From Beautiful Downtown Lockney, Texas

Has it really been since Thanksgiving?!!!

2010-05-02T12:38:00.003-05:00

WOW!!! I can't believe it's been since Thanksgiving since I have blogged!!! Just to catch you up a bit, in case you haven't figured it out, I have moved from Lockney to Hydro, Oklahoma. I am the manager of the Chemical Weed Control (www.chemweed.com) location here. We do industrial weed control for oil companies, utilities, pipelines, refineries, power plants, etc... If a guy (or gal) doesn't want anything to grow there, I'm your guy. I travel all of western Oklahoma and the Eastern Texas panhandle. I have an awesome crew of guys here.

Moving from Lockney was a tough decision for me. So many friends, leaving behind an awesome church family, the community, and the fire department. The toughest thing was leaving my 2 girls behind. They are my life, but it was time for them to see their dad living and happy with his life. I get to see them often, and cherish that time with all my heart.

This move has created a few challenges for me, things that you don't take into consideration when you move. Finding the right church family to continue my walk with Christ. Learning new grocery stores, finding a good barber, restaurants, etc.... But I am adjusting well.

Oklahoma is a beautiful state! I have really appreciated all of God's beauty here. The trees, the rolling terrain, and the people have been awesome.

My role here is to make sure my guys are successful. I have an awesome, hard working team!! I have taken lots of life's lesson and implemented them here. Taking from former bosses and experiences, both bad and good, and helping my team to succeed. Chemical Weed Control is an awesome company to work for. They give me the tools I need to make my location successful. By far, the best organization I have ever worked for.

I have leased my home in Lockney to a young man that is going to purchase it soon. Right now, I'm living at my office. It used to be a alternative school/home for troubled kids. So it has MANY bedrooms.

Although I find myself missing my girls terribly, I'm loving life and living everyday to its fullest.

Don't know if I will get back here daily or not, but will at least to make very effort to come here weekly to share.

Thanks for reading!!!!

Thanksgiving!!!

2009-11-25T08:06:00.003-06:00

Just wanted to share a few things here today, things I'm thankful for.

1. My kids Jonathan, Kirsten, Sarah and Lizzie! They are the reason I get out of bed every day!

2. My church family here in Lockney. I love them very much. They have seen me through some very difficult times.

3. The United States of America! Whether you're Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, we live in the single greatest democracy in the world.

4. Our service men and women that, past or present, are fighting for our freedoms. I especially want to be thankful for the parents and family members of those service men and women.

5. Friends, both new and old, that encourage me daily.

6. My mom. She continues to inspire me!

7. My sister Shellie.

8. My home, car, food, daily stuff we usually don't put a lot of thought in being thankful for.

9. Small town living. Don't know how much longer I can make a living here, but thankful for my time here.

10. Jesus Christ! I left him for last cause I wanted the space to tell you why. You see just at the right time, he came into my life and rescued me. I was lost, but now I'm found. Cleansed, redeemed, justified, sanctified! Romans 5:6 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Think about that for minute. Christ died for me? Preston Belt? With all of my problems, faults, iniquities and sins, he died for me? I spent most of my life thinking he died for the Godly folks. The folks who were perfect in every way. But right here in the bible it says He died for me!!! And you!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A pricked heart!

2009-11-08T19:18:00.002-06:00

The girls and I made a fast trip to Quanah this weekend to check on mom. We had a really good time there with her. On our way home this morning we stopped and worshipped in Childress this morning. Trey Morgan is one of my favorite preachers and that whole congregation lifts me up. During one of the prayers this morning, my heart was pricked. The guy giving a prayer this morning asked forgiveness of our sins and then said something else, he asked that we forgive those who have sinned against us. That may not be a big deal for most of you, but it hit me right where it hurts. When was the last time I asked that I forgive those who sin against me? Then tonight here in Lockney, guess what Jay Don's sermon was? Luke 11:1-4 "One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, " When you pray, say:

"Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation".

Now I have read this several times. And I try hard to pattern my prayers after this. But, again, how many times have I asked to forgive everyone who sins against me? Not very often, if I ever have! Too many times I remember the things others do to me. And too may times I try to pay them back or get revenge.

Today I am going to start praying that I forgive everyone who sins against me.

Letting go

2009-11-04T22:20:00.002-06:00

Why is it we have such a hard time letting go of loved ones, even when we know they are going to a much better place? Paradise. I can't quite get my arms around that. Wondering what it must be like to see paradise? I catch myself wondering that often.

What is paradise? Paradeisos is the Greek word for paradise meaning "a place of blessedness, from the base meaning garden - paradise". As i was driving home today, I spent most of the afternoon thinking about what heaven must look like. I wondered what a dry land cotton farm would look like in heaven. What a pasture must look like and if there is any animals there grazing. What a city must look like, with it's streets of gold. What a building looks like and if there is buildings there. I know that Jesus has gone to prepare a home for us. Is that just a resting place or does it resemble anything here on earth. John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." And we sing the song "I've got a mansion just over the hilltop" that paints the picture of a huge home in heaven. Solomon talks about how this life on earth is "meaningless, chasing after the wind" our true treasure awaits us.

I'm going to miss Helen Foster. Her long talks and her gracious smile. But I know that she's in a better place now, with Van. And I hope she's met up with my dad and they are all friends looking down on us!

October 8,1971

2009-10-08T08:50:00.002-05:00

October 8, 1971 was a day that changed my young life. It's the day my dad was tragically taken from us in a farming accident. A day I think of often. Wondering about all the "what if's" and "why's". There is never a day that goes by that I don't think about him. On my walks/jogs I go by the house that we lived in when he died. Remembering when I was a child playing in the yard, plowing and planting with my toy tractors. Getting mad and throwing fits cause my rows weren't exactly straight. If he was nearby when I was throwing one of my temper tantrums, he would come over to where I was at, take the rake or hoe that I was making rows with, and make them straight for me. I have memories of him teaching me how to set an irrigation tube from a ditch, and when we would get home he would have to hose me off outside before mom would let us in the house.

We miss you dad! Can't wait to see you again!!!

Just some thoughts

2009-09-24T23:06:00.002-05:00

Well, this has been some crazy ride, the past 6 weeks. I don't know if I have ever been through as many emotional highs and lows as what I have been lately. I have learned more about what I am made of over the past few weeks than any other time in my life. Studying for the LSAT has pushed me beyond many limits that were in my life. I have a brand new perspective on life. I can do well on this test Saturday. I can get into law school. And I can succeed in law school.

I was told by my guidance counselor in high school that I was not college material. That I needed to focus on a trade or just farming for the rest of my life (those are her words not mine). Well, I have proved that wrong. And now, for a guy that's not college material, I am about to embark on a new challenge.

I don't know where all this will lead me some day, but, I do know that God is leading me. He's always there no matter how cloudy it may seem.

I want to say thank you! To all of you who have encouraged me in this endeavor and have taken the time to say a prayer for me. God's still answering prayers!

I have a couple of prayer request. That I will take the knowledge that He has given me and apply it to the test Saturday. The second is for a dear friend of mine. Caitlin Clark taught my LSAT prep class. She just learned of a tumor on her brain. Pray for her and her family.

Remembering 9-11

2009-09-11T14:35:00.002-05:00

Just some random things I remember about that awful day 8 years ago.

I was in the process of trying to get a defoliation plot out on some cotton that morning when I got a call from Mark Nutt that a plane had hit one of the towers. The cotton still lacked a couple of weeks being ready to defoliate so I went to town and stopped in at the D&J Gin here in Lockney to figure out what was going on. As I walked in the door, the second plane hit the other tower, then the news of the Pentagon being hit. I can remember thinking, "is this really happening on our soil?'. The collapse of the first town just sent chills down my spine. My thoughts and prayers immediately went to the folks trapped inside when it collapsed and the folks attempting to rescue them. The second tower falls. The looks on the people on the street, covered in the soot, walking aimlessly. The look on President Bush's face when he got the news as he was with a group of school children in Florida. The humanity of the people at the sites, all pitching in together to help. The firemen raising the flag at ground zero in New York. The president's speech the next day from ground zero. The thoughts of friends and family that were traveling that day. The need to go and hold my kids close. The relief to know the friends and family that were traveling safe on the ground, not at home, but safe. The complete shutdown of financial institutions and transportation. The images of the people at the sites holding pictures of loved ones unaccounted for. The heroism of the folks on United Airlines Flight 93.

The days that followed are not as clear as the day it happened in my mind. I have the special editions of the Plainview Daily Herald and the Lubbock Avalance-Journal that were published that day and the day after. I can remember going to Plainview that afternoon and seeing Danny Andrews, the editor of the Plainview paper, standing in the middle of 5th and Quincy selling the paper.

The event completely changed the way I look at patriotism. I had a brand new perspective on America. On that day, and the days that followed, we were no longer Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals, but we were one nation, under God. The national anthem, every time i hear it now, has new meaning. I can listen to the words and imagine what the writer was seeing and feeling.

I will never forget!

To be in my early 20's again! No thanks!

2009-09-04T11:29:00.002-05:00

I got tickled in my class last night. We were discussing the do's and don'ts on your Law School application. Who to use as recommendation letter writers, how many, personal statements, etc.,...

When the subject of facebook came up and past criminal records. A few of the students (I almost called them kids, cause they are kids to me) were asking about speeding tickets, a few must have some alcoholic beverage citations of some kind. The question was exactly what do you report to the BAR association and what do you not report. I was laughing cause they were making these very broad statements about what they had done and how it had been exonerated, but still showing up on their record. Then, the Facebook thing came up. Will the law schools you apply to look at your facebook to make a decision about your admittance, and can they see your profile even if they're not friends? What I got especially tickled about, and maybe I need to delete mine, but there was one young lady that was completely deleting her whole facebook account, not just making it non-active, but a complete deletion.

Got me thinking back to my college days! We didn't have digital cameras, cell phones, or for the most part a computer. Our social network consisted of a few guys and gals hanging out at the UC playing dominoes or spades. And for pictures, there was this dude that went around to all the bars and took pictures, then you bought them from him. Easy enough, if you didn't like how you looked or what was in the pic with you, you chunked it in the trash. And, there was a company that was across from Tech on University that was in the business of taking pictures at events, then you could go down and buy a picture from them. I sure hope they dispose of those pictures ever so often! LOL!

Just to bring you up to date in the whole LSAT preparedness process, I took another diagnostic test Wednesday afternoon and improved my score by 4 points! Huge victory for me!!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2009-09-03T13:03:00.002-05:00

Today would have been my dad's 64th birthday. There's never a day that I don't think about him. The what ifs?

My dad was taken from this life in 1971 at the age of 26, only to live in Heaven. There's no pain there, no worries, no strife. He keeps getting more and more of his friends there with him. His mom went to be with him again in 2001. I can't wait for my day to be with him again. To hear his voice, to feel his gentle touch.

Dad, I miss you bunches! Glad you and Junior are together again. How's the racing up there?

I love you!

In memory of Ronald "Ronnie" Gene Belt
September 3, 1945
October 8, 1971

Reflecting

2009-08-29T11:12:00.002-05:00

From time to time, I have to stop and reflect. What's gone on in my life that was right, wrong, and what I learned about God in all this, and myself.

I spent most of the week obsessing over the LSAT. Friday I took a long walk to gather my thoughts and to "get my head in the game". After I got back, I was working on the Reading Comp section of the test, practicing the skills I am attempting to learn, when it hit me. "I am not going to have a perfect score on this test!" WOW! Here i was, during practice, worrying more about what I was getting wrong than why I was missing the questions, and why I was getting a few right. (by the way, i looked back, I was averaging around 70% right) I don't read well, after all I am a product of Quanah High School, (LOL! not that has anything to do with it, but an excuse for me) and I have never really worked to improve my reading skills.

I have spent most of my adult life trying to prove people wrong about me. Frances Marie Owens, who was the counselor at QHS, once told me that I was not college material. I took that at face value for a few years after high school, till I decided that just maybe I can do this. Well, I did it! Not only did I accomplish, or figure out that I was college material, I set higher goals during the process. I wanted to further my education, grad school. I was pushed and prodded by people like Randal Williams at VRJC. Then while at Tech, by folks like Dr. Vaughn and others. But, I fell again to the mainstream thoughts of going to college. Get your degree, get a decent job, and retire some day. Part of that had to do with being tired of not "living" comfortably. So i took the first job that I applied for out of Tech, something I seemed to be pretty good at and not getting out of the scope of how I was raised, agriculture.

But a few things happened along the way. One, I had given up on my dream to go to graduate school, had become "complacent" with the "status quo" (whatever that is) and had failed miserably at being a husband. I was a pretty good "dad", but an awful husband.

I spend a lot of time listening to different preacher's sermons. One that made me think about what life was about was form a guy I met at the Red River Family Encampment 2 years ago. Gary Smith, who was one of the speakers that weekend, is the preacher at the Fifth Ward Church of Christ in Houston, a predominately minority, inner city congregation. I became a fan of Gary's, downloading a few of his sermons to my ipod. He has one sermon that was directed to the youth of his congregation at graduation time about dreaming big. God doesn't expect anything less from us. I come to this realization from Matthew 25 in the parable of the talents. A man, fixing to leave town for a few days, entrusted his business to 3 people. You know the story, one he gave 5 talents and another 2 and the last 1. What did they do with the talents? The first two took there's and doubled them, the last took his an buried it, afraid of losing it. Who did God's will here? Of course! The first two. They took what they had been given, remained faithful, and was rewarded. The last guy, whom I can relate, was not faithful and therefore was not rewarded. He was complacent with the status quo of what he had been given.

Do you ever sit and wonder "what if"? I have way too much. It's time to get up and "dream big"!

My brain is old and set in its ways!

2009-08-26T15:37:00.003-05:00

Whew!! My brain is on over load right now. In case you're just joining me here, I am in the process of studying for the LSAT. Trying to get my brain to "understand formal logic". And for a guy who has always been satisfied with the obvious, this is a tough exercise for me. Don't misunderstand me here, it's not that i think it's beyond me to comprehend this, I'm just having to re-train this 45 year old brain to think and look for things it didn't know was missing.

It's a lot like studying the bible. You can take things for face value, or dig a little deeper and find the real answers.

Here we go!

2009-08-23T20:44:00.003-05:00

Well, the day is here. I started my preparation class for the LSAT today. I have to be really honest right now, I feel like I'm at the deep end of the pool with my toe stuck in the drain, wishing I could just tread water. I took my baseline test today. The practice test basically sets my baseline so that I can trace my progress. I was both mentally and emotionally drained when I finished the test. I don't think I have ever taken a test as gruelling as this test was today.

The LSAT is not about knowledge. It's about problem solving. And, I really felt that at my age and with my life experiences that I would be more prepared than I was. The positive thing here is I'm in the right place. I chose back a month or so ago to register for the prep class through Kaplan. Kaplan has THE (According to the Harris Poll) highest number of former students that actually got into law school with their test prep techniques. So, with that said, I feel really good about my chances of getting in.

I know that some of you are wondering why law school? Well, I have wanted to do this for quite some time but just never had the guts to "get it done'. And, If I don't at least make an attempt at this, well, I'll go to my grave wondering "what if?". Those of you that know me best know that I'm not a "what if" kind of guy.

The choice was really pretty simple. I'm at a cross roads in my life. My son, Jonathan, asked me a couple of months ago if I was going through some kind of mid life crisis. So what if I am? I was sick and tired of the pressures of selling, burned out is a term most folks choose to use. And I wasn't going to settle for just "finding another job". I thought about nursing school. I do have an interest there but not a "burning"interest like I do in becoming an attorney. I thought about going back to graduate school, in agriculture of course, but what would I do with that? I thought about going to preaching school and going to a mission field somewhere. But my little kids are still school age and I refuse to miss them growing up, so that was out. I spent most of the month of June praying about my decision. Praying like I have never prayed before. Asking God for some direction, and that His will be done.

Another reason for my choice, was to prove that, at 45, I can go back to school. I can have a successful life. I can persevere.

God still in control and He still answers prayers! I know he will guide me with his steady hand through this endeavour.

The Mountains!

2009-08-22T20:06:00.002-05:00

My daughter Sarah and I went up to Costilla, New Mexico this past Wednesday to camp with my friend Kurt and his three kids. There are a few things I learned about myself during the past 4 days.

1. I love hot showers, daily!

2. Being able to shave, daily!

3. Clean toilets.

4. Time with my daughter, priceless!

5. Clean air and few people.

6. Clear night sky with lots of stars!

7. I miss my phone!

8. The internet!

9. Sleeping outside.

10. I missed Lizzie!

Just a few things, I could go on and on here, and this list is not in any order.

I had lots of time to think clearly. It's good for me to get away to think, and clear my brain from the daily worries. I thought about my decision to go back to school and if law school is the right choice for me. I thought about Jesus a lot at night. I was reminded of Luke 6:12.

"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God."

I spent a lot of time in prayer while I was there. Not any more time than I usually do, but just felt closer to God. I guess 9,000 feet above see level will do that for you! Only 6,000 feet closer than I usually am! LOL! I spent a lot of time praying bout my decision. I spent a lot of time praying for my kids, especially the younger two. I prayed that they would understand their dad's decision to go back to school. Some of the sacrifices they will have to make having a dad back in school and being 60 miles away instead of a couple of blocks away. The main thing that I prayed for is that God's will be done in me being back in school, and that His will be done at the completion of law school. I prayed for Kurt and his three kidos. It's tough being a single parent.

We had a big time. We did some hiking. Yes, I hiked! Huffed and puffed is more like it. We fished, didn't catch any, but it was fun. Saw some beautiful country! The mountains in New Mexico are to die for! Ate really well! We took steaks for our evening meals, and had eggs, bacon and sausage for breakfast. Nothing like a meal cooked over a camp fire!

Sarah and I spent some really quality time together. That was really special time for me!

