The Stranger....A MUST Read For Everyone!

This was sent to my husband by a family member. I found it to be quite interesting and correct.

The Stranger

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Texas town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped

Talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular

Basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished.

He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?.... .. .

We just call him 'TV.'

(Note: This should be required reading for every household in America !)

He has a wife now....We call her 'Computer.'

Family members who read this blog and have chosen this path...again...Please reconsider! I am not your judge and am not without fault in hosting the stranger and his wife in the past, yet I am worried at the things my nephews and nieces are being introduced to by this stranger. My own children and I struggle at times with the strangers' wife so I definitely am not judging. However, it is time to tell the stranger, "No thanks to the vile conversations that he holds, the suggestive remarks and examples he shows, the politics and values that he has perverted" and tell him to leave and maybe even take his wife with him! The muzzle we have on his wife here at this home helps somewhat...but we still spend too much time entertaining her and not the Honored Guest who lives here too! The Honored Guest MUST not become a stranger and He has told us He cannot live in a divided house! Yet His family is bringing in the other stranger and his wife and making them the honored guests.

Please kick the Stranger out and make LOTS of room for our Honored Guest who simply wants to spend time with us and help us make His home our own one day soon.

A Melancholy Morning? Not any longer!!!

Last night I took a trip down memory lane. I found a neat site that has pictures, updated information, etc. about my graduating class from high school. It was funny looking at the way people dressed back then and I even saw a goofy picture of myself. In fact, I showed that picture to my son this morning and he said there was NO way that could have been me....Not sure if that is a compliment or not! LOL

As I scrolled through the site, seeing the pictures of the 10 and 20 year reunions which I was unable to attend, I realized that even though I went to that school, I was never really a part of it. What I mean is that I was a Pentecostal (one of two that I knew about) girl who wore skirts, had uncut hair, wore no make-up, and was not in the "in crowd." I didn't attend the football games (except for my senior year homecoming game), didn't party very often (except my rebellious senior year), didn't have a whole lot of friends, etc. I seriously doubt very many of the people I did count as friends even remember me today, I was that "unassuming."

At first I felt a little ache in my heart that I was so forgettable. That if I were to run into one of my classmates, or even attend the 25th reunion, they probably would have to put on one of those fake smiles we use when we are trying to pretend we remember someone and say, "Oh, my, it is SOO good to see you!" while not even having a clue to who I was or how they knew me. But then the Lord reminded me that His Word says that I am to be in the world but not a part of it. We, the believer who has been blood bought, are to come out of the world and be a separate people. I must say that this helped me to reconcile my unpopularity in high school.

While searching through the archives, I found some old friends and I have sent them e-mails letting them know that I am alive and look forward to reminiscing with them. I already received one reply and that too helped me overcome my melancholy. Kendra was so excited to hear from me after all these years (I think it has been at least 8 years since we last reconnected.) We are going to be chatting via e-mail and such to catch up with each other. How exciting!

So...if you promise not to laugh TOO hard, here are some pictures of me from that long ago era of high school and the 80's style!

Did you promise???? Truly??? Cross your heart and all that stuff???

Okay...here goes....

Funny huh? Oh, well...you too probably have pictures you would rather never ever again saw the light of day!!! LOL

I am thankful that I have a heavenly Father who loves me just as I am and who has called me to come out of the world and to be a separate people! The people of the Name MUST continue to be a separate, holy people as this world grows more wicked and rapidly approaches the return of Christ!

Stand up and be counted as a Holy Ghost filled, One God Apostolic, Tongue talking, Holy roller, Born Again believer in the liberated power of Jesus' name!!! I am determined to stand for holiness and righteousness of the inward AND outward man come what may!

Devil, I serve notice on your little army of wIMPs...you know the ending of the Book and I come against your vile attempts to destroy my family in the name of Jesus! Satan, you are defeated and I have a Master who is working ALL things for my good! He hears my cries for my lost loved ones and the ones who are falling away from Truth and Holiness. Come what may, I will fight you for the souls of my children...and I WILL win because I have a larger army at my disposal and my General...he knows every move you might make and He will counter them at every turn!!

Whew....feel like dancing on the enemy right now! I hope you feel the same way....Excuse me while I go shout!