Hello There,
Our first pastorate was in 1957 near Bradenton, Florida.  We conducted a 
prayer meeting on Monday nights in various homes.  The music for 
accompaniment was Jeanene's accordion.  This song emerged as the theme, 
DEEPER, DEEPER.
    
    DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS DAILY LET ME GO.
    HIGHER, HIGHER IN THE SCHOOL OF WISDOM, MORE OF GRACE TO KNOW.
Chorus:
    O DEEPER YET, I PRAY, AND HIGHER EVERY DAY, AND WISER BLESSED LORD
                        IN THY PRECIOUS HOLY WORD

    DEEPER, DEEPER! BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT, TAKE ME DEEPER STILL,
    TILL MY LIFE IS WHOLLY LOST IN JESUS, AND HIS PERFECT WILL.

    DEEPER, DEEPER EV'RY DAY IN JESUS, TILL ALL CONFLICT PAST,
    FINDS ME CONQU'ROR AND IN HIS OWN IMAGE PERFECTED AT LAST.

MONDAY MORNING-At 6:00 A.M our big dog bit our 4 pound poodle (Sassy is okay 
and Karl is on parole).  While Phil did "Vet duty", Randall and the twins 
came to start me up for the day.  The headlines screamed to us about 
bankruptcy. chicanery and cheating.  

Around here, we do Bible first.  On the 22nd, I was ready for Proverbs 22.  
Why not read it and you will see that it was written for days like Monday 
(and all other days, too). I must comment that you cannot claim verse 6 until 
you consider verse 15.  In the bounty of this division, I found verse two to 
be inescapable.  "The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of 
them all."  The "class system" as we know it may allow us to avoid one 
another until the time when we all will stand before God as judge.  Thank God 
that the ground is also level at Calvary.  ".....And whosoever will, let him 
take the water of life freely" Revelation 22:17.

ALONE-I am encouraging you again to respond to the brief biography requests. 
One of my major purposes in THOUGHTS is to let you know that you are not 
alone on this journey.  In my experience of counseling, if Satan can isolate 
you; he will get you.  The book of Ecclesiastes is, at best, good for advice 
and thought. The section in 4:9-12 that deals with strength in plurality is 
incontrovertible truth. 

Each therapist and physician during my stroke recovery, warned me about 
withdrawal from others.  When they learned a little more about me and my 
family, they relaxed.  I have contacted some of you.  I wish to include one 
entry each week.

WINDMILLS-The phrase that I regard as a "throwaway" seems to be the one that 
catches eyes.  My comment about "waging warfare with windmills" drew response 
and repentance.  It seems to be a regular practice to joust about to avoid 
doing the doable that we should be handling.  I sent THOUGHTS early (Saturday 
night) last week and had the first response right away. (Or was it just a 
"windmill"?)

FINDING FOLKS- I keep searching for some and some find me.  New addresses 
this week are from Portland, OR and Tallahassee, FL.  Welcome aboard!

I FOUND ANNA QUICK- I told you that my search for this Sunday School teacher 
of my youth had been fruitless while in Des Moines.  I persisted, and talked 
with her by long distance on Wednesday. What a joy!  There is real 
satisfaction in a life lived for Jesus.
Anna never married.  She devoted much of her life to working in the offices 
and conducting crusades for Rural Bible Crusades of Wheaton, IL.  Now 
retired, she remains active in a local church in Des Moines.

ISRAEL-While I do not fancy myself to hold any diplomatic answers to this 
puzzle;  when I hear Saddam Hussein even hint that he may kill all Jews, my 
ears go up. 

I seem to have read very reliable accounts of some despotic rulers from that 
area of the world who had similar plans.  Those plans failed badly.  Read 
Daniel, chapter three, and for a further and more detailed account, the ten 
chapters of Esther.

My lifetime was influenced by a rather demented German ruler whose goal was 
to eradicate this race of persons,  Do you suppose them "chosen" somehow?

JEANENE WILL BE HOME-On Thursday from Michigan.  Phil does a good job on 
laundry, dishes and housework as well as my care; but------after 49 years.

WHAT TO DO-It was a Monday, so I decided to make it "blue".  I taught a 7:30 
class every other day that week, so I had to do it at once.  I went to the 
office to glance over reports from the day before. 1. Ushers's sheet showed 
that attendance was up 15% from same Sunday last year. 2. Secretary's sheet 
showed a 20% gain in offering, two decisions and four membership inquiries.  
3. Treasurer's monthly report showed bills paid and a healthy bank balance 
(equal to two month's expenses) and that missions giving for the month was 
equal to the entire year, five years before.  It was obvious to the casual 
looker that God was doing good things.  Plus, He was making me look way 
better than I was or am.  But, don't bother me, I want to be in a "funk".  
AND THEN THE PHONE RANG!!

I usually answered, but had asked somebody else to do so while I sulked.  
Jonah (chapter four) and I did not want to hear good news.  The words I heard 
next were among my least favorite, "Yes he is, just a moment, please."

"Good morning, pastor; just calling to say that I love you".  

What nerve!  After working myself into a dither, they capsized my canoe of 
crankiness right into Lake Wonderful.  Don't know what to do?-------"DUNK" 
SOMEBODY.

His,
Ron Krantz