Denied!

A friend of mine, Bubba Redneck, really has a gripe with the IRS. He told me yesterday, “The IRS sent my tax forms back! Again!” I asked, “Why would they do that?”

He said, “I guess it was because of my response to the question: “List all dependents.” I said, “Sure, you are suppose to get a deduction for your dependents.”

Bubba said that he wrote in the space for dependents, “12 million illegal immigrants, 3 million crack heads, 42 million unemployed on food stamps, 2 million criminals in 243 prisons, and 535 fools in the U.S. House and Senate.”

Then he said, “Apparently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.”

News From The Rough

Spring is sprung. Winter is gone. Now is the time to once again chase that little white ball around the golf course. Congratulations go to the following for achieving “the best” in their respective areas: Hunter Parks, Club Champion, Lib Williford, Women’s Champion, Bart Woodard, Low Net Champion, Al Seaburg, Senior Low Net Champion, and Preston Thomas, Senior Champion.

After playing more than several rounds of golf, I believe that I am still the “self-proclaimed” champion of the P.G.U. (Poorest Golfer in Union county) at River Chase Golf Course.

When My Dog Died

I do not know if you remember, but in the March 8 journal I mentioned that my dog of 14 years, Lady, died of cancer. Following is a story that is too good not to print. I hope that you will be blessed by it as I was.

Someone sent me this email: We don’t know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service. Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

“Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I’m happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith”

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith , addressed it to God in Heaven. We put our return address on it. Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.

A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand.

Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

“Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I’m sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love. Love, God”

Birthdays

Having birthdays this week are: Harold Boulware on Thursday, April 12; Russ Sanders and Linda Betenbaugh on Friday, April 13; Sheila Gowan and Zeelon McSwain on Saturday, April 14; Anna Marie Wingertshan, Charlotte Ochiltree, and Gwen Fisher on Sunday, April 15; Cody Sills on Monday, April 16; Kelli Hollingsworth and Sarah M. Cobb on Wednesday, April 18. We have a week full of birthday celebrations. May our Lord Jesus and our Father God bless each of you richly on your very special day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Y’ALL!

A Very Special Happy Anniversary

goes to a very special couple celebrating their wedding anniversary on Tuesday, April 17. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Steve and Barbara Ramsey!

Prayer Concerns

Dear Readers, I have a Christian brother living in India who really needs our prayers. James’ nephew is a government worker and has been threatened by an extremist group that he pay a huge amount of money or he will be killed. James and his family are very close to the Lord and humbly asks for our prayers during this difficult time. Yes, even Christians on the other side of the world are our family members. And just as we pray for each other, so we should also keep them in our prayers. His name is James Marak. His nephew is Adam K. Sangma. I am sure that our prayers will be heard by God and will be deeply appreciated by these fellow Christians.

Soothing Words

One day in our local supermarket, a man was pushing a cart which contained a screaming, bellowing toddler. The man kept repeating softly, “Don’t get excited, Albert. Don’t scream, Albert. Don’t yell, Albert. Keep calm, Albert.”

A woman standing next to him said, “You certainly are to be commended for trying to soothe little Albert.”

The man looked at her and said, “Lady, I’M Albert.”

My Thoughts

This past Sunday, Easter Sunday, Anzie and I attended the “Sonrise” Service for the Buffalo community at New Hope Baptist Church. Rev. Rick Cook brought the Easter message and Rev. Johnny Burgess welcomed the worshippers and Rev. Kevin Dalton closed the service with prayer.

As I witnessed this service I realized a very important and exciting fact: present were Baptists, Methodists, and Pentecostals. We all have differences and these differences are what make up our denominations. But in this service there were no denominations. Rather, present were Christians united in worshipping our Risen Lord and praising God for what He accomplished through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son.

Guess what? When we get to heaven, there are two things that you will NOT SEE there: sin and denominations. Our gathering in Heaven will be a rejoicing event where we will be praising God, enjoying all of the benefits of heaven, and being able to see, touch, and hear our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father.

Thought of the Week

When the world says “Give Up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”

If You Have Good News

When you see, hear, or make news, hear good, funny, and clean jokes, please email your news and jokes to me at cap9296@aol.com, call me at 864-441-2371, mail your news to me at POB 128, Buffalo, or stop me on the street. When you celebrate good things in your life, I would like to share that with the good people of Buffalo.

Until next week, may God bless you richly.