You Remember the Real America if You Can Remember…

When riots were unthinkable.

When you left front doors open.

When socialism was a dirty word.

When ghettos were neighborhoods.

When the United States flag was a sacred symbol.

When criminals actually went to jail.

When you weren't afraid to go out at night.

When taxes were only a necessary nuisance.

When the clergy actually talked about religion.

When clerks and repairmen tried to please you.

When college kids swallowed goldfish, not acid.

When songs held a tune, and the words made sense.

When young fellows tried to join the Army or Navy.

When people knew what the Fourth of July stood for.

When you never dreamed our country could ever lose.

When a Sunday drive was a pleasant trip, not an ordeal.

When you bragged about your hometown and home state.

When everybody didn't feel entitled to a college education.

When people expected less and valued what they had more.

When politicians proclaimed their patriotism, and meant it.

When everybody knew the difference between right and wrong.

When things weren't perfect---but you never expected them to be.

When you weren't made to feel guilty for enjoying dialect comedy.

When our government stood up for Americans anywhere in the world.

When you knew that the law would be enforced and your safety protected.

When you considered yourself lucky to have a good job and proud to have it.

When the law meant justice, and you felt a shiver of awe at the sight of a policeman.

When you weren't embarrassed to say that this is the best country in the world.

~Anonymous

Greetings from South Dakota… home in fact!

When I stop to think about it… we have been hooked at the hip and been at each other's side for about 58 years of his 70 years of life. I guess if we don't know each other by now…we won't ever really know each other (chuckle).

Yes, I am a witness, and I know Larry and his heart and he is a full-time soul winner.

"Gloria and Larry, Thank you so much for returning to Harvest Outreach Church. Your love for people and to minister to the lost is passionate! We love to see people living for Jesus with vibrancy! Your message to Mom's was really a message to the family and it included a point to ponder for everyone. Thank you for being real and transparent. We heard several comments that your message "hit home", "it was timely", and it "was a powerful seed planted" to those needing to make a decision for Christ.

We loved our time with you personally. Thanks for loving on our kiddos, your inclusion and conversation was a joy! It meant a lot to us and to them! Blessings and may God open doors everywhere you go...new and old!"

Pastors Dominick and Loralie Warne

I am writing now from the Black Hills of South Dakota. We are nestled in a motel in the pines with a room filled with computers and office work. I'd rather be outside hiking, but you know how it is…gotta work -ha! We will be based out of here for the next two weeks to do our services and office work.

"Thank you for coming to our little church in Stickney, SD. We really enjoyed the music; especially the song, Step into the Water. We appreciated the gospel message that was presented."

"It was great to still see the Holy Spirit at work in the church at Stickney, SD. Blessing to the both of you as you fulfill God's call on your ministry."

Pastor Marlin Sapp

Stickney is a small community, just about 30 miles outside of Mitchell, SD. We were honored to stay in the Lincoln House, which is a Bed and Breakfast, which is listed in the Historical Society. Saturday night we got to bed early to be well rested and ready for Sunday morning service. Just before we went to bed we had the TV on and watching the weather patterns of impending storms and tornado warnings. We were in a deep sleep when the siren went off a block away. I thought, "Oh no, I don't remember my alarm clock sounding like that or being that loud!" I awakened enough to say "Larry, I think that's a tornado siren." He groaned, "Oh." I said, "Oh, no- we have got to get up, we are on the second floor of this little historical bed and breakfast." The siren blared mercilessly, causing my heart to pound and making me wonder when this tornado was going to hit.

We quick threw on our regular clothes and were just going out the door when the siren stopped. We stood there awhile and then quickly took of our clothes, and jumped back in bed…only to have the siren start blaring again. Frantically, we threw back on our clothes, ran down the long staircase to outside wondering, "where do we run, where do we go?" As we stood there in turmoil, someone came up to us and informed us that it was actually an emergency siren, not a tornado siren. We were relieved but definitely awake for the rest of the night. I told Larry after breakfast the next morning, "Larry, I learned one thing through this siren alert: if it had truly been a tornado, you and I would've been caught up in it for as slow as we moved to get out of there." He, of course, just laughed.

