When spring arrives. it's often time to clean out the closets and corners of our houses where things have managed to pile up during the cold winter months. I often wonder how those items manage to collect in the first place. After all, if we keep things clean all the time then there won't be any need for spring cleaning, will there? But some of it is beyond our control. For instance, we often catch cold in the winter time because the house is all closed up and the germs can't escape. In spring, though_ we open our windows and "air out" our homes. purging even these stale unwelcome guests. God gives us these seasons, and we press on through the good and the bad. They are much like our own lives. We have good days and bad days, the bad days strengthen us and the good ones encourage us. In a way, the good days we have give us a chance to "air out" our souls, to lift the burdens we carried through the bad days from our hearts so we are ready for the bad days that will return (and they will!) so as not be overcome by them.

Spring is also a time of garage sales, likely a result of all this spring cleaning, where we get rid of things that we simply aren't going to use anymore. Parts of this and pieces of that, it may seem like junk to us but treasures to someone else. Today. I have some observations that I never made bulletins out of because I never got around to it or just weren't enough by themselves. Since I need to clear some room in my head for some new ideas. I want to toss them all out now and get them out of the way. Some may be of value, and some may be of junk. You're free to pick and choose!

For instance, I have a small male pourer (Whey) that is afraid of my big black lab (Smokey). When the lab comes into the room, Wiley will jump up on top of the couch to keep away from him, or on mom's lap. Wiley sleeps under the bed, so Smokey can't get him. When they go out into the back yard. Wiley stays out in the open so he can't be trapped into a corner. Smokey doesn't seem to he aggressive to the little pourer, but maybe that's because Wile} wont give him a chance. But when it comes to food, you might hold something out for Smokey to take and he will come over and slowly/gently reach out to take it. At the last instant. this orange blur will fly in and snatch it out of your hands! Yes. Wiley will even snatch it right out of Smokey's mouth if he doesn't close it fast enough. Now we feed our dogs plenty-. It's just that when it comes to food, Wiley puts his fears aside and risks everything to get it. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for the they shall he filled. Why should I be any different? Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy, rod and thy staff then comfort me.

Robert and I traded cars for the day this weekend. and as I drove away I spotted a round brass coin in his cup holder. Slightly bigger than a quarter, it had a picture of a woman on it. A very common coin, and it claimed it was worth a dollar. Perhaps you seen these "around."' However, if l took it down to the local store and tried to spend it I don't think they would be very happy with it. You see, it was a foreign coin. and the lady is a queen not an Indian. While it is worth one dollar - Canadian - I think the American store clerk would only be happy with a US dollar. So calling them the same thing, making two coins look the same, be about the same size and shape, etc. is simply not good enough. II Timothy 3:5 Having a firm of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away.

Finally, what's with Ohio these days? We have members who are moving to Ohio, we have a traveling nurse visiting from Ohio (we should all make a point to meet her and make her feel welcome), and there are those who still reminisce about attending church camp in Ohio. I tease about moving to Ohio (and I just tease about it!!!) myself, but it is true that I am possibly going to take a trip over there in a couple weeks to meet up with my parents in Ohio and spend some time with them. At work, the blue-state supporters STILL harbor ill thoughts about Ohio, and mutter it's name under their breath like a curse. You know why John Denver used to sing "almost heaven, West Virginia"? Apparently he never actually made it to Ohio. Numbers 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Randy (the Uh-Hi-An!)