Update

To the readers,

Thank you all for praying for Wendell Kelly, I know that God has definitely had His hand in Grandpa's life. As you all know, last Wednesday, Grandpa Kelly had his left foot taken off two inches above his ankle. Then, on Friday, he had another surgery, where they took his leg off a few inches below the knee. So far, there is no sign of any remaining infection, which is a blessing. He is in stable condition, and as of today, he is to be in Indiana Hospital for therapy. He will be fitted for a prosthesis, and once he is able to pivot himself into a chair, and walk on the leg, he will be able to come home. We are so grateful for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for this situation, the phantom pains will be getting worse as the days go by, as well as the depression. Thank you for praying. More updates to follow.

Prayer Request

To all the readers:

Please pray for the Wendell Kelly family, we had to take Wendell into the hospital on Wednesday to be treated for his gangrene in his left foot. His tests had shown that he had had a heart attack within the last 24-48 hours, so he was transferred to a hospital in Johnstown. Wednesday night, they took him into surgery to see how far the gangrene had spread.

When the surgeons came out, they had needed to amputate his left foot due to all the infection. The surgeon came out and told us this, and Grandma Kelly just broke down. Everyone did. The gangrene had eaten through the skin and muscle and cartilage, right into the ankle bone. Saturday, he is to be going into surgery where they will cut his leg again, three inches below his knee so they can fit him for a prosthetic limb.

I have been at the hospital since Wednesday when they took him in and transferred him. I was able to come home last night and get some sleep. Today, we are going back to the hospital to keep him company. Grandma, Teresa, and I are going to be there all today, then Teresa and I are spending the night at the hospital. Please pray for his surgery on Saturday, and also, he needs a heart surgery after this, so please pray for that as well.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Pictures of my senior trip

Hey all,
For those of you who have given up on my othver blog, please don't. I've been posting pictures from my senior trip there. Hopefully you will be able to see them all right. So, just a reminder to look there. Hope you enjoy them!!

Bethany

Are We Forgetting Something?

As the Christmas season rolls around once again, I am reminded again and again how much this holiday has changed in my short life-time. Seventeen years ago, no Christmas card held the inscription, Merry X-mas. At least, not that I remember seeing. Now, it seems, those sort of things are being promoted, and no one seems to mind that today's society is taking Christ out of Christmas. If we remove Christ, who, then, is the Reason for the season? Santa Claus?

Every year, it seems our nation grows farther and farther away from God. What was once considered a Christian nation, is now just a shadow of that title. Growing more pagan every day, this nation needs revival now, more than ever.

How can we claim to be a Christian nation, all the while throwing God out of it? Taking God and Bible-reading out of public schools, removing the Ten Commandments from public places, endorsing un-godly marriages, that is, marriages that are not between a man and a woman, enabling young girls to abort their babies because of promiscuous activities, all these things show that we are forgetting the God who once made this land great.

In the Bible, God is very clear about what happens when a nation forgets God.
Psalm 9:17 "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." If we continue on this path, this nation has no hope of survival. As surely as God made this country, He can destroy it.

We, as Christians, must be willing to take a stand against our society, against our school boards, and against our government, if the government tells us to go against what God says. We have to stand up, for if we don't, who will? Acts 10:35 "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

Someday, God is going to judge this nation for the way we have forgotten Him:
Isaiah 55:5,6 " Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"

I think more people today need to remember Who was behind the founding of this nation, Who it was that led our Founding Fathers to write up the Declaration of Independence, and they need to remember Who holds the Earth in the palm of His hand.
Deuteronomy 32:18 "Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee."

God save America!

The Bible

As an American, I have grown up with everyone telling me about the separation of church and state. And I have seen and heard first-hand about the removal of the Ten Commandments from public places.

On June 17, 1963 in Abington vs. Schempp, the U.S. Supreme Court removed Bible readings from public education. Since that time, the public schools have been faced with huge problems.

STD's in children 10-14 before the ruling was at around 18%. Since 1963 all the way up to 1990, STD's rose to 66%. Sexually transmitted diseases rose dramatically in the time after Bible and God was taken out of our schools.

Another alarming statistic is the birth rates for unwed girls, ages 15-19 years. Before 1963, the percentage was around 15%, but after Abington vs. Schempp, that rate rose to over 45%.


*Before 1963 the following were the top public school problem:

1. Talking 4. Getting out of turn in line
2. Chewing gum 5. Wearing improper clothing
3. Making noise 6. Not putting paper in wastebasket


Since 1963, these are the top public school problems:

1. Rape 7. Murder 13. Alcohol abuse
2.Robbery 8. Suicide 14. Gang warfare
3. Assault 9. Absenteeism 15. Pregnancies
4. Burglary 10. Vandalism 16. Abortions
5. Arson 11. Extortion 17. Venereal disease
6. Bombings 12. Drug abuse

*Taken from USA Today, September 1985


How can we look at that comparison, and honestly say that removing the Bible from schools was NOT detrimental to this nation?

