Larry Reinhold writes: Brek Brost of Nebraska and I were acquainted originally due to an event that the world termed a tragedy; that being the death of two of my brothers, Lyle and Lee, and Brek’s cousin Wayne. On that Memorial Day nearly thirty years ago, many lives were to be impacted throughout the world during the coming decades. One time I was able to visit Brek at the family farm when both of us were still single. We both were to be blessed with wonderful wives in God’s timing. Brek was very enjoyable to visit with and his entire family are a pleasant lot. I have been receiving a weekly email from Brek that has proved to be quite a blessing and I would like to share a portion of one that I received today:

     "Tomorrow is THANKSGIVING and I was thinking it’s easy to be thankful when everything is going swell but what about when you are overwhelmed with difficulties,, can you be thankful then? When your physical disabilities are too much,, when you are having troubles with your teenager,, when your finances are in the red,, when church divisions arise,, when communication with your spouse is hard,, when you are depressed,, fill in your particular difficulty…. Can you be thankful? There is always Someone, Somewhere who is worse off than we are,, whose difficulties and circumstances are much worse than ours. So the degree of our particular type of human suffering isn’t really the issue to whether we are thankful or not. What is the key to being thankful? It is the conscious choice of choosing to be thankful because of the Hope that we have in Jesus Christ. This side of seeing Jesus Christ face to face we will have miseries,, that is a certainty. For those who have not been born again their miseries will increase and continue on after they die,,, but for us who have been born from above, our miseries will come to an END when we see Him, our loving Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and that is the key to being Thankful. Sure, we are thankful for the myriad of temporary blessings that God has given us but the ultimate thing to be thankful for is the eternal blessing of God Himself, Jesus the blessed Hope! If everything in your life is going swell count your many blessings, name them one by one. If the difficulties in your life are overwhelming you and you don’t seem to be able to count your many blessings, stop and look beyond your miseries to Jesus the blessed hope and you can be THANKFUL."
Heb 12:28— Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Titus 2:11-13— For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Hey, thanks Brek, for the good words. Very much appreciated from a man that is currently enduring, for a season on this earth, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease.

November 15, 2006

Larry Reinhold writes: THE WIND IN OUR SIGHT

No one has seen the wind you declare, but the force has sure been felt.
Upon the vast Plains it tirelessly leaves its tracks upon the grass
And when the winter solstice has shortened the days to half
The wind drives and decorates the snow in its relentless ongoing pass.

No one has seen the breeze you say and probably you are right.
But God Almighty enjoyed himself as he placed feet under the wind
And put breath into its nostrils and sinew in its legs and a heart of inspiration
Many have marveled to see this creature dash with hardly an effort to lend.

No one has seen the wind you say and yet what is that which has appeared.
The wind is an element to reckon with and every direction it does blow.
But the pronghorn antelope is master of the plains with speed to catch the horizon
He sets his mind and determines his pace and then the wind on hooves does flow.

No one has seen the wind and now, too your mind has changed.
For now you have seen the arrow of God with a coat of gold and white
From amongst the sage and the wheat grasses on the plains that is topped with sky
You now join with us prairie folk in our pleasure of the wind that is in our sight.

Photo by Robin Reinhold

May15, 2006

Larry Reinhold writes: What is Truth?

You find it so dark in the shadows of the bright new day
Standing at the doorway do you go in or run away
You have learned and have no answers along life’ dusty road
You have packed all the important stuff and now are trapped beneath the load.

All the new beginnings have been given to someone to boot
The helping hand is slippery and is a shallow root.
You’re as free as the wind till the storm has blown you around.
You are ready to bask in the sun’s warm rays, but it too has gone down.

What is truth; Can one color, stretch or twist?
Can it only be half there and the other part be missed.
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”
This is something you should claim and live, I know it works for me.
                                        By Larry B. Reinhold 2006

Let Christ capture your heart and you shall be set free.LBR

“States should have the right to enact... laws... particularly to end the inhumane practice of ending a life that otherwise could live." President George Bush

Seven months ago, Julia Lee was endangered though. Sadly to say she could have been murdered in cold blood. As I look at her now it sends shivers down my spine. When I watch her Mother with Julia I see a fulfillment that can only be presented by a mother child relationship, but again to think of my precious daughter’s life being snuffed out; I must say I become irate and realize my position as a father to this child in that I have a responsibility to defend her.

Yes seven months ago she was in potential danger, but six months ago I witnessed the birth of this precious little one.

