Hello There,

Do you ever have a time when you find yourself thinking in another "gear"? I 
do. I have had so much going on that I awake each morning asking myself, " 
What must I do today?". When the answer comes back "nothing," I feel guilty 
and as if I must surely be forgetting something. Always reading time and 
time with the Lord. I can pet the dogs for a while. Jeanene and Phil are 
here to help me. (Pet the dogs and other things.) Grandkids are at camp. It 
has been rainy, so outside movement is slight. TV bores me. Even the news 
seems to be a rerun.

My other "gear" seems to be neutral. 

I am sure that some of you would gladly trade places. No deal! I look up at 
all of the notes to myself about Drs. appointments , etc. They really don't 
want to see me-just my money. Still no trade. I get some great e-mail 
almost every day from some of you. I also get a bunch to delete.

I was reflecting in a musical mode: Chico Holliday paid a visit to our 
pastorate about thirty years ago. This former Las Vegas entertainer could 
"sing you happy in Jesus".

WHEREVER I AM----------I'LL PRAISE HIM
WHENEVER I CAN--------I'LL PRAISE HIM
FOR HIS LOVE SURROUNDS ME LIKE THE SEA
PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS, LIFT UP THE NAME OF JESUS,
FOR THE NAME OF JESUS LIFTED ME

The twin grandsons are at church camp this week. Each year the decisions 
become more mature and life changing. During those longer sessions, we liked 
to sing:

FILL ME JESUS----FILL ME NOW
FILL ME JESUS-WITH THY PRECIOUS, HOLY POW'R
I AM YOURS, MY LORD-TO DO WITH AS YOU WILL
SO, FILL ME JESUS RIGHT NOW

I accused the organist at Grace Church in Xenia, Ohio of messing with my 
mind. She knew that a certain chorus, by Jack Hayford of Majesty fame, stuck 
in my heart for about a month. After four weeks or so, Kathleen would play 
before service:

FATHER GOD-I GIVE ALL THANKS AND PRAISE TO THEE
FATHER GOD-MY HANDS I HUMBLY RAISE TO THEE
FOR THY MIGHTY POW'R AND LOVE AMAZES ME-AMAZES ME
AND I STAND IN AWE AND WORSHIP-FATHER GOD.

I hope that I have provoked you in a positive sense to sing. If you are not 
sure of the melodies to the choruses above, the words merit your best 
efforts. Close your windows to spare your neighbors, then "let 'er rip".

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make 
known thy
faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 89:1

THEM BOWMANS-Jeanene, Phil and I drove to Gonzales, Tx. on Monday to hear 
Them Bowmans. THEY ARE GOOD! Or would you say" Them is good!? " We rode 
back in a rainstorm listening to one of about 6 CDs we now own. The 
Community Church of God has been their host for several years. This is a 
nice facility with a good, friendly flock. Variety with a good southern and Texas swing 
sound. Daddy Blaine, a great "picker", has given some sanctified words to many country 
favorites. Momma Christine can play the keyboard super well. Tiffany might be the prettiest 18 year old 
bass player and singer on the road today. Luke is a 16 year old drummer with 
a red crew cut. It appears that they come to enjoy themselves. You will 
too, as you laugh, cry, and are blessed by Them Bowmans.

TRAINING-Is the term used by weather persons on TV. It is when conditions 
line up and follow the same path for several days. When that flow is from 
the Gulf of Mexico over central Texas we get lots of rain-every day for a week.  
After some isolated amounts of thirty inches, it appears that the 
"caboose" rolled through about Friday. It holds temperatures down into the 
eighties, but the humidity and the mold count add up to misery.

JOTTINGS-A regular reader and correspondent is D. Dean Benton. Dean and I 
correspond and I am very glad. He does a thing called "Ricochet". I want to 
pass some lines to you from Dean's June Journal Jottings: GOALS: What is 
really important to me? My core values? What do I want to do? What do I 
want to have? Where do I want to go? What contribution do I want to make? 
What do I want to learn?

"The teacher whoever he is, ought not to be a (person)of answers, but a 
person of questions." Elizabeth O'Connor

Don't bond with weakness.

"Discern your gifts. Name your calling. Build your daily agenda around it." 
Mike Murdock

"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me" (Psalm 138:8)

When God wants to bless you, He will schedule a person of God into your life.

A VOICE OF RIGHTEOUS REASON-I know that Ann Landers was Jewish by faith, but 
I mourn the loss of her stable words in our "Jell-O" society.

UNDER GOD-Those two words have caused far more furor when the possibility of 
removal from The Pledge occurred than they did when added.

AFTER THREE YEARS-The director of the INSTE training program writes from 
Hungary-----They have made significant progress there--They are sponsoring 
250 enrolled students in The Ukraine--Romania is in the definite planning 
stage--Russia awaits---The matter of official recognition looms as a larger 
obstacle daily------PRAY! 

NOT ONE ACCIDENT-That you are on this mailing list. I would even venture to 
say "God wants you here". When I read the list, I am struck with the variety 
of needed gifts that are scattered over such a vast spread of geography and 
ages. It is my province to make that a positive fact as we promote the 
kingdom of God. Here is my plan: begin to e-mail to me a paragraph or two 
for me to use in future writings. Here is what I want:
"You are journeying with your name of city, country. I am using my God-given 
gift to"---then give brief description of what you are doing. Don't be shy, 
we need to know what is being done. What you are doing really counts in the 
total.

His,
Ron Krantz