Dairy, we have to operate a crane at work. It’s a two man operation for safety. My job is slow paced so I almost always help anyone who is operating the crane. Well, night before last a guy needed help so he automatically looks at me and I shake my head no and hollered that my machine wasn’t running right and I had to stay with it. So he hollers at my buddy, the one I’ve told ya about who is real slow and not the sharpest tack in the box(and not very popular either, he is the butt of a lot of jokes; which makes the butt of a lot of jokes, but mine are good natured and made to my face), well my buddy goes to help the man and he hollers at me to do his job while he’s gone. He was out of hearing distance so I shook my head no. The guy he helped came over to me after they finished and was laughing like crazy. He’s said when I shook my head no that my buddy started talking about me being lazy. I thought it was pretty funny that a man that misses about 80% of his work days for 6 months, and takes 3 hours to do an hour and half job would call me lazy. I thought it was pretty funny but when I told Lynn she got mad. I usually work 7 days a week and when my buddy arsn’t there I’ll do his job and mine sometimes. I went in last night and everyone had heard that he had called me lazy and I got all kinds of rebukes and jokes for being lazy. I don’t mind being picked at but I hope I don’t get tagged with one of them long term nicknames that don’t fit.

Dairy, I’m starting to get excited. I’ve been working on a church wide mission project for several months. It’s gonna be at the end of April. So far it’s been mostly research and praying. I have begun to ask people to head up projects. We are planning our little kids something, I have an idea but I’ve also told the people who I ask to head it up they could do whatever they wanted. I’ve got a couple thinking up something for our oldest members to work on. I’ve ordered a manual that tells how to build portable wheelchair ramps. I’m gonna have one of our veteran construction guys look at the plans and see if they look as good as advertised. If they aren’t he can make some modifications if need be. The portable design is good for someone who may need one for just a few weeks or months, and then it can be taken to another location to be used again. I’m hoping to be able to do some home-improvement projects for several homes of unchurched families in the community. We are also gonna plan a prayer-walking route and guide for our city. Of course all this depends on how many people will volunteer. I’m thinking of setting a pretty lofty goal. We usually have between 150-180+ in sunday school, that’s the group that’s gonna be targeted to participate and hopefully others will get involved also. If we do get that many I’ll have to come up with plenty of projects, but I think that the Lord will provide for as many projects as we need. I’m also checking into working with some local charities who pay for home improvement projects for the poor and elderly. If they pay for the materials and labor we will save the cost of labor, and we have a right smart of people in the construction business in our church. Get a couple of experienced people to work with a group of less experienced folks and everyone gets to participate. That’s the plan anyway.

This project is called Operation Inasmuch which started in Fayettville NC and has been done in several states and at least 2 countries. It is intended to get as many people in a local church or group of churches involved in hands-on missions. It is designed to spread the gospel, do something positive in the community, to grow a church closer together, and to bring honor, glory, and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is based on Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus tells the people that he will reward those who saw Him in need and helped Him and punished those who saw Him in need and did not help Him. They ask when did we see you in need and help or not help you and Jesus says in verse 40 “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”. And in verse 45 Jesus says “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me”.

I’m done.

MATTHEW 25:45 THEN SHALL HE ANSWER THEM, SAYING, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YE DID IT NOT TO ME.

I AM VONSTEGALL AND I’M JUST PLAIN LAZY!!!!!!!!

Dairy, I had such a good time at church sunday. I had the privelage of teaching our senior adult women. I told them up front it was silly for me to try to “teach” them. Most of these women have been in church all their lives and probably know more about the Bible and being a CHRISTian than I’ll ever know. But we had some good discussion and done some cutting up also.

We didn’t even have a sermon, well not a typical sermon. We had one of our members share about a mission trip to West Virginia in December and we had a congratulations ceremony for a guy who just graduated from the police academy(them were good movies) and presented him with a Bible for policemen. He has already started work for nearby town. Two women had asked for prayer so all the deacons went to the altar and laid hands on them and prayed for them. One of them has had MS for over a year now and is really struggling and the other was told this week by the doctor that he was pretty sure she had colon cancer. That was our service.

