Jerry Falwell Died May 15th on Ellen Birthday

 We visited Jerry and Macel Falwell on my Mom Birthday on April 15

 

Ellen a a young age.

 

Ellen with Dad a a very young age.

My Sister Ellen

Charles in the Cornfield, Ellen and Charity

 CAN YOU FIND ME IN THE CORNFIELD

Ellen and Charity in Bible Study

Pauline Whisnant Family at the Cementry

 April:  (photo by Ellen)

 Charles: (photo by Ellen)

 Ellen and April

 Ellen and  April and Becky and Ella

Family Photo:  From April's Cam.  taken by Brian Williams

Eric Whisnant, and Abby, Stephen, Chad, Becky, April, Ellen, Charles, Charity, Eric, Leslie

Ellen and Stephen

I can't believe Stephen is now 20 years old.

My sister took her son back to Lynchburg, Va. to college this week. She is having way too much fun, I think, according to Facebook.

She stopped over in Danville, VA.

I could say a lot about Danville, Va. Our Dad had died in February 1966, and Mom and the family were asked to move to Danville, by Bob Barber, Jr. Mom was worked for Bob at the Baptist Tabernacle. I was going to Seminary in Arlington, Tx. And Ellen was a kid, let me see, 1958 to 1966 would be about 7 or 8 years old. Don was a Senior in High School. I believe we were all a little upset to be without our Dad.

I finished my first year at BBS and came back for the summer, and worked for Southhall Baptist Church. That was a real experience. While I loved working with the teens, and very successful for sure, so successful that the preacher didn't like it. Oh well, my life story for the next 20 years.

Don and I went back to Seminary in 1967 and had a good year. I really can't remember what happen next. I know I stayed in Fort Worth, Tx in a hotel in downtown, and worked for Mrs Baird Bread Bakery. And I visited the First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, that was a good expereince.

Those were years of learning and growing.

Let us skip over those years, and now we are in 2009. And life for us is so good. Charity and I are doing the best we have ever had it.

MY LOVELY SISTER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS

MY SISTER ELLEN HAS A BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY

ELLEN WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

Okay Ellen what is this all about? Find out here

A new Pilate Move?

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At least its not a brick!

IS IT A MANIKIN?

ITS A MANIKIN. or MANNEQUIN

An anatomical model of the human body , used in teaching art or a Pilates move, or position.

Yes I have learned, that photo is really an manikin, because its hard to believe anyone could do this Pilates position. Believe me I can't. Now, how this looks so much like my sister is a wonder. I could be wrong about this.

Well, a little fun here, my sister is no mere manikin, she is a live beautiful lady who is working hard, not only on her physical body, but continues to grow in her spiritual life as well.

IT IS EASY UNTIL YOU DO IT RIGHT

I WAS TRYING A NEW PILATES MOVE OR POSITION AS BELOW

"Pilates is easy...until you do it right"!
My sister Ellen says, and she should know, and does.

Which made me think

A CHRISTIAN LIFE IS EASY.......UNTIL YOU DO IT RIGHT.
THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH IS EASY UNTIL YOU

DO IT RIGHT!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE SERIOUSNESS OF SUICIDE

MY SISTER ELLEN HAS POSTED A MOST SERIOUS ARTICAL ON SUICIDE, A MUST READ

UPDATE ON GROWBYLEARNING WEB

My sister, Ellen, co-worker on my GROW BY LEARNING WEB has just updated my pages title.
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You will notice "CHURCH" as one of the pages on the Site.

This page will be used for Rivers of Joy Baptist Church.

Ellen is a little older now, but she does look about the same. (I would say look at her legs, but she would really kill me for saying that.) Maybe she won't see this blog.

Ellen was painting our car, yes painting Charity's car when we were married in 1969. The paint job didn't come off.

MY MOM.....

MOM IS STAYING WITH ELLEN IN TEXAS
Stephen has all grown up , they were in our church in Altoona, a few years ago.
Ellen, she has grown all up, from those days
in Roanoke, Virginia
She is still working out with her legs.
Click and find out how.
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Words change.

Conversation with Mom about my phone call to Charles.

"Mom, Charles called from his church."

"What did he say?"

"He said he didn't get good reception there, so he had to call me later."

"Oh, he didn't get the church?"

"HUH? What do you mean?"

