lead His children to ever lasting, ever growing Heaven, but the proud will be swept into an Everlasting, ever growing punishment.

Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church worship music

The Church I attend in Brighton MI (Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church) has an exciting, inspiring, and almost flawless and seamless blend of hymns and contemporary worship music with orchestra, jazz band, worship leaders, choir. pianist and organist. 

A truly family church for both old and young. Dr. Rose Stevens is worship director.http://www.cornerstoneforlife.com/ This is the best
 I have ever witnessed.
Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterianwww.cornerstoneforlife.com
A warm, Bible-believing church, school and preschool in Brighton, Michigan. Information on worship, ministries and mission, staff, location and events.

A Story of Friendship

I received this story in an email this week. I thought I'd pass it on to you.

A  farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.
He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and
set about nailing it to a post on the edge  of
his yard. As he was driving the last nail  into the
post, he felt a tug on his overalls.  He looked
down into the eyes of a little  boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy  one of your
puppies."

"Well," said  the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat
off the  back of his neck, "These puppies come
from  fine parents and cost a good deal of  money."

The boy dropped his head for a  moment. Then
reaching deep into his pocket,  he pulled out a
handful of change and held  it up to the farmer.

"I've got  thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take
a  look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with  that he let out
a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he  called.

Out from the doghouse and down  the ramp ran
Dolly followed by four little  balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his  face against the chain
link fence. His eyes  danced with delight. As the
dogs made their  way to the fence,  the  little boy
noticed something else stirring  inside the doghouse.

Slowly another  little ball appeared, this one noticeably
smaller. Down the ramp it slid.. Then in a  somewhat
awkward manner, the little pup  began hobbling toward
the others, doing its  best to catch up...

"I want that one,"  the little boy said, pointing to the
runt..  The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and  said,
"Son, you don't want that puppy. He  will never be able
to run and play with you  like these other dogs would."

With that  the little boy stepped back from the fence,
reached down, and began rolling up one leg  of his
trousers.

In doing so he  revealed a steel brace running down
both  sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially  made
shoe.

Looking back up at the  farmer, he said, "You see sir,
I don't run  too well myself, and he will need someone
who understands."

With tears in his  eyes, the farmer reached down and
picked up  the little pup.

Holding  it carefully he handed it to the little  boy.

"How much?" asked the little boy...  "No charge,"
answered the farmer, "There's  no charge for love."

The world is full of  people who need someone who
understands.

It's National Friendship  Week.

Show your friends how much you  care.
Send this to everyone you consider a  FRIEND.
as well as those who WERE!!!
If it  comes back to you, then you'll know you  have
a circle of friends.
WHEN  YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER,
YOU'RE REQUESTED TO  SEND IT
TO AT LEAST 4 PEOPLE,  INCLUDING
THE PERSON WHO SENT IT TO  YOU

 
 

HP Drops Personal Computers, OS

HP (Hewlett Packard) has had to pull out of the OS (operating system) and personal computer business. Not enough momentum to catch up with the leader in OS and hardware manufacturing combo juggernaut Apple.
Microsoft teamed with Nokia might pull off a cell phone combo, and now Google with Motorola, but Apple has a long lead in cell phones, tablets, and computers. HP didn't have a chance.
The reason why HP attempted this high risk race is profit margins. Apple's profit margins are always high, over 25%, and up to 50% on popular parts, such as memory cards for cell phones.
That also explains why both Google and Microsoft purchased cell phone manufacturers Motorola and Nokia, respectively.

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Stop by my The Sheik Geek blog for info on the tech industry.
By the way, all my Ad links are monetized, which means that if you click and buy, I get paid.

Devotions from Mark 4

Jesus speaks a Word/and the storms in my heart/drops it's furious waves/and becomes a glass calm sea


Jesus stirs/from the depths of my heart/speaks PEACE to the storm/and asks, Why were you fearful?


Jesus, I pull your Word deep into my heart where the black crows of Satan can't snatch it away.


Spirit, dig deep with the spade of Truth, breaking the hard bitter clods of my heart until my heart is broken and thankful.


I yank little sprouts of interest from my heart lest they grow and crowd out my passion for You, Jesus.


Train a child like the Master Gardner, gently but persistently pushing in the direction where the fruit of their labors will be reachable by those who need refreshing.


Other Observations


Life with Mike and Mary: Mike- Have you got a pen? Mary- I gotta pen Together- I gotta pen, you gotta pen, honey, honey, I gotta pen, you gotta pen, babe, babe. Honestly. I don't make this stuff up. Really.


Father, send me helpers as I seek to glorify Your Name world wide.