tdfan’s posterous

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…"
(Psalm 24:3-4, NKJV)
TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Do you want to see more of God in your life? As believers in Jesus, the Bible says that He makes His home in us, but we have to do our part to develop our relationship with Him. We have to choose to submit our hearts to Him and allow Him to purify us on the inside. We have to constantly guard ourselves and not allow things to come in and contaminate us.
How do you guard your heart? By being selective about what you see and watch on TV. If you don't want to become like the people you see on TV, don't watch them! If you don’t want to end up like the people singing those songs on the radio, you shouldn't listen to them. If you don't want to end up like the people in the magazines, you shouldn't read them. What you give your attention to will shape your heart and character. Give your attention to the Word of God. Give your attention to worship. Open your heart to the Father and ask Him to purify you by His Holy Spirit. As you do, you will rise higher and higher into the abundant life He has for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Heavenly Father, I want to see You. Open the eyes of my heart. Purify me and cleanse my heart. Help me make the right choices so that I can honor You today and always. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

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Wow, 2 shows in 3 days, in different states! That's a stretch even for me! On Friday, my friend Marianne and I went to the NC State Fair to see Third Day perform as part of their Fall Revelation Tour. We arrived plenty early but I was still feeling poorly from the cold I had earlier in the week and am afraid I was not very good fair company.

We got a bite of Fair Food - nothing deep fried - sorry and got ready for our meet and greet. Ran into Karen (@GoHybrid) outside the venue. We went in when the doors opened and found our way to the Wired table to get our Meet and Greet passes. Wendy (@sirmax70) was helping to pass out the wrist bands. Finally we meet! Went to our M&G with about 100 people with VIP passes plus the Wired folks. Got our stuff autographed and then returned for pictures. While we were in the basement tunnels, the fire alarm went off almost deafining us! Because it was a fair show, we didn't get to chat with the guys so we went to find our seats. Second row center. Best seats yet. In front of us was Traci and Jamie from www.thirddaypix.blogspot.com. They had driven to 3 shows in 3 days in 3 states. Raleigh was their second show. I was taking pictures with my new camera and after a short while I decided to put it away and just enjoy the pictures that would be online when Traci and Jamie put the show on their website.

The show was phenominal as usual. Glory Revealed did not open the show as the band could only perform for a certain amount of time and it was not enough time for both bands, but several of the artists including Laura Story and Trevor Morgan joined in for a song or two. The band performed "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and all of Glory Revealed joined in. It was excellent and very entertaining as the musicians danced accross the stage and was really into the performance. Look it up on youtube! After the show, there was an after party about 20 miles away where Glory Revealed was putting on a free performance but I came back to Fayetteville, as I was going to see them on Sunday. Sunday morning, my mom and I headed out to Charlottesville, VA for show #2. We arrived at 2 pm and after getting checked into my hotel, I headded to the Charlottesville Pedestrian Mall where I was to meet my gomer buddies before the show.

I got to the parking garage and saw a lady who looked familiar but I did not speak and went about my business of finding my way to Chapps Ice Cream Parlor. Found it and once inside was greeted by Mary (@marmoo68), Terry (@apostlethatroks), Roma, Cindee, and Candace. Right behind me was Barb (the lady I saw in the parking garage). We sat and laughed and had a bite to eat. While we're sitting there, Mary points and yells out "There goes Mark Lee". Right about that time, Terry pushes me out of my seat in the booth so that she can go flag him down. All I'm thinking about is my set list which is sitting between us and how I don't want it crinkled! I grab my folder and get out of the way. At the same time, Mary is buldozing Barb out of her way! They ran to the door and yelled for Mark. He turned around and waved but kept going. We laughed about how Barb and I were almost casualties of a Mark Lee sighting! One of the ladies who worked there thought we had seen a roach! We had to explain what was going on to the poor lady! Hence the Mark Lee-cockroach sighting caption on the picture on Mary's Facebook!

Later we got to the venue met up with Jeanie and Gregg, and had our Meet and Greet/condensed version - better known as a "Sharpie Drive-By", had a great group picture made with the band and boy was it cold. About 40 degrees with a breeze. We had front row seats and was right in front of Mac Powell. He kept throwing his guitar picks to us, but I never got one. Everyone else around me did. Finally after DWDTG, Jason Hoard tossed his. I called it and Mary put her foot on it. I remember yelling "it's mine" and she said "I know I'm holding it for you!" It could have been a $10,000 funniest home video I'm sure!

I never had so much fun at a concert before. Getting to enjoy it with your Gomer friends makes the music so much sweeter! I can't wait for the cruise and getting to meet more friends and visiting for longer.

When we were leaving, I looked at the pick and it had Mac Powell's signature on it! Guess I got one of Mac's picks afterall!

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"Check out CCM for a chance to enter to win a cruise with Third Day. "

View the digital version here:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/salem/ccm_200907/index.php?startpage=6

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It's hard to believe it's been a year since my sister found out she had lung cancer. It was right around the 4th of July 2008. Today when I was going to the store, I decided to buy some flowers and plant them. Every year we always had flowers around the front and back of our house. My sister usually tended to the flower beds when she came to visit for Easter and then my mom would plant window boxes with the flowers I would buy her for Mother's Day. Now it's July and I'm scrambling to find flowers cos I should have bought them months ago.
 
