A Photo Essay "Just Mad about Maize"...Mstone 10.29.06

We all had great Sunday.

Visiting M-teacher David Nutter gave great lesson.

Then later in afternoon, many Milestone families found their way to Jack's Creek for another picture perfect fall twilight.

Harvest fun abounded.

Countless hayrides, pumpkins for finding, hotdogs, chips, some mores -- all those big, gigantic spooky spiders and such.

And really what would Harvest Jack's Creek be without getting trapped in the corn maze. Well, i thought David Burbach knew the heck how to get out of there when we followed him in.

After hours and hours of personal reflection, i realized that i had nothing to add to David's message in this M-Update. Sorry for those of you who missed out, i would just look sort of foolish trying to muse re Dave's World (well, guess a little more so than usual.)

And frankly, i just need some rest.

Finally had to kick Ruth Bearden and Mary DeVane out this morning. We had been celebrating a Gator a victory way, way too much.

So much rejoicing, i have forgotten who we beat. All i know is i am unconsciously tired. You ladies are machines!

So good thing this week that a picture is worth a thousand words..

now i really need to go get some rest.

"yawn"......

ta.....ta....

Hannah Kate and Mark ... and

Kristie. Sorry you all were total light "raging in the eyes" victims.

You all look great though, and maybe you can cancel that corrective laser eye surgery Kristie. Think this late afternoon radial exposure might have done trick.

I don't know what is being discussed here, but sure it is something.

Most excellent 1/2 shirt D. Burbach.

Cheryl and lots of other kids enjoying very scary part of hayride.

I was jealous upon hearing of your Bob's fishing trip up on Lake Superior till heard frightful latest.

No heat in cabin. They awoke to temperature in cabin 36 degrees.

ok -- i would have died. Be sure he thaws out good upon return.



A bevy of Mstone beauty. And this reminds me...cookbooks for sale after Church this Sunday.

Wasn't there some other picture with Stephanie and Julie re Cookbook in one of these things. Weird-o-rama, i seem to remember that picture was taken in Couch basement. Long live the disco ball!

The Reitmans are searching for something. Matthew, maybe?

Notice the lovely body of water in back of shot.

Just after this snap think John asks Joe, "Is that Hard Labor Creek behind you." We are all puzzled for moment till Rebecca inserted moment of sanity, "It's Jack' Creek." Then she was amazed for rest of evening that she knew something John didn't. Oh honey...we've got to talk.........

Our favorite pastor and his adorable bride.

Think that is Leanne behind, scurrying around in food prep.

ok -- i've always wanted to know, do they actually grow those wee things there, or just buy in mass at Farmer's Market and chuck in field?

Anyone, Anyone?

"Howdy, Tex."

i don't have to learn a lesson twice, never mess with a guy in a black hat.

Katie and Max -- very cute snap of you 2.

There's David in that blue shirt again. See what i mean. Wee Joe is up there with him in red sweater; they would turn those corners and disappear into the corn -- i was toast.

Got dreadfully lost really. But at least David was always watching out for my precious babe.

"Oh Mr. Burbach...Mr. Burbach?"

"Oh dear. Where is that nice man in the blue shirt?"

The Happy Hickey Clan.

Can't think of anything to say about this fine-looking group. Except you all look very happy too. Oh yeah, "How Bout them Dogs?"




Cooking those hotdogs. Good that it was under the watchful eye of M-stone healthcare specialist Dr. Dan Zant. Am sure he was continually monitoring that fire was at safe temperature to kill all the potentially hidden wee beasties that can reside in pre-cooked processed pork products.

Long live our M-chefs!

Then each dog was nestled snugly into bun with loving care by Tim, one of our M-finance wizards.

Yes, we all were enjoying those hotdogs.

Man in black Tony Hughes said he prefers his dog with mustard, relish and just a hint of caviar.

So glad the Mstone budget could accommodate your way advanced culinary palate.

i tried same and think you are on to new ballpark surf and turf.

btw, looks like you could be extra on The Sopranos the cornfield episode.

and is there any other place a Cobber could be happier dining on his dog than a cornfield?

btw, the dog is plain. as are many, many, many things this mighty former fighting corncob consumes.

Secret sleuth Laree "Nancy Drew" Zant is hot on the trail of the strange hotdog connoisseur.

Seems one particular camper preferred his or her dog bunless.

Not only did she help organize event, Laree worked tirelessly into the night trying to get to bottom of dog mystery.

