Christmas Eve 2010

Family Ornament 2010~Crafted by Catelyn

Christmas Emma
Miss 'G'
Sleep in heavenly peace...

Twas the night before Christmas

& all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even...Emma

Samuel...

or Ben

The Calm before the Storm

Momma Clause put out the gifts...love that woman!

Ben is still clutching his candle - he couldn't wait to light it but fell fast asleep right before we did it...maybe next year little buddy

Stellar Picture by Elizabeth - We make beautiful babies

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My wife had a great post on Christmas Eve.

This year was a bit of a rush job for me as I ended up having to work some major hours at the funeral home. That has been a fascinating experience & I'll have to post on that soon. Suffice it to say, the Snows staff are consummate professionals who really know how to help a family navigate the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

I got home at 5:30 Christmas Eve - just an hour & a half before the service. I had the whole thing planned & the Advent poem written. What I hadn't been able to do was to practice a couple of key songs. Zack has really improved in his piano skills in just a few months under his tutor - Roxie Adrian. He was able to get all the songs together & just nail them. He really put feeling into his playing.

I read pertinent scripture then read a section of poem that I wrote from those texts.

Zack, Dave, Andy, & Dad did all the prep work in the sanctuary as well as Joseph & James Creath & Paul Jr. They evicted the bats (we think, hope, & pray!) My Mom did a bang up job decorating the beautiful rustic sanctuary.

God just showed up & showed out. We had many new faces from the community there. What a blessing.

The children's bell choir did great on Silent night. All in all it was wonderful.

Some old friends were there as well as some new ones. It really is a new day for our Church & I am looking forward to what God is going to do for His glory through our Church. We had a time of precious candle lit silence with the instruction to listen to what God would say to you personally. I actually did 'hear from God' in that time. As I looked around that sanctuary it was as if God said, "These are your people - love them, lead them, for my name's sake". That thought really didn't come from me as I was thinking about the logistics for the closing song. God just kind of broke through my frantic thinking & 'spoke' to me. I felt a love for that congregation just flow over me. Oh that God would help me nurture that command & to lovingly lead my little flock to love Jesus more & live out the gospel every day.

Ode To Advent~2010

Ode To Advent~2010
Hear Ye the Word of Yahweh tonight
'His' story through the chosen line
A Savior Promised in dark days passed
Isaiah's word enfleshed in our time
To Ancient Ahaz~Judah's King
Did God give Salvation's sign
A virgin born Immanuel Son
A Rescuer for all time
Centuries passed on our side of time
for 400 years God went quiet
Religion flourished as souls fell away
God's favor? None could come nigh it.
Then history went into labor
in the fullness of time He was sent
He whom the universe could not contain
Was in the womb of a virgin content
The Christ, it was long ago fortold,
would be born in Bethlehem town
A census & national tax the Lord used
To send Joseph & Mary on down
While they were there in God's sovereign plan
She brought forth her first born, a son
Rag wrapped & in a rough manger laid
Was God's answer, Manacham, the One!
The shepherds on Bethlehem's hillside
Did the Angel glad tidings tell
Glory to God in the hightest
and Peace rang through the dell
They came with haste & what they found
forever transformed these men
Their voice they found & spread the news round
"God is with us once again!"
Young Mary cradled her Maker
And nursed Him at her breast
In wonder she gathered each memory
which would one day be put to the test
Was He just another poor babe
born long ago in a land far away?
Or was He the actual Son of Heaven
The Lamb of God born to be slain?
A babe came He into our sin sick world
A sinless life lived He until age thirty three
Then despised & rejected ~ yea, cured of God
He hung broken & bleeding for you & for me
This babe was born for one purpose alone
To live a life perfectly
Then to trade it all in for all of my sin
He's the Sacrifice Lamb you see.
There is but one question that still remains
What must I do for this gift to receive
Tis the grandest news of all my friend
For all you must do is believe!


~Paul J. Dziadul Sr., 2010~
Written for the Advent Eve Carols by Candlelight Service

Dedicated to the Memory of Jo Ann de Boer

Thanksgiving Weight Loss?

Emma's Elvis Hair

We had over 20 people over for our annual celebration of Thanksgiving. We have a tradition of going to Church from 10-11am on Thanksgiving morning. Often this is attended by my family & just a few others.

This year we had 43 show up & when it came to the testimony time - did they ever have a lot to share. It was one of the best Thanksgiving Day Services we ever had.

We brined the turkey's for 24 hours before smoking one & roasting the other. They turned out Fantastic!!! The highlights may have been the desserts. Beth made a pumpkin cheesecake with home made whipped cream. Amazing!

Probably the most amazing thing is that on Sunday morning I got on the scale & I lost 2 pounds over "Feast Week"!