"I learned one thing through this siren alert if it had truly been a tornado, the slow speed at which we moved, we would've been caught up in it. We need more emergency drills to practice our timing.

Right after I wrote this, the news broke out on the weather channel announcing the deadly tornadoes that had hit Oklahoma. We are praying for those who have lost their homes and loved ones. We can make plans, but we never know what interruptions in life are going to take place. Again, it challenges us to always be ready to meet the Lord, as we never know where our next heart beat will be.

Enjoy the next couple of weeks; whether attending graduations or remembering many on Memorial Day, live in His peace and joy and set up opportunities for others to do the same!

{ Recipe}

Cream Cheese Balls

1 (1 lb.) pkg. cream cheese

Dash of Tabasco sauce

Dash of Worcestershire sauce

6 slices crisply fried bacon - crumbled

Salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients until well blended. Roll into marble-sized balls. These may then be rolled in chopped nuts or crushed crackers. Yield: 24 balls

I ran across this article and wanted to share it with all of you. Motherhood is such a treasure, both to mother and child. With Mother's Day coming up on Sunday, rest in the knowledge that God created YOU to be the mother of your children. He has confidence in you. Whether they are young or old, close or far away, He will give you the love and knowledge for every situation. Lean into Him always and He will show you the beauty of living in joy and peace, no matter what circumstances you may face.

How Mothers Were Created

(excerpted from Motherhood The Second Oldest Profession)

While the Good Lord was creating mothers He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this order?"

She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 movable parts…all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. Have a kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And have six pair of hands.

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands…not possible."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. "One pair that see through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that see what she shouldn't, but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and reflect, 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

"Lord," said the angel, touching His sleeve gently, "come to bed. Tomorrow…"

"I can't," said the Lord, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick…can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger…and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of The Mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

"But tough," said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this Mother can do or endure."

"Can it think?"

"Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her fingers across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you you were trying to put too much into this model. You can't ignore the stress factor."

The Lord moved in for a closer look and gently lifted the drop of moisture to his finger where it glistened and sparkled in the light.

"It's not a leak," He said. "It's a tear."

"A tear?" asked the angel. "What's it for?"

"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, compassion, pain, loneliness and pride."

"You are a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there."

We will be doing a Mother's Day service in Wahpeton, North Dakota this Sunday and would love to see you there!

Have a Mother's Day full of joy, peace and heart-warming memories - we'll chat next week!

{ Recipe}

Almond Joy Cake

In large cookie sheet pan, bake 1 chocolate cake (with pudding in the mix). Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. While the cake is baking, prepare the filling:

1 cup evaporated milk

1 cup sugar

24 large marshmallows

14 oz coconut

Heat filling mixture until melted and add coconut. While cake is hot---pour filling over top.

Frosting:

1 ½ cups sugar

½ cup evaporated milk

1 stick butter/margarine

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

Greetings from the Road! We left Texas last week and drove into Oklahoma. It was interesting to see a field of corn that was up about 6 inches. I thought to myself, "I'm sure the Midwest was hoping that the snow was melted by now and that the fields were dry enough to have planted their crops." We're thanking the Lord that Fargo, North Dakota, where many of our friends are, has been lowering the flood predictions.

On my counter in the motorhome I have two tomatoes that have been sitting on the counter for over 2 weeks. They are as beautiful and firm as the day I bought them. Our daughter LaShawn gave me lesson in buying tomatoes two years ago.

Here's the spiritual application that came to me last week. John 15:5 says, " I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

It is so true. If we will stay connected to the Giver of Life, the Vine, we will stay strong and sure in our faith; so confident in His love and provision for us that we are able to be at peace. This is available to all of us, through our acceptance of what Jesus did for all. The "fruit" of that kind of connectedness is a life that overflows with His love, joy, hope and peace...because it flows from Him (the Vine) to us (the branch). That is the kind of life He offers us.

