the Centrist

Dear freinds and family;

The photo is our David. He is featured on the cover of this month’s edition of “Soldier of Fortune Magazine”. The feature story is about his mission on Fallujah.

If you get a chance buy the “Soldier of Fortune Magazine”. That is our David on the cover and they have re-printed a chapter from his book: “House to House”. It is now in paperback with an additional chapter. Marilyn and I feel humbled that both Tim (see Monday) and now David have been honored internationally this month.

Enjoy the following from Jamestown Patti and Jay Leno:

What a thankless people we are!!!
Subject: Jay Leno on President Bush (Surprising)
Jay Leno wrote this; it’s the Jay Leno we don’t often see….
As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark
‘The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ‘What are we so unhappy about?”
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it……are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the ‘Media’ told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it.
The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an ‘other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ”dishonorable” discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by ‘justifying’ them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn’t kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way……Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.’ ‘With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks. Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’
Jay Leno

Prayer Requests:

Son David still hasn’t passed kidney stone; Dan’s respiratory infection has improved … please keep praying
My Aunt Pearl, the last remaining sibling from my father’s family, is rallying and been placed into a new facility with more skilled nursing, pray for strength for her family and God’s will
Marilyn for pain
Prayer partner Bill M, stress
Sister Jane and niece Rhonda for medical problems
Niece Kristen and Rhonda for employment and
Please continue to pray for Scottie’s concern (parents, grandparents, and his decision to join the Marines)
Unity for our family
Tolerance
Son Rand and fiancée Erin for upcoming wedding and stress which accompanies it
Niece Rhonda has some new medical issues (eye), please keep praying for her … condition has worsened … pray harder (no change)!
Still no change in Brother Pat’s wait for a new liver, he is first on the list in our state … please keep praying
Please continue to pray for prayer partner Ron and Judy and their concerns with loss and mother (Alzheimer’s); pray for rapid placement of Ron’s mother
Niece Cassy for safe birth
Upcoming marriages for Tom and C as well as Julia and S
Bonnie Erbie (author accusing Christians of being knuckle draggers), prayer for salvation.
Brother Les, Parkinson’s as well as several other health problems and our sister Valarie (main care giver), please keep praying. Just returned from seeing their twin grandchildren … trip was difficult but worth the effort …
Pray for wisdom and spiritual guidance in rearing children for our family as well as the renewal of the nuclear family
Pray for spiritual wisdom for America’s leaders; our troops each evening at 9:00 pm. every night
Pray for our nation and President and for civility in upcoming election. Pray that slander and mean spirited methods stop and that hatred is not met with like hatred.
Nephews John and Ryan – Ryan in Iraq and John aboard ship (both in the Navy)
Please continue to pray for health issues for five of our niece Jenny and Marilyn.
Pastors: Dan, John (pray especially for his ministry), Tom, Lyell, Steve D, Ben, wisdom for all leadership at Yates Baptist, Whittikers, Neil, and Steve T for their ministries, ease of stress, and courage to spread the gospel

Clermont Sunday School
OUR PRAYER REQUESTS:
PRAISE LISTING:
DONNA ASKED FOR PRAYER FOR HER NEPHEW (STEVE), HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS A VIRUS. PRAISE THE LORD.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
PRAY FOR WANDA AND GARY’S SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW’S MARRIAGE. PRAY FOR WANDA AND GARY ALSO.
TOM A GENTLEMAN WHO CALLED MIKE AND RHONDA BY MISTAKE, TO HAVE SOMEONE TO TALK TO. THANK GOD THEY WERE RECEPTIVE TO HIS CALL.
MIKE AND RHONDA, THEIR SON (ERIC) AND THE GRANDPARENTS WHERE ERIC IS STAYING.
THAT MARILYN GETS A NEGATIVE DIAGNOSIS FROM HER FOOT BIOPSY.
MARILYN AND STEPHEN’S SON DAVID, PRAY HE GETS A SUPPORT GROUP OR SOMEONE WHO WILL BE A SUPPORT FOR HIM AT THIS TIME.
DAPHNE – SURGERY ON LEFT EYE – WEDNESDAY.
DEBBIE AND DAVE’S SON JOHN – DIRECTION IN HIS LIFE.
PRAYER FOR EVEYONE TRAVELING FROM OUR CLASS AND OTHERS IN THE CHURCH.
PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN THAT THEY WILL BE SAFE AND FIND PEACE IN KNOWING THE LORD.

Yates Baptist Sunday School
Dave T (Bill’s neighbor) still not doing well with radiation treatment, great pain and weakness
David B (Bill’s son) kidney stone
Dwayne passed away last week, please pray for the family
Gary – respiratory infection, is improving
Jeannine’s father – age
Aaron and Brenda – employment
Scott C. vehicles all in repair shop
Brenda’s patient in ICU
Scott’s friend Ron – mother been diagnosed with terminal cancer
Vote at Delphi …

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,

Dr B