the Centrist

Dear Friends and Family;

I am getting this out early for two reasons… Serious stuff should never be sent on April’s Fool’s Day and the second is the computer virus threat for tomorrow. So, read, enjoy, and pray…\

Profound Side… I found this on the Internet this morning…

Without getting into embarrassing details, my son has been disappointing me lately. His choices, attitude and behavior have done their best to provoke me to anger and fleshly reaction. It’s nothing HUGE and he is only 11 on the cusp of puberty, but nevertheless, it still takes its toll.
In the past, I would slip effortlessly into yelling and attempt to force my son into a state of repentance and remorse. It rarely worked. Lately though, things are different . . . in me.
Instead of flying off the handle and travelling the usual road to fleshville, I find myself hurt and aching inside.
I think I am beginning to see how Jesus feels when we sin. For years I was certain that I lived one choice away from a lightning bolt eliminating me from existence. Now I am starting to feel what my actions did to my father.
His wrath is already satisfied. He no longer needs to punish our disobedience. He already did. If all the Father’s wrath was poured out on Jesus at Calvary, then what is left is a longing desire for us to walk in the freedom purchased at the cross.
My son has everything he needs to live a great life full of joy and reward but sometimes he chooses the path of punishment and pain. It is killing me to watch and killing me more that I am the dispenser of the punishment. Gaining this perspective has cost me dearly but I am deeply greatful for it.
Lord remind me of this ache when I willfully choose to disobey you. Keep me by your grace on life’s narrow path. But more than that, Lord guide my son. Establish yourself in him. Enable me to be a clear picture of You to him. AMEN

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Prayer Requests and Updates:

Continue to be in serious prayer for our nation. We have witnessed for the first time in American History a President firing the head of a major corporation. Like him or not… this is unprecedented, and in my opinion, a major expansion of Executive Power. Moreover, it can be found NOWHERE in our beloved, and ignored, Constitution.

Add this to the exorbitant debt and the fact that only one of the 6 or so bills passed since President Obama took over has been vetted in the press or by Congress (customary 5 day period) and we have the most secretive power seeking administration in American History. It still looks like the agenda is more important that the people to this administration… never forget their mantra… “Never waste a crisis”, and they haven’t.

Jamestown Patti asks us to pray for a near friend and neighbor just diagnosed with kidney cancer. She does not have a strong faith and is a good and loving mother and friend.

Our neighbor Bob’s son has suffered a serious heart atack. They have returned to Boston to be with him. He has had an emergency stint placed. Please keep him (Mark) and family in prayer.

Continue to pray for our neighbor Jim’s family. He passed away last Sunday. Lydian’a (wife) and family have some serious decisions ahead.
Our daughter Deanna (David) is having a particular hard time with her pregnancy, please continue to pray.
Our son Rand has been quite ill (flu?), please keep him in prayer. Rand has recovered, but Marilyn has been struck with similar virus (can these thing travel through phone line?… Oh, not that kind of virus!)
We have been praying for one of my prayer partners and good friend Bill M. Recently he has had a difficult time walking and is now in a wheel chair. He is improving and the doctor has diagnoses a virus… similar to Marilyn and Rand! He can be reached at his daughter’s home by calling his home phone (Internet phone). Please continue to pray.
Doddie M presented for pre-op for knee operation and has a possible heart blockage. She will have an angiogram by the end of the week… no new update.
Cousin Gina has suffered (great deal of pain) a bout with pancreatitis complicated with gall stones. The Pancreatitis has improved and, if she continues to improve, she will have the gall stones removed by the end of the week.Gina had surgery and is recovering nicely, they thanked us for the prayer.
Young Danielle and the MRI… PTL the tests were normal.
Cousin Sam (Prostate Cancer) will be seeing a surgeon this coming week-please continue to pray for guidance and healing… He is seeking a second surgical opinion. Keep praying please.
Niece Rhonda is still weak but continues to work… continue to pray for strength and healing.
Friend Norm is having his heart problem evaluated, no change. His wife is in dialysis and having difficulty.
Former patient and good friend, Mary C. was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. No update, please continue to pray.
Mary-Ann, has been undergoing some medical tests and at the moment the probability of lung cancer seems great- no update.
Pastor Mark’s wife – breast cancer
Barbara – substance abuse
Keith – mental illness