Nothing much happening so far this week, just working and taking it easy, so long.

PSALM 52:1 WHY BOASTEST THOU THYSELF IN MISCHIEF, O MIGHTY MAN? THE GOODNESS OF GOD ENDURETH CONTINUALLY.

I AM VONSTEGALL AND IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE PEOPLE TRUSTING GOD FOR THEIR CARE!!

Dairy, I don’t won’t to neglect you but I need to talk to DowntownMom again.

I was not being sarcastic. My intent was to make contact on something other than the point that we disagreed on. I guess it was an attempt at saying “Hey, we can talk about something else and be friends even if we don’t agree on this one subject”, without actually saying it. I have read your entries and you are working hard for something that you want to do and that will make a difference in the lives of others. I think education is real important, especially being able to read. Even if there is something you don’t know, if you can read then you will be able to find the information when you need it. So I commend you for going back to school and working and taking care of the kids. I know for a fact I would’t have the gumption to attempt it.

When I read your comment I admit I sat here and laughed for a couple of minutes. On the surface it did sound kind of stupid to make the statement **Life is sacred and only God should have the authority to end a life** and then say I support the death penalty. Yeah, I can see why you may have been puzzled.

I’ll say this first. I believe that the Bible is God’s Word. I believe it is 100% true in every word it says. I also believe that people can misunderstand it(I don’t understand all of it so be patient with me, please), I believe that it can be twisted and made to say things it doesn’t say, and I realize that not everyone believes that it is God’s Word or that it has been tainted by multiple translations. I also believe that my God is powerful enough to preserve His Word for those who are seeking truth. Even people who are seeking truth can misunderstand parts of it and I acknowledge that there are things in the Bible that I don’t understand. Having said all that here goes.

God gives specific crimes that are to receive the death penalty. If you read Leviticus 18,20,21,24 and Deuteronomy 17,21,22 and Exodus 21,22 I feel since He gave guidelines then He has given the authority to do it. If we used the death penalty for all the offenses God names to use it for this country would either have a very small population or more people would be living according to God’s standards instead of our own standards. I admit this may be one of the things that I am wrong about and I’ll give it serious thought. xomariox makes an excellent point about living under grace. As I said before I am for the death penalty but if it’s done away with I’ll not be upset. I do think that it should only be administered to people who have been proven without a doubt of guilt of murder and rape.

Back to the sarcasm thing, I feel it’s not only important what you say but how you say it. As an opponent of abortion if I stand outside of an abortion clinic and scream at scared, confused teenage girls that “God hates you and you are going to hell” then they will never be willing to listen to me share how God loves them and sent a savior so that they could be saved from hell and have a relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ. After all I was on my way to hell until I heard the gospel message, and I still need a lot of work to be what God wants me to be. I’m a sinner and if the death penalty was administered for all the crimes God approved it for then I would either be very dead or very different.

One more thing DowntownMom…you’ve caused me an awful lot of thinking the last few days, I’m starting to get a headache, I arsn’t use to all this thinking. God bless you my friend!

EPHESIANS 2:8 FOR BY GRACE, ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD:

I AM VONSTEGALL AND I’D RATHER CLOSE WITH A VERSE OF GRACE AND FORGIVNESS; NOT OF DEATH!!!!

Dairy, I don’t know if I’ve ever had 6 comments on one entry!! I think I’ll respond to them. Here goes.

Zigzag, thank you so much for pointing out to me about that scrolling stuff. I had my daughter show me how to fix it. I also would like to thank you for not using any foul language this time. I have to be honest you seem down right contrary but I like you. I hope you continue to comment, although the last time I was nice to a contrary person they stopped leaving comments. But I’ll discuss that some more next month when I wish him a happy 38th birthday. I know a lot of people call him a him but I actually think he may be a she and I also think they have another diary where they write about normal stuff and are not the least bit contrary. I seem to be drawn to contrary people, I guess because I use to be one. Anyway I hope you keep reading and commenting.

Rayne, I’m glad you agree with me, but even if you didn’t I would love to hear from you; I’ve really missed you lately. I hope you don’t have high blood pressure problems, I bet it was sky high while making that comment. Anyway it was good to hear from my dear friend, Rayne.

