A Whole Lot of Shaking

The recent spate of strong earthquakes this year shows us there is clearly something going on in the earth.

A 6.5 magnitude quake in Taiwan this week is just the latest example. It follows major earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China and offshore California that have occurred since the beginning of the year.

I heard a so-called expert on TV the other day who said the increase in seismic activity is "just a coincidence."

A coincidence? I don't think so. It was predicted . . . in the Bible. Matthew 24 says there will be earthquakes in various places in the last days. It is the beginning of birth pains in the earth. I read one commentary that calls it "sufferings that precede the return of the Messiah."

I think that is exactly what we are seeing, along with the other signs of the end times described in Matthew. It says there will be wars and rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. We are seeing all these things now. And they are taking place at an accelerated pace.

Matthew 24 goes on to say no one knows the day or the hour when the Son of Man will return. It cautions us to keep watch and to be prepared for that day.

I have said it before in my blog, but I believe that we are very close to the return of Jesus. He could come at any moment. So we should be watching and ready, especially as we see these earthquakes and other signs being fulfilled before our eyes.

Down on the Farm

You know you live in a small town when the main attraction on Saturday night was a party in a barn. I just had to go check it out.

It was actually a fund-raiser for the historic Little Red Schoolhouse north of Pampa. It's not used as a school but is a historic site. It's eight miles north of town, near my sister's farm. The party Saturday night was at a neighboring farm -- in a barn.

The party was fun. They had a barbecue meal, live music, an auction and cow tipping. OK, no cows were tipped. I made up that part. That would be a good idea for next year, though.

The fund-raiser seemed to be a success. It was a packed house ... or in this case a packed barn.

I saw a couple of my former teachers there. And there were several people who seemed to know me, but I couldn't place them. I get that a lot. I've only been back in Pampa two months -- after being gone 17 years -- and everywhere I go in town I see people who know my name.

That has happened at the grocery store, at restaurants and everywhere I go. People come up to me, and they know my name but I don't have a clue who they are. I'm not good at remembering names. If I'm lucky, they tell me their names, but sometimes I still don't know who they are.

I'm really surprised, though, that so many people remember me. A lot of them remember seeing me on my three-wheel bicycle that I used to ride all over town.

I guess that's the thing about small towns -- everyone is friendly, and everybody knows everybody else. And probably everybody else's business, too!

Remembering A Friend

He has fought the good fight. He has kept the faith, and he finished his race strong.

After a nearly two-year battle with cancer, Bruce Beck crossed the finish line into heaven on Thursday night. I am sad over the loss of my friend, but I am happy that he isn't suffering any more.

Bruce lived passionately in all of life. A devoted husband, doting father and grandfather, his family was most important to him. He was a loyal employee, working 29 years as a writer and editor at the Amarillo Globe-News with perfect attendance. He was great writer. He drew readers into his stories and column with his conversation style of writing. You really felt like you knew Bruce when you read his column.

Bruce was known throughout the community because of his wide coverage of the city's schools and organizations. And he was a man of great faith. He kept his never-say-quit attitude even as cancer stole more and more of his life.

I could go on and on about him. He was truly a wonderful man. But what I will remember most about Bruce is his sense of humor and that smile he always had on his face. When I think of him today and in the weeks and months to come, I will picture him with that smile.

I believe he is smiling down on us from heaven now. Rest in peace, my friend.

Singing A Different Tune

Last night was the 45th annual Academy of Country Music awards on TV. I switched it on a time or two, but I didn't recognize many of the names or groups. Who is Lady Antebellum anyway?

I used to be a big country music fan. I listened to it on the radio all the time, and I had a ton of cassettes. (Do you young folks even know what cassette tapes are?) I also have been to quite a few country concerts through the years. The most memorable was Garth Brooks' outdoor concert at the Dilla Villa stadium in Amarillo. It was awesome!

But I've found something better. More and more, I find myself listening to praise and worship music on the radio and in the car. It just makes me feel better, and it is more encouraging than the honky-tonk songs.

When I was in Amarillo, I had a lot of choices for Christian stations. There's K-Love and Air-1, Family Life Radio, American Family Radio and Radio by Grace. There's also the fledgling Kingdom Keys Network, which is based in Amarillo.

So I was happy when I moved to Pampa and found that K-Love has a translator here, and I could still hear K-Love. But my mornings just weren't the same because I couldn't hear Family Life Radio's morning show with the husband-wife team Dave and Michelle Dawson.