Here she is gathering some of the bun carcasses the "Hotdog Bandit" cast aside. When we left in darkness, she was dusting each bun with Robert Markley for finger prints.

Think John and Tony are definitely in clear for it is obvious in photos they are bun-eaters. i will comb all my photos to see if any hold any clues. Keep up the good work Laree.

The inhumanity! Who would do such a thing to six helpless marshmallows. Burned beyond recognition. i am one who most definitely prefers the perfect mallow.

Beautiful amber on outside, light crispy coating -- and perfect gooey consistency inside. Absolutely no solid marsh-material detectable. Gosh, that really sounds good. Must have john fire up the pit asap.

Seems "Nancy" was keeping the some-more chocolate under lock-and-key.

Think that cobber is trying to sway her affections by offering her a bag full of toasted marshmallows on a pitchfork.

Well, that might work for those corncob beauty pageant types, but our girl Nancy is not so easily tricked. The chocolate was doled out in the most equitable and efficient manner under her care, insuring plenty for all.

but in interest of honest SS Mstone dealings, must confess to finding a very sticky chocolaty mess upon taking the pictured Cobber sweatshirt out of dryer today.

i can only suppose that he and Julie S. were working in tandem to put off their chocolate caper if the material found all over inside dryer and sweatshirt were indeed of the cocoa plant.

The Gills looking refreshed and very relaxed after their short evening jog from Madison to Jack's Creek.

Aspiring photojournalist signing off from Jack's Creek once again with my favorite little corncob and 2 of my perfect pumpkins.

God Bless, Good Week and

Hope you get gobs and gobs of candy tomorrow p.m.

He Forgives Me...He Forgives Me not...He Forgives Me? Mstone 10.22.06

Don't let the sun go down on me

Although i search myself,
it's always someone else i see

I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free,

But losing everything is like the
sun going down on me.

I thought i had broken myself of the dreadful habit of quoting song lyrics, but i just can't seem to get this one out of my mind. For a second i contemplated trying to pass it off as my own thought, but figured that someone (probably Tony Hughes) would most probably figure it out. So here i sit with Sir Elton in my ear.

and for you who think my music tastes are embarrassingly trapped in the 70s -- you might be right. but i also just a second ago downloaded Skateaway and think that has to be at least the mid 80s.

-- but i must get back into the Mstone Orbit for my ponderings have wandered way too afar in the galaxy. (ok, i just had to look -- Skateaway 1981)


Milestone Class 10.22.06 Feather Whidby and yours truly facilitating.

I just couldn't get the sun/solar system thing out of my head for that is where we started with our hero Joseph's dreams and guess something in my subconscious wants to part from him there.

"Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good." Genesis 50:19,20.

Yes, Joseph was really quite the guy.

When Heather and company had left our man last week he had risen to power in Egypt at the age of 34.

as Pharaoh said, "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne shall i be greater than you." Gen. 41:40

We opened class reviewing the idea of forgiveness.

All agreed this was one of the major themes of Joseph's life.

He had been sold into slavery by his brothers. Thrown unjustly into prison for years as the result of the wrath of his owner's wife's advances being rebuffed.

Then through God's providence, he found himself face to face with his brothers who had come to Egypt to purchase grain for they were starving in Canaan.

What did he do? Was his forgiveness immediate?

Julie S. brought up the dichotomy of Joseph's actions. Did he withhold revelation of himself from his brothers because he really wanted to be sure that they had changed? Were they were sorry for their past actions?

Or was he just playing with them as a cat plays with a helpless mouse. Was there a part of him that needed to see them put through the emotional ringer?

Lots of questions..........

"Hallelujah here comes queen rollerball,
Enchante what can i say, don't care at all.
You know she used to have to wait around,
She used to be the lonely one,
But now that she can skate around town,
She's the only one." Mark Knopfler

Yes, lots of questions surround Joseph and i guess they will just have to remain that questions.

For the only person that could give us an answer to "What the heck were you thinking on the forgiving the brothers thing?" hasn't walked the planet for century upon century.

So i think i shall look to the general human condition, for have we really changed all that much since mankind first strode upon this terrestrial ball?

How come it is so hard for us to forgive?

Joe C. "we all feel like we need payback."

Shelly "Even 2-year-olds can't say they
are sorry or let go of fact they have been wronged.

Julie S.,"Joseph wanted to make sure their hearts had changed."

Is there really that much difference between Joseph and us?

Aside from the fact that he was 2nd to the king in Egypt are we really any different from him? When we have been wronged -- don't we want payback?