Rubylee, we seem to be on the same page so I don’t really have anything to say but I didn’t to want to leave no one out.

Jamisinc, as soon as I saw your name I knew you would agree. See ya later.

DowntownMom, thanks for leaving your comment. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me and while I am absolutely against abortion I did make some allowances for it(rape and decision between the baby and mom’s life) even though I had to grit my teeth while doing it. I also want you to know while I did not vote for president Obama, as a conservative I do not intend to pounce on every move he makes. Some issues I just don’t think are very important, such as privatization of social security. Either way I don’t think it will make much of a difference, although it will give people a choice(lol?). How about the death penalty? I am for it and think it is highly effective, especially since most criminals are repeat offenders, but if he does away with it……whatever. But abortion comes down to one of my core beliefs as a CHRISTian. Life is sacred and only God should have the authority to end a life. Yes He could stop all abortions if He wanted to, but He gives us freewill(His permissive will versus His perfect will would make a good topic for an entry) to make decisions and we don’t always make good ones. Killing an innocent child is a bad decision. You made an excellent point that I should pray for him. I have prayed for him everyday since the election……well most everyday. I have prayed that he will make good decisions for our country and that he will be blessed. I’ve prayed for his safety. I’ll continue to pray for him. I would also like to say that I pray for other diarists when they share the problems they are having, I don’t know if it makes a difference or if anyone even cares, but I do. I would like to ask you a question now…..did I spell innocent right? I’m to lazy to look it up and since your gonna be a teacher maybe you’ll let me know. I use to be a real good speller, I was usually a shoe in to win the class spelling bee in elementary school, unless Angie H. was in it then it was a toss up between the two of us. I’ve went way down hill in the spelling department. I bet you do some serious cringing when you see misspelled words and bad english, but that’s the mark of a good teacher. I’m sorry if I make you cringe a lot.

xomariox, you seem wise beyond your years. As part of the body of Christ who wants to be a nurse and who knows several foreign languages, if you’ve never heard of the mercy ship, it sounds like something that may interest you. It’s basically a ship staffed with medical volunteers that goes to other countries and provides medical services and shares the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s a very brief summary, I’m sure they have a website that you could research if you are interested.

Ok, I guess that covers everyone, unless someone left something while I was making this entry, but the odds of that are pretty low. I don’t leave many comments on other diarys because I’m kinda of socially inept and I don’t want to offend or bother anyone but I do like to get comments regardless of if you agree with me or not. Heck, people don’t usually understand me when I talk to them in person, but a lot of that is my fault. After the few comments I have left I wonder if they understand or what did they think about it, so it’s just easier not leave many. I’ve decided that I’m gonna leave more comments but I’ll probably start slow. Well that’s my responses and my insecurities, have a nice day everyone.

I TIMOTHY 2:8 I WILL THEREFORE THAT MEN PRAY EVERY WHERE, LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS, WITHOUT WRATH AND DOUBTING.

I AM VONSTEGALL AND PRAYER IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL THAT WE HAVE SO LET’S USE IT!!!!

Dairy, I just saw on TV that the president is gonna approve government money to be used for abortions. First of all I will say I am 100% against abortions. But even if I wasn’t against them I would still want to ask the president why should government pay for someone’s lack of responsibility? All though I am against abortion I wouldn’t be as upset about it if he said government help for the poor in cases of rape. Or maybe for the poor in cases when it comes down to choosing between the mother and child; although I think these cases are very, very, very, very rare. In these very rare cases those with insurance should be covered. In cases where people just want to get rid of an unwanted child because they were too lazy to take precautions I absolutely despise the thought of my money being used to kill an innocent child. I don’t really like it in any situation but blatant government funded genecide is unexcusable. If this is allowed to happen then we are no better than kim jong il or saddam hussein.

I don’t see how people who whole-heartedly support abortion can approve of taxpayer money funding them. That will be the ultimate pork-barrel project. I beleive that one of this presidents campaign platforms was to cut pork spending and here he is endorsing it.