I have been listening to Dave and Michelle's America's Breakfast Table program for several years. It's very uplifting, and the hosts are entertaining. I also like the Bible Quiz, which is a part of the show.

I was disappointed that I couldn't pick up the station on my portable stereo or any of the radios in the house. But I have a semi-antique radio that belonged to my Grandmother Ely. It a big RCA radio that I used to play when I went to her house. It must be 30 years old or older. I happened to attach an antennae to it recently, and behold my Family Life Radio station came in loud and clear.

So now I can hear Dave and Michelle again when I'm waking up in the mornings. It is encouraging and helps me start my day focusing on the Lord. It makes a difference in my day, and I thank God for Christian radio.

That Fateful Day

I could have died five years ago today. Some of you know this story, but I think it's worth repeating.

On April 18, 2005, I was driving home from work as usual, and I was in a car accident. My truck overturned, but I came away from that wreck with only some cuts and bruises.

I told everyone I was very "lucky." Then, someone corrected me. I wasn't "lucky." I was blessed!

I am blessed to be alive. God definitely had his hand on me that day. He spared me from greater injury or even death.

Many times, we go through our day unaware of the dangers that may be around us and that God is there to protect us.

Psalm 91:11 says, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

We should thank God every day for the life he has given us. Whether we have much or little, we should be thankful.

Whatever circumstance we are facing today, we can be thankful because God is in control.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Even when we find ourselves in difficult situations, we can know this: God gave us an even greater gift than wealth or possessions. He gave us his son Jesus, who died on the cross so that we may have life.

Things could have turned out much differently on that day in April. But God knew my need in that moment, and he was there to protect me.

Under Attack

I never thought I would live in a country that is anti-Christian and anti-God. But that is where we seem to be headed. The latest attack on Christianity came this week when a federal judge declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional.

This is so ridiculous. The United States was founded on Christian principles. Our president doesn't seem to think so, though.

Barack Obama has declared that we are no longer a Christian nation. Now, he has canceled the annual National Day of Prayer ceremony at the White House under the rouse of "not wanting to offend anyone."

Yet, last year, Obama welcomed 50,000 Muslims to Washington, D.C. for a day of prayer on Capitol Hill for the Muslim religion.

I guess it didn't matter to him that Christians were offended.

Christianity is clearly under attack. Atheists and other groups have fought for years to try to have "In God We Trust" removed from our currency. Prayer has already been kicked out of school, and now they want to remove Ten Commandment monuments from government buildings and courtrooms.

This is so dangerous. God has blessed the U.S. more than any other nation, but He will not stay where He is not wanted. Maybe that's why we're seeing such economic turmoil in our country today.

But it doesn't have to stay that way. Christians can take a stand and start to pray MORE! God is faithful, and He will answer the prayers of HIS people. So let's do all we can. Let's make EVERY DAY a national day of prayer!

Taxing Time

Tomorrow is the big day. It's April 15 -- Tax Day. And the tea partiers are gearing up for rallies all across the country. I think there is even a rally in Amarillo.

I never went to any of the tea parties while I was in Amarillo, but I believe in what the group stands for and I think it is a great movement. It time for people to stand up and speak out against big government.

The tea partiers are doing just that, and the liberal left hates it. The Left must feel threatened by the tea party movement. So much so that some liberals are planning to infiltrate the tea parties to stir up trouble. They're rumored to be going in disguise, carrying signs with misspelled words and spouting racial comments. All for the purpose of making tea baggers look bad.

How ridiculous! What happened to free speech in America?

I applaud the tea partiers. With the government trying to grab more and more power, it's time for us to unite and take a stand.

I don't know if Barack Obama is deliberately trying to destroy America or if he is just plain stupid. Maybe it's both. But it's scary what he is trying to do. Every day, it's something else. From the health care debacle to his stance on nukes, Obama is ruining our great country. Yesterday, he was bowing to another foreign leader. Yet, he snubbed the Israelis.

The U.S. is becoming a more dangerous place because of Obama. If not for God, I fear what could happen to America. But God is still in control. He will destroy evildoers but protect the righteous. If we put our trust in God, we have nothing to fear. But we must turn to Him and pray. Pray for our country and pray for our leaders.

Prayer CAN make a difference!

A Shining Example

I have been reading Tanya Beck's columns on amarillo.com. WOW! What a moving example she presents of someone who lives his life courageously despite tremendous difficulties.