Rejoicing

2009-08-17T11:35:00.002-05:00

We are studying the book of Luke in our class on Sunday morning. I have really enjoyed the facts that Luke gives us on the life of Jesus. An interesting thing hit me as I was reading and listening yesterday morning on chapter 15 of Luke.

The parable of the lost sheep. One of 99 sheep are missing, but the herdsman leaves the 99 to find one lamb. He leaves the 99 in open country and goes after the one. How often do we as Christians do this? How often do we leave our comfort zone to go find one lost soul? Then, do we truly rejoice in the finding of that one lost soul? Just some things to think about.

Again, the parable of the lost coin. Do we clean house trying to find that one lost soul. She lost 10% of her coins, but she "lights a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it". How often do we as Christians sweep and look carefully for a lost soul?

Then the parable of the lost son. This guy becomes of age and decides he wants his part of his inheritance, and the father gives it to him. He goes away and squanders it, has to find a job to live and desires the food he's to feed to the pigs. Then he makes the decision to go back home hoping that his father would hire him as a servant. What happens? His father welcomes him with open arms, feeds him and gives him a home. Now what about the other brother who stayed behind and continued to work for his father? He gets mad, and refused to go. Feeling like the father has wronged him some way. But the father reminds him that everything that's left is his. And that his brother was lost or "dead" but now is found or "alive". How many times doe we find ourselves angry or upset at someone who was with us, leaves then comes back to open arms?

I can relate my life to all three stories. I have lost my faith, not really interested in finding what i lost. I have not search carefully for a fellow christian who's lost there way. I can relate to the brother who took his inheritance, lost it, found himself and came back. Then, i can relate to the brother who's stayed behind to help tend to things, then when a lost brother shows back up, had a hardened heart towards him.

And look who Jesus is telling the stories to. Pharisees, the self righteous Jews, who's complaining that Jesus is hanging out with and "welcoming" sinners. Hopefully I have learned some things here to apply to my life!

The Crown Jewel

2009-08-16T08:36:00.002-05:00

I had supper in Lubbock with a really good friend of mine last night. She and I have been through similar situations within the past couple of years. Been in a couple of relationships that just didn't work. She shared some advice with me last night. And after thinking about what she said, I have decided to share that with you.

She said, "Don't settle for someone you can live with, wait for that person you can't live without".

WOW! That was one of the best "advice" statements I have heard in a while. Just coming out of a relationship that lasted a while for me, LOL! (almost a year!) that really hit home. Dating at 45 is no fun. And I have decided that I'm just really good by myself. LOL! I think that's a huge step for me. No Yahoo Personals, no Match.com, no nothing. Just not looking.

Think about this......

2009-08-15T09:15:00.002-05:00

I was thinking about my post from yesterday. Some where around 874 BC, Elisha was plowing with oxen.

1 Kings 19:19 "So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of Oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair."

This is 874, or so, years before the birth of Jesus. Think about that for a minute! My great Granddad plowed with mules some 2,000 years later. Not a lot of progress made in farming in those 2,000 years.

I think what is even funnier, in this story, Elisha junks out his plowing equipment so that he can cook the meat of the oxen and feed the people. Then he left and followed Elijah.

Elisha must have been a large farmer. The story says he was plowing with 12 sets of oxen. Hmm. I wonder how many tractors and how much land that would relate to today? 12 tractors and 10,000 acres?

Just a thought!

Farming Has Changed!

2009-08-14T08:18:00.004-05:00

Most of ya'll know about my vast agricultural background. I was raised on farms in both Lockney and Quanah, Texas. My dad was killed in a farming accident in 1971. My step-dad farms in the Quanah area. And I have spent a life time in the business. Except for a stint in the real estate business back in the mid 80's, I have been directly involved in production agriculture all of my adult life. I have witnessed lots of changes in farming in my life time. The very first change that I can remember, as a child, was air conditioned cabs on tractors. I can remember the first tractor we owned that had an air conditioned cab. It was an Allis Chalmers 7060 (i think the model is right). John Deere had a long back order list for the 30 series tractors in early to mid 70's. So we bought the AC and I can remember the day Jack Handley from Vernon delivered it. My step dad, Joe Gayle, had a cousin, Donald Drake, that was and AC man. He's the one responsible for us owning anything Allis Chalmers. (LOL! I blaim him! LOL!) I can remember when Joe C. Baker, who was Joe Gayle's dad, went and bought a used John Deere 4430 about a 6 months to a year after we bought the Allis Chalmers tractor. Now we had 2 tractors with air conditioned cabs.

I learned to drive a tractor on a 4020 John Deere. No cab, no ac, and it ran on LP gas! It was very hot in the summer time. Now in the winter, we had "comfort covers" on the tractors. The comfort cover was made of heavy canvas and started up front just behind the air cleaner screens and went along both sides of the engine, all the way back to the seat. It moved the warm, or in the case of the LP model HOT, air back to the operator. Making it some what bearable to be out on a cold winter day.

I'm not even going to get started on changes in harvesting equipment!

I drove a brand new John Deere, like this one, for two days this week. My very good friend, Randy Henderson, called me Tuesday morning looking for a tractor driver to get some fallow ground plowed. I helped him out. I plowed about 600 acres in 27 hours! That's about 22 acres an hour! (to put that in terms some of you can understand, there are 43,560 square feet in an acre) It has a gps unit on it that steers the tractor for you! Now, you may ask yourself, "why would you need that?". Well, let me tell you. I was a crooked plower growing up. I couldn't make straight rows for nothing. My attention span is not that long! LOL! You're always either overlapping or leaving a skip. This gps unit steers you to within 6"-8" of where you need to be. And straight! I really looked good out there! LOL!

I couldn't help but think about my great grand-dad John Belt while I was driving this tractor. He followed my great grand-mother and her family to the south plains from Olustee, Oklahoma back in the early teens. He passed away in the late 70's. I can remember a story he used to tell about coming to Floyd county horseback, the grass stirrup high and made him sea sick waving in the wind. And those early pioneers breaking this land out with a horse or mule and a single bottom breaking plow. I don't know if you realize this, but that's been less than 100 years ago. In 100 years, we have gone from horse drawn plows to the tractor I have described. And to be able to manage money to be able to pay for this tractor! The list, base price is some where around $225,000. John Belt bought a combine in the early 20's for $1500. Not only has technology changed, the $$$$ have too.

Walking on water?

2009-08-08T10:50:00.002-05:00

The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth. ~Chinese Proverb

Do you ever feel like you're sinking? I'm reminded of the story of Peter when Jesus was walking on the water. Jesus calls Peter to come out to him. The funny part of this to me is Peter's faith was sufficient to get out of the boat and stand on the water, but the wind blew in his face and he began to sink.

Isn't that like us sometimes? We start something and it's easy to do. Then the "wind blows" or the phone rings or someone tells us that we can't do that? Our faith is immediately demolished.

We're not wired up that way. Watch a toddler sometime that's trying to learn to walk. They fall down, they bump their head on things, but we always encourage them to keep going. And they want to succeed in that endeavour! At what age did we quit telling our kids "yes" or "go" and start telling them "no" or "stop"?

Just a thought!!!

I'm having one of those days, weeks for that matter!

2009-08-06T09:42:00.002-05:00

As I was looking for "good food" for my brain today, I ran across this quote by the late Erma Bombeck:

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

Think about that for a minute. As I am in the process of redefining who Preston Belt is, I have to stop and ask myself "will I have unused talent on judgement day?". Do I bury my talent or have I doubled up on my talents (see Matthew 25:14-30).

What have you done with your talents today?

It's a Coke or Pepsi kind of day! But I want a Dr. Pepper!

2009-08-05T15:04:00.002-05:00

Do you ever find yourself caught up in the events of the day? Taking your eye off of the prize at the end? Making really random decisions as the day progresses that really aren't relevant to your goal?

You see, to me, life is made up of decisions. Some good, some excellent, some not so good, some terrible. I tend to focus on the "bad" or "terrible" decisions I make and get bogged down with them. I admit, some days are better. But I'm my own worst enemy. I think satan really joys in us focusing on our bad decisions. When God wants you to focus on the good things in life.

Philippians 4:8 NIV "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what ever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."

What has gone right in your day? Are you trying to decide between Coke or Pepsi when you really want a Dr. Pepper?

Puncture Vines

2009-07-29T16:21:00.010-05:00

I mowed my lawn this morning, the first time I have had to do that in about a month. We haven't had much rain this month. As I was mowing, I noticed that the puncture vines (I called these sticker patches when I was a kid) were doing well. I was reminded of Matthew 13:7 the parable of the sower "Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants". Now I love my grass. I have 2 vacant lots beside the lot my house sits on. It's has a really good stand of buffalo grass that I'm very proud of. It doesn't need mowing that much, and when it is green and growing, it looks clean. But the puncture vines still thrive. I have to stay on my toes to keep them killed out. What I noticed today was that even with little rain, they are thriving. Growing and making seed (stickers!). And their roots are deep and large. Then I got to thinking about life and exactly what was Jesus' message in the parable. You see, as pretty as my yard is, and as hard as I work to keep the "weeds" out, they keep coming. That's like satan. Just when you get comfortable in life with your faith, satan throws something in your path to trip you up. Like these puncture vines. They're persistent. They make lots of seed. And they hurt when you get them in your feet (the stickers). They grow even when conditions aren't good for your grass to grow. My grass is basically dead form lack of water, but the good thing about buffalo grass, it doesn't take much int the way of moisture to "green" back up. That's just like us. We live life, take things for granted, like our faith, and satan jumps up at us luring us a way. The Gospel is like moisture to us. It helps us to grow in our faith. When we don't get "watered" by the Gospel, we just invite satan in and he grows on us. He's persistent, he makes lots of seed, and he hurts us. Be sure to "water" your self today!

I added some pictures here of the demolition of the high school. Looks like there's progress finally!

Repent!

2009-07-20T09:11:00.003-05:00

Those of you that know me know that I struggle often with my "church of Christ" heritage. Growing up in the church, often times, words like "Gospel" and "Repent", were used to scare me into submission.

Repent for instance, I can remember preachers using this word, along with my grandad, in what i felt were scare tactics to get you to act right. "REPENT!!!!" Can you hear that?

Here's what i found on dictionary.com.

Repent: to feel sorry, self reproachful, or contrite for past conduct.

In specific, let's look at Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized" (there's another word that was not translated form the greek, another time). The greek word is metanoya, (not sure if I spelled that right, but you get the picture here) meaning in english "change".

So, think about that for a minute, "change and be immersed" (since that's what the word baptismo means). What do you think? I like that much better, rather than be self judging, simply change your ways. Cause most of us that have spent the last 60 years or so in the church have a problem with "judging" ourselves as well as others.

Just something to think about!

Facing Your Giants

2009-07-03T08:17:00.002-05:00

Before I get to my post for the day, just a quick update on the rebuilding of Lockney High School. The masonry folks showed up yesterday to remove the stone work from the entry way to the building. They are going to attempt to wash it and use it on the new building. Looks like they may be about ready to start with demolition once stone is removed.

I have got an old book out that I read last summer. "Facing Your Giants" by Max Lucado is about the story of David. There are some things I want you to think about. Go back to 1 Samuel 17 and read the story about David and Goliath, just going to hit some highlights here.

David, son of Jesse, had 7 older brothers. A sheep herder from Bethlehem. Young and "ruddy" with handsome features. 1 Samuel 13:14 calls David "a man after His own heart". The only person int he whole bible that is referred to in that sense. I want you to stop and think about that for a minute. And if your not familiar with the story, get your bible out and read all of it. David is a lot like me. Seems his faith comes and goes. Has hilltops and valleys. Trying to find that level ground.

And you would think after killing a nine-and-a-half foot tall Philistine with a single smooth stone, knowing that God was with him and would deliver the Philistine to him, would never have the "valleys" in his faith that I do. But, guess what!!! He did! King Saul made several attempts to have him killed, even after making him a son-in-law. Once David figured that out he runs and hides. How many times have I ran and hid?

My point here is, asking myself, how many times have you ran and hid? How many times have you given up on your dreams and laid the excuse off on some weak personal trait? I have most of my life. Not having a dad, not having enough money, hiding behind divorce, hiding in a bottle, hiding behind your past? GUILTY!!! Although, I have never been one to hide in a bottle or illegal drugs, I did hide for a time behind prescription drugs. Paxil, Zoloft, Xanax, all prescribed for me to take care of depression and anxiety. Then I was told that I needed to take these things for the rest of my life! Don't misunderstand me here. All of these drugs have a place. But they are mind numbing. And maybe you have some traumatic events going on in your life that warrants them to get you "past some issues". I know that I took Paxil for 6 years daily. And coming off of it was awful. But now my mind is clear, having to retrain it to "dream" and dream big". Just don't let those "Giants" control your life!

One other thing, we lost a good one yesterday in Quanah. Ruthie Lance was one of those "moms" that we all loved. She always had our best interest at heart. Sweet, kind, and loving. She will be missed!!! Tell my dad "hi" for me Ruthie!

I hate divorce!

2009-07-02T11:21:00.004-05:00

I have had my fair share of this! And now that my mom and step-dad are going through, makes me hate it that much more. I have spent the last several months with mom trying to get through some of her stuff. Yesterday I spent the day with a land appraiser going over all of the land involved. Sad time for me. See, my real dad past away when i was 7 years old. Joe Gayle had been my "dad" for most of my life. The last 35 years to be exact. And Quanah was home. A place fort me to "go to" to remember, to get away. A safe place for me to unwind and enjoy. Mom has spent all those years in one house. The house we moved into when they got married. My home! Every since all this broke lose with mom, it just hasn't been the same going back. The memories now are bitter-sweet. As I was riding around with the appraiser, memories kept flashing back. Growing up in that house. Helping out on the farm. All the places and land we farmed. The good times. Summer wheat harvest with Jim, Shellie, Carol and I. The moving of irrigation pipe. Watching a crop grow form seed to harvest. Some were good and some not so good, the harvest that is. Those of you not involved in production agriculture need to understand. The hard work, the reward of your year long labor. Just stop and think about that. Used to the financial side of it was not as critical as it is now. The margins are so thin these days. One stump of your toe and it's all gone.

I want to keep this as positive as I can. A time for reflection and sharing.

When I was 9 years old, Joe Gayle was dating my mom. He was divorced, had custody of his 2 boys and the thought of having 2 new brothers was exciting. He drove a Ford pickup just like my dad. He farmed just like my dad. But, just before he proposed to mom, he had a wreck during cotton harvest and totalled out his pickup. Back in those days, the inventory of new vehicles was not all that good. Plus the time he had to find one during harvest was slim. He looked for a ford and couldn't find one like he needed so it was Chevy time. I will never forget when he showed up in that maroon 1973 model pickup at our house. I thought "oh no! a chevy?". I can still remember when he called one night, asking me and Shellie if you could marry mom. I can remember my response like it was yesterday. "You gotta get rid of that chevy!" He told me he would as soon as he could, and less than a year later, he had a new ford.

He taught me how to drive a tractor. Taught me how to work (more like made me work! LOL!). I hated driving a combine. I was a better mechanic than a combine operator. So when we were freshman, he hired Carol Martin to drive the combine along with me sister Shellie. Jim and I took care of the hauling to the elevator (without a drivers license I might add!) and keeping the machines running. Carol came and lived with us for wheat harvest every year after that till we all got out of high school. Good times!!!

Oh yeah!!! I almost forgot!! God's still answering prayers!!! My friends test yesterday came back negative! Benign knots! Nothing more till next year!!! Ain't He great!!!

Just remembering fun times!

2009-07-01T08:17:00.003-05:00

I have been looking through all the pictures posted on facebook from the Quanah High School class of 78-81 class reunion. That's the four classes just ahead of me. It was so good to see so many familiar faces and remembering fun times! Just want to share a few of those with you today. Kinda funny how some of those events had an impact on my life.

First of all, there was Clif Gibson. He was in the class of 79 and a senior when I was a freshman. I started my first 2 a-day practice the summer of 1978. Hot, over 100 or right at it most days and the humidity was stifling. As soon as we got into full pads and practicing at full speed, they were using us freshman as blocking dummies. And i had been knocked every which way but up. You have to remember I was 6' tall and weighed a whopping 145 lbs. Not a lot of resistance there as a blocking dummy! I had been knocked down by the likes of Jace Reid, Mark Melton and Johnny Dunlap. Then here comes Clif! Just a little side note, all these guys had full facial hair! I barely needed to shave once a week!!! All of them weighed over 150 pounds!!! And I had looked up to this bunch for many years prior. Ok, back to the here comes Clif. He hit me full blast. That's just the way Clif done things. That was the way he was raised. His dad lived life to the fullest and full speed every day. He knocked me on my hiney, my blocking pad flew about 20 yards away (exaggerating a bit there) When he came back by, he stuck his hand out, helped me back up, dusted my rear end off and asked if i was ok. I was like "do what? why does a senior care if a lowly freshman's ok?". I jumped up and said "yes, thank you!". He winked and turned and ran back to the huddle. You know what, I never forgot that! You never forget life events like that. And I have made every effort to pass on the kindness that Clif showed me that day!

Then there was Jerry John Riley. Jerry and i went to church together. His dad and uncle were my sunday school teachers. Jerry had one of the first 4-wheel drive pickups i can remember any of my friends having. It was a 1980 chevy short bed 4X4 with a chrome roll bar and cow catcher. (for those of you that don't know "cow catcher", it's the same as a grill guard.) It was black and silver, a gorgeous pickup. We went to Red River, NM on a church ski trip when i was a jr and Jerry was a freshman in college for spring break. I will never forget who all was on that trip with us!!! Jana Brandon, Kevin Young, Judy Riley, Mark Whitmire, and Jim Baker just to name a few. Well we snuck in a couple of bottles of adult beverages and took them with us!!! (I know, a church trip, I'm sure God has forgiven me for that.!) One night we decided it was time to consume these beverages, so we did! The altitude like magnified 2 or 3 times the effect of the drinks!!! And several of us got pretty wobbly and even a couple threw up. (no names here) So we loaded everyone up in the back of that pickup and got them back to the hotel and made sure everyone was in bed! And I don't think we got caught or even suspected us angels had done anything wrong!