If anyone happens to click on this entry by mistake while trying to click on one of thier favorite diarists and actually reads this and disagrees with me I just want to say feel free to leave comments but I prewarn you you will not change my mind on the abortion issue no more than I will change your mind on it. Dude, that might possibly be the longest sentence I’ve ever made, unless of course I just forgot to put a period in somewhere.

EXODUS 20:13 DO NOT MURDER.(NLT)

I AM VONSTEGALL AND KILLING AN INNOCENT CHILD IS MURDER NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN OR JUSTIFY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dairy, we got some snow. It’s cool to look at…for a little while. We actually got just snow and no ice. Usually we get a little snow and a bunch of ice. I worked over yesterday after the snow. I asked the big boss if I could work the whole 1st shift and take my shift off, he just laughed at me. One guy came in about 15 minutes late. He lives five minutes away and usually gets to work about 40 minutes ealry. I’ll say this the guy is different. Well he came walking in carrying the biggest ice scraper I ever saw. I guess he thought it would prove he was late because he was scraping his windshield. I’m not sure what his reasoning was but he got a hard time from his co-workers. It doesn’t sound very funny reading it but it was pretty funny if you was there, and if you know mike, like I said he’s different. He’s a nice guy just different.

The dentist called yesterday. Jamie’s impression for his crown wasn’t right or something so we have to go back tomorrow and do the same thing we did a few weeks ago again. It took about an hour and half and it was tough on Jamie. It wasn’t painful or anything but it was hard for him. Maybe tomorrow will be easier.

That wasn’t much to write about but that’s what’s happening in my life right now.

REVELATION 22:18&19 FOR I TESTIFY UNTO EVERY MAN THAT HEARETH THE WORKS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; AND IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK.

I AM VONSTEGALL AND I’M GETTING HUNGRY!!!!!!!!

Dairy, it’s cold here. Not as cold as some places but as cold as we usually see. We went to the video store yesterday and rented the last 3 Rambo movies. We had seen the first one over the holidays. Then we stopped and stocked up on snacks and had us a movie night. We had planned on camping in in the den. That’s the room with the fireplace. We use to do it a lot when the kids were little. We did it as much to stay warm and save money then as we did to have a family night. After watching a couple of movies we decided not to camp in on account of I had been up for about 25.5 hours and we knew from past experience I’d never get any sleep with everyone else snoring. No that’s a lie I got that backwards no one else would get any sleep because of me snoring. So I crashed on the couch so Lynn could sleep in peace and quiet in the bedroom.

That’s my friday night.

JUDE 1:21 KEEP YOURSELF IN THE LOVE OF GOD, LOOKING FOR THE MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST UNTO ETERNAL LIFE.

I AM VONSTEGALL AND 20 DEGREE DAYS ARE A GOOD EXCUSE TO DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!

Dairy, last night I busted my tail. No, I don’t mean I worked hard, I mean I fell on my fat tail. There’s this work station with a 12 inch platform and it has a ramp running from the floor to the platform. I was operating the 10 ton crane and had my back to the ramp and I backed up and caught my foot on the ramp and stumbled and stumbled and almost caught myself and then landed on my butt. I think if I was about 30 pounds lighter on the top side I probably could have kept my balance but mass and gravity and clumsiness did me in. And wouldn’t you know it, I get up and it seemed like everyone in that area of the shop just happened to be looking my way. Needless to say I was laughed at, which is ok, because I would have laughed at anyone else.

I also heard that we are suppose to hear something tomorrow about the alleged lay-off. The rumor mill is sort of slow in our department; I talked to a guy at church last night who said they was flying right and left in his department.

We are having men’s day at church in a couple of weeks. I will be teaching the senior women’s sunday school class. I got a book and checked what the subject was before commiting to teach the women. The last time I volunteered to teach a ladies class the subject was sexual purity. I never had a problem teaching on that subject with the teenagers and there were girls in there.

I’ve been dreading friday night because every time I hear a weather report the temperature gets lower and lower. The last I heard was possibly 5 degrees. I thought that was cold and then I watch the national weather and see places that are gonna be 10-15 degrees below zero. I reckon I’m blessed to have it as warm as 5 degrees.

I guess that’s all I have for today. Bore ya later.