Tanya is the wife of my friend and former co-worker Bruce Beck, who has brain cancer. Bruce wrote the column in the Our Town section of the Globe-News for many years and had a huge following. He is unable to work now, and Tanya has stepped in to keep readers in touch and informed about Bruce.

Even if you don't know Bruce personally, you only have to read these columns to know what an amazing person he is.

Bruce has been battling cancer since June 2008. He has undergone numerous rounds of chemotherapy, and for a while it seemed as if the cancer was in remission. But now the cancer has spread to his brain, and the outlook is not good.

Yet, through it all, Bruce has kept his amazing attitude. He never once has asked why or questioned God. And his faith has not wavered.

In one column, Tanya wrote: "We pray daily for a miracle, if it is God's will. We pray for peace and strength if it is not."

Tanya says as Bruce drifted off to sleep one night, he murmured something that will be embedded in her mind forever. He said: "If God is using me to help other people, then it'll be OK."

That's the kind of person Bruce is. Always giving. Always thinking of others. And he has always had that positive outlook.

I remember when I started working at the Globe-News. I would get very frustrated when I would have more stories that I had to get in the paper and no room to put them. Bruce, in his calm and reassuring voice, would tell me: "Don't look at it as a problem. Think of it as a challenge."

He challenged me to keep trying and never quit. Bruce has that same attitude today. He has vowed to keep fighting ... fighting to live.

If you have missed any of Tanya's columns in the Globe-News, go to amarillo.com. Search for "tanya beck" and read them. You should read Bruce's past columns, too. You will quickly see why we all love him so much.

Getting A Leg Up

Thanks to everyone who said a prayer for me. My leg is feeling much better. Prayer works. Thank you, Lord, for touching me with your healing power.

Mom and I went to Amarillo yesterday. I had a doctor's appointment, and Mom wanted to shop for a dress for my niece Michelle's wedding.

It was my first time back to the big city since I moved in February. It was also our first road trip in our van. Mom bought -- and I helped -- a 2003 minivan with a ramp system. It's a pretty neat setup. The sliding door and ramp are remote-control activated. Then, we had the passenger seat in the front removed so I can just ride my scooter into the van and park next to the driver's seat.

We had a few glitches with the automatic door at first, but the system is working great now. We made four or five stops in Amarillo, and it was much easier than having to load the scooter with a lift and transfer to the car seat each time.

It's strange, though, seeing Mom driving a minivan! Of course, she still has her Honda, and I have my pickup. But the van will make it easier for both of us, especially when I'm having trouble with my legs. I think the van was a good investment.

Mom does a pretty good job driving it. I only had to tell her to slow down once yesterday -- when she got it up to 80 on the way home! Thank goodness she learned how to operate the cruise control.

My doctor's visit was pretty routine. He gave me another round of botox injections (I'm starting to feel like Nazi Pelosi). The botox is supposed to help control the spasms in my leg muscles, and I think it does help with the tightness and makes getting up and down a lot easier.

We went to Golden Corral afterward, and of course I stuffed myself. Love the jalapeno cornbread there! It was great.

It did make me a little homesick being back in Amarillo. I do miss Big A, but Pampa is becoming more and more like home all the time.

Weekend Update

The Easter weekend was great, but Monday came with a vengeance.

We had a good crowd for the Easter service and then lunch at church afterward. Yes, we really did the wave during the sermon. It was a blast.

After lunch, I went to Mom's for the afternoon. It's a bit of a challenge for me to get in her house. We have to put the ramp up and then I do my General Lee (as in the Dukes of Hazard) impression to get in. I must give it full throttle to get the scooter up the ramp. I almost become airborne. Scares Mom to death. Scares me a little bit sometimes too.

That's why I don't get over there much. In fact, this was the first time I'd been over to the house since I moved here in February.

It was a good afternoon, then I spent a lazy evening in front of the TV. Two of my favorite shows -- Extreme Home Makeover and Undercover Boss -- were both on so I had some quality recliner time.

All in all, it was a great day. Then came Monday.

I woke up with a terrible pain in my leg. I couldn't put any weight on it without excruciating pain. I even had to call for help to transfer to my scooter. It was bad.

I'm hoping it's just a temporary cramp or something because right now I can't transfer to my chair without help. I took some pain medication a little while ago. It's starting to make me drowsy now. So if you see lots of typos in this post, that's why.

Between the pain meds and lots of prayers, I hope this doesn't last long. So if you think about it, say a prayer for me. I'd sure appreciate it!