I could go on and on here. OH! There was one picture there of three guys that was in the class ahead of me. Kieth Melton, Kevin Felty and Zachary Choat. Just made my heart warm to see those guys together.

Awesome memories! Thanks God for all of them!!!!

Still waiting to hear from my old friend today. Actually should be having the test done as I'm writing this!

May you feel God's presence near you in all you do!!!

Preston

"Be still"

2009-06-30T12:43:00.003-05:00

I recently met a brother when i was in Frisco a couple of weeks ago helping Jonathan and Kirsten move into their new home. I had been following his blog for a couple of months now and have enjoyed it. Kent "Grumpy" Smith and I have lots in common. (you can follow his blog from here) We're both west Texas boys with a love for Christ. We don't always make the right decisions, but we try really hard to do the right thing and learn from those "bad" decisions. I have been reading his book (and I highly recommend you getting a copy) "Everyday Christianity". It's a small, paper back book that's extremely easy reading. (those of you that know me the best know that's my kind of reading!)

The first lesson in life Grumpy talks about is "Be still, and know that I am Lord". This comes from Psalms 46:10. He, like I, have serious problems stopping to "smell the roses". Looking around and being appreciative of the things God has blessed us with. Here are a few of things I stop and look at and am thankful of:

1. My God! He can be yours too!!! Ain't he awesome!!!!
2. My kids! They are the apple of my eyes!!!
3. My Church! I have been blessed over the past few years with an awesome church family!!
4. My home! It's not much, but God has blessed me with it!
5. My car! Silly I know but it gets me from point a to point b. (and don't ask me how to figure that! never was good at algebra!)
6. My friends! I have an awesome group of folks that I cherish dearly. Old and new!
7. The rising sun! It comes up every day, bringing light to fresh beginning!
8. The setting sun! It signifies the ending, a time for reflection.
9. West Texas!!!! Home of the finest (mostly! LOL!) folks in the whole world.
10. USA! Home of the free!!!!

I invite you to stop. BE STILL! Know that God is here and that he loves us all!!!!

I can't wait for these words "Well done, good and faithful servant!!".

May God bless you all!!

Oh yeah! One more thing! I have a very old friend of mine going in for some follow up test tomorrow. Probably nothing but this friend is a long ways from family and friends!! Keep her in your prayers!

Preston

Starting Over

2009-06-26T09:42:00.002-05:00

I haven't been here in a couple of months! Trying to get back in the routine of writing again.

I find myself at 45 at some kind of a cross road. My son thinks I'm having some kind of a midlife crisis! LOL! And so what if i am? Anyway, finding myself unemployed at this age is something i hadn't really put a whole lot of thought into.

Let's visit some options here:

1. I could jump right back into the business I was in and have to deal with the same issues that burned me out to start with. I just can't see me being real productive there.

2. Look for something outside the production ag. This is all I know almost! Spent a life time doing this!

3. Go back to school. But what?

I have always wanted to go to graduate school. Especially law school. It doesn't really matter what I look at going into, it's going to take more education. And at least 2 years of education. So what's the answer here? I have it figured out i think and feel really good about my decision. Law school it is!!! I have a year here to get ready. Take the class on the LSAT in Lubbock in September and October. Take the test in November and start the application process. I have another chance to increase my score in February. Hopefully by then I will have a high enough score to get in! I really only have one choice in Law School, Texas Tech! I have to stay near for my baby girls. Does that make sense?

And We Know

2009-04-06T15:59:00.002-05:00

I shared one of my favorite verses with an old friend of mine today. It is a verse that got me through my divorce and still gets me through the day now.

Romans 8:28
"And WE know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose".

I memorized that verse and use it in prayers many times. I don't always get it exactly right, but the meaning of it is what counts. "And WE know", We, being those of us called to live the life of a Christian. "ALL THINGS", means just what it says, everything, even the things we have trouble turning loose of. "Works for the good of those who love Him", in order to get the full benefit of God, you must be in love with Him! Striving to be like Jesus every minute of every day. He works everything for the good. Even situations that seem to be trials in our lives. "Who have been called according to His purpose", striving to be like Him daily. And, what a rewarding purpose. He always answers our prayers.

I want to share a couple of verses that also help me every day.

Romans 5:3-5
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverence, perseverence; perseverence, character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

This is evidence that we will have trials in our lives. We will be tempted. But that's what makes us real.

James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Just some food for your soul! Hope you find comfort in this!

Take My Hand and Lead Me

2009-03-24T13:39:00.002-05:00

My girls and I went to my sister Shellie's over the past weekend and went to Six Flag. On our way home we stopped in Cisco, Texas and attended worship there. One of the song's that morning hit me in a way that it has never before. I have sung (sang I don't know which is proper! LOL!) the song many times in my life, but in the wake of the divorce of my mom and step dad, it hit me different. I want to share the song with you.

Take My Hand and Lead Me
I want to live, dear Lord, for Thee, O keep me every day; A faithful witness let me be, Along life's rugged way.

When satan would my hopes alarm, O shelter Thou, my soul; Protect me with The mighty arm, Thy strength will keep me whole.

Let me each day, Thy Spirit feel; Increase my courage Lord, To walk by faith, endowed with zeal, Directed by Thy Word.

(Chorus)
Take my hand and lead me, Anywhere you need me; With Thy spirit feed me, Till I'm safe with Thee at home.

What a prayer! It was just exactly as I felt at that moment. It gave me a sense of easiness. A sense of courage. A sense of protection.

Mom got a call Friday afternoon from the Sheriff in Quanah that he had a subpoena to serve her for her to appear before the Grand Jury Monday morning. We all knew why. When she caught my step dad the last time cheating, he came at her. She pulled a gun on him to keep him from coming at her. He had pressured the Sheriff and the D.A. to try and indict her for the incident. They all tried to talk him out of it, but he still pressured them. So, my Mom, had to appear before the Grand Jury Monday morning to tell them her side of the story. She didn't get indicted. I prayed for God to be with her. For her to be in his presence while she was on the stand. She felt it!

God always answers our prayers!

My Mom

2009-03-17T10:04:00.004-05:00

It's about time I get back in the habit of writing again. Seems like I can always find an excuse for skipping this. A couple of things to catch ya'll up on before I start writing about my mom. First of all, we lost a saint here in Lockney a couple of weeks ago, Dee Copeland past away. Dee turned 100 last October. I will miss him. One of my favorite memories of him was a few years ago he told me he was about to "deliver meals to the old folks!". I asked him how many of them were younger than him, he replied"all of them". You can read more about Dee in some of my early blogs. An update on Lockney High School, the portable buildings are in place and they will begin classes in them next Monday.

My Mom. My mom is one of the strongest women I know. Let me tell you a few things she's been through. My dad was killed at age 26, mom was 25. She was widowed and had 2 kids, 7 and 5. She did her best to provide for my sister and I. She worked as a secretary/bookkeeper at the Coop in Lockney for a couple of years. In 1973 she met who was to be my step-dad, Joe Gayle Baker. Joe Gayle called me in January of 1974 and asked if he could marry my mom. He had just bought a new chevy pickup. I told him "only if you promise to buy a Ford". So, less than a year later he bought a Ford. They were married February 9th, 1974. Joe Gayle had 2 boys, 10 and 7. My sister and I had 2 brothers! YEAH! We were happy. One big family. I started to school on February 13, 1974 in Quanah, Texas. The reason that sticks in my mind is the fact that the next fay was Valentines and I just put on my valentines to the rest of the class "From Preston". LOL! The challenges of mixing a family came quickly and often. In 1977, John the youngest of my step brothers went to live with his mom and Jim stayed with us. So now there was just us 3 kids. In 1984 my sister got sick with Crone's disease. While trying to get her diagnosed, she almost died a couple of times. In 1986 my grandmother passed away. In 1988 my granddad past away. In about 1990, Mom and Joe Gayle were forced into bankruptcy. In 2002, Joe Gayle had a wreck and was ejected from his pickup. He was transported to Wichita Falls and Mom was at sister's in Perryton when it happened. On February 21, 2009 (yes on my birthday) mom caught Joe Gayle cheating on her. And this wasn't the first time. It goes back some 15 years. She never mentioned it to no body.

I guess I tell all of this to ask all of you for a favor. Please pray for my mom. She's really struggling right now.

Thanks!

Up From The Ashes

2009-01-22T08:57:00.002-06:00

It has been over a week now since the school burned. The surrounding communities have been awesome on helping put our lives back together. The Jr. high should be ready for school Monday. My daughter Sarah is way excited about that. The rooms at the church are cramped to say the least. Balckmon-Mooring have worked long days since the fire and 7 day work weeks to get the jr. high functional. I know the teachers are ready to be back int there building too!

Seems to be some wrangling going on among a few folks to try and consolidate the Lockney and Floydada schools. I have mixed emotions about that. The Lockney-Floydada rivalry is still in effect. It's not near as bad as it used to be, but still alive. Lots of folks have stated their opposition to the consolidation in this way: "My kids aren't going to be Whirlwinds!". Others have had words that I won't repeat here.

A couple of things bother me on the subject of consolidation. Who's administration is going to run things? Where will the kids go to school? Will Lockney carry as many board members as Floydada? What will happen to the support staffs? What will happen to the teachers?

One of the things that really bothers me a bit is the superintendent situation in Floydada. No one seems to like him, and the board was split on re-newing his contract this year. His contract was re-newed by a vote of 4-3. Also, our district is debt free. All of our buildings are (were) in awesome shape. We have taken a great deal of pride in taking care of our buildings and keeping them as up to date as we can. We have a good fleet of buses. We have above average sports facilities. And we have grown our fund balance through all the upgrades.

I wonder what would happen if Floydada came to Lockney and went to school?

I kinda feel like they are trying to kick us while we're down!

WE ARE LOCKNEY! WE WILL OVERCOME!

Just some thoughts

2009-01-14T20:49:00.002-06:00

Well, I guess I'm still trying to digest all the happenings of the week. The loss of our high school is weighing heavy on my mind. My prayers are with our kiddos and teachers. Just praying that they are able to put some sort of normalcy back in their days.

I can remember when the Methodist church burned in Quanah when I was a kid. I think it was 1975. I remember going to school that morning and driving by the church. Nothing left but a shell of a building, still smoldering. The building was one of the oldest buildings in Quanah at the time. When you're a kid, everything is big. That building seemed to stand like a skyscraper. I can remember going around that building a couple of days after it burned and picking up lead and glass from the stained glass windows it had. They held church services at the community building there in town for what seemed like an eternity. I think it took around 2 years to get the building built back. The library sits where the Methodist church used to be in Quanah.

Just a few months before I got on the fire department in Lockney, the Baptist church in Floydada burned. They had fire departments from Matador, Lockney, and Ralls there.

What is really cool about all this is how a community comes together after tragedy strikes. I have watched it happen several times. Tornadoes in Lubbock, Vernon and Wichita Falls. The church fires in Quanah and Floydada. The community just comes together, puts all differences aside and rebuilds. I have full confidence in Lockney that this will happen. I love my town!

Monday Morning

2009-01-13T20:19:00.004-06:00

This is what daylight brought us Monday morning.

FIRE

2009-01-13T17:49:00.004-06:00

I know most of you have heard about our loss here in Lockney Sunday night. Our High School burned to the ground. Most of ya'll also know that I am a volunteer fireman here in Lockney. We first got the call of a fire at the high school just after 11:00 pm Sunday night. We always get calls to fires at the hospital or nursing home here, most of the time, to find out it's a false alarm. This was not the case on Sunday night. When I walked out of the house, you could smell and see the smoke bellowing from that direction. Our high school and jr. high is connected so it was twice as scary. When we arrived on scene, we couldn't believe what was before our eyes. The second floor was pretty much engulfed in flames. Also when we arrived, there were several folks beginning to get all the keepsake stuff from the first floor. All the pictures, trophies, etc., were saved. We began our interior approach quickly, sending a team to the second floor to find things pretty much uncontrollable. We immediately began to save what we could. The Floydada Fire Department came over to assist. My friends from Floydada that were on the first truck leaving Floydada could see the flames from the city limits of Floydada. When they arrived, they did an awesome job keeping the fire from continuing down the hall into the jr. high. Only some minor smoke damage and water damage occurred in the jr. high. The High School Library was also spared of any fire damage but did receive some smoke and water damage. The science lab was also saved for the most part sustaining some fire damage and lots of smoke and water damage. The rest of the building was a total loss.

Unfortunately, we have learned that the fire was a product of arson. I will let you read or hear about that in the news.

The building was erected 1929. This years graduates would have been the 80th class to graduate from the building. Lots of history went up in the building.

I attended elementary school here before moving to Quanah. So there wasn't a lot of sentimental memories for me. At one point on Monday morning, we (the firefighters) were sitting in the new gymnasium that sits to the south of the high school across the street. While our chief was being interviewed by the Plainview newspaper, the reporter asked the question "how many of ya'll graduated from high school here?". As I looked around the room, out of around 18 fireman sitting there, there were only 3 of us that didn't attend school in the building.

I don't really know what's in store for our community for the days and weeks to come. I know that God is good! And I know something good will come of this!

Pray for us!

Reflecting On the Week

2009-01-09T08:59:00.002-06:00

It has been a good week for me. The new year is going to be a good one. My week has been full of pleasant surprises. One of the funnest things this week for me was my Tuesday night with the girls. My friend Kurt brought his two younger kids by my house Tuesday night while he went to a Boy Scouts meeting. We had a Guitar Hero concert. All the kids got an instrument and sang. It was a hoot!!!

Something I don't do near enough of on here is ask for prayers. I have a couple of requests. Dee Copeland, A gentleman I wrote about in my early entries on here and he just turned 100 in October, fell over the holidays and broke his hip. He is in Covenant Hospital in Lubbock. I hear he's not doing real well. Hopefully I will get by to see him this weekend. One of my best friends, Jay Don Poindexter, has a brother-in-law that has a tumor that is attached to his kidneys and goes all the way back to his spine. His name is Johnny. Keep these two men in your prayers. Pray that God's will be done!

Old Friends Part 2

2009-01-08T09:38:00.003-06:00

Well, Tuesday was some kinda day. After my old friend Lee Ann left a comment here, I went to the basketball games here in Lockney to find out we were playing Muleshoe. I looked across the way and there sat David Wood. Just to bring you all up to speed here, the Wood twins were 2 classes ahead of me in high school at Quanah. Don was the quarterback, and David was a receiver. They had 2 sisters, Kathy who I think was 3 classes ahead of me and Laurie was a year ahead of me. Their Dad was the head football coach and athletic director. They were good friends.

Don is the superintendent at Muleshoe and David is the head football coach and athletic director. Muleshoe won the class 2AA state championship. And David's son was the star quarterback.

It was really good to get to see them!

Old Friends

2009-01-06T17:29:00.006-06:00

This blog not only has been a place for me to share and vent, but it has put me in contact with some old friends. I think we get too busy with our jobs, careers and families that we lose track of really good friends. I want to take a minute and remember a couple of friends that have made contact with me through this blog.

Shanny Stanley Cox was a friend from Tech. She dated one of my roommates and she and I went to a Christmas party together one time. If I remember right, she worked for Pat Walker in Lubbock while she was attending Tech. It was the Christmas party for Pat Walker that I attended with her while my roommate was home. It was at the old Tejas Winery south of Lubbock. It was loads of fun.

Lee Ann Goodnight Ray was really more of a friend to my sister Shellie. Her dad moved to Quanah in the early 80's to coach at Quanah. Lee Ann was an all star basketball player that played with my sister. They were loads of fun for me to watch.

There have been others that have commented anonymously, I appreciate all comments.

Happy New Year Everyone!

KFLP Christmas Party

2008-12-29T07:28:00.004-06:00

One of the percs of helping with the West Texas Friday Night Scoreboard show is the Christmas party. Tony and Pam open up there house to us. We have lots of good food and really good fellowship. After the meal this year we played Guitar Hero on the Wii. Here are some pictures from that night!

Top is Cory Johnston. Cory is the voice of the Floydada Whirlwinds.

To the right here is Tony St. James. He is the Voice of Agriculture Today on AM 900 All Ag All Day. Below is Ricky Hughes. Ricky is employed by Lighthouse Electric and helps out with the show as well as does color commentary for Floydada Whirwind Football.

2008 Things I'm Thankful Of

2008-12-27T19:36:00.002-06:00

These are just a few of the things I'm thankful for this year.

1. My Faith
I have to work on this daily. Putting God first is something I struggle with daily.
2. My kids
Sarah, Lizzie and Jonathan. I gained a daughter-in-law this year, Kirsten, whom I am thankful for also.
3. My Church
I couldn't make it through this life with them.
4. My Job
I have struggled here too this year. My sales have been off. Just part of the life of a fertilizer salesman.
5. My Community
I search for reasons every year why I stay in small town America. It's a way of life, I suppose, that I enjoy. Don't know if I could survive anywhere else.
6. My Home
It's not much, but I like it!
7. My Friends
I have the best group of friends anyone could wish for.
8. Agriculture
I know! It's all I know!

Remembering

2008-12-27T19:12:00.002-06:00

So far this year, I have been to 12 funerals. Each one always seems to bring back fond memories. Today, I went to Quanah for the funeral of Sam Breedlove. Sam was the granddad of one of my classmates from high school. Sam was one of those men that, in his actions, demanded respect. He was a leader of the community. I can remember when he was the mayor of Quanah. He was very active in his church. He was active in civic organizations. One of my fondest memories of Sam Breedlove was during my senior year in high school. I was a junior Rotarian and Sam was a life long member of the Quanah Rotary Club. Sam was the song leader. I remember Sam leading us in "God Bless America". He had a voice that stood out. Very strong and praising. You could tell that he was very committed to the American way. Sam was an American. He was a Christian man.