Can you believe it? Abortion could have taken the life of this child just as it has millions of others.

Robin, you are a wonderful mother and I know abortion never entered your mind. Thank you. And to our sweet little Julia, may God bless you with a long life.

"Nobody believes the official spokesman... but everybody trusts an unidentified source." Ron Nesen

"Never forget that only dead fish swim with the stream." Malcolm Muggeridge

"We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." Will Rogers

"Everything is funny as long as it is happening to someone else." Will Rogers

 "You must pay for conformity. All goes well as long as you run with conformists. But you, who are honest men in other particulars, know that there is alive somewhere a man whose honesty reaches to this point also, that he shall not kneel to false gods, and, on the day when you meet him, you sink into the class of counterfeits." 
Ralph Waldo Emerson

         Printed on a historical marker near Fox Ridge on Hwy 212 east of Faith, South Dakota

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." 
    Joshua in the Bible from the Scripture passage of Joshua 1:8-9

    There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.  And he was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.  He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target.  And getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner.
   As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.  Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it.  He was shocked and grieved.
   In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching.  Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.  
   After lunch that day grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."  
   But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today didn't you Johnny?"  And then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?"
   So Johnny did the dishes.  Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."
   But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help."  And she whispered again, "Remember the duck?"
   So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.  After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer.  He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. 
   She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know.  You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing.  But because I love you, I forgave you.  But I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."
   I don't know what's in your past.  I don't know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face.  But whatever it is, I want you to know something.  God was standing at the window.  And He saw the whole thing. But because He loves you, He has forgiven you. Perhaps He's wondering how long you'll let the enemy make a slave out of you.  The great thing about God is that He not only forgives, but He forgets.
                                            Author unknown

I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.  I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer  day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television--and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.  I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.  I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said,  "Later.  Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's".. more "I'm sorry's" ... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.  Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.  Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who Do love us.  Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.  Life is too short to let it pass you by.  We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.

is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

"The upper crust is nothing more than a bunch of crumbs held together by a lot of dough."

 Anonymous

Diplomats are just as essential to starting a war as soldiers are for finishing it.... You take diplomacy out of war, and the thing would fall flat in a week. Will Rogers

Patrick Henry

--LBR

"Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all- the apathy of human beings. - Helen Keller

"Don't mind criticism. 

If it is untrue, disregard it; if unfair, keep from irritation; if it is ignorant, smile; if it is justified 

it is not criticism, 

learn from it."
 Unknown

Wilson Mizner

"Never argue with a

 fool - people might not know the difference. " Anonymous

It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat; who strives valiantly; who errs and may fail again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who does know the great enthusiasm, the great devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.  

Teddy Roosevelt - April 23,1910

Wind Borne Nostalgia 

by Victor Johnson

For rippling miles the prairie hills and valleys gently fold; or is it just my eyes?

The closing daylight mellows in the quiet skies.

Familiar plains reach out, surrounding Bear Butte's cone.

Volcanic origin forgot, it stands there musing, all alone.

The schoolhouse - are we standing where it stood?

Not a thing remains, foundation stone or bit of wood.

The playground, scene of simulated hard-fought battle

Is now a quiet grazing ground, for cattle.

Since we played here, we've said farewell to Sister, Dad and Brother;

And yesterday last rites were said for our beloved Mother.

Memories, like northern lights, flick onto the mind's clear screen.

They come on brightly, then fade out making way for a different scene.

On west of us a quarter mile, where some of us were born,

Is pasture land. Without the house it looks a bit forlorn.

The lower dam is there, but if the path still shows it's dim--

I mean the one we followed, racing down to swim.

A little further on, a shaggy sentinel remains;

One tree! For eighty years it's stood in cold, and drought, and rains.

And over all, the western wind still blows.

The same strong wind that in our childhood drifted high the snows.

Mom's love for the prairie ended here.

She said the winds were too severe;

The lashing hail or swirling dust

Flew ahead of a gale that would blow it or bust .

The rattling door, like a mad drummer's roll,

Hammered Mom's patience, exhausted her soul.

At night she'd awake with the place still as death.

The wind was resting and catching its breath.

It was rough! Yet the wind had a gentler streak;

It added rich tone to Dad's sun-darkened cheek.

And though in the winter its chill cursed the range,

Just a day's warm Chinook brought a marvelous change.

Once, when the rains came all through the spring the grass grew tall and strong,

And the wind made the shimmering grass-waves toss with a loving, whispering song.

