It's just a game, right???????

I have found that there are numerous types of games to play on the computer, especially on Facebook. Games of strategy, logic and skill. There are games like Scramble, Frarkle, Bejeweled Blitz, Fashion Wars, Mafia Wars, Farmville, Yoville and my personal favorite, Farm Town.

I enjoy games that make you feel apart of what's going on. In Farm Town, you maintain a farm. The typical plant, harvest and plow. Yet, you can help someone else on their farm. All you do is go to the market place and wait to be hired. You get paid to do the work, and the farmer makes more for his crop. There are I believe 34 levels to this game and there are lots of things to buy to maintain and upgrade your farm. If you need more money for your dreams of grandeur, then you go work for someone else.

This brings me to my blog. Yesterday, while on Farm Town, I went to the market place to see if I could make some more money. I usually stand off to the side and let the group know that I am ready and willing to do any type of work. I find begging usually doesn't pay off. Not that I've done it mind you, but I've seen many others do it. Anyway, I was hired to help harvest a cabbage crop...that's all that was growing on this farm...lots and lots of cabbage. While working, the owner hired more help and at one point we were almost on top of each other. The next thing I know, one of the works complained that the owner hired way too many workers and then would not hire us to plow what we had just harvested. Oh my gosh!!!!! Get a grip people, it's just a game!!!

It reminded me of two things...1) the job market, or lack there of it, today. People need work, but for some, instead of being grateful for any work, they complain about either the pay or the job not being big enough. 2) It reminded me of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Matthew 20: 1-16.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them 'you also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.; So they went.

He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.

He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.

The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said,'and you have made them equal to us who have born the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

So. I guess that Farm Town imitates life. Even in a game, times get rough and jobs are hard to come by. Therefore, we ought to remember, whether in real life or in a game, to be grateful for whatever work comes our way.

I don't know about you, but........

I don't know about you, but I enjoy find out the story about things that interest me. I love the history of fashion, of my genealogy, place and people. One of my interests lately has been the history behind the Hymns we sing. Who were these people and what led them to write what they did? I've gone as far as writing monologues of these people and using them to introduce these people to my church. I find that you can have a deeper understanding of the words,when you know the story being it.

Over the last coupe of years, I have come to know:

Charles Wesley "And Can It Be"
Julia Ward Howe "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Sarah Flowers Adams "Nearer My God to Thee"
John Newton "Amazing Grace"
Horatio G. Spafford "It Is Well With My Soul"
Franny J. Crosby "Blessed Assurance"
William Booth "Send The Fire"
Carl Boberg &
Stuart K. Hines "How Great Thou Art"
Helen H. Lemmel "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
George Bennard "The Old Rugged Cross"
Joseph Scriven "What A Friend We Have In Jesus"

There are some pretty fasinating and amazing stories behind some of these hymns. However, there are times in my research that I come to a stand still.....maybe all I can find is the name of the author and where they lived, but there are times when I can't even find that.

This is what brings be to this particular writting. A couple of weeks ago, we sang one of those old time hymns. I asked the Worship Leader if he would like to know the story behind it. This became my next adventure. I would get to meet another person who expressed his praise to God in song. So away I went. I pulled out my reference books and began to dig and found.....you guessed it.....NOTHING! I was determined to find an answer to my quest and so I Googled it........you guessed it........once again NOTHING. You could hear others sing it, buy a CD that had the song. but there was nothing about who wrote it or even when it was written. The only thing I could find is when it was first recorded.

I guess, this will be one of those times that the song is more important then who wrote it and why. The lyrics are a request, a request that I can identify with and in "This day and Time", a request I will continue to ask.
In Philippians 4:6-7 it says:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request
to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in
Christ Jesus."

With that in mind, here's my request:

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak, but thou art strong;
Jesus keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long,
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Through this world of toil and snares.
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy Kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Sometimes a change of plans is a good thing!

Usually, I have my week pretty well mapped out at the beginning of the week. That way, I know what's up and where I have leeway. This week was no exception...
Monday: with mom...Tuesday: off from work, but starting a new project...
Wednesday: work & evening class at church...Thursday: work & grocery shop....
Friday: work & prayer meeting....Saturday: coffee with the folks and work on project(which I also worked on after work each night). Basically all went according to plan until Thursday. Eric would be finishing up his two duty with the Guard on Friday, and wanted to take his dad & I out to dinner. I almost hesitated and said I planned on going to the prayer meeting, but didn't mention it, as we haven't had a lot of time with him this summer.
Well, on Friday, Eric called and said dinner was still on, but he was bringing another soldier home with him, as he had to drive him to the airport early in the morning. "Mom, could you make him feel welcome, he doesn't have much family?" It was important to Eric that Mike had the feeling of family. I would later find out that this young man was leaving for Iraq to join up with his unit.
(Most kids bring home stray dogs or cats. My kids brought home the stray kids)
Mike was a very polite, "Yes, mam" "Thank you mam" "Roger", but other then that, quiet. Eric showed him where to put his gear and where he would sleep. The guys changed out of their uniforms and we were off to the Texas Road House. True to his word, Eric picked up the tab, but also let Mike know that his dinner was covered. We returned home and settled in for the night.
I was up early the on Saturday morning to make sure the guys were all set. I made them coffee for the trip and watched as they loaded up and drove off. I felt as if I was sending Eric off again. Before Mike left, I gave him our address and asked him to write and that we would send care packages I also gave him an Army Bible that I bought for another young man who is also estranged from his family. I was happy to give it to Mike and will order another one for Nick (who is still in Boot Camp). I guess it's being a mom of a soldier that's given me a heart for other soldiers (especially those who don't have family). So now, I've adopted both Mike & Nick and will pray for them as if they were one of my own.
So, sometimes a change of plans is a good thing.