 This year I just haven't done anything. I feel like they did on "Lost" when the wheel got off kilter. Something's just not right and it's my sister being gone. I find it difficult to enjoy things and time seems to just go on and I don't accomplish anything. I need to get back on track but unsure how to do that. Maybe I should talk to someone. I've always been disorganized and a procrastinator but I just can't seem to focus on anything. I have several books I bought to read and haven't started any of them. I joined a book club to force myself to read and I read the 1st book and that's it. I really need a good swift kick in the keister!! There's actually fun stuff coming up that should give me reason to look forward - several concerts and I've booked a cruise for next year. I think I'll go back and listen to "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. Maybe inspiration will come. It kinda sucks to be left behind. It's just me and my mom. When she's gone, it's just me. God, can you please remind me that I'm NOT alone and you are with me? I really miss my sister.
 
Make sure you let your loved ones know you appreciate their presence in your life. Thank you Jesus for my family.
 
Peace.

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The new 2009 edition of getting to know your family and friends. Here is what you are supposed to do, and try not to be lame and spoil the fun.  Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who sent it to you.  Some of you may get this several times; that means you have lots of friends. The easiest way to do it is to hit 'forward' so you can change the answers or copy and paste. Have fun and be truthful! 1. What is your occupation right now?   Supervisor, Caretaker, Dog Mom 2. What color are your socks right now?   White 3. What are you listening to right now? TV 4. What was the last thing that you ate? Crab Cakes, Ff, Salad  5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes 6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? LaDon 7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes 8. How old are you today? 51 9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Basketball 10. What is your favorite drink? Tab 11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Of course 12. Favorite food? Italian 13. What is the last movie you watched? Something on Hallmark Channel 14. Favorite day of the year?  Easter     15. How do you vent anger? Yell 16. What was your favorite toy as a child?                                                      Bike 17. What is your favorite season? Spring 18. Cherries or Blueberries? cherries  19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Yes 20. Who is the most likely to respond? not sure 21. Who is least likely to respond? not sure 22. Living arrangements? Mom, Dog 23. When was the last time you cried? A while ago 24. What is on the floor of your closet?  Clothes, junk 25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? Debbie 26. What did you do last night watched tv, packed for vacation 27. What are you most afraid of? Lightning and clowns (no Debbie not really clowns!) 28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheeseburgers     29. Favorite dog breed?  Lab  30. Favorite day of the week? Friday 31. How many states   have you lived in? 5 32. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds 33. What is your favorite flower?     Oriental Lillies

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I was reading some twitter talk between two cyberbuddies about how the Devil was trying to steal that woman's joy over going to a Third Day concert by causing her son to have panic attacks about her and her husband going out of town overnight to the concert. It reminded me of a time when I saw him try his darnedest to mess up what turned out to be an awesome experience I will not soon forget.

 So it was last April. It would also turn out to be the last time my sister came to visit but that's another story. My friend Marianne and I signed up to go to an overnight trip from NC to Washington, DC with our Church Diocese and our Bishop to worship together at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Blessed Mother Mary. We were to leave at 1130 on Friday and return very late Saturday/early Sunday via Bus. Our bus was over l hour late to pick us up for starters. We got on our way and then the bus driver didn't top off his gas tank and we had to stop about 45 minutes up the road to get gas. another 30-45 minute delay. When we get to DC, turns out he doesn't really know where he's going so we end up in the car parking lot of the Dulles Airport! We can't get out because the bus is too big to fit through the ticket booths at the end and we have to wait another hour for someone to come and move a barrier for us to get out. We're still pretty far from the hotel. When we finally arrive, we are late for dinner. Dinner was supposed to be a semi-formal affair with a program after dinner. Because so many people signed up, we were booked at a nearby hotel. Turns out several other buses either broke down or were late including the bus the Bishop was on! The planners, forgo the dress, let everyone eat as they are, and we hurry to eat and get back on the bus to check in and get back for the program. Marianne and I decided to skip the program and get ready for bed. It's already after 9pm and we have to be back out at 6:30 am for breakfast back at the other hotel. Turns out the folks that went back missed most of the program anyway.

 So it's the next morning and we had two pilgrims that decided to sleep in and made the rest of us wait 45 minutes for them to dress, and get on the bus. not a good way to start the morning. We eat, then, more bus problems. We leave the hotel late, there's a parade in Washington so we have to detour. We get to the Basilica late and miss morning prayer. Next time you find a lot of obstacles between you and something good, look at what you're doing and if it's for the Glory of God, it's probably Satan trying to stop you and it's going to be so worth doing. Blessings. The rest of the day was better. What a beautiful church. We were there the week before Pope Benedict was making his US visit to the same place. But the thing I remember was when all this chaos was going on that the Devil really does not want us to make this pilgrimage so something really special must be going to happen. Turns out that the Monseigneur at the Basilica said he'd never seen so many people come from one Diocese to worship together. We had over 15,000. It was a true success and such a prayerful time. Score God 1, Devil 0!!!!