Fox News Channel

2008-12-16T22:12:00.003-06:00

As most of you know, I am an avid Fox News Channel Fan. I started out watching Fox News many years ago. I started out watching Fox and Friends in the morning. If it's news I'm looking for, Fox is where I go. Tonight as I was driving in from Stillwater, I was listening to The Factor and O'Reilly was interviewing Brit Hume. At the end of the interview, Bill made a comment that Brit was not going to be on "Special Report" any more. Brit went on to say that he was going to concentrate on the "3 G's". God, Granddaughters and Golf. Did you hear that? A major league news man is going to concentrate on God! He said that he was going to spend a lot of time studying the Bible. WOW!

The more I watch and listen to Fox, the more I'm impressed with the whole crew. Yes, even Alan Colmbs! LOL! He's really a conservative in a liberal body! LOL! More than once daily, I hear at least one person on the network to give praise to God.

I was channel surfing the other day and went by MSNBC. Keith Oberman was spending his time, instead of reporting on news issues, ridiculing and running down Bill O'Reilly and Gretchen Carlson on their views on the Washington state governor's lack of judgement on what kind of holiday scenes could be put out on the state house's lawn. Because Gretchen is a Christian, Keith took his time to run her down.

Keep up the good work Fox News! And Brit, I will miss seeing you on air every day!

More CCOOLLDD!!!!

2008-12-16T08:39:00.002-06:00

I'm in Stillwater this morning. It's about 16 degrees here this morning and slick. It is only about 4 blocks to where the conference is this morning. Plus OSU is out for Christmas break so this town is almost empty. I got into to Stillwater about 10:00 last night and I almost didn't find anything to eat! I finally found a Whataburger!

I stayed in the Hampton Inn last night. Really clean and super nice folks! If your ever in Stillwater, I recommend the Hampton Inn.

I'm super excited about this meeting! I hope to learn lots of things about infra-red and near-infra-red technology today. I know, big words for a country boy!

Hopefully, I will be headed home around 6:00 this evening. Haven't really made up my mind which way I am going yet, but headed in the general direction of Lockney.

Thanks for stopping by today!

P

CCOOLLDD!!!!

2008-12-15T13:20:00.002-06:00

Can you believe this cold weather we are having? I worked outside most of the day yesterday. I have been working in the girl's bathroom putting in a new toilet and putting tile on the walls of the shower. I looked to see what the high temp was here yesterday. The Texas Tech Mesonet site showed a high of 71 degrees yesterday. This morning we had a low of 13!

I am getting ready to leave town here in a few minutes for Stillwater, Oklahoma. They are having a wheat fertility conference tomorrow. I know it will be cold there. I checked to see if they are having any freezing precipitation there. All looks clear.

I had a good conversation with Carolyn Marble Friday. Carolyn is the keeper of the Floyd County Museum. I have been researching some stuff as to how many cotton gins and other agricultural type businesses there has been in the county.

Tuesday!

2008-12-02T08:48:00.002-06:00

Tuesday are special to me. Every Tuesday evening my girls and I go and have pizza on the buffet at Main Street Pizza in Lockney. (YES! We have something besides a Dairy Queen!) Our Tuesday night routine has become somewhat of a tradition for us. After pizza we do a variety of things. Lately, we have gone over to Plainview for hot chocolate and desert at the Broadway Brew. Now that basketball has started, we may try to get up to the gym and catch a few games.

Tuesdays are special to me because the time I get to spend with my girls. It is especially good after the weekends I don't have them. It gives me that "dad" rush.

I can't wait for tonight!!!

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!

My Step Family

2008-12-02T06:58:00.002-06:00

I talked to my sister yesterday. It's finally happened. My step family has split. One of my step-brothers has gone through a divorce. In order that my girls and my nephew Ronnie has a relationship with their cousins, my sister and I have continued the relationship with our ex-sister in law. Let me explain further. For years, we have gone to mom's for Labor Day. Our family has always enjoyed labor day together. We have always hunted, Joe Gayle (my step-dad) has always cooked this huge meal. I think I have missed one Labor day since 1988. My step brother Jim has missed several always blaming someone else (his ex) or some other excuse. When we would make plans in the weeks leading to Labor Day, and he was always coming only not to show up a majority of the time with out even a phone call to let us know. I have watched my girls be crushed when their cousin's didn't show.

This Thanksgiving it happened again. Still not willing to take responsibility for his own actions, Jim didn't show up again. So, my sister stopped in Wichita Falls and picked up one of my nieces that wanted to go to her grandparents for Thanksgiving.

So now, to protect our kids from all the drama and crap, my sister and I are going to have Christmas here at my house here in Lockney with my mom. It's kinda like my parents are having to pick sides. My step-dad is a grudge holder and somewhat blameless himself. Just a shame that no one wants to make an effort to keep our family together anymore.

I just have one question for me! What did Jesus do?
Pray for us!

In Memory of Van D. Foster

2008-11-30T19:39:00.003-06:00

The Foster Family of Goodlett, Texas was one of the first families I remember meeting when I first moved to Quanah. Jay, Vanda and Rodney rode the same bus I did to school everyday. Rodney was quite a bit older than me and I remember him driving to school mostly. Vanda had this long blonde hair that caught my eye! LOL! I immediately had a crush on her. Jay and I made friends right off. Of course, he had a crush on my sister.

The first time I can remember meeting Van was at the old Quisenberry filing station in Goodlett. He always had a pipe he was smoking on. The aroma of pipe tobacco followed him. He would aways take time to joke with us kids. Giving us a hard time about different things. Always had a smile that was his trademark. His precinct barn was across the street form the filling station.

As the years passed, all us kids got closer, good friends! My first car date was with Vanda and Jay's first car date was with my sister. We always looked after each other. We used to play basketball and other games out at the old Goodlett gym. I can remember one time, Jay and I had to go out and find Vanda and Keith Melton, who were out in the country one night. They had run over a utility pole that was laying out in the middle of the county road and blown out all 4 tires on the pickup they were in. Jay and I took 4 wheels and tires out to where they were at and got them back going again. I can remember Van pulling up there and ribbing Keith a bit about putting the lug nits on backwards on the one spare they had with them. I think Keith was scared at first, but Van always had a way of making everything "OK".

Jay and I ran around together quite often after we got out of high school. Jay was in the class behind me. We used to fly his plane to Goodlett from Vernon to hunt. One time Jay had Travis Taylor, Skeeter and I in his plane with 4 shotguns. We landed on the farm to market road next to Van's airport north of Goodlett because it had rained the day before and the runway was muddy. On our "approach", I noticed we were about to take out a guide wire that was going across the road. I just grabbed a hold and yelled "wire!". Jay just ducked below it and we landed just fine. Waiting for us at the airport, Van asked us "how much did ya'll miss that wire by?". We were all still scared, trembling a bit as we got out of the plane. We went on to hunt dove and finally got to where we could laugh about the experience.

Van always took the time to make sure we had "prime" hunting. He had scouted out where the dove were before we got there.

I will miss Van dearly. I know he's resting easy, being able to breath with ease now.

Just some thoughts!

2008-11-25T21:07:00.004-06:00

A couple of things I'm thinking about.

How bout them Red Raiders!!! This has been one crazy ride! I have been a Texas Tech fan for years! Been through some pretty rough times! But even with the whipping we took from OU this past weekend, I'm proud to be a Red Raider. Never in school history have we had so much success! GO OSU COWBOYS!!! We still have a shot at the Big XII Championship!!!

The Big 3 automakers bailout has me concerned. I wonder what it would do for the US economy if they just gave us back that cash! Plus all the money the government has given to the financial institutions! WOW!

This will be my first Thanksgiving without my girls. At least I will have them Christmas. That was tough last year. They will be with family. They will have fun.

Harvest is wrapping up. Some time soon, I am going to start another blog on farming. More specifically the advancement in agriculture during the past 40 or so years. I think about my great granddad often and if he was still alive today, the changes that has gone on. There are very few original homesteads left in this part of the world. It's hard for me to imagine there being a home on every quarter section around here. And all the cotton gins and country elevators there used to be. Times have changed for the better!

I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T05:47:00.004-06:00

Well, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! I was originally going to Frisco to be with my son and daughter-in-law this week. I am staying in Lockney to help my friend Kurt with his harvest. He is behind and needs the help.

Since my divorce, I have dated a couple of girls. I have found dating to be extremely frustrating! So many issues! So much drama! I had just about given up on the whole dating thing back in the summer. I don't know if I had given up or just really gotten good with just me. Anyway, Yes, I was a Match.com subscriber, that was more fun than a barrel of monkeys! Lots of people there with lots of issues and drama all claiming to be "looking for the one". I learned to laugh at most of them. At the end of my subscription, I had pretty much quit looking and ignoring the contact notifications when I got this last one, that just said "you seem like a normal guy". So I responded.

Amy and I tell everyone we met at a coffee shop in Lubbock. Which that is the truth, we did meet there the first time! We emailed each other for about 2 months before we decided to meet. We put a lot of effort into being "just friends". We met each other and had supper or coffee. I didn't even pick her up for the longest. And we didn't share cell phone info for the longest.

Dating at 44 (about to be 45) is tough. You have a lot more issues to get past than you did in college. Kids (and I wouldn't trade them for the world! They very happily come first), exes, their kids, you name it, lots of issues. It has become fun for me.

Amy was in the same position as I was. Just looking for someone to "hang with". We have had lots of fun so far. I really enjoy her company. She's lots of fun! We are going to the Tech game Saturday night. (SURELY WE CAN BEAT BAYLOR AT THE JONES!)

I am sharing all this with you to say that I am going to Friona, Thursday to spend the day with Amy and her family. Is this the next level of our relationship?

Be praying for me and Amy. Lots of questions still to be answered. Pray for my patience!

Thanks!

My Friend Kurt

2008-11-22T08:34:00.002-06:00

Kurt is one of my best friends. We have several things in common. We both love farming. We both like to have coffee in the morning. We both procrastinate just a bit in areas of our lives. The most significant thing that we have in common is we're both divorcees. We both woke up one day thinking all was good or "OK" in that category of our lives to find out we were out. "OUCH!" That really stings the male ego. Especially when there are "extra males" involved.

Most of ya'll that have been reading this blog understands that it takes 2 to fail at marriage. I did my fair share to "run my ex off". Let me share a few, just so that you know I share the blame. (I don't know why that's so important to me to share this, maybe to help some of you "guys" stop some of the crap that your wife doesn't like you doing)

1. Worked most of the time
2. when wasn't at work, had fire, chamber, ag committee, EDC, or anything to keep from having to go home.
3. Took vacations alone. (fire school, car races, you name I did it)
4. Never ever made her #1

This is a short list. I could go on but these are the things that started out as little and got big. Take for instance, I'm a volunteer fireman, and we have meeting night 2 nights a month. As if that wasn't enough time to be away for this, my training turned into being gone an extra 6 to 8 nights a year to fire school in Lubbock and Canyon to going to College Station for a week every year and Wichita Falls 2 times a year for a long weekend. Going to the NASCAR races for a 4 day weekend to being gone 5 days twice a year. I could go on here too!

I'm not going to make a lot of excuses here for my actions back then, but most of my traveling was going on cause things weren't just rosy at home. I will never forget about 5 years ago, I told Lori that if we didn't get a handle on things in our marriage that we were headed for disaster. I will never forget her laughing at me.

Kurt still struggles with why his wife left him. Why she would choose another guy over him. She only had 3 extra marital affairs before she finally left for the last guy. (he's not missing much in case you can't read between the lies) There's never ever a time he and I get together that he doesn't bring her up. And if someone else walks up to us that we don't know and we begin to visit, it takes him about 2 sentences to let them know that we're marked men. I told him one time that he might as well go on down to the tattoo shop and get a great big D tattooed to his forehead so that he won't have to talk about it anymore.

Kurt is my friend. I would change the world for him if I could. He's a really good guy that can't seem to move on. I've been thinking now for almost 2 years that some day he will. He's been divorced for a year longer than me!

Keep him in your prayers! Keep us both in your prayers!!!

Thanks!

In Memory of Paul Lloyd

2008-11-19T14:25:00.005-06:00

Today was a special day for me. I often wrestle with why I live in a small town. Today was that reminder. Just to catch you up to speed here, I spent the first 10 years of my life here in Lockney. My father was killed in a farming accident in October of 1971. I have pictures of that fall that I will have to dig out and scan them in so that I can share them. In one picture is several combines. Neighbors pulling out of their own crop to help my mom get what my dad left behind harvested. Another picture is of over 25 cotton strippers. All of them 2 row, mostly tractor mount. I feel the need to bring some of you who do not have an ag background up to speed. Back in those days, if a farmer had a self propelled cotton stripper, he was up in modern times. There were only one manufacturer that I can remember that made a self propelled cotton stripper, being Hesston. Every one else had what you call a tractor mounted stripper. You used the tractor you already had and added the stripper mechanism to it. All of them harvested 2 rows at a time.

Today, we have these monster rigs that harvest 8 rows at a time. Oh yeah! We have module builders too! That is what is used to make the huge blocks of cotton you see in the fields and around the cotton gins. Back in the 70's we had trailers that we dumped in and pulled to town with our pickup trucks.

My friend, Paul Lloyd, was killed in an automobile accident in October. He left behind his wife Lori and 2 children that are in college. Paul farmed around Floydada. Almost his entire crop was left in the field to be harvested. Today, several of Paul's neighbors pulled off of their own crops to harvest what he left behind. Paul was a good friend of mine. We first got to know each other several years ago at the NASCAR race in Ft. Worth. I met his wife Lori there too. Paul was an awesome farmer. One of those "above average" producers. Paul always had a smile on his face and was always glad to see a friend.

I had the opportunity to go over and cook lunch for the guys that helped get his crop out today. The last I counted there were around 25 strippers there today. I fed 50 folks. I really had not put a lot of thought into what I was about to do this morning as I left. What kind of memories would surface. My friend Jason Pyle spearheaded the effort. I called him as I left Lockney this morning to find out where I needed to be. When I pulled up, I cried. To see that many folks take time to come help a friend in need was overwhelming! I can vividly remember back to 1971 and seeing all those that did the same for my family. I am honored to have had the opportunity to help. I got to visit with Lori some and all the folks there.

Paul Lloyd, rest in peace buddy! You will be missed!

My girls!

2008-11-19T07:35:00.002-06:00

I have to share these pictures of my girls!

My Mom!

2008-11-19T07:21:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. I almost forgot! When I remembered, her phone had accidentally changed to silence. Those of you that know my mom knows that it is highly unusual for her not to answer her phone. I finally talked to her last night about 7:00. She had a lot on her plate yesterday. Some time yesterday morning early she and my step-dad ended up in the emergency room in Childress. He has gall stones. So they spent most of the day in the hospital yesterday. When I finally got to talk to her last night they had just been discharged.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU!

This is going to look kinda funny after my last post.

http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158590~No_football_feud:_Harre

I got this from a friend yesterday! I hope all of you understand! I love my church family here in Lockney! They are unlike any church family I have been a part of. They love folks! Everyone!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!!! STAY TUNED FOR MY OFFICIAL TAKE ON THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY BAILOUT! I know the financial world is waiting on my thoughts on this!!! LOL!

Frustrated

2008-11-11T09:30:00.006-06:00

Frustrated is probably not the right word for how I feel, but i get to feel this way from time to time with the Church. You got to remember, I have spent a lifetime in the Church of Christ. I have worshipped with them all, the one cuppers, non-class, class, many cups, no kitchen, kitchen, no pitch pipes, pitch pipes, etc. (isn't that a shame, so many different factions!). I was visiting with some folks the other day about Texas Tech football before the huge UT game. The person was going on and on about how Colt McCoy was a member of the Church! Ok, that's cool and I knew that. Then they went on to tell me that Mack Brown was a member of the Church. Ok, what difference does it make? Are we going to become UT fans just because they have a couple of three folks (don't forget the Shipley kid's a member of the Church too!) that are members of the church? I know that Colt has had an awesome impact on that team. His ethics have been impeccable! And there has been several of his team mates take note. That is awesome.

Then I had a friend to ask me if the girl I was seeing right now was "a member of the Church"! So what if she's not? Am I not allowed to do things with a person of the opposite sex if they are not members of the church?

I have two really close friends of mine that are not "members of the Church". They are probably 2 of the best friends I have ever had. We have all been through very painful divorces. We talk a lot about the struggles of moving on. Should I not hang out with them if they are not members of the Church?

What did Jesus do? Matt. 20:20-28 talks about a mother's request. She wants her two sons to sit at the right and left hands of Jesus "in His kingdom". The woman didn't understand what she was asking. Then Jesus asked "can you drink from the same cup that I drink?" The woman answered "we can!". And indeed they could. But to sit at the right or left hand of Jesus was not His decision. In Christ we are all the same! Jesus went on to say that he did not come to this earth to "be served, but to serve.".

Are you able to follow me here? I get really frustrated with most folks in the Church of Christ because of the feeling of superiority they sometimes reflect. It's like my granddad's church is sticking it's ugly head up again! "We're the only ones going to heaven!". You've heard it! It's the same legalism that had me condemned for many, many years of my life! And it still lives today! Are we here to serve each other in the Church? Are we true reformist? Are we followers of Jesus? Are we followers of Campbell? I wonder sometimes what our message is as a Church?

I know what our message should be! To love and to serve, just as Jesus did! And stop this crazy legalism crap that has so crippled the church! The fact Colt McCoy, Mack Brown, and co., belongs to the Church should not even be an issue. I have known scores of people that were members, or should I say attended services, at a Church of Christ that were not christian. I know that's a bold statement, but I was one of them! I was baptised as a child and thought that if I just made it to service, I was in! That's not at all true!