{ Recipe}

Crunchy Romaine Strawberry Salad

1 (3 oz.) pkg. ramen noodles, discard seasoning packet

1 c. chopped walnuts

Saute together and set aside.

¼ c. vegetable oil

¼ c. sugar

2 T. red wine vinegar

½ tsp. soy sauce

Mix together in a blender. Set aside.

8 c. torn romaine

½ c. chopped green onions

2 c. fresh strawberries, sliced

Right before serving put everything together.

{ Recipe}

"What a wonderful blessing to have Larry and Gloria with us at First Assembly. Their sincere compassion for our church is evident as they reach out to all who are hurting and in need of a miracle. Our church is always excited when they are here…and we further know that they pray for us when we are apart. No one should miss the opportunity to have them come and bless everyone. First Assembly loves them very much."

"Thank you for coming to First Assembly and ministering to us again. As always, you blessed our hearts. It is wonderful to see your sweet spirits and love of people. Your many years of ministry have made you rich in His grace and given you that special ability of ministering so freely to God's people.

Carolyn and I love you and are praying that your health and strength will be renewed so you may be able to continue your ministry. There are yet many souls that need to hear the unchanging message of the cross. May His blessings abound in your lives and ministry. God bless and keep you!"

This Sunday we'll be in Crosby, Texas and then off to Oklahoma for a multi-church community event. Many blessings to you until we chat again!

As Good Friday and Easter are approaching, I was reminded of this article of Larry's that really captures the spiritual climate that we are living in now.

The Cross Made the Difference

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Andrew Murray wrote: "It is the great need of the church today to have the crucifixion of the flesh preached, and the cross restored to its place (the cross of Christ)." Some of us recall the "deeper life" conferences which revived the emphasis upon the Christians' deliverance from the power of sin. It was, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story." It is part of the message that has fallen into neglect. Too often, we are offered a "cheapened gospel"-just pray a prayer and then go do as you like! Can the reason be the same as was indicated by Murray? He wrote: "It is easy for man's wisdom to win men to a cross that leaves them uncrucified."

A sad proclamation that is often heard is, "you can't tell the difference between the church and the world" (referring to the lack of seeing a lifestyle change, of course). When we are saved, our lifestyle and lip-style should undergo a noticeable change. That's called the "Crucified Life!"

Many are faithfully led to the cross for salvation from the penalty of sin. Few of them are led into deliverance from the domination of their old, carnal nature. They have come to the cross of Christ, but have not gone with Him to the other side to live on resurrection ground.

To go through the cross is consent to the death of one's self-life. It is to recognize that it was not only His death; it was our death, too! When He died, we died. When He rose, we rose with Him, ascended with Him, and are seated together with Him at the Father's right hand (II Cor. 5:14-15, Eph. 2:5-7). In Romans 6, we learn of our identification with Christ in His death and resurrection and how to apply it to our daily walk.

It is time for another revival of this truth. The time has come to rally around the preaching of the cross that crucifies the flesh, disturbs the self-life, plucks out the carnal eye and cuts off the offending hand. It puts the "self" in us to death.

Often, the reason why Christians do not grow in grace, or become more effective witnesses for Christ, is that they haven't died to the flesh and taken on the identity of Christ. The world needs to see the difference-the change in our lives!

There is a lost and dying world that needs the Gospel message. Let's be faithful as "Crucified-with-Christ" Christians to point others to the cross of Christ. Let others see what a difference the cross has made in your life!

Amen! May you have a weekend that is blessed with His grace, love and overcoming presence.

4 cups cooked ham, diced

1 cup green pepper, diced

1 (7 oz.) jar pimentos

1 cup celery, diced

½ cup sweet pickle relish

¾ cup mayonnaise

2 T. prepared mustard

1 tsp. finely grated onion

Stir mayo and mustard together and add remaining ingredients. Great way to use up leftover ham!