I've been on the Zija Weight Management System since July. That 2 pounds was kind of a big deal as it puts me at 50 pounds lost without spending one day on a DIEt.

The Moringa Tree is an amazing creation that is chock full of vitamins & nutrients.

Ezekiel 47:12 describes a tree that sure seems to match what we know about Moringa: "... their leaves shall not wither & their fruit shall not fail, they will bear every month...and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

Moringa can be harvested every 2 weeks & it seems the healing properties seem to reside in the leaves & the nutritional properties can be found in the fruit.

Give the body what it needs & it will do what God created it to do...come to a place of balance.

You can even enjoy a FEAST yet still lose weight...amazing!

Great Day!

I went to the Georgia Baptist Bible Fellowship Meeting at Central Fellowship Baptist Church today. My friend Rodney Queen is the Pastor there & he asked me to speak. It was a joy & a privilege. I've been attending the meetings for going on 3 years now & the speakers are a cut above to be sure. Today I heard some great sermons from the Word of God. First I heard a great testimony sermon from Brother Paul Young who is from Brighton England. He has a ministry to the homeless there called "Off the Fence". What a salty brother who actually believes God & takes Him at his Word! Go figure. I was captivated by has strong British accent & his heart for God.

Brother Henry Van Wye is an older pastor who is an excellent preacher. This is the second time that I've had the privilege of hearing him preach. He spoke on Jonah 1:1-3 - "God always picks the right man for the job" One of his thoughts was that because God chose us for our particular work/ministry - then we must be the right man for that job. He also asserted that God has confidence in us & our calling. Our job is to have as much confidence in God that He has in us. Interesting & tremendously encouraging.

The last preacher tonight was a favorite of mine - Pastor Virgil Barnard. I don't know how old he is but he's got to be in his upper 80's. He preached on Psalm 22 - the prophetic psalm of the suffering messiah. When he got behind the pulpit he lost 50 years at least & came alive with the zeal & passion of a young evangelist. One statement that I found particularly stunning was the statement of Christ, "I Thirst". Pastor Barnard then said - "The one who made the rivers & streams cried out for thirst & was offered vinegar mixed with gall" He CREATED water & his request was denied by the men her created. What have we done?

Then brother Virgil said this, "The first Adam through his sin striped us all naked in shame but the last Adam (Christ) hung naked in shame that we might be clothed in His righteousness." What has He done?!

What a day of encouragement & affirmation. The Reformer's Unanimous ladies provided the special music & it was off the hook!

What an incredible day invested in God's house with God's men exalting God's son by preaching God's Word!

No Way!

The above is the summit viper classic climbing stand. I have to make a confession here - I've been lusting after this thing since before hunting season started. We've come on some lean times financially & I just couldn't see my way clear to buy it. I can usually talk myself into any selfish purchase but no dice this time.
One of the features I really like is the quick connect system that is very quiet as well as quick. The solid climbing brackets were also a great feature.
My hunting partner & mentor, Mr. Ken Goings, has been an off the hook blessing to me this past year. He manages a 1,000 hunting club in Crawford county. I hunted Turkey with him there this past spring. I lost my lease in Monroe county this past summer. Ken decided to give me a membership to his club which he paid for. We've had some amazing hunts there already this year. I harvested 2 does last Friday morning. I shot one at 8 a.m. & one at 9 a.m. Both were big does. Ken took an even bigger doe that evening & one two days later.
On opening day of bow season, Ken noticed that the cable on my climbing stand was cut nearly in two. He advised me not to use it. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't take his advice & I was pretty nervous.
Ken called me Monday to meet up with me so I could pick up the cooler with the last deer in it. We met at Dicks sporting goods in Macon. I put the cooler in my truck & Ken then sheepishly admitted that he had an ulterior motive. With that Goings grin he said, "I'm gonna get you an early Christmas present - the Summit Viper climbing stand." NO WAY!!!
I am the very proud new owner of the latest in quick & quiet climbing technology! I cannot wait to give it a test run soon.
God has sure blessed me with good friends like Ken. He meets not only my needs but my wants as well. Simply Amazing!

Vintage Ben

Ben is his own man...even though he's still a little boy. I took him hunting last Sunday evening. We sat for 3 hours in a cramped & rickety stand. He did great! At one point he heard some leaves rustling & said, "I hear a deer!" I figured it was an armidillo as they sound like an elephant coming through the woods. Sure enough it was. I watched Ben as he first spyed the armor plated pest. He 'wispered' - "look Daddy, a piggy!"

Gotta love that boy!

Recent Pics

Turns out Emma is the one baby of ours that doesn't like Daddy's harmonica playing! I tried fast, slow, happy - nothing doing - she listened for a few bars & cried. Everyone's a critic!
Lauging with Momma! Beth had her laughing out loud for the first time. Glad I was there to see & hear it

Ben cleaned up on High Ho Cherio! I'm thinking of taking that kid to Vegas!