If you have been looking closely and really attentive to detail, you might have noticed a few pictures of things that were somewhat popular in the 70s. You might have been thinking? What gives james?

i ask back ... or is better question ...what Forgives?

"Now you're climbing to the top of the company ladder Hope it doesn't take too long
Can'tcha see there'll come a day when it won't matter
Come a day when you'll be gone..." Boston

Well, thought i would give those of you who are babies a pictorial history lesson. Other tad older Mstones might have enjoyed this little trip down memory lane, but are thinking what connection to Joseph? Honestly, i am not really sure at this point...just kind of got off on tangent. A 70s tangent. Trapped in a 70s vortex.

Trapped. Yes, that must be link. Whether we are trapped in the 70s, 80s, 90s or present day, we are all just that -- trapped.

Imprisoned by the notion that the universe revolves around us. Whether we think too highly of ourselves or too lowly -- we are all looking out for number 1.

As in..."How dare someone do that to me?"

Oh sure -- to outsiders we try to be sweet, kind and offer cute shrugs of our shoulders -- like, these things don't bother me.

But deep down when we have been slighted, wronged or betrayed -- it violently rages against us at our very core.








Because ultimately it is all about ME. And like Joseph, if it is a family member or confidant who knows us intimately -- aren't they in the best position to devastate us. Often those betrayals are the deepest conflagrations of the soul.

To forgive or not to forgive. Nurse wounds forever or make peace with the offender.

"I understand about indecision
But i don't care if i get behind
People livin' in competition
All i want is to have my Peace of Mind."

Again i ask the question...what Forgives? Well, certainly not time.

All too soon our time on the planet is done. Look at all these images from just 30 years ago. They were so important and full of celebrity then -- but what has the world done for them lately. They made mistakes, grew older or have died.

Isn't that what is happening to all of us? As much as we are desperately trying to keep ourselves the center of everything, all the other everythings out there are racing past.

"Don't let the sun go down on me" Isn't that what we all are really fear? Being dishonored, betrayed -- losing everything. Emotional Annihilation.

We all know it. Whether we believe in God or not -- the sun of this world will one day go down on us for the last time.

Guess next logical question would be -- where will we wake up?

Better still, why don't we WAKE UP while we are here. Forgive in His strength and make the most of each day we are given to see the sun rise. And hopefully find some Peace of Mind..........

thanks heather. As always it was a pleasure.

bye Joseph.

Next week: Johnny Miles' trusted friend, bible scholar, smartest individual on face of planet (and most humble too -- who would be so mad i wrote that smart comment), and all around good guy David Nutter will make trek out from Atlanta to teach us.

Assignment: Crack open those bibles this week and read Acts 9.

Prayer Requests and Announcements

Please keep Brandon Bell in your prayers. Brandon is the 15 year-old son of Terry's friend. He has been diagnosed with throat cancer. We pray the Lord's mighty healing hand on this young man for complete defeat of his affliction.

Please keep my childhood friend Dent Turner in your prayers. I saw him recently and he is battling multiple myeloma. He has wife and four kids and lives in Virginia. He has always been such a beautiful, positive person. I will try to track down address for him. Please pray for his body's ability to fight this.

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! Next Sunday, October 29 at Jack's Creek.

okay -- i know there is a time we are supposed to be there. 4-ish i think?
ok -- just called Deborah to confirm.

4 -- 7 p.m. hotdogs and somemores. or at least that is what i remember to be standard yummy menu for such family fun function.







"The Cookbook is Here...The Cookbook is here!"

Yes, we received word that the Mstone Culinary Masterpiece has indeed arrived.

We all await word on how those little beauties are going to distributed worldwide am sure.



God Bless, Good Week and Good Grief ....

oops! i almost forgot...........

Go Gators !!!!

The Beautiful MDreamer becomes a Beautiful MDoer. Mclass 10.8.06

The Barbie Doll.

10.8.06

i learned from 2 very secret squirrel sources that a certain Mstone male was wrestling with Barbie doll at close of 11 a.m. service.

Mgal Deep Throat #1 said that evidently during the course of the service, the Barbie in question had lost her top. Guess it was better than losing her head.

As my 2 spies watched with much laughter.... said mystery barbie-whisperer mguy desperately tried to clothe Barbiegal before end of last hymn.

Guess like any self-respecting Milestone male, this gent didn't want to be seen leaving church with half-naked doll.

Who said chivalry was dead?

