goodbye

due to a total lack of interest in anything I write (not that I'm anyone important), this blog is officially closed. I will re-surface in some other fashion some day. Goodbye, and I pray that you know God through Jesus Christ, the only way to Heaven.

pressure can be a good thing

Since I bid farewell, I have been pressured to continue the blog by a few people. I didn't know anyone was reading it, they said they didn't think to leave comments. So, how would I know anyone reads it if no one says anything? But, I don't necessarily write it to receive comments, my self-esteem is ok.

I may change my mind and continue, but will most certainly change the name. JHyde's Blog doesn't Maybe, in thinking of congressmen up for re-election, call it "Send 'em Packing" .blogspot?
Or maybe NObama.blogspot, but I'd bet that one is taken.

Summer camps have ended. 1700 attended, 205 received Christ as their Savior. Glory to God!

If I receive at least five "keep writing" comments, I will consider it. That's four more than I have ever received before.

it's done

I lead a very active life running a Christian camp. An average work week is 70-80 hours. There is precious little time for writing anything.

As no one has ever made a comment about my blogs in the last almost year-long run, I am ceasing operations and looking elsewhere to get the message out about my book and related works.

What's the point of poignant writing if no one ever reads it?

Therefore, this blog is officially over. Goodbye and may God bless. Not that anyone is out there to say goodbye to.

thieves top to bottom

The week at camp began with a theft of property, our Kawasaki mule, two four-wheelers belonging to the camp in residence this week, personal property of staff, shop equipment, and 50 gallons of gasoline. Not fun. A man was caught in a local town riding the streets at 3 am on a 4-wheeler, evading attempts to stop him. Turns out to be the guy. He's in jail, but not talking much, others were involved, including kids who unwittingly rode the stolen machine. We felt so violated. I have run camps 30 years, never anything stolen. We were so trusting, believing that our cause was so good, so noble, so holy and righteous that no one would do such a thing to us. The perpetrator, a long-time drug addict, did it to support his habit among other things.

Turn now to the current administration. Waltzes into office with many bowing at his feet. He seemed so likable, so trusting, so right. But it wasn't long before the outright thievery began. First it was banks taken over, then automobile companies, then segments of housing and insurance, then student loans and now efforts to steal away private healthcare. Yes, I am calling it theft. The government has no right to come in and take things from the people, but we are seeing it happen right before our eyes. When will it stop? Will all our property and our rights be taken away before the people finally awaken?

Thievery is nothing new. It originated in ancient days. The evil one, known as satan, the deciever, the devil, and you know more names, has come to kill, to steal, and to destroy. God threw him out of His holy heaven when satan rebelled, puffing himself up to challenge God. Arrogance is common among thieves. They take what is not theirs to take, and then challenge you to do something about it.

If you were bought with a price, if you are truly a child of God, paid for with blood through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, stand up. Demand that this thief cease and desist. The Bible says to resist the devil and he must flee. Resist the thief. Speak up and speak out. Forget "People" magazine and become "We The People" again.

Look up, for our redemption draweth nigh.

Not much time to blog with summer camps going on. This one's serious enough, however, to take a break and write it.

I am deeply concerned for our country as are millions of us conservatives. The administration currently in power is systematically destroying all this country has been for generations. Never would I have thought I would see our government grabbing up all they can under the guise of "saving it". What they have done with GM, banks, Chrysler, much of the financial industry, housing, and soon healthcare if they have their way is no less than a nationalization of these industries in order to completely control them.

The strangest thing is that there is barely a whisper from the public. Maybe it's because the state-run media won't allow the public to have much voice. Time magazine this week shocked many by reporting that the stimulus plan isn't working. Oh, no kidding. When is the last time you, deeply in debt, ran out and borrowed more money and then gave it away hoping to improve your financial status? It's impossible. We are now trillions in debt and going for more.

Taxes are coming by the boatload. If healthcare passes, you won't get care for months and months, if at all. And who's to pay for it? The rich? That's what Obama proposes.

If you're young, you'd better open your eyes, because you're not going to have a country to inherit for long. If you're older, you'd better be looking to get into survival mode. This is the most serious threat to ever come our way. Obama is bent on one thing: the destruction of America as we knew it. Don't be fooled. Look at what is happening and then tell me if it's for our good as a nation. There's lots of slight of hand going on here. Did you hear him say the other day that "he's putting us on notice", and that there was a lot of "chatter" while he was out of the country?? EXCUSE me, Mr. President, I don't think we work for you, I think you're supposed to work for us. And you clearly don't have our best interest at heart. You're about to ruin this once great nation, you and all the Democrats. And you Republicans in Congress better be standing and shouting to the rooftops about what you're seeing.

The Bible has spoken of this time we're in. Don't count God out just yet. If the people of the church would turn from their wicked ways and repent, God would hear from heaven and heal our land. But as long as the church looks just like the world, then forget it. We may be going down.

I don't plan to give in that easily.

King of pop

Sure, it's always sad to lose someone, and a person who is seemingly bigger than life as Michael Jackson was is a big loss to all his fans. But there's more to this story. For many years, Michael seemed to be hunting for something to make his life meaningful. It gradually turned to weirdness. I read an account recently that he was quoted as saying he had this huge void in his life. Clearly, money and possessions didn't fill that void. Neither did ultimate stardom.

The Bible tells us "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul?" I think this applies to Michael, and so many others who attain celebrity, yet self-destruct in some way. About 35 years ago, I sent Michael a personal letter explaining the need for salvation through Jesus Christ to him. I just sent it to Neverland, California, I think. Obviously I never received a response, and I doubt that he personally read the letter. Too bad. He might have taken it seriously and his life might have been different.

The lesson here is that the world can offer you everything it has, but in the end, it never can satisfy the heart's longing for a relationship with God. Only Jesus can do that. Too sad, Michael, that you never found the answer to your pursuits.

Not much time for any of us

Not much time to post with summer camps in full swing. Come to think of it, there may not be much time for any of us considering the world's stage. Jesus promised to return one day when the time was right. He told us we could recognize the season, but no one would know the exact time. He told us to live expectedly, as if He would return at any minute. Some of the writers of the New Testament thought it would be right away, yet some 2,000 years have gone by.

I participate with Facebook, originally to help promote my book, but that isn't working out. People who post are mostly young, but some adults also. Judging from comments, most live for themselves day to day, with comments about movies, or taking silly quizzes, or little snippets about their crazy day-to-day lives. How many are really expecting the return of Christ, I can't say. I try to live with that certainty, and wonder what Jesus will find me doing when He returns. I hope I am serving people in the camp ministry when it happens. I love doing that, seeing the smiles on the faces of the many youth and kids who come my way. I keep building the camp more and more to accomodate the ever-increasing numbers. Many find Christ for the first time while at camp, meaning they surrender their lives to Jesus, accepting Him as their personal savior. A concept many don't seem to really understand. When you turn your life over to Christ, you then live for Him, and not yourself. That's difficult for many to do, for they want to live just to please themselves.

Scripture talks about this time, as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the coming day of the Lord. People just scurrying about, living like they always have, paying no attention to the signs of His coming. Are you ready for that day? I believe it is imminent. I'm ready!!