Call to the blog

Staying Connected

This is a test. I may have an opportunity to use this from abroad in
the near future so let us see if it will be effective!
--
Billy

The Mind

Thoughts are quite simply instructions for behavior. Thinking is a process involving a series of choices in which we answer yes, no, never, always, not now, maybe when.

Thinking is so natural that we seldom are aware of it's wondrous nature. When we do pause and recognize the silent dialogue taking place behind our eyes we are confronted with a mystery. We struggle within ourselves. We fight with our desires and chase our dreams. We literally whisper to ourselves constantly. What an amazing testament to the truth of the scripture and such a powerful confirmation of the divide between body and spirit.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are tasty, whatsoever things are fattening, whatsoever things are available, whatsoever things are convenient, whatsoever things are sweet, whatsoever things are of large portion; if there be any sugar, and if there be any carbohydrates, think on these things.
Gluttony 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are pleasurable, whatsoever things are lewd, whatsoever things are perverse, whatsoever things are impure, whatsoever things are unfaithful, whatsoever things are of a sensual nature; if there be any excitement, and if there be any gratification, think on these things.
Pornography 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are expensive, whatsoever things are lavish, whatsoever things are rich, whatsoever things are popular, whatsoever things are tangible, whatsoever things are  time consuming; if there be any fame, and if there be any fortune, think on these things.
Worldliness 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8

This is the truth and the way to abundant life. So many people have never experienced the freedom to look at the world around them without thoughts of taking what is not theirs to have. They live in constant turmoil trying to fight the thoughts and desires that would destroy them. The good news is God has always had the answers and they are available to everyone! It all starts with the simple act of inviting Jesus to be who he is. Right now tell Jesus with that small voice of yours that you want to be like Him and He will renew your mind. Life with the life giver is the best experience under heaven.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Romans 7:22-24

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:24-26

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:4-6

Love is about the freedom to choose. When we love someone we have decided to put them before ourselves and everything we once dedicated the time we now choose to spend with them. This is an act of the will that takes place in the mind using that small voice that only we recognize. Within our mind we are truly alone apart from God and without words and the voice to use them we could not express our thoughts to those on the outside.
The only way to have liberty of mind is to fill our thoughts with God’s truth. This is joy and peace and sweet cozy sleep.

Scott Harrison Photographer

I found a link on Jenni V's blog and it lead to some wonderful photography!

scott harrison

Location:west africa, Benin

I am serving a year as a volunteer photo-journalist onboard the Mercy Ship Anastasis in West Africa. Mercy Ships is the world's largest non-governmental organization of hospital ships, the Anastasis currently the largest operating in the fleet. Since 1978, following the 2000 year model of Jesus, the organization brings hope and healing to Africa's poor, serving 1 million people a year. The blind see through cataract and other eye operations. The lame walk through orthopedic operations. The mute speak through cleft lip and palate operations. The disfigured are given their faces back through maxillofacial operations. The Anastasis is also engaged in AIDS education, community development projects, water sanitation, dental clinics and outreach, maternity health clinics, and well building.... Like the rest of the 350 plus crewmembers on board, to defray costs, I pay crew fees so serve. Anyone wishing to support me or donate to Mercy Ships directly please contact me at scott@onamercyship.com. There are a so many ways to get involved, sponsoring surgeries, fresh water wells, transportation, prosthetics wheelchairs, etc. Adopt-a-Patient, etc. Contact me if you wish to contribute!

scott's blog
scott's images
scott's mercy ship site

Word Choir

This is DIBC Word Choir In April Of 2003.


Here they are March 2005!



It keeps them off the streets at least during the time they are practicing and performing.

Box Turtle

Box Turtles are dear creatures. Most turtles in general bring to my mind pleasant emotions. Turtles are comical in appearance and behavior. They are not the fastest animals on the block.

My bro Joe brought this one by for a little photo shoot. Turtles are always slowly struggling to escape when they find themselves captured. A turtle’s ability to run for it’s life is just plain pitiful but that is where it’s oversized hard hat comes into play.

I think my affection for turtles comes from the knowledge that is highly unlikely that one will every stalk me and take me unaware. It is goes without saying if you are injured or killed by a turtle you only have yourself to blame!

EASTERN BOX TURTLE
Terrapene carolina carolina

HABITS AND HABITATS
Box turtles can be found in a variety of habitats from fields to forests, although they seem to prefer moist situations when possible. During hot, dry weather, box turtles will often seek out springs and seepages where they dig deeply into the cool mud. They spend much of their time buried in the leaves and dirt of the forest floor, emerging to feed, especially after or during rainstorms. Box turtles eat many kinds of plant and animal material including berries, mushrooms, earthworms, slugs, snails, and insects. Like other reptiles, box turtles must hibernate during cold, winter weather. They burrow deep under the soil and leaves, sometime in October, and usually emerge in April or early May. When disturbed or frightened, most box turtles will pull in their head and legs and tightly close the shell, remaining hidden until the threat of danger is past. The shell is extremely tough and almost impossible to pry open when closed. Young box turtles do not develop the hinge for closing their shell until they are about 4 to 5 years old. Female box turtles seek out sunny areas where they lay their eggs in the warm soil by excavating a cavity with their hind feet. Although box turtles are active during daylight hours, the females often use the protective cover of darkness to lay their eggs. After laying from 3 to 6 eggs, the nest is covered with soil and the eggs left to hatch on their own. Box turtles usually lay their eggs in western North Carolina during June and July. Hatching takes between 2 and 3 months. Sometimes if the turtles hatch late in the season, they may overwinter in the nest and then emerge the following spring. Due to their small size and lack of the bright coloration found on the adults, young box turtles are seldom seen. Adult box turtles often live 30 to 40 years or more in the wild and some are believed to have reached 100 years or more.