David S. neighbors objecting to zoning of his business… he won this case and can continue his business in the present location… PTL! New update, neighbor is now harassing with another suit.
Brother Les is about the same, but gets disheartened. The burden is heavy and he has lost about 40 lbs. Please keep both Val and Les in prayer.
Transplants: Good Friend Keith – liver, Brother Pat – liver; Good Friend Jim – kidney … please keep praying for their well being.
Sister Jane, Cousins Janet and Karen for strength. All suffering from MS.
Unity for our family

Tolerance, Christ’s Love, and Understanding for our families, friends, and enemies
Newlyweds: Son Rand and wife Erin, niece Kassy and husband Tom, niece Julia and Steve, and grandson Scott and Chelsea for long happy and prosperous relationships centered on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Bonnie Erbie (author accusing Christians of being knuckle draggers), prayer for salvation.
Pray for wisdom and spiritual guidance in rearing children for our family as well as the renewal of the nuclear family; pray that marriage stays as one man, one woman, but rights are extended to same gender unions.
Pray for truth in education… i.e. abortion, evolution, and American History
Pray for our troops each evening at 9:00 pm. every night … pray that America wakes up to evil before it is too late (thank you Pres. Obama for stressing this fact in your Inaugural Address).
Nephews John and Ryan – Ryan in Iraq and John in Virginia (both in the Navy) and grandson Scott who is a Marine stationed at Paris Island
Prayer partners Bill, John, and Ron … for continued blessings
Please continue to pray for health issues for five of our nieces, sister Jane, and Marilyn.
Pastors: Dan, John, Tom, Lyell, Steve D, Ben, Estes, Gail, Sam, Whittikers, Neil, and Steve T for their ministries, ease of stress, and courage to spread the gospel; wisdom for all leadership at Yates, Greater Toledo 1st Baptist, Clermont Baptist.

Clermont Sunday School:

Praise: Sharon will start a new job working for an OB-GYN near the hospital. No week-end work!
Linda no longer has abdominal pain since last Tuesday. Nothing showed up on any test results for a cause either. Still will have to have hysterectomy in near future, though.
Wayne and Chris’s future son-in-law is now cancer free
Bill and Donna’s daughter, Michelle has had problems with kidney stones in the past. She is now having trouble again with more stones.
Bill K had to have more biopsy’s done for skin cancer. They are waiting for the results.

Lighter Side:

Note from Norma: Holy Humor… KIDS IN CHURCH

3-year-old Reese :
‘Our Father, Who does art in heaven,
Harold is His name.
Amen.’

A little boy was overheard praying:
‘Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it.
I’m having a real good time like I am.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the christening of his baby brother in church,
Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong.
Finally, the boy replied,
‘That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,
and I wanted to stay with you guys.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One particular four-year-old prayed,
‘And forgive us our trash baskets
as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they
were on the way to church service,
‘And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?’
One bright little girl replied,
‘Because people are sleeping.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5,
and Ryan 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
‘If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
‘ Ryan , you be Jesus !’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
‘Daddy, what happened to him?’ the son asked.
‘He died and went to Heaven,’ the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
‘Did God throw him back down?’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,
‘Would you like to say the blessing?’
‘I wouldn’t know what to say,’ the girl replied.
‘Just say what you hear Mommy say,’ the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
‘Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?’
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Submitted by Val:

A mature (over 50) lady gets pulled over for speeding…
Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer : Ma’am, you were speeding.
Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer : Can I see your license please?
Older Woman: I’d give it to you but I don’t have one.
Officer : Don’t have one?
Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer : I see…Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can’t do that.
Officer : Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.
Officer : Stole it?
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer : You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma’am, could you step out of your vehicle please!The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Older Woman: Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma’am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma’am, one of my officers told me you didn’t have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.
Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.

Be Blessed, and Be a Blessing,

Dr. B