Barbie's got it all really. Just perfect looking. I mean those who look perfect must have it made. Too bad i can't ask the few of the Bdolls lying around here. They keep pretty mum. But would be fun to see what the world would be like if you had all the looks, brains and talent.

I've had the pleasure of being around a few live Barbie Dolls.

Like yesterday in Sunday School.

And long time ago too. Remember at SMU. There were lots of Barbies there. Lots of beautiful people with brains and bucks. (and am not talking 10-pointers)

Remember this girl Christy Fitchner was on hall directly above me freshman year. Thought she was pretty so-so pretty. But definitely not top barbie in freshman class.

Fast forward a few year later. i was watching TV and there she was...with a Miss USA banner on her. Later she was first runner-up to Miss Universe. Guess Christy was first runner-up to Top Solar System Barbie.

Barbies, Barbies everywhere. There was my Theta sorority initiation eons ago. The day long event, entailed being held captive in room for about 8 hours. 10 minutes of that being taken out of small room for actual initiation. The rest of the time you were stuck in room, while i guess everyone else was having their 10 minutes of initiating. I, Jamie Collins, was paired in room with fellow plebe, Shannon Davidson as the alphabet broke us up.

I thought great. All i really knew about her was that she kept to herself, was former Miss Colorado and she was probably one of the most perfect looking women i had ever seen. What were we going to do just the 2 of us for 8 hours -- i mean what would be the common denominator?

Maybe i could just look at her? Even that would have gotten dull and she would have thought me terribly weird.

Turns out she got there late because she had been doing fashion show at the Mart. She blew in... all 10-foot, 120 lbs, long blond tresses.

"oh dear," i thought.

i started with something like..."hi, glad you got here -- was getting tad lonesome." She smiled a very muted beauty pageant smile. i lamely continued, "i've just been sitting here alone eating chocolate." To pass the time, our big sisters filled our rooms with chocolate. Hello -- freshman 10.

"Chocolate!" Shannon exclaimed. "i haven't eaten anything for 2 days to get ready for this show, where is it?" Well, guess we had found our common ground. Chocolate. And we passed the 6 or so hours laughing and eating.

Think we look at people who genetically ended up with amazing looks, brains, personalities as just charmed.

But in my experience -- as am sure yours -- none of these perfection factors guarantee happiness for those they have been bestowed upon. In fact, it seems like the more talented, smarter, or good looking a person is -- the more they become imprisoned and defined by it.

looks, brains, talent...curses really.


Joseph, Part II. Milestone Class 10.8.06

We turned to Chapters 39 and 40 to continue our exploration of the life and times of Joseph.

Our Mhero has ended up in Egypt as a slave in the house of Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh.

Now it seems that Joseph rose to the top of the servant ranks. Most extensive research has uncovered that there could have been 50 to 75 slaves in such household.

"The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; ...And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to proper in his hand." Gen. 39:3-4

Potiphar recognizing Joseph's hard work and intelligence put him in charge of all that he had.

Thing were going pretty good for our Hebrew in foreign land. That was until Potiphar's wife decided that she liked him. And unfortunately for Joseph she wanted to cross proper master/slave boundaries.

Well, it would have probably been okay considering mores of ancient Egypt, even foolish to rebuff such advances but Joseph did not want to act against his master or sin against his God.

what a guy!

But for this he ended up falsely accused of attempted rape and found himself in Prison. For a long time.

He met 2 of Pharaoh's other officers there who were put under his care. The kingly wine cup-bearer and baker. He thought "hey -- maybe if these cats get out they will tell the king about me and how i am unjustly imprisoned."

None of which happened immediately.

It struck me how lots of class discussion centered on how the Lord blessed Joseph, how the Lord was with Joseph and prospered him. And that is true for the bible tells us so.

But what blessing? I mean his is slave in foreign country. Falsely accused and imprisoned. Kept in prison and made to serve fellow prisoners. Sure, he had those long ago dreams -- but do you really think he thought.."Hey, this is really great, just the way i would have planned it."

I'm great looking, smarter than anyone i've ever come across, great personality -- people like me, confide in me, put me in charge of things. Things are going just peachy. This prison thing -- this won't last. I haven't the slightest notion of how i could get out of this place, but of course I will....I'm Joseph, darn it!

Do people really think like that,

or do we think that someone with looks, brains and charisma must certainly feel that way.

Looks, charm, talent don't guarantee anything. Some of the most famous beautiful people have been most tormented in many ways.

i don't think God prospered Joseph just because it was part of some divine plan. God could have used anyone or anything. i think he prospered and protected Joseph because

Joseph believed in Him.