No matter how hard this society may try to annihilate any Biblical influence, they don't realize how much the Bible HAS influenced their way of living and talking. Just take a look at these expressions we still use today. They were ALL inspired by the Bible.

"Raising Cain" Gen 4:8-9
"This is the pits" Gen. 37:24
"You could feel the darkness" Ex. 10:21
"That's just hearsay" Deut. 13:12
"We smoked 'em" Deut. 29:20
"Hit the nail on the head" Jud. 5:26
"He brought the house down" Jud. 16:30
"Missed by a hair" Jud. 20:16
"He lost his head" 1 Sam. 17:51
"Well...more or less" 1 Sam. 22:15
"Whatever became of...?" Esther 2:11
"My hair stood on end" Job 4:15
"Nothing but skin and bones" Job 19:20
"By the skin of his teeth" Job 19:20
"The apple of my eye" Prov. 7:2
"Talk is cheap" Prov. 14:23
"He's asking for it" Prov. 18:6
"Let the chips fall where they may" Eccl. 11:3
"I don't wanna hear a peep outta you" Isa. 10:1
"Are your ears burning?" Jer. 19:3
"Only God knows" Ezek. 37:3
"He got put out to pasture" Dan. 4:32-33
"Good riddance" Zeph. 1:18

The list could go on and on, but these are only a few phrases we still use today. And also, the seven day week and the yearly timetable of our modern day calendar are based on the Bible, as are many of the holidays.

This nation, once great with God's hand of blessing upon it, was founded with the knowledge of a sovereign God. Our forefathers, former leaders, and well-known men have been quoted acknowledging the need for the Bible.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible"
-George Washington

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to man."
-Abraham Lincoln

"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed."
-Patrick Henry

"The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible, 'In all they ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.' "
-George Washington Carver, quoting Prov. 3:6

"I have, for many years, made it a practice to read through the Bible once a year."
-John Quincy Adams

"That book, sir,(the Bible) is the rock on which our public rests."
-Andrew Jackson

"If man is not familiar with the Bible, he has suffered a loss which he had better make all possible haste to correct. A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education."
-Theodore Roosevelt

"When you have read the Bible. you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty."
-Woodrow Wilson

"Believe me sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed."
-Douglas MacArthur

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I could write for hours on this subject, but I must get some things done before our trip tomorrow. Hope to hear from the readers on their opinions on this subject.

Another Week of Meetings!

Well, this has certainly been a busy week so far, but it is, sadly, coming to a close quickly. Our church has been having nightly services, with Bro. Mark Kerlin preaching every night. I thank God he was able to come, and every message, I have gotten something out of it.

Things, for me have been pretty rough. I've been helping the Kelly's, taking care of them, cleaning their house, worrying about their bills, and their health. So it has been a little stressful. But this week of meetings has given me a chance to unwind every night. I know it sounds strange to some folks, but church, for me, is not a drudgery or a boring place. I love going to church. Not only to see my friends and family, but to be able to sing and thank God with those of like precious faith.

Today, we are getting ready to have a big lasagna meal with the Kerlins and Pastor and Mrs. Harvey and the grankids. So it is going to be a lot of fun. Mom is making pumpkin logs, and I'm making this new dessert I found at Wal-Mart. It looks so good, I can't wait to try it.

And tomorrow, we have our annual God and Country Rally and then after that, we are going skating at our local skating rink! Yay! Not everyone is going though, since it's going to be so late. But it will still be fun.

I'll probably be posting more this week before I leave for Florida, so look for the posts!

Bethany

This is a chapel across from the Cathedral of Learning by Pittsburgh. I just had to take a picture of it, it was so beautiful.

Away From Home and Standing Alone

I have just gotten back from visiting some friends in Pittsburgh for a week. I had a really great time while I was there. I was able to go to both of their colleges. And I was also able to be a witness to a girl we rode the buses with in the morning. She was asking me when I turned 21, and I told her. She started talking about how it was going to be so fun to be able to get out of my house, and do my own things, like drinking, ect. I was so glad to be able to tell her I had no desire to drink, or smoke, or do drugs. I have seen what those things have done to folks I know or have known. It was nice to be able to come home and know that I stood for everything I believe in, and everything my parents have tought me. But I could not have done it if not for the Lord. It would have been so easy just to have gone along with it. And if someone ever says that peer pressure isn't that bad, they are WRONG!! That was one of the hardest things I have to do.

When We Fail So Many Times

I was reading my Bible a couple weeks ago and suddenly, a passage just sort of jumped out at me. I had been reading through Psalm and got to Psalm 107 when I noticed something quite encouraging. The chapter starts out with, " O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy:"

The Bible goes on to list all the things the Lord had brought the children of Israel from and out of. Then, their soul fainted in them, in the wilderness. (vs.5) But yet, in verse 6 it says, "Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses." Then it keeps on going, how he led them in the right way, satisfied their longing soul, but then they rebelled. So, being a just God, he sent judgement on them. But in verse 13 it says, "Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses."

