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

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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