Monday, October 29, 2007
LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Using a video camera and raw chicken, state officials hope to learn whether the king of the jungle is prowling the woods of West Virginia.
Bow hunter Jim Shortridge believes he saw a full-grown, male African lion weighing between 250 and 300 pounds at the foot of Cold Knob Mountain earlier this month. The state Division of Natural Resources confirmed that at least one other person has reported seeing the lion.
Using a camera normally employed to catch people dumping trash illegally, the state Department of Environmental Protection has joined with Greenbrier County Animal Control Officer Robert McClung and exotic animal expert Jim Forga to see if they can substantiate the sightings.
Twenty pounds of raw chicken left on the site last week were devoured, but McClung said that doesn't prove the lion's existence.
"Anything could have eaten that," he said.
If officials do spot the lion on videotape, they may set a bear trap for the animal. If caught, it would be turned over to Forga, who runs Tiger Mountain Refuge in Rainelle, a shelter for exotic animals
The Fern & the Bamboo
One day I decided to quit....I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.....I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me.... "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo". He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit."
He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the
forest beautiful."
"Your time will come, "God said to me." You will rise high!"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you Happiness.
Bad days give you Experiences.
Both are essential to life.
Keep going...
Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human,
Failures keep you Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!
GOD is too wise to be mistaken..
GOD is too good to be unkind...
So when you don't understand..
When you don't see HIS plan...
When you can't trace HIS hand...
HAVE FAITH AND TRUST HIS HEART
| Late afternoon hike. Mostly cloudy and a few sprinkles. Comfortable hike. Shadows growing deeper in the hardwood forest due to time and clouds. No one else in the park. When I go this late, I'm always thinking about "what time are they going to lock the gates?" Very tranquil time. Good time to reflect on how YOU have blessed so much during this past week of VBS; most students and workers we have had in 10 years! |
I can’t take credit for these… a friend forwarded them to me. The originator is unknown but the ideas are solid!
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your schedule, or that will
compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too
many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over
time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find
out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary
purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key
buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent
an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality
of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems
in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often
a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they
can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the
universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that
you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS
Date: 5/12/2007 0930-1300
9 But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1 Cor. 2: 9-12 NKJV)
How wonderful it is to know that GOD lives within us! As I go about the day – I have the PERSON, the Presence of HIS SPIRIT in my life!!! That is a comforting and empowering concept to grasp. The closest friend I have, the most intimate confidant, is GOD.
I will receive some great, exciting gifts this Christmas. My family loves me and they always surprise me with thoughtful gifts. But I will never receive a gift as wonderful as that given to me by GOD – HE has given me HIMSELF.
I hope HE is yours as well.
Agape<+><
My hat is off to Coach Grant and the 2005 Brundidge Bulldogs! What a year!...
From The Messenger:
Fourth state title could be Grant's last
By Jaine Treadwell, The Messenger
On a chilly December night, Wayne Grant led his Pike County High School Bulldogs to a Class 3A state championship.
It was the fourth time Grant had taken his Bulldogs to the top.
Many among the Bulldog faithful wondered if they were seeing the stoic leader on the field for the last time.
Speculation about this being Grant's final season on the
After the game, he said he wasn't sure what would happen.
"I've got until Dec. 31 to decide," he said. "I'll make up my mind before Christmas. I'll let you know."
Ron Ingram, The Birmingham News sports editor, posed the question himself.
"He said this might be his last game," Ingram said, with a I-hope-not tone in his voice. "I love Wayne Grant. His teams outwork and outhustle their opponents. I've never seen a team that works any harder to get where they are."
Ingram didn't discount the fact that Grant has been blessed with "incredible" talent at Brundidge.
"Oh, he's had some great ones - Fred Baxter, Cornelius Griffin, Nick Walker, Chris Nickson - to name a few," Ingram said ."But Wayne Grant has the ability to take exceptional players and surround them with average players and field outstanding teams - championship teams. That's what great coaches do and he is one great coach."
Ingram said he has been impressed with the offensive output of the 2005 Bulldogs.
"Only three other teams have scored more points than this team," he said. "Going into tonight's game,
As good as the offense is, Ingram said the defense is probably better.
"The defense is tough," he said. "They'll hit you and they'll hit you hard. The offense has been good because the defense is so good. Together, they're an outstanding team."
Ingram said Grant is a tough coach and he has his team in condition.
"I don't know of a better conditioned team," he said. "But, he knows how to handle kids. They know that he's going to push them to be the best they can be, but he knows how far he can push them. He never pushes too far."
As tough as Grant is as a coach, Ingram said he's all about kids and what's best for them on the field and off.
"He bonds with these kids," Ingram said. "I think it started when he was a young coach and one of his players drowned on a team trip to the beach. He bonded with those kids then and he bonds with them now.
"If you're looking for a coach who will go out and play a round of golf with the sports boosters, it's not Wayne Grant. But if you're looking for a coach that cares about his players and what kind of men they will be and one that pushes them to as far as they can go, he's your man."
On