I am a Christian! I do not belong to a church! I belong to Christ! I have the most wonderful family here in Lockney! We all share one thing! The blood of Christ that continues to flow, YES, IT"S STILL FLOWING 2,000 YEARS LATER!!!!!, for me and you!!!!

Oh yeah! One more thing! That blood will never coagulate as our blood does! It cleanses me daily!

ARE YOU A PART OF JESUS' FAMILY OR A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH?

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

History

2008-11-04T23:19:00.007-06:00

Just some thoughts as i sit and watch history unfold here tonight.

1. I'm not old enough to remember much about the 60's and the Equal Rights movement. But I do remember Jesse Jackson running for president back in the 70's and hearing the older folks around saying that there was no way an African-American could be elected president of the United States of America. Well, it has happened! Congratulations President-elect Obama.

2. Most of you know that I am a Republican. Even though my great-grandad kicks the dirt off his grave (and yes, I covered him back up Friday! LOL!) every time I enter the voting machine, I don't vote straight line Republican. Some of Democrats that I have voted for are Charlie Stenholm, Pete Laney and Joe Heflin just to mention a few. I have always tried to put country first. I'm not proud of where my party has taken the country. I guess you could describe me as a Reagan Republican. We have to keep one thing in mind! What would Jesus do? He would embrace and love Barack Obama. If you don't believe me open your Bible up. What did he come to earth to do? To serve, not to be served. So I challenge you, even though you don't agree with his views, to come together as a country and support our leaders. This is turbulent times we live in. We have to come together. If you don't do anything else just pray for them. We all know how powerful prayer is. And that God answers prayers!

3. John McCain, you ran an awesome campaign. I think you made an awesome choice in Sarah Palen as your running mate. And, I have to say, a tear came to my eye as you conceded. You are a class act. I would have loved to see what kind of President you would have been. You are my hero. Thank you for your service.

4. I get all of my news from Fox News. There are the most genuine folks on that cable news channel. As I watch tonight I continue to be impressed by their coverage of the happenings of the day. Sean, take a chill pill and and stop trying to point fingers at the media for supporting Obama. Oh yeah, I wouldn't be a man if I didn't make mention of the really pretty girls that Fox finds.

5. Todd and Sarah Palen, because of you, I have some new found faith in the political system. Your ability to balance family and career is an example for all of us to follow. You seem to have your priorities in the right places. I really like some of things Sarah has been able to accomplish in Alaska. Putting the state owned jet on ebay is priceless. At least you have walk the walk. You have stood up to the status quo in your state and I can't wait to watch your political career to grow. You have my support.

Whether you agree with President-elect Obama or not, you have to admire his victory. For me, it's kinda like a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta when Carl Edwards won the race only to find out Jimmy Johnson came in second, and only gained like 10 points on him. I am not a Jimmy Johnson fan, but I have to admire his desire and the talent he has. I know that's a poor analogy, but that's how my red-neck mind works.

Thanks for stopping by! I am gong to take more time to write! Just been really busy selling corn seed! LOL!

Lots of things on my mind today!!

2008-10-12T23:13:00.007-05:00

Been a crazy last couple of weeks for me. This economic debacle has put a strangle hold on my sales! In case you haven't noticed, the commodity markets have taken a dive as well. I know it will all come out in the wash. I had felt for some time that the grains were in some kind of a false market. Which the corn market has been directly tied to oil due to the many ethanol plants that have gone up over the past couple of years. With oil below $90, we will continue to see the demand on corn soften. I think the cattle folks will be glad to see the drop in feed prices. My customers are singing the blues though.

It is fun to see my Red Raiders in the national spot light! The high powered Mike Leach office is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Oh yeah! Have you heard we have 2 Heisman candidates at Tech? The Michael Crabtree-Graham Harrell duo has proven to be deserving of the attention. They keep finding ways to win! This week will be the test! Tech at A&M. Even though A&M has had a less than banner year, lets not forget they are at Kyle Field. 4 Of the Big 12 south or in the top 10 in the poles. What fun is that!!!!

This past week was fire prevention week. One of the funnest things I get the opportunity to do with the fire department here is teach the kids at the Main Street Church of Christ preschool "Noah's Ark" about fire prevention. We always take the fire trucks down to the church and let all the kids go for a ride. Then we go back to the station and have the kindergarten kids there. We showed them the video "Dan Doofus on Fire Prevention". Not as cute as the "Sparky's ABC's Of Fire Safety", but sense it's on VHS and the DVD version is over $300, I won't be a "Doofus". LOL

Have a good week! Thanks for stopping by!

Floydada Nerd Day

2008-10-02T17:06:00.004-05:00

The Lockney Jr. High is on there way over to the county rivals tonight. My daughter, Sarah is in Jr. High this year. Today was Floydada Nerd Day at LJH. What I find quite amusing is the fact that she has her aggie sweat bottoms on for the day. I have a very sweet picture of Sarah holding Lizzie the day we brought her home from the hospital. The same sweet smile!

I love you Sarah!!!

Black Monday

2008-09-29T17:50:00.002-05:00

Well, Here we go ago. More of the democrats pointing fingers at the GOP for the failure of today's Bailout bill. They failed to mention that 40% of the dems voted against their own bill! They seem to be focused on the fact that this is Bush's fault and blaming the 60% of the republicans that voted against it. $700 Billion (yes, Billion with a B) to bailout the financial world! What is going to happen to the folks that got these companies that got us in this mess? Will they keep there 6 and 7 digit bonuses? That just crazy!

Now, the republicans are the villains for the crash of the markets today. Just think about this:

1. Why didn't the dems have a backup?

2. Why did Pelossi dog the Bush administration before the vote?

3. Why didn't the house leaders have their ducks in a row before the vote?

Well, it failed! We are in trouble because of the poor leadership in congress!

Goals

2008-09-25T16:52:00.002-05:00

I'm not much of a goal setter. I have always been one of those guys that just "got it done". It's budget time for 2009 at UAP/CPS (I don't know exactly who I work for right now, the name change was suppose to take place September 1, but everyone is still answering their phones UAP.) and I have set some really good goals for myself this coming year. I have mentioned that I have really struggled this year in sales. I can't blame it all on the company, some of it has been my fault. I have battled depression over the past year and 1/2 and just now getting back to "me" again. I always find it a little tough setting goals or forecasting the next year when we still have a crop in the field and all the farmers are still uncertain about what they are going to grow next year. The cotton market remains some what flat, especially when you compare it to the grain markets. I have lots of folks talking about no cotton next year, primarily talking about wheat and sorghum/corn for next year. I love my job. I have the best job in the world. I get to help farmers maximize their yield potentials. My favorite time of the year is now. I get to go out with these guys and talk about successes and where we can improve for the next year.

I look forward to 2009!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wesley's Service

2008-09-23T22:13:00.001-05:00

This is something new for me! This is for Wesley's cousin, Wade Miller, who is a teacher and missionary in Japan.

Hope this turns out Wade!

Wesley Hunter

Harvest time!

2008-09-23T12:35:00.003-05:00

Well, this is my favorite time of the year with exception to my allergies! LOL! I will be out and about in the area visiting with farmers as they are harvesting this years crop. It is another good one. God has blessed us with several really good crops in a row now. This one has been an expensive one, but looks like yields are going to take care of us. Fuel, fertilizer and technology continue to rise in price, causing this a record year as far as input cost go. It doesn't look like next years crop will be any cheaper. The world demand on fertilizer continues to pressure fertilizer supply. Fuel cost also remain a huge factor as we gather this crop and get it processed.

The memorial service for Wesley Hunter will be this afternoon at 4:00, with burial to be Thursday at the National Cemetery in Denver. Keep the Hunter family in your prayers. Also, a love fund has been established at City Bank here in Lockney. I think it is the Wesley Hunter Love Fund. Call Sherri McDonald or Kelly Prayor at the bank 806-652-3355.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Emotional Sunday

2008-09-21T15:48:00.002-05:00

Today has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. All of Wesley's family was at worship this morning. Lot's of tears shed! One of our AIM assistance gave the opening prayer. He couldn't have prayed a better prayer! "God, we are having a conflict of interest here today". I couldn't have said it any better! And that's the truth! We are wondering "why" today. I know the answer will come in the days and months to come.

I can relate way too well with his kids, having lost my daddy at an early age. I got to feed his daughter today at lunch. She will be 2 in November.

Wesley, you are my hero! Dad, take care of him!

The week in review

2008-09-18T22:16:00.005-05:00

I usually don't do this till Friday, but I have lots on my mind, and feel the need to share it.

I have found this blogging thing to be very therapeutic for me. It gives me a chance to share some thoughts and things that are going on around me. This week has no exception.

Yesterday morning, here in Lockney, we had a young lady raped. A single mom, she has a beautiful baby boy that is just over a year old. No support form the guy that got her pregnant, minding her own business, and really, doing the best that she can, considering her circumstance. She is a sweet girl, always has a smile on her face. She wouldn't hurt a flea, unless that flea was on her boy. At 4:00 in the morning, this thug enters her home by breaking out a window on her back door and entered the home. I don't want to say anymore about the crime, but the thug is already back out on the streets.

Today, we lost a hero. A young man that wanted to do nothing more than serve his country. Went over to Iraq to defend our freedoms. Another thug, a gutless one I might add, plants a road side bomb, killing two and seriously injuring my friend. He never got over his injuries. Pain ruled his life.

Now for the positive.

I try really hard to find positive things to blog about. Me and my girls went to the Tech game on Saturday. We had a really good time. Spent some awesome quality time together. I love my babies, and can't wait to see them again.

Tuesday we had the Floyd County Ag Tour. I got to spend some time with some really good folks there. Also learned about wind energy. I also got to spend some time with a lady that I have grown quite fond of over the past couple of months.

Wednesday was spent getting ready for my grower meeting that was held today. I had 22 customers there. We looked at several different varieties of cotton. Had some really good country style ribs that I cooked.

I guess that I right this tonight because I need to reflect and see the positive things of the past week. I have to do this to keep my sanity. It is an awesome place to release some things.

Prayers request:
I want all of you to say a prayer for the Hunter family. They are hurting right now. Pray for something redemptive to come of their tragedy.

Also, be praying for the young lady that was raped. She needs prayers so bad.

Pray for me and my girls this weekend. I get them tomorrow and get to keep them till Monday. I get to take them to school on Monday morning. My request is that I be all that I can be in the daddy department.

I will be working the phones Friday night at the West Texas Friday Night Score Board Show. If you have your schools score, give us a call! 1-800-983-5704

Lockney has Homecoming this weekend. Kurt, Martha, Amy and I are going to tailgate at the game. If your anywhere near Lockney, stop by for a jalapeno and a sausage wrap. Might even have a glass of tea for you! Oh yeah! I got shrimp to stuff in the japs this week! They ought to be good.

Saturday, Sarah is cheering at the little league football game, then it's Old Fashion Saturday in Lockney! We have brand new sidewalks downtown and new street lights! I can't wait for darkness on Saturday night and the new lights come on! There will be lots of games and food there.

Sunday is Third Sunday Fellowship at church. We have the best cooks in the world right here. If you're in the country, stop by, we always have plenty of food.

Hope all is well with all of y'all!

Love ya!
Preston

Never Forget

2008-09-17T21:44:00.007-05:00

My heart is saddened today at the loss of a soldier from Lockney. Staff Sargent Wesley Hunter passed away this afternoon. I didn't know Wes very well. He had just graduated from high school when I moved back. I know his older sister and his parents very well. They worship here in Lockney with me.

Wes was injured when his humvee struck a land mine outside of Baghdad February 26, 2006. He lost two of his team members in the incident. Wes was brought home with lots of shrapnel in his body. He has battled with pain ever since. He had just gotten to Lockney yesterday for a visit with his family and friends. He went in to take a nap this afternoon, not to wake up.

I missed the ambulance page cause I was in the clinic at the time getting an allergy shot. I heard the sirens as I walked out of the clinic, went to see what was happening as they pulled into the ER here in Lockney. When I figured out who it was, my heart sank. We have a really good hospital here, but when they get a "code", they can be short handed. We, the ambulance crew and I, stayed to help with compressions as the doctors and nurses were busy with other things. We worked on him for what seemed like and eternity, all the long I was praying a selfish prayer, "God, please don't let him die!". I have worked a few codes at the ER over the years. All of them has been on folks who were older, folks that in my mind has served their time. It just didn't seem right, 28 years old, a beautiful wife and 2 beautiful children. I guess you're never ready for a young person to die.

His mom came to me afterward and asked me to go get Mandy, her oldest child and Wesley's sister. I quickly went out the door, got in my pickup and started towards her house before I realized what I was about to do. As I drove over, I was praying the whole time, "God, give me the words and the strength to do this!". When I got there, I broke down. I couldn't say anything, only to hug her and nod my head when she asked me if he was gone. On the way to the hospital, Mandy told me that she had been praying that this visit be redemptive. She looked at me and asked me "has it been?". What do you say? "Yes, it will be, It has to be" was my reply. And I know in my heart that it will be. God wants 2 things from each of us: 1. For all men to be saved 2. and for all of us to be made in the likeness of Christ.

Here's to you, Wesley! I love you and thank you for your sevice. My freedom that I enjoy so much is because of men like you. Oh yeah, say hi to my dad!

Against the Wind 2

2008-09-17T21:44:00.005-05:00

More pics from Tuesday's ag tour. The turbines just absolutely intrigued me. Their massive size! I love some of these picks.

That's me in the "shades". My friend, Martha Cross, in the red to my left. One of the fund raising folks from Martha's office, Mike Melcher, to her left. My friend, David Appling, is talking to Mike. Standing immediately to my left but out of the picture is Amy Read. The lady talking to me is Debbie Montandon.

My long time friends, Matt Williams and Darrell Rasco

Our county agent, JD Ragland in the hat, along with RES project manager Brett Marble in the blue shirt.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Against The Wind

2008-09-16T17:49:00.006-05:00

We had our Floyd County Ag tour today. I got to spend time with some old friends, new friends, and even made a couple of new acquaintances. These are my favorite times of the year. A time to get together and reflect.

We toured the RES Whirlwind Energy wind farm today. I have never had the opportunity to get up close and personal to these monsters. The blades are about 130' long making the totally length over 260'. If the turbine is turning at 16 RPM, the end of the blades are traveling at over 170 mph.

We had a record crowd. Usually we have somewhere around 40 -50 folks at the tour. 3 years ago, we had almost 100 for a tour that featured Senator Robert Duncan. Today we fed somewhere around 140 folks! It was a huge success!

Preston

Ike

2008-09-15T13:07:00.002-05:00

Is it just me? Is there anyone else having a hard time feeling sorry for those folks in the Houston-Galveston area that "rode out" the storm and now can't get enough food and water? They have only been warning them for a week now to "get out".

I have tried my dead level best to have some compassion for those folks. I have even prayed for them. But now they can't get enough food and water to survive and they want to blame the government? Come on folks! We can't depend on our government for every little crisis in our lives! That's not what this country was built around. You have to be responsible for your own actions. And the fact that they didn't heed the warnings is their own fault!

I was watching Fox News Friday afternoon and Geraldo was in a bar on Galveston Island, full of folks! They were just partying and had no intentions on leaving. Crazy! And even Geraldo was warning them about leaving! The weather service put out a statement on Friday morning that if you stayed out on Galveston Island that you were in "grave danger". "Most likely death will occur if you stay behind!". Oh well!

Have a good day!

Preston

Texas Tech beats SMU

2008-09-14T13:27:00.007-05:00

We had a lot of fun last night in Lubbock. The girls and I left Lockney about 1:00 pm yesterday, stopped at the Broadway Brew in Plainview and had refreshments with Kurt and Martha. Lizzie played checkers with Kurt and whipped him! It was fun. We got to Lubbock about 3:00 and went to Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers for a late lunch. Stopped by Tech Outfitters and got the girls jerseys. We went over to the stadium and walked around in Raider Alley for a while. We went up into our seats about 5:00 and watched the warm-ups and all the pregame festivities. Found my friend, David Appling, and visited with him for a bit. Kurt and Martha showed up just in time for the Kick-off. My friend Amy came up with her friend Tonya and her little boy Hunter. They got there with about 5 minutes left in the first half. We had a good time with them. My cousin Kevin's daughter, Maddie, came over and visited with us too. We haven't got to see her in a while. She is a student at Tech. One of my best friends, Jay Foster from Childress, was at the game too, but we couldn't get over to see him and his boys.

I really enjoy the pageantry of college football. The traditions that continue. One of my favorite Tech traditions is the Masked Rider. They have really had to "squeeze" down the activities of the Masked Rider after some accidents of years past. The only time they really get to get the horse out onto the field and let him run is before the game starts. I miss the running after touchdowns. The taking of the reigns in the rider's mouth, letting the horse run along the sidelines, with the rider's "guns up". Another of my favorites were the third down clickers. I still have a couple of those around here somewhere! LOL!

One of the things I got a kick out of last night was the students, there was a group of students along the sidelines that were shirtless, with their upper bodies painted black and each one of them having a letter painted on their chest. "Dunk the Methodist". After the rain Thursday, and the fact that Jones AT&T stadium was dubbed Friday "Jones AT&T Aquatic Center" with over 8" of water on the field Friday morning, I thought it was rather fitting! LOL! I took a picture of it, but it didn't come out at all.

Not many times have tears come to my eyes at a Tech football game. As they played the Star Spangle Banner last night, Tears began to flow. Since the tragedy of 9-11, the song has a whole new meaning to me.

The Moon was absolutely spectacular last night, reminding me that there is a God, and He did create the universe. Giving us things that absolutely no one else could.

All in all, a perfect night for football. I got to spend some really awesome time with my girls, saw some good friends, and had fun!