"Well, you said he didn't get a good RECEPTION."

"Oh my, no, Ma, he meant he didn't get good CELL reception!!!"

We both laughed. Hope U R, too!

Ellen

FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND TIME AND SPACE

OLD FASHION FUNDAMENTALIST FOLKS FROM 1974

When you have been a part of some one's life for a length of time, you almost seem to be a part of their life. The idea that you know that person is in your mind. You might be a thousand miles away for a long length of time, but yet, you believe you are as close as next door. And yet our lives are so different in many respects.

Over the last thirty years, Ellen has grown up, and married, raised April, moved from Ohio to Texas. Ellen has a son name Stephen, who I have mention is going to Liberty U this fall. Now April is married, and has three children and lives in Texas. Live goes on.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT TIME: OLD FRIENDS OF THE PAST ARE FOUND. AND GETTING CAUGHT UP WITH OTHERS AS TO HOW THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

• One thing never stops, TIME One view is that time is part of the fundamental structure of the universe, a dimension in which events occur in sequence. Time is the space between the present and eternity. God is the creator of TIME and has allotted us time in this place for a length of time.
• Each of us live our life in our space ; "a boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction". And we live in that space of time in our own little world of space.

I was thinking about folks that we were "close" to for a small length of time, in living in the same area of space, and then moved apart for a long length of time. Then in recent weeks, we have become aware that they occupy another space far from where you are. And I was thinking, how interesting that when you were so close to them, and then lost contact, and then you learn they are in another part of the country, and their lives have been moving along at the same pace as yours. And we learn that they have lived life just about like the rest of us, face the same daily activity, the same trials, the same blessings, have the same sun to shine on them, God's grace is in their space as well as ours. While you have had them in your mind or photo album that you view from time to time, you have missed their fellowship and friendship.

I wonder how Heaven will be in relationship with the people we have known on earth? Will space be different IN THE NEW JERSALEM then here on earth. How will we view time in eternity?

FOOTNOTE:

• A MUST FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW HOW ELLEN IS DOING TODAY, AND WHAT MOM IS DOING, AND HOW APRIL AND BRIAN ARE DOING YOU NEED TO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE: note the links on the side par of my Blogger.
  

MAY 15TH 2008 LOOKING BACK

MAY 15TH 2008

One year ago Charity and I traveled to Lyncbhurg Virginia to visit with my Mom and sister and her son Stephen. Mom wanted to go back to Lynchburg to visit and go to Thomas Road Baptist Church and visit with Jerry and Macel Falwell.


Since Stephen wanted to attend Liberty U. this was a good time for Ellen. We had a great time visiting Mom. On Sunday we attended the Thomas Road Baptist Church, the new building was beautiful. The three services that Sunday and we were in the last two. Jerry Falwell preached and was go as he has always been. Following the service I got up enough nerve to go down an visit Macel. She was as gracious as a preacher's wife. We had a great visit with her and then with Jerry. Then we all went out to eat.


Eating and sitting beside Macel and Jerry was wonderful. Who would have known, one month later Jerry would be called hometo be with the Lord. Jerry said that say, "My dream and plans for TRBC and Liberty U will be fulfilled by my sons."


Mom this year 2008 was 86 years old. And we traved to Texas to visit. Ellen had a birthday today and is doing just great.


I am still working on this new computer and hope to be up and running by next Tuesday with some new High Speed. And getting all the software running.

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CHANGE IS CHALLENGING 2008

TODAY MAY 15TH 2008

Change is challenging. Yesterday I finally bought a new computer. Since I had a new monitor, (given to me by a frined) with a gift from my daughter, I had enough money to purchase an XP Home computer. Well, it's been since 2003 that I have had a Windows 98. Change was needed

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Rather than change out the old harddrive I went with the new. This means adding all the software. This is going to take time and losing all the other saved material. This is going to be like getting rid of all your 20 years of old clothes. This also means I am going to up date to high speed. Dial Up has been my life for five years. But with time I will get back on track.