So exciting to be in 36 pants again! Zija Weight Management System is the bomb! Check it out at www.drdz777.myzija.com

Laughing with Daddy...as long as he doesn't play the harmonica!

Gut Be Gone!!!

Random pics found on the camera. Anna's close up

Ben's first deer hunting trip. He did great!

Virgin Hunter & An Epic Hunt

My nephew Josh came by for a visit this past week. I haven't seen him in a quite some time. He asked about going hunting so Jr. & I took him. Josh couldn't believe that you just sat still for hours. I could tell this wasn't going to work for him so after about an hour we did some stalking hunting. We covered about a mile & saw 7 armadillos. One just about ran over Josh's sneakers! He was amazed by that. We did jump 2 deer but we didn't have a shot. Along about 6:15 pm we heard a shot ring out over near where Jr. was hunting.

When we got there, Jr. was knelt down near the entrance to the forest. I told Josh that he was either kneeling by the deer or by the last blood drops. It was last blood. We marked it & Jr. & I made a few careful forays into the dense woods. No deer.

We needed a better flashlight for tracking. The way the blood trail dried up, I figured we'd better give this animal time to die & not push it clear to the next county!

So we went to town & got a couple of good flash lights & something to drink. After an hour or so we were back to tracking our wounded game.

Josh proved to have excellent eyes for blood tracking. We hit a couple of 'dry' spots but the young fellas with their young eyes always seemed to find the next spot.

We hit a dry creek bed & saw where the deer leaned up against a tree. It was good blood - a lung shot based on the color & the bubbles in it. I told the guys that the deer wouldn't be far. It was 10 yards from that spot but the trail dried up. I decided to drop back into the creek bed to search further down for more blood. Not 15 feet from there was the beautiful young buck.

Jr. put a fantastic shot on him but it was a little high so the blood stayed in the animal which explained the light blood trail.

I knew there was a quicker way out of the woods so I headed due west. I could see the logging road only 20 yards ahead. Then I stumbled over something. When I caught myself I shined the light on a grave from the 1800's. Pastor Washington Cromwell Cleveland - born in 1803 died in 1869. The inscription read, "His death was a triumph of God's Grace"

There was a 7 year old daughter buried next to him with this inscription, "Here lies our sweet little daughter. We will be with her again soon"

One grave with a little lamb on top of the stone was that of a one month old infant.

I had several emotions & oddly enough, fear was not one of them. One was a sense of blessing to find such a lost treasure. The thought of how blessed I am to live in the 21st century where my babies don't die from now curable diseases. I also thought of the truth of those inscriptions. This primitive baptist Pastor knew the same Jesus that I know. He served the same master that I do. I will meet him one day as I sing the praises of the lamb around the throne. It was a hallowed spot & a holy moment. I was reminded that death is as much a part of life as birth is. I was also reminded that one day I too will be laid to rest. People will say nice things about me & then life will go on. I may be as forgotten as Pastor Cleveland only to be discovered again a century & a half later by a Father & Pastor. Maybe my grave will serve to shake him out of the lethargy of the moment and into the urgency of the Kingdom. Here was my take away: Life is short so live for what lasts longest - eternity. Life is hard, ie - burying several of your children - but God is good & you can still die in his service without being bitter at His sovereign hand in your life. Life is good, this world may forget about me & the forest my take over my resting place but because of Christ, no trees of this world will ever blot out what my Jesus did on that old rugged tree on skull hill outside of Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. Life is good because God is good even when you bury your babies. This man died with his pastoral boots on even though several of his babies preceded him in death. The verse that comes to mind is Hebrews 11:4 "He being dead yet speaketh". Pastor Cleveland spoke to me even though he's been dead since 1869 thanks to a well preserved vault stone. He spoke to my son & nephew as well. I reminded them that this was a hallowed spot & that though we would document what we found we would in no way desecrate that place or the memories of that family. They were in full agreement & what a time we had.

Josh was taken a back a bit by his earthy uncle & cousin but was more than up for the traditional face painting for all virgin hunters on their first harvest experience. We let him off the hook really as local tradition calls for a bite out of the still warm heart.

All in all it was an epic hunt. I was proud of my son for his commitment to find that animal even if it took all night. That young man has some great ethics which are the markers of greatness.

What a night, what a hunt, what a God & what a Gospel!

Big Shoes To Fill

Every boy love to wear his Daddy's shoes. Ben loves my boots. So here he is in my new hunting boots. They kind of work like waders for him. He knows how to turn my hat light on without looking just like an old hunter.

I may take him hunting with me before the year is over but after taking Sam the other night, I'll need a few weeks to forget.