Tech won the game 43-7

Thanks for reading!

The Week In Review

2008-09-13T10:58:00.006-05:00

Another very busy but productive week!

FINALLY!!!! The Lockney Longhorns snapped a over 2 year, 23 game losing streak!! We beat Claude last night 32-0. I was really proud for the boys, really for the whole community. Going over 2 years not winning a single game really puts the whole town in a self-esteem problem. Things are much better now, lifting the monkey off the kid's backs.

The rain this week is the "big" news for the area. We received over 5" here in Lockney. Lubbock received around 9", setting a new record for a 24 hour period. Over around Crosbyton, they got 11". I understand the water is flowing in dry creek beds in Roaring Springs and east of Crosbyton. I am going to try and take my girls over to see that on our way to Lubbock today before the Tech game. I have an aunt that lives in the Houston area and she is "hunkered" down riding out Ike. Keep her and all the folks down there in your prayers.

I have been disappointed this week in FedEx-Kinkos this week. I am having a grower meeting next week and I went to Lubbock Thursday during the big rain to have my invitations professionally done. They told me that they could set up the postcards with a 24 hour turn-a-round. At 9:00 pm last night, I finally got my proofs e-mailed to me. The proofs they sent me basically had the 3 logos I wanted on 3 different postcards. No text, no nothing. I got up early this morning and went to Men's breakfast at church, talked to Todd Bissett and he set me up, I ran to the office and printed them and got them in the mailed this morning. I feel much better now that they are in the mail. That has been very frustrating for me.

Remembering 9-11 had been another thing on my mind this week. I need to remember that daily. To be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. The price folks paid that day to remind us how vulnerable we are.

Last nights radio show was another success. We covered 180 games last night! It is a blast to talk to folks across the region that had been to their game. Some disappointed, most excited!

I am looking forward to spending some time with my girls this weekend. We are going to leave at 3:oo this afternoon for the Tech game. The Red Raiders are playing long time South West Conference foe SMU. That seems to have been so long ago. I was watching a documentary on FSN a couple of weeks ago that recapped all the SWC games, year by year. I have fond memories of those days. Let's hope the Raiders show up today and put a whipping on the Mustangs.

Things to pray for this week: Keep me and my kids in your prayers. Pray for me to do the things I need to do to be all that I can be in the Dad department. Pray for my church family. We made some really big financial commitments to kids from our congregation that are either in SIBI or AIM. Pray for everyone to seek God's will in all they do. That we all make our bodies living sacrifices to Him. That this is not a one time thing, that we all search and strive to grow in our relationship with God daily. I know that I need that prayer. Keep the folks affected by the weather this week in your prayers. And, pray for my grower meeting. I have struggled sales wise this year and need to really ramp things up in that part of my life.

Thanks for reading!

Preston

Friday Fun!

2008-09-12T16:53:00.004-05:00

By now, most of you know that I am a huge Sarah Palin fan. I got these pictures in an e-mail today!

Enjoy!

Top 10 small towns In Texas

2008-09-11T19:40:00.003-05:00

Well, I just had to write this real fast! I was on yahoo just a bit ago checking my e-mail when I saw this "Top 10 Towns in America". So, I am going to go through a few of my favorites in Texas.

1. Lockney, Texas
Where else do you think would be my #1? Here in Lockney, housing is very affordable, the best people in the whole world, the best church on the south plains, and a unique downtown. We just finished the new sidewalks on main, with the help of a state parks grant. On main street, we have 3 very unique stores: Heart's Desire, a store that has it all, women's clothing, gifts, signs, toys, dishes, everything a woman could ever want! Kaleidoscope, a monogram, screen print shop that you can get all of your Lockney Longhorn apparel. A candle, women's purse store called Heaven's Scent (I think that's the name of it. It just opened!). We still have a full service service station, a lumber yard/hardware store that is second to none, 3 cotton gins, a grain elevator, and me of course.

2. Claytonville, Texas
This town makes my #2 due to it's cafe. I really don't know the name of it but they have the best hamburger in the state! Hand patted meat on a homemade bun! And their fries are hand cut too! On Friday night they have an awesome seafood buffet for $12.00. Claytonville is about 7 or 8 miles east of Kress.

3. Fredricksburg, Texas
I know, it's a far jump from Lockney to Fredricksburg! But the shopping there is great! They have all kinds of stores there! Good restaurants!

4. Canadian, Texas
An awesome town! This little town is nestled up next to the Canadian River and surrounded by beautiful grasslands that gently roll. This town has it all, hotels, bed and breakfast, restaurants, even movie theater!

5. Albany, Texas
About 30 miles or so north of Abilene, Albany is another really cool town. A downtown area that is alive and thriving with many gift shops, and yes, they have really good restaurants there too! In the June, they have Fandangle, a play that the whole town turns out for and participates in. It's setting is at Fort Griffin state park and is a historical production of the area.

6. Buffalo Gap, Texas
The Perini Ranch Steakhouse! Enough said!

7. Lockhart, Texas
There is a little, hole in the wall, Bar-B-que joint there! I can't remember the name of it, but it takes up about 3 store fronts in downtown. They cook all the meat in a brick oven in the wall, and serve you on butcher paper with a chunk of cheese and bread!! Yummy! I haven't been there in over 15 years! Sounds like road trip time!

8. Robstown, Texas
In the coastal bend region of Texas, Robstown is a cotton town! And not just any cotton either! JOE COTTON'S! Many times, voted the best of Texas Bar-B-Que in Texas Monthly, Joe Cotton's is some of the best food in the state. Don't remember much more about the town! LOL!

9. Rockport, Texas
AHHH! Texas bay fishing at it's best! Also, The Boiling Pot is a restaurant that serves boiled shrimp, crawdads, corn on the cob and sausage. They bring it out to you in a pot and dump it out on the table! AWESOME!

10. Tulia, Texas
Ok, this is starting to sound more like a food tour than best towns! The El Camino serves up the best Chili Rellenos you have ever put in your mouth. People drive from miles around just for that!

In case you can't tell, I like good food! There are many other places I like to eat. Coyote Bluff in Amarillo is one of my favorites. The Rib-Eye there is to die for! Hand cut fries, grilled onions, mushrooms, and jalapenos!

Happy eating and feel free to add to my list!!

What a day!

2008-09-11T18:31:00.002-05:00

I just got home from Lubbock. The rain continues to fall there. I had some printing stuff done at Kinkos at 82nd and Quaker. I left there at 4:30 and it took me till 5:30 to get to the north side of town. Many streets under water. Traffic was at a crawl! The north loop was backed up from the interstate to almost Indiana. The north and south traffic on the Interstate at the north loop was diverted onto the access road due to the road being under water. I bet it was at least 6' deep at the under pass of the north loop! The traffic on the Interstate was moving at about 50 mph all the way to New Deal. What usually takes me an hour to drive, took right at 2! And you can't believe the folks who were in big SUVs and pickups that were just chugging on! Made me nervous. I almost pulled into a hotel for the night. I thought at any minute, Noah was going to pull through Lubbock in his ark! LOL!

That reminds me of a story a guy used to tell me. He was raised out north of Levelland in the Pettit community. We were all sitting around the coffee table one morning at McDonald's in Levelland after a rain. We had almost 2" there in town. Out at Pettit it had rained less than a 1/2". He told me that back in the great flood, they only had .6" and that the dove Noah sent out found that Olive branch in Pettit. LOL! I love that story!

Metamorphis

2008-09-10T22:47:00.002-05:00

At worship tonight, we studied the first two versus of Romans 12. Verse 1 "Therefore, I urge you, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship."Verse 2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Paul wants us to understand one thing here. "this is your spiritual act of worship" Wow, what a mouth full. To offer our bodies as living sacrifices, I can't imagine, I can't even to begin to grasp the hem of the garment, my body being worth a living sacrifice. It is my hope that I am pleasing God, but I can't begin to understand that. I am a sinner, I struggle daily! The good thing about all of this, MERCY! God's mercy in awesome. That's another thing we can't understand, but will someday. When we get that awesome opportunity to see Him, we will then understand. To be transformed, this is not a "one time, on the spot" process. This should completely and totally discredit the once saved always saved theory. Your "transformation" is on going. Renewing your mind is a daily act. To continually change your life. You must pray and study daily to complete your journey here.

Just some thoughts I took form the study tonight. Hope this helps you a little bit!

Love you all!

Preston

09-11-01

2008-09-10T16:31:00.003-05:00

Here on the eve of the 7th anniversary of the worst day in American history, I reflect on the memories of that day. It started like any other day in west Texas. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining. A heavy dew on the ground. It had been a dry, hot summer and the cotton was very mature for the time of the year. Russ Perkins, who is the Tech Services rep for Bayer Crop Science and a fellow volunteer fireman/EMT from Idalou, and I was looking at a patch of cotton or two to do some defoliation plots on. We had pretty much decided that the cotton needed another week or two to be ready for that. On our way back to town, Mark Nutt called me and asked if I had heard yet about the jet that had crashed into the WTC. We had not heard so we stopped at the D&J Gin here in Lockney to see what it looks like on TV. Still not real sure about what all was going on, as we were watching the TV, the second jet flew into the other tower then the news of the Pentagon. We couldn't believe what we were seeing. The news folks started talking about the other jet that was till missing and that all air travel was suspended. Then we heard the news about United flight 93. It had crashed in rural Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board. Our thoughts immediately went to a friend of ours that was traveling. Jane Dever was a mutual friend to Russ and I. I had worked with Jane at the experiment station in Lubbock while I was at Tech, and Russ worked with her at Bayer. We started trying to call her, in about an hour we finally made contact with her. She was safe and sound in Houston, stranded there, but safe. She was living at the time in Memphis and her husband was on his way to Memphis via his car to get her. Then, I started wondering about my youngest step brother. John travelled with his job. I finally made contact with him. He was safe at home in Lewisville, having his flight cancelled from DFW before it was able to leave. For the next couple of days, we all watched in awe, not believing that someone would do this in the USA. Our hearts going out to the families affected by the tragedy.

We have grown as a nation since that awful day. We are much more prepared for events like this. I complain ever time I go through an airport these days, but after I'm safely on the plane and pulling away form the gate, I remember that day. The price all the people paid that day for stricter airport security. Then I pray, thanking God for my safety. Also thanking Him for allowing me to live in a country that allows me to worship Him without fear.

What have we learned from that day?

1. There is a God. He loves me, and wants me to serve him.
2. Not taking our freedoms for granted.
3. There are people out there that doesn't know God. They have been led down a very unGodly track, not believing He is alive.
4. We have to protect our freedoms. There has been a lot of talk about the Iraqi war, and the war in Afghanistan in the presidential campaigns. How we need diplomacy. I back our current administration in the fight for our freedom. The protection of our rights.
5. We need a strong, courageous, Godly man as president.

I could go on and on here. But I think you get the point.

Never forget how you felt that day. The day our freedoms were attacked.

Preston

The Weekend

2008-09-09T20:22:00.002-05:00

Yes, I know! It's just Tuesday. But me and the girls are headed to Lubbock Saturday for the Texas Tech football game. Tech plays SMU this weekend. We didn't make a game last year. They are way excited about going to the game. I am too! We are going to eat at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, one of our favorite places to eat before any Tech game. We always eat there before the basketball games too. We try and make at least 2 women and 2 men's games a season. With their mom an aggie, they really like to go when Tech is playing the aggies.

My Dad

2008-09-09T06:04:00.006-05:00

My dad's birthday was last week. On September 3 he would have been 63. I didn't forget about it, just didn't really know what to say. This morning I was looking through a drawer in my dresser looking for some stuff. I ran across this poem that was found on his grave, just a few days after we buried him in 1971. It was written by one of his best friends, Jr. Poole. He and Jr. were quite a pair. I can remember going up to his automotive shop here in Lockney as a child and working on cars till all hours of the night. I would go out and lay down in the seat of the pickup and sleep. That shop is still there. Jr. and his sons still operate it. Jr. had a malignant tumor removed from behind his right eye a couple of months of go.

One of the funniest memories I have of those two was in about 69 or 70. I don't remember exactly what year it was. One of those years, dad had backed over mom's car in a grain truck. Pretty much took the top right off the car. So he bought her a new car. A 1968 Pontiac GTO. What a car! It was maroon with a black vinyl top and red interior. One Saturday afternoon, dad and Jr. headed off to the drag races in Amarillo in that car. I can still hear my mom telling them "do not race my car!" as they were leaving. We got up Sunday morning for worship, headed out the door to get in the car, and there it was! Their times still shoe polished on the windshield, they had raced mom's car. Now, you have to understand one thing, my dad stood almost 6' 7", and weighed a very muscular 235. My mom is about 5' 8". She started in on him "I told ya'll not to race my car!". I can remember being scared to death of my mom when she lost her temper! LOL! We got in the car to and dad started it, it had a dead miss! LOL! It was only hitting on about 7 cylinders! Mom said "ya'll ruined my car! ya'll ruined my car!" all the way to church. Fun memories!

EPITAPH OF A DAY

JUST A YEAR AGO THIS LORDS DAY

WE TOOK TIME OFF TO GO AND PLAY

TO THE NORTH PLAINS WE DID GO,

HIS IN FRONT, MINE IN TOW. THE

DAY WAS SHOT BUT RON'S LUCK WAS NOT

I RUN SOME, HE RUN MANY, BY EVENING

LATE WE HAD RACED PLENTY.

IT WAS A DAY SPENT WITH A FRIEND, I

JUST WISH WE COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN

WE TALKED A LOT IN TIMES GONE BY, ABOUT

THINGS MOST FOLKS WOULD WONDER WHY.

WELL WE DID LIKE LOTS OF THE SAME,

SOMETHING DIFFERENT, NOT TO TAME.

BUT NOW THOSE CHERISHED TIMES ARE OVER,

AND DAYS FOR ME ARE A LOT MORE SOBER.

D.B.P

In memory of Ronnie Belt

September 3, 1945

October 8, 1971

Happy birthday dad!

The Chase

2008-09-08T15:30:00.009-05:00

The Playoffs! NASCAR style! I will have to say this is my favorite time of the year. I don't keep up with much in the sporting world except for the Cowboys of course and the Red Raiders. I actually like college sports much more than pro. It's kids like Danny Amendola, Wes Welker and, my all time favorite, Zach Thomas, that attract me to college sports. They are guys that weren't really sought after in the recruiting ranks. But with shear determination and the love of the game, these guys persevere. Each one of these guys have fond places in my heart. The Zach Thomas interception in the closing seconds of the aggie game in 1995, Wes Welker punt returns for touchdowns, and Danny Amendola out working larger opponents for Red Raider TD's. I guess the reason why I enjoy the Zach Thomas interception ssssooooo much, I was in the south end-zone at, then, Jones Stadium, waving him in to beat the aggies.

On to NASCAR. The thing that attracts me to NASCAR is horsepower and the way those guys squeeze it all out of those cars and make the rubber meet the asphalt. I was not a huge fan of NASCAR till the 2005 season. I made my first race at Texas Motor Speedway. When they got the command to fire the engines and moved onto the track, chill bumps ran up and down my spine. Then, when the pace car left the track and the boys took the green, MAN! I was hooked! I made the 2006 spring and fall race at TMS.

The chase, for those of you not in the "know" of NASCAR, is made up of the top 12 drivers in points through this past weekend. One of my drivers, Matt Kenseth, has made every "chase" since it was created 5 years ago. Actually, the first year the "chase" was created, all 5 of the Roush cars were in. No other owner has had all of his rides in the chase. That year, Kurt Busch was still in the roush stable, but did not race in the last 2 races of the year due to a DUI and a skirmish with the Maricopa County Sheriff's office. He was sponsored by Crown Royal, and his contract prohibited drinking and driving. PLUS he had already made an "in-season" deal with Penske to take over Rusty Wallace's seat in the blue deuce. He has not been a contender since the move.

Let's talk a little bit about this year's "chase" drivers. In the top spot, which he has owned nearly since Daytona, is Kyle Busch. He is the younger brother of Kurt, is from Las Vegas and is one of the "bad boys" of the sport. He's very arrogant and not one of my favorites. He drove the 5 kelloggs car, after the retirement of "Texas" Terry LaBonte, for Hendrick Motor Sports. He left that ride last year and has been driving for Joe Gibbs Racing this year in, all things, A Toyota. In the second spot is "Cousin" Carl Edwards. He drives the 99 Roush Fenway Racing Office Depot Ford Fusion. Carl is one of my favorites. He is a phenom of sorts, getting Jack Roush's attention by handing him a business card at a race that simply said "Carl Edwards, I need a ride". He started out in the Craftsman Truck Series and worked his way up through the ranks into his current Cup ride. His race winning gesture has captivated many fans. He stands on the window of his car and does a back flip out of the car. I still remember his first win in Atlanta when he patented his back flip. In the 3rd spot is Jimmy Johnson. I will have to say, I like nearly all of the drivers, I probably pull for certain one's not to win more than I pull for anyone in particular. Johnson would be one of those guy's I love to see hit the wall. Some what of a cry baby when he doesn't get his way, Jimmy is one of those guy's you love to hate. He is the reigning 2 time champ of the series. It is going to be really hard for me to see Mark Martin a team mate of his this next year. (it's hard enough for me to see Mark driving a chevy! LOL!) In the 4th spot is, every one's favorite. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. made the move from his father's company, now owned and operated by his step-mom and his dad's widow Theresa Earnhardt, to Hendrick this year and took over the ride that Kyle Busch had last year. What used to be the #5 kelloggs car is now the #88 Amp Energy Drink chevy. After a somewhat successful first part of the season, Jr. has struggled a bit as of late, taking heat for both he and his Crew Chief, cousin Tony Eury Jr., by the Jr. Nation. Don't worry, He will do fine! In the #5 spot is Clint Bowyer. Clint is form Emporia, Kansas and the darling of the state. He was on the bubble much of the season, in and out of the top 12, but with his performance on Sunday, shot up from #12 to #5 in the standings. Clint drives the #07 Jack Daniels Chevy for Richard Childress Racing. I really like this kid. He is leading the old Busch, now the Nationwide, Series. He can drive a race car. #6 in the standings is Denny Hamlin. Denny is another one of those "phenom" type guys that took the sport by storm. Driving the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing, Fed Ex Toyota, you can't scratch him out. he is a very scrappy driver and a lot of fun to watch. 7th in the standings is Jeff Burton. Jeff is the driver of the Richard Childress Racing #31 AT&T chevy. A former Roush driver, Jeff won the inaugural race at Texas. And by the way, is the only driver to win 2 races there. Burton is another one of those Mark Martin style drivers, racing everyone very clean and expects to be treated the same. In the 8th spot is Tony Stewart. Tony is finishing up his career with JGR this year and will be moving over to Stewart Haas racing next year. Yes, the Stewart 1/2 of the name is his. Haas lured him away from JGR with 1/2 ownership in the company and Chevy paid out his existing contract at JGR to get him back in a Chevy. Tony will be a contender! 9th is Greg Biffle. Another Roush Fenway driver, Greg is known for his driving technique. He can drive the loosest race car better than anyone I know. And #10, poor old Jeff Gordon. He's another one of those you love to hate. Anytime he's in the wall, I laugh! #11 is Kevin Harvick. Harvick is the guy thrust into the limelight in 2001 after the untimely death of Dale Earnhardt. He's one of those "bad boys" that you either like or hate. I like him. He's very competitive, He's fun to watch. And last but not least, Matt Kenseth. Matt is out of the Roush stable. He is a past 2 time champ of the series, and the 3rd of the Roush cars in the chase. Matt was pretty much written off earlier in the year, but has rallied as of late to make his 5th consecutive chase.