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TODAY IS ALSO MY SISTER'S BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEN SAMPLES

WHAT A TREAT - THERE IS NONE BETTER - SENT BY MY SISTER ELLEN
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THIS LITTLE GIRL DAD IS HOLDING HER, AND THEN MOM IS HOLDING HER AND I am STANDING UP (I think), the pictures are rather old, (sorry Ellen) Then I believe Ellen is in her teens. I think. This is really fun. But by pix taking could take a lesson from someone. I wish these pictures were clear but at least you can get a little view of us when we were younger. We were living in Roanoke Virginia. Dad was pastor of the Williamsroad Baptist Church, then Victory Baptist Church and later the Roanoke Baptist Temple. All the churches were of the same membership, we just moved. (I think).

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Dad and Mom were daily involved in the ministry of evangelism and the local church, but they were always involved with their children. I owe a lot to my dad, and mom. There are a few stories I would like to tell about Ellen as a child. She was really loved by her ten year older brother. Even if Don and I had her playing the piano, when she couldn't yet sit up, and she fell off the bench. But she has done okay.

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WHILE THE LOVELY WHITE SNOW FALL: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
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While the lovely white snow ( six inches) came down over Porstmouth, we missed the heavy snow (nineteen inches) that Columbus received, Charity and I were enjoying our day off from our jobs.

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So after my regular visit to PYROMANIACS AND PULPIT MAGAZINE, reading the articles from the Shepherd's Conference 2008, I cut off the Gateway. For the next few hours I worked with my HOT WHEELS DIE CAST COLLECTION.

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HOT WHEELS DIECAST COLLECTION

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I believe I started a collection of Hot Wheels in 1996. Before 1996 I had never bought a Hot Wheel Diecast in my life, nor did I have any. My collection was sports cards. (You can check my blog on that story.) Then NASCAR die cast 1/24 and 1/64 cars became an interest in 1996. Following Dale Earnhardt, Sr.'s death in 2001, I lost interest in the collection. Then for some reason I began a collection of the first edition of the 1998 Hot Wheels Collection.

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Followed by the 1999 and 2000 first editions. What really became of interest was the variations of the cars. I was able to pick up a few variations in flea markets. Then in 2006 after a visit with my nephew Stephen Sigmon, my sister Ellen's son, I really became interested in going to Wal Mart, K Mart, and Target to search for variations. "The Hunt" is really what is fun. Stephen was gracious enough to find me several nice variations. That really started this search.

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Then of late, over the last year, I have really found a lot of variations of Hot Wheels. So I began to display these variations. I had about twenty cars with variations. Then all of a sudden I found myself with over fifty cars with two variations. Then there were the three car variations, then four, and now several cars with five variations first in 2007. Now I have over sixty cars with variations.

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I have never really liked real cars and don't know a Dodge from a Ford. I can pump gas, but never have changed the oil in a car. So why do I like collecting cars? Go figure!

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I thought, " I will collect all 1/64 cars." So I started looking for the 1931 Doozie, '32 Ford Coupe '32 Ford '32 Bugatti Type 50, '33 Ford Road, '35 Cadillac, '36 Cord, '40 Ford Coupe'41 Willie, and '47 Chevy. This gets worse. '50 Chevy, Plymouth, '60 Lincoln, T-Bird '70's Dodge Charger, Plymouth Barracuda, Pontiac Firebird.

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Oh, then the Jaguar, Corvette, Porsche, Mustang, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes and my favorite -- the Mercucy Cougar. (The best real car we have owned.)

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• My son Eric really likes riding his "bike". So guess what, I look for motorcycles. I have a very nice collection of bikes (about 40 different ones). And a very nice display of them in my room. And since he is a Lexington Firefigher, guess what -- I look for fire engines

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Then I like, for some odd reason, to display out of the box, the yellow cars. I have a very nice display of these cars (over fifty). Then there are the buses, goodness, sad isn't it?

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Earlier last month, I made a very nice display of over sixty cars with two variations.
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So yesterday during the blizzard, I spent several pleasant hours checking out all my Hot Wheels. I discovered there are a number of cars that I could fit into one of the catagorgies I have listed. I noticed that Hot Wheels makes the same cars over and over. For example they make the Phaeton Car over and over.

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This could go on and on, but really it's not a big time killer for me. Though, it's fun for sure. Who said you couldn't still have fun at sixty.

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NASCAR, WHEETIES, POSTERS, SPORTS CARDS, MAGAZINES, USA SPORTS SECTIONS

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I enjoy displaying my collection of NASCAR, the Dale Earnhardt Sr. collection, and the Jeff Gordon collection. Today my collection is in our upstairs room. You can find a nice display of Wheatie boxes, a Tiger Woods collection, A Lexmark 1/64 diecast cars (provided by nephew Brian Williams), and collection of Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordon, and a display of old baseball cards. And there is a nice display of sports binders of cards collected over the last few years.

