The Price of Gasoline

I am not one to complain; at least not too often. The price of gas, however, gets into the pocketbood, and I have very little there to spare, as many in this great nation of our do.

With Oil Companies making record profits - something I heard around 16 billion dollars in a quarter this year. They say they put those profits back into exploration, but let me say something; PROFITS ARE COUNTED AFTER ALL EXPENSES ARE COUNTED, and that includes EXPLORATION.

Until just a few days ago I had not thought much about that. Someone pointed it out to me, and that is correct. You count profit after all expenses are deducted. Is EXPLORATION not an expense. It is an expense.

There is no doubt that we are the most fuel consuming nation on earth; and we even have some of the cheapest prices, and for that we should be thankful.

These prices, however, are going to put the poor of our country completely out of commission. Maybe we don't care for the poor. Then, we are headed for a really big catastrophe. It will be more than a problem with Oil; it will and is a problem with our Creator.

When gas reached 2 dollars per gallon I had to start watching where, when, and how often I drove. Now that it is 3 dollars plus it has become even more necessary.

I don't guess there is anything that can be done about it. I can be thankful for what I have and realize that God is still in control, and He supplies my every need. I do pray that I can and will be a better steward of His resources. How about you?

Let Me Tell You About My Days

Today is the first day of Summer vacation from driving the School Bus. I am so glad for Summer vacation. Now, it is not that I dislike kids (and I mean no offense by using the word kids; because I was always called a kid, and it never bothered me), it is just that they have a way; especially when they are screaming, fussing, fighting, playing; and all when they shouldn't be; on getting on your nerves. After nine months of driving them I am ready for this break.

During school my days started on most days at 2:30 to 3:00 a.m. No! I did not have to get up that early to go and drive the bus. I get up that early to have a quiet time with the Lord, pray and read His Word, and to also write articles, and maintain the blogs that I have. I try not to do much, if any blogging during the daylight hours. I leave to drive the bus at 5:15 a.m., then drive approximately 17 miles one way to the bus garage, arrive there at around 5:50 a.m., do the pretrip, and leave to pick up the kids at 6:05 a.m. I have about a twenty five minute drive before I pick up the first student/rider. We then, arrive at the High School to drop off riders at around 7:45 a.m. and then, to the other shortly thereafter. The bus is parked by 7:50 a.m.

Most times I return home for breakfast with Madge (my wife), and after breadfast I am back in the office for studying the Word preparing for Wednesday night Bible Study and the sermons for Sunday morning and evening. I break for lunch around noon, and after lunch, I may take a short nap or return to the office to study some more. It is probably about an even split between which one I do.

At around 2:00 p.m. I return to the bus garage, to return the riders to their homes or sitters. I usually arrive back home around 5:30 p.m. or shortly thereafter. My evenings I usually spend relaxing, watching television news, then, programs Madge and I enjoy watching together, and there are times that I feel I need to update a blog or something like that.

There are some days that I will stay in town, or go down around Carr Lane and visit our church members.

Since School is out my plans are to spend two days other than Sunday and Wednesday on the church field visiting members and the people of the Carr Lane area. I am still planning on arising before the chickens at around 3:00 a.m., during my Summer vacation

Looking Forward to Summer

Here it is that we are nearly two thirds of the way through Spring, and I am looking forward to Summer. Spring and Summer are my two favorite times of year. Spring because everything starts coming back to life. The trees begin to grow their leaves again, the grass begins to green and grow - now if you hate mowing your yard you will hate that part of it - and the air begins to warm and the blood begins to flow through the veins again. There is life. Summer, because it is warm and sometimes hot. I like heat, but not too much heat. I can stand the heat, and endure the cold, but when it comes to cold, that is all it is enduring.

One thing I am glad of about Summer is that School will be out. It is good that whoever set up our school system to have a Summer break was wise. It is too hot for children to be in classes in July. It is also good, because it gives teachers, and bus drivers a break from the hustle and bustle of those large and tiny voices. Teachers, I do not mean to demean your work, it is a good one, but you are mostly standing facing your students. The bus driver has them all at his back. Remember, someone once said, "A school bus driver is someone who has all his troubles behind him." I like that. Kids are great. They all need teaching and direction. They all need Jesus as their Lord and Savior as well.

I like Summer. I am looking forward to our Fourth of July get together down at the Old Swimming Hole. I am looking forward to my immediate family getting together on my wife's birthday. We have started making that an annual event. The kids will all be here and having fun, barbequeing, eating, drinking sodas, tea, water and juices.

Another thing I am looking forward to this Summer is trying to be the pastor to Carr Lane Baptist Church that I should be. We have Vacation Bible School coming in July 16-20, and we are waiting to here from Angel Food Ministries, and hopefull will be starting that ministry to our area. Making visits in the homes of the people. Visiting homes in the area of our church, and prayerfully pointing some folks to Jesus.

This Summer will be great.

Time To Be Born

The title is of course one in which we ourselves cannot decide. If I did not say that clear enough, let me say it like this. We have no say concerning the time we are born. That time is determined by God Himself, and no one else. He also determines the other end of life, and that is the day or our death.

I did not write the above to be morbid, or frightful. On May 04, 2007 Natalie Joyce Blankenship was born into this world. Her parents are Philip and Sarah Joyce Blankenship.

Natalie is our tenth grandchild. We have eight living and two with Jesus in Heaven. We claim them as our grandchildren, even though we never saw them, but we believe we will when we enter those blessed portals of eternity and see our blessed Savior Jesus Christ.

It is a joy and a blessing to be a part of this life. Without living here there would be no Heaven. We would be none existent. Before we were made we were in the heart and mind of God, and the day of our birth, as well as the day of our death is determined by Him.

I am thankful for these things, for knowing that the future is in the hands of our Almighty God and Father. Thank Him for His sovereignty over all things. Bless His holy name.