Sure he had a lot going for him and God was with him -- but do you really think Joseph thought, hey...God...I've got it made.

If you look at a great part of his young adult life -- it was very scary, very terrifying and very unknown.

But through all the what-ifs he had a mighty courage and mighty faith in God.

We all have that choice. It is not just reserved for the "Josephs." What's to be gained in the only life we have been given here on earth to think...i'm not young, never was too smart, very average looking...and nobody ever listens to me, what i think or have to say."

God just wants us to be teachable and to believe in Him.

Not only till the beautiful, talented and highly intelligent Joseph was completely without earthly hope did things begin to ultimately look up and God finally put him in his position of power.

I mean even Barbie perfection is at the mercy of hapless mistress's fathers who hopelessly struggle to fit clothing over their perfect molded plastic physique.

We all need to look around our Egypt. What or how could we prosper if we only had the faith of Joseph? Guess there's no way to know unless we stop making excuses.

Joseph was sold into Egypt, but became sold out for God.

Seems most of us spend our time counting loose change. i mean what's it going to take for us to change?

Next week: Joseph iii

Prayer Requests and Announcements

Very, very good to see that travelling Mguy Larry Angel back among the classroom crowd this weekend. Though am sure he had dressed many a Barbie doll, Larry was not back row Barbie couturier.

Next week end our Stephanie and Cheryl will be on their walk to Emmaus. Love and thinking of you... and happy, happy birthday Stephanie on the 15th!

Ron Lewis asked us all to keep Eda LaRue in our prayers. Eda is a close family friend and wife of Ron's beloved mentor. She is struggling with bone cancer. Please have the Lord make His presence, peace and love abundantly clear to Eda and her loved ones.

Pete gave a praise that his dad was able to join all those biking Busenitzs in the mountains last weekend. We all pray for continued blessings on his health.

Heather gave a praise for the amazing report the doctor's gave her dad. All are very thankful!

God Bless, Good Week and Good Grief..

was that Rick Wadsworth with half-naked Barbie leaving church?

Orange ones, the blues, greens, browns, reds or yellows....Which is your Favorite? M&Mclass 10.1.06

Brothers.

Lots and lots of brothers.

Lots of brothers, 4 mothers, one sister and oh yeah..

One father.

i am already confused and i was one supposedly teaching this stuff to M&M's this morning.

(btw... do you know that they actually have come out with Special Dark M&Ms -- that is really, really terrible for me. i mean it is not fair.

They are so nice and colorful with the M and everything just like normal tried and true very benign milk chocolate Ms -- but they are actually dark chocolate.

There are a lot of those little colorful guys at my feet right now -- let's just say there was a slight accident involving one industrial size bag of S.D. M&Ms. Here's my dilemma.... to toss or not to toss....i mean who's to know?)

Ok...where was i?

Lots of brothers and lots of colors.

FYI .. the lovely Feather Whidby will be teaching in the month of October as well. She was just entertaining lots of Whidby's for reunion this weekend.

Stumbled (that was figurative not literal use of verb) on to the singing Whidby boys downtown Friday night. Now those boys can really sing into a can. I mean they were live. Was very, very impressed.

Really need to get the Soggy Bottom Whidbys back into Mad for all to enjoy. oh dear. Think i am off track again. Where was i?

M&Ms.

No, Colors. Yes, colors and brothers. And what else could colors and brothers point to but the Mstone Man of the Month... Joseph.

Mclass 10.1.06

Now i love the story of Joseph. Who am i kidding? Have always been slightly crazed for the person of Joseph since little girl.

i mean that unconscious coat -- all those colors. Those nutty dreams. He was my kind of guy.

Very smart, good-looking, confident, a snappy dresser. Is this a trick question? What was not to love?

His father Jacob loved him.

Jacob loved him a ton.

Joseph was his favored son.

Remember, Jacob had a lot of sons -- 12 of them -- but seems as if he favored Joseph more than the others and didn't make any pretense about hiding that fact.

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. He made him a tunic of many colors." Genesis 37:3

And as much as Jacob loved Joseph -- his brothers hated him. We discussed that the verb hated was used 3 times in Genesis 37: 1 -- 8.

"But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Gen. 37:4.

Then there were his dreams. Joseph really not following advice from How to Win Friends and Influence People.

One dream was about wheat and one about outer space.

