"Breaking Bread"

Today was another great time in the presence of God and our wonderful friends. Church really can be a pleasant experience. I hope that all who come through our doors will be encourage to press into the Lord. May God be glorified in our midst.

FROM THE BACK PEW

My family and I have always seen the glass as being half full rather than half empty. I am a strong believer in that the way you choose to see the world creates the world you see. I urge you to surround yourself with positive people. Alone you are but a flame, but together you make a fire. Be warned there are plenty of “wet blankets” out there!

When a pessimist went in to donate blood, she was turned away. The nurse explained, "I'm sorry, but we don't need any 'B Negative' blood."

Pessimists expect the worst to happen, which often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. A pessimist looks at a half-full glass and sees it as being totally empty. Do you know of anyone like that? If so don’t get too close. They can have an averse impact on your life. The following story depicts that truth. A man decided to start a hot dog business. He bought a cart, filled it with hot dogs, and pushed it down a busy city street during the lunch hour. He sold out, so he ordered more from his supplier. As the weeks passed, he kept expanding his business and became very successful.

One day his son came home from college and gave him some advice. “Dad, don’t you know what’s going on in the business world? Things are bad. We’re in a depression.” His father replied, “We are? I guess I’d better cut back on my supply of hot dogs.” So he did. He reduced his inventory, ordering only minimum quantities. Because he kept running out, his frustrated customers stopped buying from him. Several months later he shut down his business. That night he called his son at college and said, “Son, you were right. We are in a depression!”

The Bible gives us some good advice regarding negative thinking or as I would say “stink’n think’n): Philippians 4:8 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.

"Field Of Dreams"

Field of Dreams, a movie released in 1989, has inspired millions and our family is no exception. It is a movie about pursuing one's dream, no matter how much effort it takes. This movie is full of baseball, but not about baseball. Instead it is about a man getting in touch with his dreams and learning that sometimes you have to take a chance in life. It is about an ordinary guy-next-door, who suddenly and without explanation does something extraordinary. His wife is very supportive. She, like my wife, is a believing participant who finds the disbelief of others most amusing. Our family moved to Osoyoos with a dream. Perhaps one day we will be able to share that with you. However, this note is not about us, it is about some people who have enabled us to see our dream, or part of it at least, become a reality.

Judi and I, along with our son Casey and those who support Eagles Nest Ranch Ministries would like to publicly thank Adrian Erickson and Regal Ridge for building a large playing field on our ranch for our day camps and community baseball games. John Nett organized the heavy equipment and trucks of fill. They even brought in water trucks to keep the dust down during construction. We were blown away by their generosity. Although we had agreed to pay for low-bedding and fuel, Adrian himself came and informed me that they would be donating everything: the low-bedding, the fuel and the more than 150 man hours. It was a “Field of Dreams” moment.

We are still picking a few rocks and then we will put up a fence to keep the livestock off before we plant the grass seed. We are building an outhouse as a temporary measure, until we put in a septic field for flush toilets. Four hydro poles donated by a neighbor, will used to hold our backstop fence and field lights. Bleachers will most likely end up being a winter project, but by next spring we should be able to hear Casey yell out the words, “Play Ball!”.

God bless all of you who have helped us to see that dreams can come true. To all of you reading this, be encouraged… go for it! Dare to dream! “Build it, they will come!” Ed & Judi Brouwer on behalf of Eagles Nest Ranch Ministries.

Sow Sparingly - Reap Sparingly

One kernel of wheat produces a wheat plant that can yield 50-75 seeds. 2.4 lbs of seed produces 60 lbs of seed.

A single seed (or kernel) of corn may produce a plant which produces one to two ears of corn. Each ear yields more than 600 kernels of corn. 1 seed = 600 to 1200 seeds.

What are you going to reap? Are you multiplying good things?

Another Tuesday Night

We at the Gathering Place feed up to 360 transcient fruit pickers each Tuesday night.

We have been doing this for eight years now.

"A Timely Reminder"

Well, Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I seem to fit neatly into the category where you've placed me. I'm sterotyped, standardized, characterized, classified, grouped, and always typical. Unfortunately, the reverse is true; I can never figure you out.

From birth you teach your children that I'm the bogeyman, then you're shocked when they identify with my traditional enemy...the criminal!

You accuse me of coddling criminals...until I catch your kids doing wrong.

You men take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one coffee.

You pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of dirsupting my meals with your troubles.

You raise hell with the guy who cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing and I'm picking on you.

You know all the traffic laws...but you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.

You shout "foul" if you observe me driving fast to call, but raise the roof if I take more than ten seconds to respond to your complaint.

You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but call it police brutality if I strike back.

You wouldn't think of telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to take out an appendix, yet you are always willing to give me points on the law.

You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it without batting an eye.

You tell me something's got to be done to fight crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved.

You have no use for me at all, but of course it's O.K. if I change a flat for your wife, deliver your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your son's life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours overtime looking for your lost daughter.

So, Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox and rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every name in the book, but never stop to think that your property, family or maybe even your life depends on me or one of the other members.

Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me...the lousy cop!

Apparently the auther of this article was trooper Mitchell Brown of the Virginia State Police. He was killed in the line of duty two months after writting his article.

We take this moment to salute our Canadian Police forces. Thank you to all the men and women police officers who put their lives on the line for us everyday.

Please join us as we pray for PUBLIC SAFETY.

The last Saturday of each month we meet to pray for Public Safety and for our 911 Emergency workers. You may not be able to meet with us but you could join us in spirit. We pray for one hour starting at 9:00 am. I will post a detailed list of prayer concerns in a day or two. Be blessed.