We loafed in the warm wind and hunted wild flowers

And the land and the sky and the clouds were all ours.

At night when Mom kissed us and tucked us in bed,

When a quiet "good night" and our prayers had been said

Then the sweet gentle wind, blowing soft and serene

Sang a hushed lullaby through the west window screen.

School days and homework took our time as we drew into the fall;

We'd trudge along toward the one-room school with body and mind in a stall.

But on windy days we'd open our coat and hold it out like a sail.

With a good cool blast pushing strong on our back, we sped up the hill on the gale.

In the winter we raced our battered sleds on the far side of the hill.

There never were such polished drifts as went through the west wind's mill.

It would build and smooth and caress those drifts with a hairdresser's care and skill.

To carve out a white-walled tunnel in one, you needed a miner's drill.

Cold winds, warm winds, winds with a searing blast;

They kept our minds pre-occupied; the years went by too fast.

Those winds, plus time, removed our tracks; once more the grass grows green.

And the rains, pushed hard by the roving winds have washed the prairie clean.

We won't relive - we can't relive - the good old days of youth;

The sighing wind reiterates this old and solemn truth.

For life itself moves through this place like jet streaks in the dawn.

One Book likens life to a vapor puff; it's here, and then it's gone.

The soul returns to the giver, God.

And the body's entombed in the wind-swept sod.

The plain stands serene in its age old pose.

And over it softly, the west wind blows

A Pizza, a Party, and a Moonlight Ride

Author Unknown

Jenny was so happy about the house they had found.

For once in her life 'twas on the right side of town.

She unpacked her things with such great ease.

As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze.

How wonderful it was to have her own room.

School would be starting, she'd have friends over soon.

There'd be sleep-overs, and parties; she was so happy

It's just the way she wanted her life to be.

On the first day of school, everything went great.

She made new friends and even got a date!

She thought, "I want to be popular and I'm going to be,

Because I just got a date with the star of the team!"

To be known in this school you had to have a clout,

And dating this guy would sure help her out.

There was only one problem stopping her fate.

Her parents had said she was too young to date.

"Well, I just won't tell them the entire truth.

They won't know the difference; what's there to lose?"

Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night.

Her parents frowned but said, "All right."

Excited, she got ready for the big event

But as she rushed around like she had no sense,

She began to feel guilty about all the lies,

But what's a pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride?

Well the pizza was good, and the party was great,

But the moonlight ride would have to wait.

For Jeff was half drunk by this time.

But he kissed her and said that he was just fine.

Then the room filled with smoke and Jeff took a puff.

Jenny couldn't believe he was smoking that stuff.

Now Jeff was ready to ride to the point

But only after he'd smoked another joint.

They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride,

Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive.

They finally made it to the point at last,

And Jeff started trying to make a pass.

A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all

(and by a pass, I dont mean playing football).

"Perhaps my parents were right....maybe I am too young.

Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb."

With all of her might, she pushed Jeff away:

"Please take me home, I dont want to stay."

   Jeff cranked up the engine and floored the gas.

In a matter of seconds they were going too fast.

As Jeff drove on in a fit of wild anger,

Jenny knew that her life was in danger.

She begged and pleaded for him to slow down,

But he just got faster as they neared the town.

"Just let me get home!  I'll confess that I lied.

I really went out for a moonlight ride."

Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash.

"Oh God, Please help us!  We're going to crash!"

She doesn't remember the force of impact.

Just that everything all of a sudden went black.

She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble,

And heard, "Call an ambulance!  These kids are in trouble!"

Voices she heard...a few words at best.

But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck.

Then wondered to herself if Jeff was all right,

And if the people in the other car were alive.

She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad.

"You've been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad."

These voices echoed inside her head,

As they gently told her that Jeff was dead.

They said "Jenny, we've done all we can do.

But it looks as if we'll lose you too."

    "But the people in the other car!?" Jenny cried.

"We're sorry, Jenny, they also died."

Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I've done

I only wanted to have just one night of fun."

   "Tell those people's family, I've made their lives dim,

And wish I could return their families to them."

"Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry I lied,

And that it's my fault so many have died.

Oh, nurse, won't you please tell them that for me?"

The nurse just stood there ~ she never agreed.

But took Jenny's hand with tears in her eyes

And a few moments later Jenny died.

    A man asked the nurse, "Why didn't you do your best

To bid that girl her one last request?"

She looked at the man with eyes oh so sad.

"Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad."

This story is sad and unpleasant but true,

So young people take heed, it could have been you