Seems as when our man Joseph recounted his sleep tales to his brothers that word .. hate.. keeps coming up.

"...Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words." 37:8

It really is a very, very familiar story. It was always my favorite one to find in those blue picture bibles that used to sit on tables in Dr. Hitchcock's office. Looking upon his regal beauty (Joseph's not Dr. Hitchcock's) -- was perfect diversion from fear that there was some shot with my name on it lurking on other side of waiting room door.

Don't we all still think of it that way. Very sanitized story found in way, way Old Testament betwixt colored pages of Children's bibles.

But think about it. Is it all child's play?

i mean what was really going on here?

Remember, Joseph goes out at his father's request to see how brothers are getting along with their family livestock in countryside.

And what is his brothers' reaction when they see him approach?

"Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired to kill him ." v. 18.

Now last time i checked my consciousness, our federal laws and Exodus 20:13, murder is a big, big no, no. As in really bad.

What depth of hatred lay in the heart of his brothers that murder was the action they thought when first spying our man Joseph coming across arid landscape?

They were out in the wilderness. If brothers all banded together -- no one would have any way of ever knowing the truth.

They hated him. i guess.

They felt so passionately in their hatred to want to kill him, but so distanced about him that once they actually threw him in the pit -- they sat down and started to eat.

Now i can't choke down a roll if HK and Joe are battling at dinner table without experiencing raging indigestion. Why were they able to sit, talk and eat all the while hearing Joseph cry from the pit?

Was it because after deciding to destroy him and act on it somewhat -- the Joseph problem had been solved. Whenever or however the situation ultimately resolved itself (we know by sale of coat-owner to traveling Ishmaelites) -- Joseph the object of their all consuming rage was taken care of in their minds.

And in the end -- that is really what they wanted to do. Get rid of the Object. Sure murder was the first passionate solution that sprung to their minds -- but once it became clear that they would never see him again and the immediacy of emotion had been vented -- they sat down and ate. And somewhat clearer heads prevailed.

For Joseph was only the Object of their hatred. What or Whom was the Source?

The insatiable pit from which those feelings of utter hopelessness, rage and bitter loathing sprung. I think deep down the passion and hatred was towards their father.

Jacob.

The one they could never be good enough for they weren't the first born son of Rachel. Rachel, Jacob's passionate favorite to the destruction of others.

Ok -- You know the rest of this installment of Joseph's tale. Brothers kill a lamb and put the blood on that coat and take it to their father.

Ruth said it best.........The blood was all over the coat. The coat that represented all the favoritism and all the love that would never be theirs.

Contemplate Murder? Really seems unthinkable to most of us. But how many times are we acting out towards an Object in response to those tapes that keep playing over and over in our heads.

"You were never good enough." "You never could do anything right."

"Every time i did receive a compliment ... it was followed with how it could be done better next time." "My brother was the favored one."

"You are nothing and never will be."

Do we have "Josephs" who are the objects of our hatred toward another source?

It could be to another person or our self, but what destructive behaviors do we act on which are really result of a deep loathing and hurt caused by another?

Did this band of brothers so hate their father -- that they were able to take him the coat of his favored son covered in blood and watch as he became overcome with grief before their very eyes -- never to recover.

i don't know their exact feeling towards their father...but it must have been pretty intense and very deep.

i don't know any answers. Guess we need to see what happens to all in this gripping saga.

In meantime, Joseph was heading to Egypt in a camel caravan. I'm really worried about our hero. If this was bad, hate to break it to him, but it is going to get a lot worse. Wonder what he must be thinking?

My brain hurts. I really won't think about this for a while. Just comforting to know that God was always with Joseph. i like that thought.

Next week: Egypt.

Prayer Requests and Announcements

Please continue to pray for Mr. Kronic and the healing of his arm that was seriously injured in a car accident.

Keep the Pilcher family in your prayers as they lost a child in accident last week. Please keep all the siblings in your prayers.

Karen reported that Otha Knight is on the long road to recovery after his accident on his tractor. All are very grateful that he is going to be alright after this very life threatening injury.

Kathryn's father came through his heart procedure very well. The family appreciates continued prayers for the upcoming months and how his body responds.

Many, many thanks to Cheryl, Robin, Bob and Chanin who have stepped up and volunteered to help start a more formalized process for the distribution of Mstone treasuries.

God Bless, Good Week and

i really like the reds to look at

and the blues to eat.

i mean i just can't get used to the blue ones. every time its like.... will they taste the same?

it's always a little surprise. and i love surprises.