PROVERBS 4:14 ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF THE WICKED, AND GO NOT IN THE WAY OF EVIL MEN.

I AM VONSTEGALL AND MY TAIL IS FINE BUT MY PRIDE IS INJURED!!!!!!!!!!!

Dairy, when I got to work last night there was wreath on the gate. They always put a wreath up when an active employee passes away. A fellow had a heart attack sunday morning right at the end of his shift. He has a son who also works there. I don’t know either one of them but they say that his son is on military leave. I heard that he has already been deployed to Iraq and I heard that he is in California training. Either way he’s a long ways off. That’ll be one heck of a long, lonely plane ride home.

I was pretty busy last week. I took Jamie to the dentist, helped with the deconstruction of Bethlehem(from our church CHRISTmas program) and went shopping a couple of times. Maybe this week will be a little more laid back.

Jamie got a decent amount of money for CHRISTmas and wanted a XBOX 360 something or other. We had originally told him that when we get our tax refund we would make up the difference so he could get one, then Kimber offered to lend him the money for the rest until the refund came in. This was decided friday and he was chomping at the at the bit to go get it saturday. I told him it would have to wait until monday. He gave a big sigh and says ok. Then me and Lynn decided I could stop by Wal-Mart and get it sunday morning on the way home from work. I put it on the table under a coat. When Jamie got up I told him to hand me that coat. He was still half a sleep and irritated but he gets the coat and doesn’t even notice the game system. I wait until he sits down on the couch and called him back and told me to get me that box off the table. Dude he was really ruffled by then and he didn’t realize what I had told him to get until he was real close. He had an attitude change real quick when realized it was the game system. He should be right content for the next couple of weeks.

I reckon that all I have to say for now.

PSALM 37:4 DELIGHT THYSELF ALSO IN THE LORD; AND HE SHALL GIVE THEE THE DESIRES OF THINE HEART.

I IS VONSTEGALL AND THAT DON’T MEAN THAT HE’LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dairy, I found out something this week. After almost 2 weeks off of work, it takes more than 3 days to get back in the swing of things. I’ve had 3 fairly easy days and I’m exhausted. I heard others make similar comments so it’s not just me.

I heard a rumor from a guy who heard it from a “real reliable source”. The rumor is that there is gonna be a lay-off of 250 people on January the 15. This real reliable source says it’s gonna be salary people so if the rumor is true then I’ll be safe. I hope it’s just a rumor. I wouldn’t wish a job loss on anyone.

I had to take Jamie to the dentist yesterday for step one of getting his crown made. It was pretty cool watching. They squirted what looked like caulk in his mouth and made him bite down on it to get a mold for the crown. It was even in a gizmo that looked like a fancy caulk gun. They’ll send it off to have the crown made and then we have to go back to have it put in. The temporary one is made of plastic and the lady sat there and made while we watched. I guess I’m easily entertained but I thought I it was pretty cool.

Dairy, my buddy who never works showed up on the 23rd of December to work, only we didn’t have to work that night so he got sent home. He did work monday night and I tell ya he hit one of my pet peeves big time. He talked about all the assistance he was getting from various charities. I gritted my teeth and didn’t say nothing but I wanted to tell him that he should be ashamed for taking all that help when he has a good job and that he wouldn’t need help if he’d just come to work. He’s taking resources that could go to someone who is out of work because of illness or injury or lay-offs. He told me about getting help from several charities and he’s applied for and gotten food stamps, and some program that will help with medical bills(I can understand him persuing that one). Dairy, he offered to buy me $80 in groceries with his food stamps because of some help I gave him a while back. He says his refrigerator and cabinets are slammed packed with food. I told him the help I gave was no strings attached. This dude blows my mind, he has that entitled mindset; he even got a book at the library that shows how to work the government for every penny you can get from them. That’s not government money that’s taxpayer’s money and that’s why taxes are skyhigh. OK, I’m through now.

PSALM 67:1 MAY GOD BE MERCIFUL AND BLESS US. MAY HIS FACE SMILE WITH FAVOR ON US.

I AM VONSTEGALL AND I HOPE GOD WILL SMILE WITH FAVOR ON OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!