Kit Sober

I haven't been to a burning man, but the people who go there come thru Reno I have experienced. Because the attendees need to carry everything in, on their way into the place, they stop and buy tons, literally tons, of sleeping bags, blankets, old and new clothes, bicycles and water. One Wal-Mart store alone here in Reno sold 50,000 gallons of water prior to the festival. You can't tell them apart on the way in, but after the burning man you can really tell them apart. The dirt from that burning man place is light gray silty stuff that settles on everything. And the cars and people are covered with it. The people I have talked with kind of "spent," but in a good way. Smile easy and have a nice "feel." When Katrina hit some of the burning man attendees went there to help construct things. I'd like to go. If I had a camper and the time off from work I'd try to go. Nevada is the most unchurched state in the nation -- fewest churches per capita -- and so the revelries that appear and abound here are of the no-God type, like burning man. Hot August Nites, Hot Air Baloon Races in September, Street Vibrations -- the Harley Davidson Event -- lots of things going on to keep people entertained. I don't think Billy Graham ever came to Reno, although some of the evangelists have come to Las Vegas, like Kathryn Kuhlman. The ground is dry and hard, and so are many people settled into the "culture" of the place.

likeaneagle, I have been thinking a lot about how "doing the right thing" is so important to the integrity of a person. Because our kids work for money at such a young age now (almost all have paying jobs in high school), they don't grow up doing "work" chores and having time to help neighbors with yard work for the pleasure of doing it, and it seems to me they are growing up without cultivating the sense of "virtue is its own reward." In your case, I don't know what I would have done, but it sounds to me like you made an ethical choice, and that's a good thing. In this day when people so often are not what they seem, and predators put on all sorts of disguises, it is important to be careful always. America's Most Wanted is a 20-year success story for good reason. Glad you are still ok. Glad you strengthened your ethical "arm." In hope,

When I thought again of the smallness of things wrought by my prayer the Lord reminded me of Moses. All the great things he did in the effort to get Pharoah to let Israel go from Egypt were just between him and the Lord -- the frogs the darkness the bugs the river of blood the killing of the firstborn -- no group effort. Just him and God. (To not come under the plague of the killing of the firstborn required people to do God-ordained things, but the plague itself was worked between God and Moses.) Neither Moses nor God could change the hearts of the people -- those precious chosen people of Israel whose hardhearted stiffneckedness as a whole appears to go on almost unabated despite the miracles Moses did to show God's love and care for them.

That's a good line. I think He loves to see us seek His face. It worked for Esther and it still works. In hope

Thanks for the nice story.

((((((((((((Rascal))))))))))) When one member suffers, we all suffer. Wish I had known earlier to pray more. (But that's the way it always is, it seems. Holy Spirit nudges me to pray. . . but I am so lazy!) I am so sorry. Praying with you and for you and Texas, too. Thought you would like this. (I first saw Michael Smith at a Billy Graham meeting back in 1995, and fellin love with him because of his kind kind of gracefulness. I think he's terrific.)

I find it easier to pray for the weather than for people. with people you have to deal with their free will. With the weather you just need the Lord and another person. (Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.) I have had quicker and more noticable results with praying against a fire storm and stopping an earthquake than praying for someone to get saved. George Mueller had to wait his whole life for some people to be saved, but he could put food on the table for his children day after day. The more people you have praying for something the easier the burden lifts. But two one-hearted friends can accomplish much. I don't think I have a friend of this category left in the world, but I keep on praying. I pray for the floods to smooth out and the rains to reach the places that need it. Nevada is so dry,and the Sierra Mountains look so dry! It's painfuly sad to see. Hopefully,

. . . And Tom and Lynette Lepinski? Cortright page says, "no current information."

Fred has had two Subaru's I have a SUV 4wd KIA (KIT's KIA). Last winter with the variable weather we have it was warm in the afternoon then a freezing rain and snow came in late afternoon and evening. Roads were slick ice in just a couple of hours after 4:00 pm. People stuck all over. Fred came and rescued me (I parked the Kia at the gas station where I had stranded over night). The Subaru was able to maneuver around many other stalled and spinning vehicles. I have new job further out toward the Sierra's, and so soon we will need to get me a Subaru, too. And for those who speed: speed trap locator

For those who think children provide rest to the soul, this is a treasure.

badassmarine aka "life"

Children are a masterpiece from any angle. Definitely one of the wonders of the world. Praying/speaking in tongues a good read all help. Sometimes just going to sleep and giving it a rest.

Our roa trip, 48 hours, 5,000 miles approx, was just about this time, and we had many starry nights. I thought everyone saw lots of shooting stars. And thinking about these annual Perseid showers -- that's what we were seeing over the course of these 20 years of roas. Another mystery revealed. Thanks so much, again, greasespot cafe! (among the nice things of the high desert of Lemmon Valley is the quiet and the starry sky.)

What I found most significant about Elvis is that he sang/said "love" a million ways and never used ugly words like "hate." He had about a billion different ways to say "baby," "honey," "sweetheart." Both Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan said he was a fine young man and they were glad to have had him on their show. I thought that if Christians prayed for him instead of cursing him, the whole world would have been a lot nicer. IMHO.

As far as the ROA that year: It was one of the few i missed, and I thought that if I had gone he wouldn't have died because if I had gone I would have been able to pray more. . . and for years afterwards I made full effort to get to the roa so I could say I did my best to keep God's love alive. Ha! Ha! Ha!

I think the music in heaven will be really nice.

Received from a friend:

Happy Birthday. Thanks to Sudo for the picture.

I've settled into Catholic for doing good ($ put there goes to build schools and orphanages, hospitals and feed the poor). Been to (including membership classes and getting baptized) United Pentec*stal Church, Church of G*d in Christ, B*ptist, Unitarian, foot*mbly of God, a few non-denominational. Haven't found my place in a charismatic/holy spirit filled church. That's what I long for. A lot of them are nice. Catholics are consistent: they don't yell, people are more concerned with how they are doing before the Lord than how you are doing, so they are more apt to be kind hearted and not nosey -- they do what they do in a predictable way. It's nice for me.

Welcome, too, from me The baby and how to help him grow up inside you is found many many many other places that don't have the dirty grey water, but nice clean holy spirit water. Of course in the world there will be the world until we leave this place, but there is so much goodness to go forward with. So much that does not carry the hooks and barbs that keep people from ever knowing the Lord as a true loving God who cares for them personally. There are lots of good reasons to go forward into the wealth of good Christian stuff available. I don't necessarily think that holding onto bitterness is healthy, but many people have found it helps to be able to "vent" about things that we ignored and shoved beneath the surface for our twi years.

Happy birthday Raf. So glad to have "known" you at the Greasespot Cafe. You make the world a nicer place. Thanks for your kindness.

So glad.

I think of the company that paid for the research and development to make the stuff. Going for cheap contributes to America going out of business. Also I go to small neighborhood hardware stores to help them stay in business.

I always thought they were rat-like.