Disappointments: I was really pulling for young David Ragan to make the chase. Watch out for this guy in the years to come, he's for real.

Predictions: Carl Edwards all the way! You gotta love this guy!

Have fun today! And yes, I'm bored, the rain has made my day somewhat uneventful!

Preston

Rainy Days

2008-09-08T11:42:00.006-05:00

What a wonderful day! We have much needed rain falling right now. I have had over an 1 1/2" so far with it still falling. Me and Kady (my pup) are watching it fall with joy.

God is good. He always sends us rain exactly when we need it. We sometimes think we need rain, yet when we get rain, we seem to waste it. I get tickled at folks who gripe about dry weather. When it does finally rain, the first thing they do is tie a plow onto a tractor and plow it out. We have some farmers that practice limited or no tillage. I wish you could see their crops when it does dry up. The crop hangs on much longer without showing signs of moisture stress. And you know what, their yields show the difference too. I realize the need for tillage, don't misunderstand what I'm saying, but with the technologies we enjoy today, there are better agricultural practices. These technologies are what keeps me interested with my career.

Thanks for reading today!

Preston

Ivory Palaces

2008-09-07T22:14:00.005-05:00

We sang a song tonight at worship that I haven't heard since I was a kid. My friend and brother in Christ, Todd Bissitt, lead the song. Todd is an awesome song leader. His dad is a band director in the Frenship school district.

"Ivory Palaces" #343

1. My Lord has garments so wondrous fine, And myrrh their texture fills; Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine, With Joy my being thrills.
2. His life had also its sorrows sore, For aloes had a part; And when I think of the cross He bore, My eyes with teardrops start.
3. His garments too were in cassia dipped, with healing in a touch; Each time my feet in some sin have slipped, He took me from it's clutch.
4. In garments glorious he will come, To open wide the door; And I shall enter my heavenly home, To dwell for evermore.

Chorus: Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe; Only His great eternal love, Made my savior go.

In the past couple of years, the words of the songs we sing touch me differently. I have learned to worship in song, as we are commanded. Now I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I love the singing part of our worship. The words sometime bring a tear to my eye. Can you imagine what the garment of our Lord and Savior must look like? All the splendor? I can't wait!

I almost forgot to mention it here, but one of my first post here talks about brother Dee Copeland. Brother Dee will be 100 October the 24th, and yes, he lead one of my favorite songs tonight, "His eye is on the Sparrow".

Thanks for stopping by today!

Preston

Prayer

2008-09-07T14:10:00.003-05:00

Just heard an awesome sermon on prayer. Do you ever wonder why we don't pray more than we do? I know that I don't spend as much time in prayer because I think God has bigger fish to fry than me. I know that is crazy to think that way, but sometimes I do. And I know that a lot of the good in my life comes from my friends praying for me. I also know that God always answers prayers. You have to look for his will in those prayers, and the answer is not always what we expect. I am reminded often of a prayer that Paul prayed for the church at Colosse. Collossians 1:9-14 "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that (I always like to highlight the "so that's") you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin."

What an awesome and eloquent prayer! This prayer has completely changed the way I approach the Throne in prayer. To be filled with the knowledge of God's will is really awesome. I don't claim to have all the knowledge of God, nor will I ever. But that doesn't stop me from looking to Him for answers that builds my knowledge. And to live a life worthy of God! How in the world can I live a life worthy? I struggle with this daily! I know that Christ's blood still flows for me. That's what keeps me worthy. And you know what? That blood never coagulates like our blood does. It's still flowing, cleansing us, just as it has for the past 2,000 years. And it will till judgement. And what an awesome day that will be. To stand before God, with his son sitting at his right hand, having already been judged for my sin by Him! 2,000 years ago!!!

I am also reminded of another prayer by Nehemiah. In Nehemiah 1:8 "Remember". I just find that fascinating that Nehemiah is reminding God of his promise. The instruction He gave Moses. I would have never thought about reminding God of anything. Maybe it's a way Nehemiah needs to show himself that he knows what the promise was, I don't know.

I am praying for you all!!

Preston

The week in review

2008-09-06T14:27:00.012-05:00

Just wanted to spend a minute here and reflect on the week.

The one thing that really sticks out in my mind this week was the RNC. I think the party is beginning to unite and rally around their candidate. Sarah Palin is for real. I think the picture of her family together on the stage after her electrifying speech was a sweet picture. Her husband, Todd, is a hard working man. He has won 4 snow machine championships. From what I can read about that, it must be extremely challenging. The Fact that she Sarah sold off the states luxury jet was very impressive. Her family didn't live in Alaska's governor mansion. She stood up to the status quo in Alaska politics. Her speech was absolutely, positively the best political speech I have ever witnessed. I think the unity of her family, even with the challenges they face right now, proves her ability to both govern and raise a family. And yes, the new baby will be a blessing.

Another thing that's been on my mind is the dead-beat-dad thing. I hope that all of you went and visited the Faith, Love Hope Ministries blog and, if you can, support this ministry. There are a lot more single parents out there that need our help.

I haven't talked a whole bunch about this on my blog this week, but my company continues to help me in becoming comfortable in selling corn seed. I spent all day Friday looking at different hybrids from 3 different companies we represent. I have always been a huge NC+ fan. I have been schooled up on our proprietary brand, Dyna-Gro, and on the Dekalb Hybrids. Hopefully, I have gained enough confidence that I can be successful in that area of my business.

I have made contact with an old friend. She and I first met at Tech many years ago. It will be fun getting caught up with her and her family.

The West Texas Friday Night Scoreboard show kicked up into high gear this week. I was about 5 minutes late getting there last night because of our game here in Lockney. It was full blast answering the phones and recording live reports. We had fun last night.

The Lockney losing streak continues. I think we are nearing 25 straight losses. Pray for my community in this endeavor. Small town football, especially in West Texas, plays such a vital part in our community's pride. Especially the confidence of our young folks that are living through this. We love you kids! Keep your heads up and continue to give 100%. This streak will rebound soon.

The 90th consecutive Floyd County championship was played last night. Lockney and Floydada has the longest consecutive rivalry going in the state. The trophy will remain in Floydada for at least one more year. The festivities last night reminded me of a small college football game. I think everyone in Floyd county was in Lockney last night at the game. You should have been trying to get to Floydada last night after the game. The traffic was almost like rush hour traffic in the metroplex! LOL! Kurt, Martha, Amy and myself did a little tailgating at the game last night. It was a lot of fun.

My daughter, Sarah, is cheering for the little league football team here again this year. I always enjoy seeing her get out in front of people and perform. She's a little bit timid. She doesn't like to draw attention to herself. I pray that this will help her in that.

As for the week ahead, looks like it will be a busy week for me. Making sales calls and prospecting potential corn seed customers. Also, Sarah has her open house at the jr. high Tuesdays night. I look forward to that.

Prayers for the week: continue to pray for our service men and women that are in harms way. Pray for all the single parents out there that are struggling to make ends meet without support from their former spouses. Pray for the AIM program at SIBI. I can't wait to get to see our Aimers tomorrow. Pray for missionaries around the world, both those that are currently working to spread God's word and those who are in training. I need your prayers. Pray that I be the best example to my kids that I can be. Pray for me to continue to look for opportunities to teach them about Jesus.

Have a good week everyone! I love you all!
Thanks for stopping by!

Preston

Thursday!!!!

2008-09-04T09:09:00.004-05:00

Well, I did it again last night. Stayed up and watched all the RNC speeches again last night. It's starting to catch up with me. Sarah Palin didn't only hit the ball out of the park, she won the World Series. Wow, what a speech. Just your typical family down the street facing the same challenges we all do. I loved the Hockey Mom bit!

I am a bit disappointed this morning. I have found out about a couple of instances of dead-beat -dads. I guess living on Lockney, I am sheltered from this phenomena. I'm sure there are some dead beat ex spouses here too, just not as many. In both instances, the dead-beat-dad has left a woman with more than one kid. The thing is, even if they don't want to have anything to do with their kids, they still have a financial responsibility. In one of the instances the guy had a job that paid in excess of $100,000 and quit his job to keep from paying child support! And to leave these women to pay for health care, clothes, food, and a roof over their head. Here is a blog I found this morning if you would like visit. http://faithhopeloveministries.blogspot.com/

Have a good day!

Preston

The difference between Hockey Moms and Pit bulls

2008-09-03T22:23:00.002-05:00

I had to make a note of this. Sarah Palin has yet to disappoint me.

"Do you know the difference between Hockey Moms and Pit bulls? Lipstick!"
Sarah Palin (R) Governor of Alaska.

BYE!

AIM Kids

2008-09-03T18:48:00.003-05:00

One of the things I absolutely love about my church is our AIM kids. I talked about the group we have this fall in an earlier blog. These young kids really push me to be the example God would have me to be. There is no question in my mind why He allows us to have the kidos for the time we have them. Many of the past AIMers we have had I still keep up with. My first introduction to the AIM program was in 2002 when when my friend, Russell "T-Bone" Harris, introduced my son Jonathan to the program. I fell in love with all the kids the first night he was there. The kids come from many walks of life. Some from very grounded, 2 parent backgrounds. Many from broken homes. They come from around the world to live in Lubbock for 9 months and get the best missionary training in the world.

Here in Lockney, we have had kids from Alaska, Brazil, and Peru plus many other states. These kids all have a single, binding influence, Jesus Christ.

My favorite time with them is their first long weekend here. They usually show up on Friday evening and stay till after worship Sunday night. I always make it a point to feed all the kidos on Saturday night. We sit around here in my home, share our Jesus stories, and really get to know them. I usually keep the boys here in my home. I have an extra bedroom and a bunk house that they stay in. They are a hoot! We have tons of fun.

Our long weekend is coming up in about 3 weeks. I am so ready to have them in my home. The only thing I regret is the fact that it's not my weekend to have my girls. All of the kids have left lasting impressions on them.

Love you all!
Thanks for stopping by!

What today brings?

2008-09-03T13:16:00.005-05:00

Well, I stayed up late last night and watched the RNC speeches. I thought Fred Thompson hit a home run. I wonder where that speech was during his campaign? I am a Fred supporter. I really like his leadership style. He is a matter-of-fact type of guy. No bull! He is a reformer. He always puts America first. I really respect him for that.

I thought Joe Lieberman did a really good job too. He really got out there and reached across party lines. Probably committed political suicide, but won over the Republicans last night. He is a true McCain friend.

I'm not a huge McCain supporter. I have a huge amount of respect for the man. He is an Patriot in every since of the word.

I can't wait for Sarah Palin's speech tonight. She has given me hope. Hope in the political system that I had lost. Before McCain announced her as his running mate, I had not heard of her. I went straight to the web and "googled" her. I have to say that she is very impressive. Not just her politics, but her home life too. I think she has handled her self very well in the spotlight. The whole Bristol pregnancy thing has not slowed her down. If you think for a minute that her daughter being pregnant is an issue, think again. Everyone makes mistakes. This girl just made a poor decision that is going to completely change the course of her life. Maybe this will help some young couple who is contemplating sex to think again.

God has an incredible way of taking circumstances, good and bad, and working them for the best. We make decisions every day that effects someone around us. My prayer is that everyone will take note of mistakes or bad decisions people make and use them to better themselves.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Preston

CNN=Obama

2008-09-02T19:25:00.003-05:00

Just sitting here watching CNN and the RNC. They are extremely in favor of Obama. I didn't hear Fox News last week talk so much about McCain during the DNC. Makes you wonder what could Bill Bennett have in common with the CNN organization. I never watch CNN. Just happened to stop while channel surfing. You van tell that Wolfe Blitzer is really having a hard time being there!

Labor Day Weekend

2008-09-02T11:43:00.004-05:00

Labor day weekend's has a special place in my heart. My family has gotten together for Labor Day weekend for over 20 years now. I think I have missed only one of those. We do lots of different things. We always cook outside something unique. On year we had pork chops that were deep fried on a hay fork! LOL! Mom always has activities for the kids while the men usually go dove hunting. This year dove season opened on Monday. No hunting this year! And what happened to school being out for Labor Day? I guess Lockney is the only school in the state that has school on Labor Day.

This year, only my sis and her hubby and me and my girls were there. Mom and the kids had a parade Saturday afternoon. Sarah, Lizzie and Ronnie decorated their 4-wheelers, gokart, and John Deere tractors for the parade. It was fun!

Hope you enjoy this!!

Preston

Who's perfect?

2008-09-02T10:41:00.007-05:00

I'm going to talk a little politics again this morning. I have spent the better part of the weekend researching Sarah Palin. She has quite a few enemies! Mostly democrats and ex-brother-in-laws! LOL! If I just stopped with her enemies in my research, I would vote for this woman to be President. Her enemies tell me that she stands for something. Very loyal to her values. Seems there are several that want to criticize her for her pregnant daughter. I have only one thing to say about that! People make mistakes. Does the fact that she didn't run to an abortion center to hide this fact not mean anything? Does the fact that her daughter is going to marry the guy that got her that way mean anything? It means a lot to me. I know people, right here in Lockney, Texas, that will claim to be conservative, Pro-life, Pro-anything that a good conservative would claim to be, yet when their daughter got pregnant a little early in life, or if their son got someone pregnant a little too early in life, the first thing they do is rush them off to the abortion clinic, hush hush, just to save face. I applaud Governor Palin for the values she is passing on to her daughter. Plus (and this is a huge plus! LOL!) a woman who would name her daughter Bristol is all ok in my book! She or her hubby has to be Nascar fans!

Also, seems that this whole troopergate thing has been cooked up to discredit her management skills. If the guy was doing his job, I think he would still have his job. The accusations he makes that he was pressured to fire the ex brother-in-law seems to be false. Sounds to me the even if Governor Palin had pressured him to fire Michael McCann, and he didn't fire him, he should lose his job. A cop who uses his taser on a 10 year old kid does not need to be out on the streets.

Yes, Governor Palin has fired me up about this election. I really feel like she is the real deal. Let's all get behind her and Senator McCain and send them to DC!

West Texas Friday Night Scoreboard Show

2008-08-29T18:05:00.005-05:00

One more thing today. I help out over in Floydada with the largest high school scoreboard show on radio. The West Texas Friday Night Scoreboard Show originates from the pumpkin capitol, Floydada, Texas. The show covers high school scores from El Paso to Perryton, and from Farwell to the Metroplex. Broadcast on over 40 stations in West Texas. We have a lot of fun with it. It depends totally on fans calling in scores. If you read this and have a score, call us @ 1-800-983-5704. We can also give you stations near you that broadcast the show in your area. Give us a call!

Thanks for reading!

John McCain's VP Pick

2008-08-29T11:47:00.003-05:00

Twice in one day!!! I know, I took a long vacation from this so I can blog twice today.

Sarah Palin, R Governor of Alaska, is john McCain's pick for his running mate. As disenchanted I have been about this election, He has put a little spice back into the campaign for me. I really didn't know who I was going to vote for, Rather, I knew who I wasn't going to vote for. McCain just hit the ball out of the park. From what little I have read about this lady, She's for real. She is a pro life advocate, she is a wife, she is a mother, and she's not owned by anyone. She is very strong willed. Started out as a PTA mom, city council, state government offices, then governor. She has 5 kids! One that is a down's baby and knew before the baby was born that he was going to be a special needs baby. She insisted on having the baby with the remark "We're just going to love him!". She carries her husbands last name, Not hyphenated by her maiden name. I think as more things come out about her, we will embrace this ticket and get out and vote!

Did I mention she has 80% approval rating as Governor of Alaska! That's pretty good. When was the last time we had a national leader that had a 80% approval rating?

Thanks for reading! Love you all!

Preston

Harvest Time is Near

2008-08-29T08:42:00.008-05:00

Just in case you didn't know, I sell fertilizer/crop protectants/enhancements retail. I work for Crop Production Services (CPS). We used to be United Agri Products (UAP), but 2 weeks after I went to work for them, Agrium, which is the parent company of CPS, Acquired UAP in a huge deal. Agrium is the largest Fertilizer producer/miner in the world. With the UAP acquisition it makes us the #1 retailer in north America. Our name will change September 1 to CPS.