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Also, I have a nice display of Starting Lineup Players. Then there are the posters of Earnhart, Griffey, Pippen, Jordon and the Chicago Bulls. Today I collect very little of these I have mentioned.
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I started collecting baseball, basketball, football, hockey, NASCAR cards again in 1993 until 2001 with regularity. Couldn't go into a store or flee market without buying cards. Today I have some 150,000 cards. Isn't that really great! Buying cards was rather cheap. Today I only pick up a pack and look that them.

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What was really fun was going on trips. We would go to Sam's, and as Eric got older, he would buy a box of baseball cards, and we would split them half and half. When we would leave Kansas to come to Porstmouth, Ohio, to visit family, we would stop in Pittsburg, Kan at a Flea Market and get a box of 500 old cards for $5, and that entertained us for the whole trip. In Altoona, I would go with Eric and Chad to card shops, and get cards. That was always great to do, and they would know what to get me for my birthday and Christmas. As a matter of fact, Chad picked up six or seven packs of cards over Christmas and gave them to me. That was really neat! Chad has a good collection of cards, and so does Eric.

In the first years of our marriage, while Charity shopped I would sit out in the car reading my Bible. When I became interested in sports cards around 1993, I would go in with Charity and shop for bargains, too. My spirituality slipped!

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HERE IS THE ADDIDICTION

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From 1996-2003 I was not pastoring a church, and my interest changed. From 2002-03 I was studying church ministry, and then I lost my job at the church. From 2003 to 2007 I didn't have employment at a church or secular place. My interest changed to studying over the Internet. For the next years I spend as much as eight hours a day studying the Doctrines of the Bible. There were a few attempts of seeking a place to serve in a church, but there was little interest from those churches. In 2007 I spent the whole year in research and study for a ministry that I believed I was going to have in a church. This was a wonderful time to get back into ministry, but at the end of 2007 I no longer had the positon.

In August 2006 I discovered Bloggers. They have a free website that you can have your own blog. That is, you can write your thoughts on a daily basis or how many times you want to. This was a really wonderful thing for me. I have spent many hours studying and writing "posts" for my "Grow By Learning" site. Today there are over 400 posts.

Then in Febuary 2008 my sister Ellen, was gracious enough to get me a web site. GROWBYLEARNING.COM. She is my websister. Now this is another avenue in which I have to express myself in ministry.

Finally, I went back to work at a secular job, Mex-Itali (the business Charity's mom and dad owned and operated for thirty-four years.) My good friends Tim and Sherri Wheeler were nice enough to give me a job for four hours a day in October 2007.

THE PURPOSE OF LIVING

My family, Eric, Becky, Chad and Kyle are living their own lives, and doing rather well, I might say. So that part of my life is not as involved as it was. Ministry in a church at the moment has not materialized. There seems to be this idea that my service is not needed at the moment in a local church.

I have to express in some way the ministry that the Lord has called me to do. While I would love to express my love for teaching in a local church, the opportunity has not occured. I still have this spiritual need to express my love for the Lord and love for people.

So there is now a mix of ministry, one 'GROW BY LEARNING' Two, at Mex-Itali, Tim introduces me as the resident chaplain. Three, my e-mail ministry as well, and my study over the Internet.

Then in those moments to relax, I love to get into my collections.

Spring is coming and I love the outdoors. Lawn mowing is what I really enjoy doing. Soon Union Mills, Mex-Itali and our place will be ready for me to get out the old lawn mower. I also love walking about three to four miles a day (at least 30 minutes of that time is with Charity.) Then there is hitting the old golf balls! I gathered over 300 golf balls from the wooded trails surrounding the resort at Lake Cumberland last August!

Proofread by Charity, and some added remarks.

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ELLEN SAMPLES IS A WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN LADY AND MY SISTER ^

Ellen provided me with a website, she is my weblady. This has been a fun projected working on this new site, both of us now have a site. Both are up and running in its beginning stages. We both have a mission.

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http://hstrial-cwhisnant2.homestead.com/ This is my new site GROW BY LEARNING

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http://hstrial-esamples.homestead.com/ This is Ellen's.

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