HAPPY NEW YEAR, Nobody ever regarded a New Year with indifference.

LET ME BEGIN-With apologies. 1. For my failure to say a proper "Thank You" 
last week for your help and expressions of love during our season of 
lightning inconvenience and at Christmas time. 2. For a correspondence that 
may have reached a few of you as a "forward" from me. I long ago learned a 
rule, "If it sounds too good to be true, it is".

COLD-In Austin that is below 50 degrees. Randall, Jeanine (oldest daughter) 
and twin grandsons had to make a rush trip to his home in Belle Fourche, S. 
Dakota. His parents need to move because of physical needs. I saw reports 
as low as -4 there. That's cold.

WHAT TO DO-Some of you inquired as to what we did without television etc. 
after the lightning. After about three days, Philip and Randall pieced 
together an old TV and a VCR. We watched old family tapes and for 
entertainment Gaither Homecoming tapes. Some of it was even better than 
Monday Night Football. Did I say that?? I should have put that under 
"Apologies". Pray for my healing, the lightning did hurt me. Also pray, 
"Dear Lord, don't let my wife see this".

MUSIC-I have written many times on the subject of song. I am not a musician 
nor an authority, but I do have my likes and dislikes. About thirty years 
ago, I was introduced to Carol Hays from Detroit. This 70+ black lady had 
been involved in gospel choirs in her father's church (Goodwill Community) 
for over half a century. Daddy Hays pastored and practiced law into his 
nineties. Carol taught school and led choirs to help him as a reachout 
mechanism for the church. 

I was privileged to host her current choir in the church I served in Pontiac. 
What an experience both times they came. I mentioned that Carol taught 
school. By retirement, she headed the entire music program in Detroit. The 
organist for the choir was Dr. Teddy Thomas, her successor at the school 
system. This was music at its finest.

Lyrics are not the main thing in black gospel music. Variations, repetion and rhythm are distinctive. This choir held a very high standard of holy 
living; therefore sang with a heavy blessing of heaven. Add these 
ingredients for a great service. I can yet hear:
Yes Lord, Yes, To Your Will and to Your Way
Yes Lord, Yes, I Will Trust You and Obey
When Your Spirit Speaks To Me,
With My Whole Heart I'll Agree,
And My Answer Will Be-Yes, Lord, Yes.

NEWS FLASH-Tongue in cheek. The Palestinians and Israelites fought in 2001. 
For roughly 50 centuries, since Genesis 16 records the onset, the descendants 
of Abraham's boys have been feuding. It has become bloodier in recent years 
as technology has allowed better? terrorism. Get ready for a bold 
prediction-They will fight more in 2002, and in '03, and in '04 and as long 
as it takes until God steps in with drastic measures. No, I am not setting 
any dates. It could be today that God steps in.

RESOLUTIONS-I am not "into"them as such. The sixth chapter of Micah is a 
touching story of a righteous person seeking spiritual higher ground. Read 
down to verse eight and see attainable goals to available situations. "He 
hath shewed thee, o man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of 
thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God". 
To be "spiritual" a matter need not be "mystical".

His,
Ron Krantz

P. S.-SERIOUS STUDY-I have heard and read many theories to try to understand 
present world conditions in the light of Bible prophecy. Yesterday, some old 
friends shared that they needed answers to one of the strangest I have 
heard----Daniel, chapter eight is supposed to prophesy nuclear destruction of 
the United States by China and Russia.

Jeanene and I read the chapter aloud to each other this morning and did not 
find the indicators that were supposed to be there. i.e. "The land between two waters".

Here is my proposal--I realize that I am noone's intructor, but I would be 
willing to share with those of you who are interested enough to read this 
chapter once a day for a week.
You should be able to find commentaries since more works on Daniel have been 
copyrighted than any biblical book except Revelation. Please feel free to 
share with me via e-mail (there are no wrong or foolish ideas).

I will lead the discussion , in some form, next week if any interest is 
apparent. This should confirm the thoughts that I am either bold or foolish. 
RK