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  1. Go to a secondhand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16 work boots.
 
  2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.
 
  3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.
 
  4. Leave a note on your door that reads:
 
 
  Bubba, Big'un, Duke,& Slim,
 
  I went for more ammo and beer. Back in an hour.
 
  Don't mess with the pit bulls - they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up bad. I don't think Killer
  took part, but it was hard to tell from all the blood.Anyway,   I locked all four of 'em in the house. Better wait outside.
 
  Cooter

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On the third day of the month, we are asked to post something about Third Day on our blogs. Mark Lee, guitarist extraordinaire, has listed this one as the "Season Finale" so here goes...
 
Kinda feels like the last day of school - you're glad to be out of school but you'll miss your friends - NOT. Since becoming a member of the Third Day community, I've made some new cyber-friends. I used to think people who had online friends were either really nerdy or really needy! Refuse to say to which group I belong!
 
Third Day has a fantastic interactive website where the band and the fans can communicate on several levels. At http://www.thirdday.com there's not only information about touring, a cool store, and a link to their exclusive fan club "Wired" there are blogs by both Mark Lee and Tai Anderson. We get information about how each concert went, what they did, and the comedic ways they spend their downtime. All bandmembers tweet on Twitter and we usually get links to pictures as well. The message boards have discussions for everything from the latest concert to current events. The band even chimes in from time to time. Mark and Tai are on Facebook also. David is on Facebook but limits his friends. I've sent several friends requests and he probably has listed me as a stalker cos he's yet to add me. LOL. Mark's wife Stephanie also twitters and will add you as a friend on Facebook. So between the band and the thousands of fans who are either on the message boards, Twitter, or Facebook or all three, I've met some really cool folks and have gotten to know the band very well.
 
From time to time the guys will even ask our opinion about things. They truly care about their fan and their fans truly care about them. The band delivers God's message with a rock beat and provide a show worthy of the many awards they have won. Most recently they won Best Pop/Contemporary Album for their "Revelations" CD at the Dove Awards in April. So anyway getting back to my cyber-friends. I started out following Mark Lee on Twitter and posting occasionally on the message boards. Now I follow many Gomers (Third Day Fans)and band members of several Contemporary Christian Bands on Twitter. I also have Facebook friends who are fans - some are the same as twitter, some are not. I like having cyber-friends. Does that make me nerdy or needy? (I met the band twice and met one of my cyber-friends once so they don't count!)LOL.

http://thirdday.blogs.com/third_day_weblog/2009/05/53-third-day-on-the-3rd-day-season-finale.html

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My sister was a member of a Relay for Life team for many years. I did not give it much thought besides the fact that I thought it was pretty awesome.  Last June, she was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. She was a non-smoker but had severe asthma that she developed as an adult.  Because of complications with chemo, she didn't receive much treatment for her disease and passed away in November. One of her goals after diagnosis was to walk in the survivors walk during the next Relay for Life in the Spring. She didn't make it.

I was in church Sunday and we had a guest speaker. It was the chairperson for the Relay for Life Team. Seems our church has a team and they needed volunteers to walk. At that moment I decided that I could do this in memory and in honor of my sister's dedication to this cause and to help stop a cancer death for someone elses sister. So I signed up, went home and looked up the Relay website, paid my membership, and began sending out messages to solicit donations. I emailed my friends, sent a message on Twitter and Facebook. I tried putting a message on our work daily bulletin but I was told I couldn't solicit donations. Funny I can sell my stuff via the bulletin, but I can't ask for donations to a non-profit organization. I must work for the Federal Government!!

So far I've raised $0.00 but I hope that I'll raise a few bucks by 1 May when the event starts. My team is currently in third place for most $ raised. I would like to help them move up the list. So here's what I've discovered so far.... I think my hearing the call and answering it in church was a nudge from God. Late in the evening and early this morning, I questioned my exuberance and solicitation efforts. While I was in the shower I started talking it through with God. What he told me was "why would I not be delighted in your helping others?" I had my answer. Satan was thwarted again until of course when I got to work and was told I couldn't post my request for donations on the company daily bulletin but I'm not beat yet. Check back with me after I've walked an hour. I sure hope there's no hills!

Wish me luck!

So here's my official plea: 

This year, hundreds of thousands of people will hear the words "You have cancer", and there's a good chance that some of them will be people we know and love. We have all been touched by cancer in some way ... and we all have the power to make a difference. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in my own community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I want to invite you to join me in the fight against cancer by making a donation in support of my efforts. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page where you can make an online contribution.  You can make a one time gift or increase your impact by donating monthly.  Every amount, no matter how small, makes a difference and provides hope.

Relay For Life® brings more than 3.5 million people from across the country together each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we will celebrate, remember, and fight back.

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09SA?px=10731836&pg=personal&fr_id=12894&fl=en_US&et=TGr-Q6lG3JO1yfH6APkIcw..&s_tafId=245862

Click here to view the team page for Good Shepherd Catholic Church 50+ Club
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09SA?team_id=415519&pg=team&fr_id=12894&fl=en_US&et=BELn8TcXGuvSOVSCBqDKQg..&s_tafId=245862

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