And it just keeps going on and on like that, God helps Israel, Israel goes against God, they cry, He delivers. I just thought that was so profound. I had read that before, but I really thought about it, and isn't it great that we have God who is so forgiving that, no matter how many times we seems to stray, He will take us back if we repent?

I know, so many times in my life, I have gotten to where it seemed I could NEVER go back to being as close to God as I was when I got saved, but the Lord loves me no matter how far I wander away. And then, when I finally come to myself, like the prodigal son, I wonder why I was stupid enough to let myself go that far from Someone who is so loving and kind. I call on God, and I know He forgives me. Even though I have done it time and time again.

And in the book of James, he states, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (Jas. 4:6) So, just remember, it doesn't matter how far you think you have gone, or how bad you think you are, if you humbly ask God for forgiveness, He has promised to forgive and deliver you.

Their name is WHAT??

I was sitting here, looking for a song to sing at my graduation, when suddenly, I came across something quite...well, weird, actually. My best friend and I had typed in 'Graduation songs' when up came all these lists that had the names of the songs, and the people who recorded them. Now, growing up in a Christian home, I am used to names like, The Rochester family, The Thren family, The Raub family, ect. But some of these names were pretty interesting, in fact, I'd go so far as to say some of them were hilarious!

For example:

Third Eye Blind- Ok, someone in the band must have three eyes!
Semisonic-And that's supposed to mean what??
Green Day-What ever happened to "It's a beautiful day"?? Instead it's a green day?? Odd!
All American Rejects-Ok, tell me something, if you were a reject, would YOU want to publicize it?
Spice Girls-Sounds like a baking team! Not a singing group
U2-This one really got me, you too WHAT? Can't anyone use correct English anymore? FINISH THE SENTENCE!!
And perhaps the most funny one is:
Smashing Pumpkins-THIS is the name of a BAND? It sounds more like a Halloween past time!

Why can't people have good names for their bands or groups?

Well I guess that's because none of these bands that I have named above, glorify God. In any way. Now, I haven't heard their songs, don't care to either, but from their names, you can guess what sort of junk they try to sing.

Names are a very important part in society today. Back in the Bible days, the children were named for the ancestors, for physical attributes, ect. Names have also carried a stigma with them, such as: Judas, reminds us of the one who betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Delilah, a Philistine woman who tricked Sampson, Herod, a wicked king who tried to kill Jesus at His birth, and the list could go on and on. But you get my drift.

Well, anyway, I just wanted to share that with you all. That's it for now.

Seek and Ye Shall Find

As a young person, I know what it feels like to have to drag yourself out of bed every morning for school. And it's even more harder to discipline myself to get up EARLIER so I can have time to read my Bible. I would like to say I have been consistent with that, but I cannot. It seems there is always an excuse to get up, eat breakfast, brush the teeth and start school. Without stopping to read the Bible.

In the Bible, especially in the Psalms, it stresses the point to rise EARLY. As for me, I know that after the evening has wound down, I have too many things to try to fit in before it's time for bed. So I put off reading it then too. If you haven't noticed, I am writing this for me, as well as others. I notice in my own life, that, the longer I put off reading the Bible, the day becomes worse. It seems nothing goes right.

David, a man after God's own heart, knew the importance of getting a hold of God EARLY, before the day had really started, before there were distractions, and before the devil could tempt him to do anything contrary to God's will. "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;" (Ps. 63:1) "Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early." (Ps 108:2) And in Proverbs, it states: " I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me" (Prov. 8:17)

To seek the Lord early is important, I think, and seeking Him with everything you have. The Bible says, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13) There have been many times I have lost some thing, and I would get up very early to look for it, and I wouldn't stop until I found it. Usually, I will enlist my family to help look for it, and we would look together.

If you were to lose your boyfriend, or girlfriends class ring, if you've exchanged it, you would want to find that as soon as you could. Why? Because that is something of value, of importance. The same thing if you lost one of your school books, and you had a test to study for. You would want to find it, so you could study and do well on your test. And if you lost something of that great importance, would you be saying, " Oh well, I'll look for it when I get the chance"? No, you would be searching the entire house frantically until you found it. Just like the shepherd, who left the ninety and nine in the fold, and went out to search for the ONE that was lost, and like the woman who swept the whole house to look for that ONE coin.

If we have lost God's will in our life, if we have lost that fellowship with Him, we should search for Him, just as the woman and shepherd searched for the things they lost...with our whole hearts. "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." (Deut. 4:29) But the Bible states there is also a time limit to find God. In Isaiah, the prophet says, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:" (Isa. 55:6)
So, as I close out this entry, I encourage you, to seek the Lord with your whole heart. It doesn't matter what people are saying about you, or what they are doing. Just stay strong in what YOU know is right, and don't compromise, no matter what.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

New Blog

Hey all,
I'm going to try starting a new blog that's geared toward young people like me. I hope this blog can be a blessing to you as well as to me. If you would like to see something here, just ask, andI'll do my best. If you have a topic you would like a young person's view on, go ahead and mention it and I'll write about it if I can.
Thanks ahead of time for your participation.

Bethany