Change Is Always On The Horizon

As anybody that visits our blog might notice, we haven't updated much lately. We have been busy with church, ministry work, regular work, house work, college and just life in general. It's not that there is not much to tell but more of just trying to find the time to tell it. To any of our avid readers please don't be discouraged and feel like we've vanished; we've just been really busy. I'm sure there will be more posts added, but how soon we're not quite sure. One thing we do know is that as we all get busier and grow older, things will change. Don't get anxious, we're not moving out of the country, running away from each other or anything crazy like that, it's just, probably a little less farming and a little more just plain ole' country living.

Anyway, stick around, we'll post some as we get around to it ...............

Children Can’t Fight Cancer Alone

For those of you who know me, you are well aware that September is a very special month for our family.

Justin and Michael after making their first batch of Goat Milk Soap

As I walk through the stores, look at a magazine, and surf the internet, pink ribbons are everywhere raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness. Relay for Life promotes cancer awareness through advertisements and grand fundraising events. With all of the pink flooding the marketplace, it makes me wonder if anyone really knows that September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month? I wonder if anyone knows that a “Gold Ribbon” symbolizes children fighting cancer? I wonder if people really understand the magnitude of this disease and that very little money from some of the larger organizations is given to childhood cancer research?

I am not here to say that one cancer is more important than the other, but I feel that the public needs to be more aware of the facts for Childhood Cancer. Someone needs to be a voice for our children. Will you stand up for them?

FACT: Over 12,400 children in the US are diagnosed with cancer each year.  That's a classroom full of children every single day, year after year

FACT: 11 children die every single day, every single year of childhood cancer. That is about 4,000 children every single year, year after year.

FACT: Treatment is often lengthy, and always time-consuming. Some diagnoses are treated outpatient for over three years; others require lengthy inpatient stays.

FACT: Cancer is the #1 disease-related killer of children under the age of 14 years, next to accidents.

FACT: Childhood cancer is very different from adult cancer, which is why pediatric oncology is its own field.

FACT: Cancers in very young children are highly aggressive and behave unlike malignant disease seen at other times of life.

FACT: Children frequently have a more advanced stage of cancer when they are first diagnosed. 80% of children show that cancer has spread to distant sites in the body when the disease is first diagnosed.

I encourage you to visit this article, “Kids Get Cancer, Too… Right?” This mom expresses some of my feelings so well. I hope you will take 5 minutes to read this article.

Disclaimer: I do not endorse or support the views on “The Journey”. The above referenced article is for information purposes only and all sources should be checked out by you, the reader and not hold myself or Not Just Paper and Glue liable.

Come back tomorrow to find out how “YOU” can help children fight Childhood Cancer.

Visit CureSearch, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Candlelighters,and others to find more facts about Childhood Cancer.

Have you ever heard of John 3:16 ?

In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in. A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner as the people were coming in and out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there, of a night. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16 and they will let you in."

So he did, he walked up the steps to the door, and knocked on the door and a lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16."

The lady said "Come on in, Son."

She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace and she went off. He sat there for a while, and thought to himself "John 3:16.... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.”

Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?"

He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days and I guess I could stand a little bit of food."

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself "John 3:16... Boy, I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full."

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself, "John 3:16... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out."

The lady came in and got him, and took him to a room and tucked him into a big old feather bed and pulled the covers up around his neck and kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he laid in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night he thought to himself, "John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested."

The next morning she came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and she took big old Bible and sat down in front of him and she looked up at and she asked, "Do you understand John 3:16?"

He said, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it."

She opened the Bible to John 3:16, and she began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there in front of that big old fireplace he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought, "John 3:16, I don't understand it, but it but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe."

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God would be willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand it either, but it sure does make life worth living.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:17

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

We Love our Texas …………….

It seems that a man from Topeka, Kansas, decided to write a book about churches around the world, but thought that the place to start, since he was American, would be the United States, and with that in mind, he decided to fly to San Francisco, and start working East from there.

He goes to a very large Cathedral in that city and begins taking photographs, etc., when he suddenly spots a golden telephone on a wall with a sign which reads "$10,000 a minute". Intrigued, he seeks out the priest and asks about the phone and the sign. The priest advises him that the golden phone is in fact, a direct line to Heaven and, if he wants to use it, he can talk to God directly. "Thank you very much,"says he and continues on his way.

His next stop is Clinton, Nebraska, and while attending a church there, notices that there is exactly the same type of phone, with exactly the same sign on it. Again, he seeks out the parish priest, asks the same question, and again is told that it is a direct line to God, etc.. He thanks the priest and continues on his way.

Next in Chicago, he discovers exactly the same type of phone with the same exact sign beside it; makes inquiry of the local priest and receives the same exact answer. Again, he thanks the priest and moves along.

Arriving in New York City, he goes into the Cathedral of St. John, the Divine. The golden telephone is on the wall with the same sign reading "10,000 a minute". He checks with the Dean of the Cathedral, and gets the same response.

Continuing on through many other states, he finds the same phone, same sign and gets the same answer, until, finally he arrives in Dallas. He enters a big church in downtown Dallas and behold, he sees the usual golden telephone with a sign. But THIS time the sign says, "Calls: 35 cents."

By now fascinated, he gets hold of the pastor and says to him, "Pastor, I have been in cities right across the country, and in each church I found this golden telephone, was told that it was a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but in all the other churches across the country, it was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 35 cents a call. Why?

The preacher smiles real big at him and says, "Oh, my son, that's very easy to explain. You see, you're in Texas now, and of course, Heaven is a local call from here."

Change is Constant

One thing for sure, there will always be change in our lives. We took a new family picture just the other day and it really became apparent that our lives have changed. Not for the bad, not necessarily for the good but things have changed. It’s not just about getting taller, or getting more gray, or gaining a few pounds but it’s about how we look at life in general. Just a little over 7 years ago we went through the most difficult trial we have ever had to face when we lost our youngest son, Michael to cancer. It changed our lives forever. Instead of 4 it became 3. Everything seemed to change. It changed for Michael too; instead of milking goats, collecting eggs from the chickens coop and feeding cows, he is now worshipping at the feet of Jesus. That’s a change we should all desire.

Justin is now 19, finished with high school, working full time, buying his own gas for his truck (ouch) ad establishing his direction for his future. His “care-free” life of youthful leisure is now growing up quickly. Things change …..

Tammy is now seeing change at home with Justin and Mickey both working full time. She doesn’t have to chase after little dirty faces, school books and activities. She is working for PK Glitz which is a craft & art supply business so her daily activities have changed to phone calls, appointments & projects. Things change …..

Mickey is still working for the same company (almost 22 years) but is now seeing the idea of retirement on the distant horizon. We are no longer leading 4H activities so the animal skills & activities have been scaled way back. He has been feeling the burden of music ministry once again and so new opportunities are beginning to become available for this direction. Things change …..

The one thing that we can count on that will never change is GOD. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He desires our fellowship, our worship and our commitment to Him. He calls us into His service and loves us in spite of ourselves. That never changes …..

Hopefully our lives will continue to change for the good and we will always embrace change with the thought in mind that it will be used for the Glory of God. Are you ready for change ????

Happy Birthday Michael !!!

 

Michael would have enjoyed his 17th birthday today if he was still with us here on earth. I am sure that in Heaven there is much more of a celebration going on than we could ever hope to have here. When you are spending eternity with the Father, everyday is a celebration of joy!!!

Do we miss Michael …. that’s an understatement !!! But we know that through our faith in Jesus Christ we will again someday be celebrating together as a family ….. Oh how we look forward to that day !!!

Michael Paul Malone
April 13, 1994 – September 21, 2004