HISTORY
Although they are still common in many areas, box turtles have declined over much of their range, probably due largely to habitat destruction by man. Many box turtles are killed as they cross our highways. Dogs sometimes catch box turtles and chew their shells, resulting in injury and eventual death to the turtle. Many are also hit by lawn mowers as the turtles hide in tall grass and weeds. Box turtles are popular as pets and overcollecting for the pet trade can also seriously reduce their numbers. In spite of these threats, box turtles can often survive close to man if suitable pockets of habitat exist. Because of it's popularity and well-known status, the Eastern Box Turtle was chosen as North Carolina's official state reptile in 1979.

All Stars Back in Action!

The air is clean and clear under sunny blue skies as once again our enthusiastic group gathers for fun and games. What do we all have in common? We are the children of God. Pastor J.J. set the tone for this season's flag football & cheer leading. We are all anticipating great things having recently had a wonderful soccer season!


The coaches gather for instruction.
Get The Rules Here!


Shea leads the masses in some stretching and warm up exercises. This can be moan and groan time but Shea knows how to make it fun.

Flag Football!
As with any sport we play at the All Stars gatherings the emphasis is on character and community. Both the parents and coaches strive to foster confidence and good sportsmanship in every little person regardless of their skill level. We want each child to know we are crazy about them right now just the way God made them.


Tyler guides his team in some cleverly devised drills which he quite likely pulled out of thin air moments before. Everyone knows that we are here to learn and do our best but is Christ likeness we strive for and not our own glory.


Concentrate grasshopper. Do not let the air filled animal skin slip through your grasp. Use your pinky finger to guide the ball safe into your arms!

Cheer Leading!
Maybe someone can comment on cheer leading. Mr. Billy has very little to say about the subject. In fact Mr. Billy understands cheer leading about as well as he understands the female of the species. That is all.


If you were here and have a good caption E-Mail me.
mailto:barefootinfal@hotmail.com


If you were here and have a good caption E-Mail me.
mailto:barefootinfal@hotmail.com


It is a beautiful thing to see what a little encouragement does to lift a child up and mold them into a successful adult!
If you were here and have a good caption E-Mail me.
mailto:barefootinfal@hotmail.com



Family Fellowship!
The greatest joy is found in the quiet easy time these families enjoy together. So many sincere families who seek to glorify God in their daily lives in the same location inspiring each other and renewing their strength.


Sublime Time!
There are so many opportunities to get lost in what really matters.


Football, lollypop, juice box, and lovie bear, what else does a man need?

Carpenter Bee

This little fellow was living in a dead branch.

Description: Although they buzz, hover and look like bumble bees, carpenter bees are very much different in appearance and habit. Unlike bumble bees, which have hairy (usually yellow and black) abdomens, carpenter bees have hairless, shiny blue-black abdomens. Also, carpenter bees lack pollen baskets on their hind legs.

Carpenter bees are solitary bees, and although capable of delivering a sting, female carpenter bees will only sting if prodded and provoked. Male carpenter bees (which have a menacing habit of buzzing about a person's head) do not have a stinger and, therefore, are harmless.

Female carpenter bees have strong jaws which they use to bore into, primarily, unfinished wood. Although the damage may appear minimal (all one sees is the 3/8-inch circular opening), the tunnels in the wood may be 6 inches in length.

Damage attributable to the excavating activities of a single carpenter bee is slight. However, the cumulative efforts of several to many carpenter bees can be structurally damaging.


Life Cycle:Carpenter bees overwinter as adults. They emerge in the spring (usually April or May) and mate. Fertilized females lay their eggs within newly excavated tunnels or old ones that they have enlarged and reused. An individual egg is deposited in each of 6 to 8 cells off of a main tunnel.. Developing larvae feed off of "bee bread" (pollen and nectar) regurgitated by the female bee. Larvae become adults by late August and September, but do not emerge until the following spring.

Tyler & Ida are now three!

Tyler & Ida have given birth and all we get is a lousy low res image from a cell cam.

Congratulations you two. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Heavenly Lights.

Click here for more images!

Lasagna

Arrived home from church to find a delicious Lasagna lunch. Oh boy I ate it up and was real pleased. This meal was no ordinary meal. This meal was an expression of Christian love and to eat it was in many ways like a communion.

com•mun•ion n.
1. The act or an instance of sharing, as of thoughts or feelings.
2. Religious or spiritual fellowship.
3. A body of Christians with a common faith who practice the same doctrine

Thank you for a great meal! We are physically and spiritually filled.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12: 26&27

Green Tomato

Here you see a green tomato from a tomato plant Anna planted and care for. It was given to me when I opened the door and I am happy to have received it and a few of it's siblings.

I sliced one open and it is quite a lovley combination of greens and I am soothed by the site of it.

Soda Play

Sodaplay is great fun!

Here is how it works!
Here is where it is!

enjoy!

Little Toad

little toad

What To Post In March?

I do not know what to post. What should I photograph? What in the world should I comment on? Sometimes the mind is empty of anything more than the thoughts and ideas of daily survival.