What I do for a living is not new to me, I have been involved in agriculture all my life. My dad was killed in a farming accident when I was 7. When mom remarried, what else, it was to a farmer. I live less than a mile from where my dad is buried. My degree from Texas Tech is in Agricultural Education. The only teaching I did was my student teaching. I started my career in fertilizer sales on the Monday after I graduated from Tech. I have been back in Lockney for 10 years now.

Harvest time is always kinda bitter sweet for me. In my mind it marks a couple of things every year. The end of a battle, not what most of you would think of as a battle, maybe more of challenge. The weather elements, economic elements, that come with raising a crop. But always at the end, you can look back and take pride in what you have done. It's very fulfilling. I am going to have to start thinking outside the box some what over the next couple of years. With the increase of grain prices, cotton is no longer king. Cotton input cost have grown + grain markets moving into historic levels making corn, wheat and sorghum the crops of choice. Less input, more profit. That's the name of the game. I have spent much of my career in the cotton field. I love the plant. It seems to always survive. So, I have spent much of the past few weeks sharpening my grain skills. And there's quite a bit of sharpening to go.

Harvest time marks the end of life. The reaping your success. Marks the end of the year. What's fun is the time we spend preparing for the next year. We are learning new ways to prepare the land for new crops. We now practice quite a bit of no-till, minimum till. That's where we leave crop residue from the previous crop to help reduce soil erosion, and conserve water.

It's kinda like our walk with Christ. At the end of our lives we will reap what we have sown. There is judgement. We have 2 directions to choose. We can choose a worldly life, or, we can choose to put Christ on. You can continue to maintain your Christian faith by studying the word, living by example, or you can choose to follow the world. We can reduce the erosion of our time, conserve our faith. It's never ending.

Thanks fro reading this!

Love you all! God Bless!

Preston

Broadway Brew Coffee House

2008-08-28T10:48:00.007-05:00

Well I have found a new dive to hang out in. The Broadway Brew in Plainview, Texas. The Broadway Brew is owned and operated by a local couple. The husband is a professor at Wayland and working on his PhD at Tech. The wife mans the store. They are really sweet christian folks. "The Brew" we call it, is somewhat historic to downtown Plainview. It was the Quick Lunch Diner as long as I can remember. My grandad Fails used to take me there as a child and have breakfast and drink coffee. In the Steve Martin movie "Leap Of Faith", this place was the diner that they hung out in. As a matter of fact, the water tower on the east side of Plainview still says "Rustwater Bengals". Kurt, Martha and I have been here nearly every day this week to have coffee or a sandwich for lunch or evening socializing. One thing that makes me feel really good is that there are several college kids that hang out here. Back in my college days, my hang out (along with 90% of the rest of the college crowd) was a bar or night club. Wish they would have had these places when I was in college. I wonder if it would have made a difference? I wouldn't be who I am today without going through the trials of life.

I would like to request prayers for a dear friend of mine. J.R. Brott (I think I spelled his last name right) better known as "Buddy" was an Aim kid we had for challenge week a couple of years ago. He and his teammate, Greg Ashburn, stayed with me that week and we got to be good friends. J.R. has fallen away from the Lord and the Church. I have made contact with him through Myspace. I have been sharing with him some of my trials and mistakes. Hopefully I can reach him. Pray for both of us!

Love you all!
Thanks for reading this and thanks for the prayers!

Preston

The Newness of Fall

2008-08-26T08:43:00.004-05:00

I know that it's still summer. Come to think of it, I really don't know exactly when fall begins. But fall is definitely in the air. The crops are beginning to mature, kidos are back in school, and we have our new AIM kids for the fall term. We have three boys: Taylor Morgan, Randall Young, and Angel Herrera, and we have three girls: (I don't have their last name memorized yet) Casey, Tracy, and Miranda. Our assistants this year are Brandon and Katie Price, and Matt Baggett. I am always refreshed to see such young lives involved in the Lord's work so early in life. Think about it for a minute, these kids are 18-22, not going to college, but working for the Lord. This is our 4th year to be an area church for the AIM program. This program has always been close to my heart ever since, my son, Jonathan attended back in 2002. I am so excited to have them, and so ready for their first long weekend. We have some of the best devotionals I have ever been involved with.

Now, my two baby girls are growing up. Sarah made the jump to Jr. High this year! Dad did not have a good day yesterday! I picked the girls up from their mom's house and took them to school. Lizzie was the first drop. Typical day in her life. Lizzie is a lot like me in a sense, always ready for social time and not worried in the least about school. We got to school and she had forgot her lunch box. Actually her lunch bag. I wonder what ever happened to lunch box's? Another time. Once at school again, I got the camera out and took her picture by the sign at Lockney elementary. Sarah reminded me that she did not go to school here anymore! Oh well, it was worth the shot! LOL! Sarah and I walked Lizzie into the cafeteria and hugged her and gave her a good bye kiss and left. Once we were back in the pickup, Sarah said "Dad, I don't want you to walk me up to the school. I can do it my self." I held back the tears as I asked her if I could at least take her picture. She said "maybe some other time".

Our kids grow up way too fast!

Thanks for reading this!!! God Bless!

2008-06-26T13:16:00.002-05:00

Have you ever thought about what this country looked like 100 years go? I have visioned it several times. My great-granddad came to Floyd county horseback in the early 1900's. He left the story behind that when he came up the caprock escarpment that the grass was stirrup high and it would make you see sick the way it waved in the wind.

I have been on a couple of grass fires in the eastern part of the county at night. I sat and thought about what it must have been like 100 years ago when you had a fire. It creeping ever so close. Hoping the wind would change directions or the neighbors would show up to help put it out.

The buffalo in the picture are between Cimmaron and Springer, New Mexico. When we passed them, I again found myself wondering. Thinking about what it must have been like when the buffalo roamed freely.

God is GOOD! He must have known I needed to live in the era I live in. BUT,I often wonder what it was like during the dust bowl, the depression, and the "breaking out" of Floyd county. What the first irrigation well was like. The first cotton grown on the south plains.

Happy Thoughts!

Love you all!

Preston

The Chief Drive-In

2008-06-16T22:23:00.005-05:00

I have fond memories of the Chief Drive-In. I spent many a Friday and Saturday nights there. Sitting on the back row with our pickups pointing away from the screen so that we could sit on the tailgate and watch the movie. Dippin' snuff and probably doing some other things we shouldn't have been doing. We would park to where we could get the speakers from both post on either side and hear the movie. Way more socializing went on there. Mr. Kinnaman would have to come out and "quiet us down" from time to time. He never raised his voice, he would just say "quiet down please". And we would. If we had a date we would park towards the front so that, if we wanted to, watch from the seat. LOL! There was also a place inside the concession area where we could go "inside" and sit. It was almost as good as going to Vernon or to Wichita Falls to the "inside" picture show theater. I can remember going there and sitting inside and seeing "Saturday Night Fever" when I was in Jr. High. Our parents would pull into the drive-in and drop us off and leave us till the movie was over. My dad farmed the land that was around the theater while we were in jr. high and high school. I can remember cutting wheat when I was about 12 one night and the show was "Truckstop Mama". Mom moved the supper wagon to where we couldn't see that one! LOL! I remember seeing the original "Star Wars" there. "Urban Cowboy", "One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest", and many more that I can't remember.

I remember when I was a freshman. I was plowing the field there at the drive-in and Mr. Kinnaman bringing me out a Slush Puppie. He had just gotten the machine and wanted to know what I thought.

What was a landmark for many years in Quanah is gone. Good memories and Good times! Thank you God for allowing us to have "The Chief" for as long as you did!

Love you all!

Preston

Wild Goose Chases

2008-06-14T22:52:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been on a wild goose chase? Or, better yet, snipe hunting? We used to go snipe hunting as a kid and had tons of fun with it. I don't remember the first snipe hunt I went on, but I do remember a few of the times that I did. We used to get these paper sacks, go out in the country, along with some unsuspecting friends (mainly females!!! LOL!), run around in the dark and throw a rock or something similar in to the sack and yell "I got one!". It was very entertaining. and lots of fun.

Life, I think, is sometimes like a "snipe hunt". In a sense, faith is that way. You know it's there, You feel like you have it. But yet, in this form, you can't see feel or touch it. You just got to believe! It's there, It's real, and how awesome it will be some day.

Love you all!!!

Preston

Here we go!

2008-06-13T19:23:00.006-05:00

Ok, This is a picture taken less than 100 yards from my mom's house Thursday June, 5. This picture is looking from the south to the north, on the south side of the overpass at Acme. This twister is basically on top of her house. I'm not real sure, but the tops of the trees that you can see are the trees I spent all day Saturday hauling off.

God's power is awesome. I love to chase storms, for nothing else but, to just see the power that we have no control over.

Mom and Dad were there when this thing hit. She described to me the rage of the wind and then the "calm". and then the pure fury that unleashed. Thankfully, and I am thankful!, the storm spared their lives. But God knocked on the door!!! I just sit and marvel at the beauty of the storm. If you didn't know what was going on inside the funnel, you would think that God is just putting his finger there. LOL! That's what it looks like to me. And who knows? Maybe His finger is there to protect Mom and Dad from the storm! An awesome thought anyway.

It also makes me wonder back in Noah's day, what the storm looked like. Was it just a calm country rain that lasted for 40 days? Or was there tornadoes and hurricanes and wind? Can you imagine what Noah must have thought? "Hey boys! Take a look at this! Water's falling from the sky! WAIT! Look at that thing over there, I can see it spinning, OH NO, it just took out Charlie's house and barn! What an awesome God we have!"

Now, I deal with farmers all day. We either don't get enough rain, too much rain, rain is too late or too early. But you know what, I have never not seen it rain when we didn't need it. And the storms that comes with it? We think of those folks as being "victims". A couple of years ago, all we heard about was "Katrina victims". We think of ourselves as being victims when we get hailed out. But just think of the folks that just might get a better understanding of who God is! Despite what Homeland Security and FEMA can do!!!

Just a thought!!

Preston

Standing on the Promises of God!

2008-06-12T20:46:00.003-05:00

I know, I'm doubling up today. But I had a thought that I wanted to share with ya'll.

Standing on the Promises of God!

What a statement! What are we standing on if we're not standing on those promises? Here's a few examples that come to mind:

1. Our jobs. What promise do we have there?

2. Our success. What is our success if we're not standing on His promises?

3. The world. The world would like us to think that our promises are anywhere but in HIM.

4. Our Government. Now, Hillary is going to gives us a whopping .18 cents on our fuel for July! Now there's a promise! LOL!

5. Ourselves. I don't know how many times I have been let down by my own promises.

6. Our families. Although they mean well, those promises fall from time to time.

7. Our friends. Again, our good friends mean well but they still have psuedopromises.

8. My college degree. What promises are there?

9. Our possessions. In the event of a tornado or fire they are gone!

10. Law. Now that's a deep subject there. But law promises us nothing!

Now let's look at a few promises God has given.

1. Sancitfication

2. Grace

3. Mercy

4. Dead to sin

5. Faith

6. A heavenly place prepared for us.

7. The Holy Spirit to live in us.

8. Righteousness

9. Cleanliness

10. Success

I can look at these list, very incomplete list, and see which promises I want to stand on!

Ok it's song time!

598.....Five hundred ninty-eight.... Standing on the Promises!

Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Thro' eternal ages let his praises ring: Glory in the highest I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to him eternally by love's strong cord, Overcoming daily by the Spirit's sword, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fail, List'ning every moment to the Spirit's call, Resting in my Savior as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus: Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God, Standing, Standing, I'm standing on the promises of God.

I struggle in standing in the right promises daily. Just a little something for those of you have share in my struggles!!!

Love all of you!

P

What A Pretty Morning!

2008-06-12T07:52:00.002-05:00

WOW! It is amazing what a cool, calm morning does for the soul! It is very soothing after the past week of 100+ temps and 40 mph winds. Our crops need some relief, but God knows that too. He has always blessed us!

I guess the morning just reminds me of God's grace for us. One of my favorite Grace stories is found in Luke 7:36-5o.

Jesus was invited to a pharisee's house for supper one night. He wasn't really invited over for supper, I think the self righteous pharisee just want to try and condemn Jesus in some way! Get it in your mind that in that day they didn't sit on chairs at the table. In my mind, I picture the table being less that a floor tall. Everyone is at the table for supper. With their feet stuck out behind them leaning on one elbow or the other so that you could eat with the other hand.

Now, a woman enters into the house. By the reactions of the pharisee, she must have been a sinner. (JUST LIKE ME I might add) A woman of the night. Someone that had spent her nights pleasing men. Now, I wonder how the pharisee knew who she was. OK! She comes in, comes to the feet of Jesus weeping. She let her tears fall on his feet. Then she took her long hair and wiped them off. She takes out her most prized possession, an alabaster jar of perfume and began to anoint Jesus' feet with the perfume.

Now the pharisee is just thinking in his mind "does He know who's at his feet?" Jesus turns to the woman and, just as the man had spoken to Jesus, Jesus explains grace. He tells him a story of two men who had owed money, one just a couple of bucks, the other several thousand bucks. And the loan officer forgave both of them for their debt. Which is most gracious of the actions of the banker. Of course the guy who owed the several thousand,

Jesus turns to the woman and continues to speak. "Do you see this woman?" "I came to your house, you didn't offer to wash me feet. You didn't kiss me, and you didn't put any oil on my head." (all customs of the day) "Do you SEE this woman?" I can see her. All I have to do is look in the mirror!

Then Jesus looks at her and says "your sins are forgiven".

By grace, God's grace, Her sins were forgiven!

How cool is that!!!!!!!!

P

Hold to God's Unchanging Hand

2008-06-11T07:50:00.002-05:00

Ok, I confess and repent at the same time. I am really struggling this morning so I am having to dig real deep for Faith today. I know it's there, just gotta get a knot tied off! Seems like the Paxil withdrawals are (along with satan I'm sure) poking their evil head up this morning. But you know what? I will survive this thing and God is with me. And you know who's right there beside him, interceding on my behalf? That's right! Jesus is! How do I know this? This verifiable, historical document, THE BIBLE, tells me so.

Go to Acts 7. You gotta get this image in your head. Stephen, a Christian man, "a man full of God's grace and power" (Acts6:8), has been standing before the supreme court of the time. They are really grilling him about his faith and some of the miracles he had performed. So, Stephen was stating his case, when at the end of his statement, he really scolds this group. Acts 7:51"You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous ONE. And now YOU have betrayed and murdered him-you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

WOW! Can you picture anyone standing before the supreme court and scolding them like this? Then the sanhedrin loses control. They were so mad that they grinded their teeth. Have you ever seen a wild boar hog that is trapped. He gnashes his teeth. Well this group was ANGRY, UPSET, MAD, well you get the picture.
Then look at what happens next. I want you to close your eyes and think about this for a minute.

Acts 7:55 But Stephen, Full of the Holy Spirit, looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. v56 "LOOK" Stephen said "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

Well, you know the rest of the story, Stephen is beat/stoned to death and he is with Jesus right now. Oh yeah, I almost forgot the "close your eyes" deal. Lean back, take a deep breath, let it out, close your eyes. Can you see it? Can you see Jesus there at the right hand of God? He's there!

I say all this to you cause this really happened. It's verifiable. The Holy Spirit wrote it down for us. It's real. Jesus is there!

Also, with my struggles today, as I get through the necessities of my job today, it is an awesome picture to have in my mind.

Ok Here's my song!
244.....two hundred forty-four...... Hold to God's Unchanging Hand.

(brother Dee would give us a toot on his pitch pipe and a "DoSo")

Time is filled with swift transition-Naught of earth unmoved can stand-Build your hope on things eternal, Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Trust in him who will not leave you, What so ever years may bring, If by earthly friends forsaken, Still more closely to him cling.

Covet not this world's vain riches, That so rapidly decay, seek to gain the heavnly treasures, They will never pass away.

When your journey is complete, If to God you have been true, Fair and bright the home in glory, Your enraptured soul will view.

Refrain: Hold to God's unchanging hand! Hold to God's unchanging hand! Build you hopes on things eternal, Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Grab a hold and hang on!!!!!

Preston

A Beautiful Day!

2008-06-10T09:56:00.000-05:00

What an awesome day. I hate that I missed the sunrise this morning but got some much needed "rest" last night.

Just some thoughts for the day!

One song this morning!

(in my song leaders voice, which I do not do! I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket!)
821....eight-hundred twenty-one Hide Me, Rock of Ages!
I am skipping all the Base parts. If you know the song, you will hear them!

Oh thou blessed rock of ages, Trusting now dear lord in thee, Keep me till my journeys ended, Till thy blessed face I see.

Keep me when the storm clouds gather, Till the sun comes shining through, keep me till my work is over, Till I bid this world adieu.

When my journey is completed, And there's no more work to do, Savior guide my weary spirit, To the Happy land beyond the blue.

Refrain: Hide me O blessed rock of ages, Till thy blessed face I see, when the storm around me rages, Rock of ages hide thou me!!!

A beautiful, awesome praise to God to start your day! Hope it helps you as much as it is helping me! Keeping us focus on the goal today. Rom 8:28 (this is one of my favorites) And WE KNOW (that's you and I, we know) That in all things (not just in one or two, not just in the things we want him involved in, but ALL THINGS) God works for the good of those who love Him! Who have been called according to his purpose.

"We know", "all things", "those who love Him", "called according to His purpose". Follow me here. LOL! "We know" is to give us peace that WE know, that's what gets us through the day. "All things", every little thing right down to the breath of air we breath in and out to sustain life. "God works", He is always working to get us to him, we are His inheritance! "Those who love HIM", and we do! Without a doubt love and depend on him. "Called according to his purpose", Guess who that comes from? You are called! You are His purpose!!!!!

Peace!!!!
Preston