Before & Half Way to After

I started at very close to 240lbs. At 5 feet 9.5 inches that is either too much weight or not enough height. I couldn't do anything about the height so I decided to do something about the weight.

I went on the Zija Weight Management System. Here's how it works in a nut shell: Flood the body with nutrients at the start of the day, late morning some dutch cocoa xm3, & some moringa tea before bed.

Sounds crazy I know. Here's what happens. The body gets what it wants & needs - over 100% of the daily nutrients including all 9 essential amino acids that the body cannot produce & is almost non existant in our daily diets anymore - It tends to bring itself into balance.

Then hit the brain with a dose of "Don't Worry-Be Happy" chocolate based xm3 that knocks out cravings, flips the full switch in the brain & gives a pretty good boost of energy to boot.

At night before bed - drink a steaming mug of miracle tea that serves to absorb all the toxins created by burning fat all day & gently 'flushes' them out of your system in the morning - a moving experience some say - pun fully intended.

I've never eaten less food or enjoyed it more. I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out but the only thing that is falling is my pant size: from 42 - 36 since July!

Believe it or not, I'm making money so its not costing me anything. My food bill has decreased $300 a month since my wife & I started the system.

I'm trying to find the negative & I can't...because there isn't one.

Try it for yourself. There is a 30 day money back guarantee. All you have to lose is the weight & all you have to gain phenominal health & the energy of a toddler on cotton candy.

Check it out for yourself at www.drdz777.myzija.com

Come "Drink Life In"!

Say Hello To My Little Friend

Beth & I were coming home from the store the other evening & as she started around the van I heard her scream. I've lived with her long enough to know that it was a "big bug or reptile" scream as opposed to a mouse scream which can break glass...but that's for another post.

I quickly came to her side & she said, "Its a snake". It was dark outside but I could see a small coiled snake not too far from her foot. The snake thought better of it & slithered under the van. "I don't like the shape of that snake" I said as I quickly retrieved my flashlight & machete. I could only see the outline of it but it had a thick body & a triangular head - tell tale markings of a pit viper.

By the time I got back out to the drive, the snake was making a break for it-heading under the wagon. I foolishly tried to cover it with my hat it struck at me - barely missing my hand. The next time I used the machete to try to hold it down. It saw that coming & went under the car.

I met it coming out the front of the car & was able to get the flashlight on it - It had the Hershey kiss marking all the way up it's body. The only snake in north America that has that is a copperhead.

It coiled again...and for the last time. The machete made short work of the little viper. I don't kill snakes unless they are venomous & near my house. If I had come across that viper in the woods, I'd have let it go in peace.

The light green tail is interesting. I thought maybe it was used by this juvenile snake to attract small lizards or other such critters for it to eat.

I'm sure thankful that my bride didn't step on that thing & that it decided to flee rather than fight as she almost stepped on it.

Happenings Part 1

Grahm & Dad - Q?"How has Christ Changed You" A: "My Conscience is much Bigger"
Kristen & Grandpa

Cindy Stands for Christ...all the way from Trinidad

Carol - Rejected her works for the finished work of Christ

No place I'd rather be - "We will not Orphan one of these New Believers"

Book End Brothers

Zack's last playing for CWW for a while...sniff, sniff

God's Men Blessing My Boy-The last time we did this was at his barmitzpha

We've been living at the speed of Life as of late. So much has been going on that it has my head spinning!

Zack recently moved to KC Kansas to live with his grandparents & study the piano under Roxanne Adrian. It is temporary but tell that to my heart. I had a tough time letting my boy go. I still get choked up when I think about Zack not being here. I really miss him. Beth reminded me that we'll get to do this 6 more times. Our house is strangely quiet with our Zack.

The Baptisms were a huge blessing! I love seeing new life in the body of Christ. Praises to God from whom our rescue flows from the finished work of Christ on the Cross! We Believe!

Fishing on the Farm

3 Nice Bass
Goat Galore!

Horse & Hay Barn

I've always loved to look at those big round hay bales

Sam's Big Brim

My Bigger Bass

3 Men in a Field

Burgers on the hoof - Doc was picking out a steer

We had Dr. James Raiford in for our Autumn Bible Conference this year. He is a most skilled bible expositor. Everyone enjoyed the time we had listening to him teach through the book of 1 Peter.
We enjoyed fellowship with several church members & with Mr. Ken - our friend from Camp Eunice. We went to his farm to fish for brim. The fishing was slow so I migrated over to the other pond that is known for it's bass. Doc came over & crawled under the fence to fish with me. We each caught our big bass at the same time! We enjoyed a great lunch of venison & beef burgers. Ken then treated us to homemade banana goat milk ice cream!

That was a great day all the way around.