If you doubt, check this out!!!

If you wonder whether slavery is still going on here in the states then check out this story.

http://www.star-telegram.com/190/story/723015.html

The FBI is making a dent, well maybe a scratch, in the trafficking going on in the US. After reading how politicized all the traffick inforcement is throughout the world and the US it's refreshing to see comments like this from the FBI director. "We together have no higher calling than to protect our children and to safeguard their innocence," FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday.

How do you walk with Christ daily?

That was the question my buddy asked me during our commute to work yesterday morning. I didn't realize it then, but it was a question that would carry me through the rest of the day.

My answer was a simple, "Shoot, I don't know."

We continued to discuss it as we went our separate ways to work. We finally decided, as hard as it might be, that to walk with Christ daily you should keep Christ and His ways in the front of your mind all day. If the GC comes at you and is hollering about something you have no control over, having Christ in the front of your mind may keep the blood from boiling over. The only thing I know for sure is that it's hard and it takes continual practice and commitment.

After I had completed the safety meetings my Gen Supt called me into the office, the Ops Manager was there also. The words spoken were simple and politically correct. "Mark, it's come time that Mark Topping and Walker Engineering part ways." (How do you walk with Christ daily?)

What do you say? "It's not fair!!"......"It's not my fault!!"......"Why me?"....."What about him or them?" (How do you walk with Christ daily?)

I said,"OK."

I went to my office and started packing. With the Gen Supt looking over my shoulder to make sure I didn't take anything that didn't belong to me. (How do you walk with Christ daily?) It's amazing how unimportant things get when you just want to get out.

As I drove away from a 21 year job it wasn't resentful thoughts or 'what if' thoughts going through my head, but more like I couldn't believe it was over. Even though many of us knew something was going to happen and I was a prime candidate for DTR Electric there is still the thought of disbelief. (How do you walk with Christ daily?)

I called my wife on the way home and broke the news to her. That was probably the hardest thing in the world for me, even though I know I can go get a good job any time, there is still that thing poking and prodding a my pride. That little gnawing at my side that says I'm less of a man because I lost my job. (How do you walk with Christ daily?)

The news spread through my small sphere like wild fire. The standard questions were, "What are you going to do now?" and "Are you going to the other company now?". I just want to figure out "How do you walk with Christ daily?".

I have to tell you the truth here. There is a big since of relief in all of this. Knowing something is going to happen, but not knowing when or to who, is extremely stressful. Especially when you are trying to run two jobs.

Later on my wife was mentioning to me how relaxed I seemed to be about it all and was wondering why I wasn't mad or upset about it all. I asked her the question that had been on my mind all day, "How do you walk with Christ daily?". That question was the thing that helped me through it all (thanks, buddy).

The good news in all of this is that new doors are opening and opportunities are plentiful. Have you ever noticed that when things are good the "How do you walk with Christ daily?"thing is a whole lot easier.

Lord, help me to make the right decisions in the things to come and continue to teach me "How do you walk with Christ daily?".

What a year!!

Finished with the homecoming of both my boys. That was pretty special since they will both be deployed through the holidays next year. All the family for Christmas dinner and a surprise visit from Wes and Ashley for New Years Eve.

On the last Sunday of the year we were challenged to write down some things we did or changes we made in our own lives this past year that we believe had a positive impact on ourselves or others. And then we were to write down what we intended to do or change in the next year.

After deciding that I had no significant impact on anyone outside of my immediate family(thanks for pointing that out for me) I looked inward and discovered in myself a new appreciation for what I believe. And a new sense of ownership of those beliefs. What I mean is I believe what I believe because it's something I've became aware of instead of something I was told was the right thing.

And with that realization came a desire to lead others to that point. So I'll tell my kids, or whoever, that what their beliefs are should be based on what they know and not what I tell them. If someone says the something is one way then they should look into it before they buy into it. If any of that makes any sense, that's my resolution.

Then just when I think all is right and rolling along good, the explosion comes. Who knows why or when but it comes and he's gone again. Happy New Year, huh? The shame of it all, is that it's happened so often I could hardly care less. How can I live in the kingdom with this in my life and those kind of feelings in my heart? It will be interesting to see how God works in this.

Bobby Dale

We buried my uncle today. After a long battle with cancer he has gone to be with our Lord. I was honored to be a pallbearer.
I'll never forget the first time I met him at Granny Collingsworth's house. I was the newest boyfriend of the first granddaughter and was there to meet the family. Bobby Dale and his brother-in-law told me in no uncertain terms that if I hurt their niece in any way they would have to "talk" with me. I never had that talk, thank God, and over the years I have grown to admire and respect him.
He was a carpenter by trade who left many of his own projects incomplete so that he could help others with theirs. I remember him telling me about how he cut his leg with a circular saw because he had pnned the guard back. After we discussed the safety that the guards provide we'd swap stories of crazy stuff that had happened on job sites of the past.
I guess my favorite memories are of the family reunions. Both in Witchita and here in Houston. He was our auctioneer and designated story teller. When we had our local reunion in Conroe we would sit around the campfire till 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning and talk about whatever came up. He'd be the last one to bed and the first one to rise.
I cherish most the couple of times I spent sitting on his porch talking of dogs and horses or kids and family. He will be missed.

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Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phillipians 4:8

Educated Minds

"It is the mark of an educated mind

to be able to entertain a thought

without accepting it."

Aristotle

Forced to Learn English??

I can't believe a story like this comes from England. From the land of government health care and gun control is a law to force immigrants to learn to speak English.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said: "Those who we welcome into the UK to work and settle here need to understand our traditions and feel that they are part of our shared national culture. (he's absolutely right here)

"They need to integrate into our country, learn English and use our language." Under the government's new "points" system, there are three main categories of immigrants coming to Britain from outside the EU to work: highly skilled, skilled and low-skilled workers.

The first two groups can eventually settle permanently in Britain; the third cannot. (He's not here)

I know mine is not a popular stance among many of my friends, but I really do believe our country would be much stronger and unified if there were less multi-culturalism. I believe what Jacqui said about learning traditions and sharing one culture. I was right there with them until I saw that they weren't going to allow low-skilled labor to settle permanently. To not allow someone to settle permanently on the bases of job skills, intelligence or any reason short of criminal background is prejudice and absurd.

Here's the whole story. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/09/nmigrants109.xml

And of course our Democrats are on the other end of the spectrum. http://www.nbc6.net/politics/14076638/detail.html?rss=ami&psp=news

Black Magic E-mail

I'll tell you the truth. I don't mind getting forwarded emails that tell stories of faith and hope or courage and patriotism. As a matter of fact I like to read them.
That is until the end comes. You know what I'm talking about, they usually end something like this...
"Forward this to 10 of your friends and you'll have 10 years of good luck. Forward it to 7 friends to get 7 years good luck. If you delete it you'll have 20 years of bad luck."
The first thing I do is delete it. It doesn't matter how good the story is, it's going to get the big D. What a waste of a good story.

Or how about the fake Amber alerts that find the sweet little girl that was suppose to be missing is working as a waitress at a truck stop in Odessa. But it doesn't matter what Snopes says we still need to help the distraught father, who has spent his life savings searching, find his little angel. What kind of cad wouldn't forward a simple email to help in the search?

My all time favorite is the email that tells a beautiful story of struggle and trials overcome only by the faith of an extraordinary person. The ending challenges you to declare your love for Jesus by forwarding it to as many people as possible, because if you don't do this you really don't love Him at all.

Now really...does anyone honestly think Jesus measures our love for him, or His love for us by the forward of an e-mail?

Sometimes I wonder....