Coffee Bean Man

This is a a neat little photo in that somewhere in the coffee beans is a man's head. Can you see it?













If you need a hint or the answer send me an e-mail.

2 Continents & 1 Friendship

During our 2003 & 2004 Ghana, West Africa Mission Trips one of our team members, Jon Fletcher, formed a great friendship with Isaac Adjei, a member of Zion Evangelistic Ministry. Jon is a professional photojournalist in Florida and Isaac works on video projects & photography in Teshie, Accra.

Jon and his wife, Kristie, have a daughter named Klara. Last year they had their second child, a boy, and they named him Isaac after their Ghanaian friend. This year, Isaac and his wife, Joyce, had their first child, a girl, and they named her Klara after their American friend's daughter.

So, now we have:

2 friends,
2 Klara's,
2 Isaac's, on
2 different continents.

One great friendship on two different continents: PRICELESS!









Klara & Isaac Fletcher - United States

















Klara Adjei - Ghana, West Africa

25 Questions: Answers

Here are the anwers to the 25 Questions posted a couple of days ago. After you add up how many correct answers you have, share the number with us by clicking on comments below.

Here's the answers:

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
Answer: Bottom

2. How many states are there in the USA?
Answer: 50

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
Answer: Right

4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
Answer: Blue, red, white, yellow, black, & gold

5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?
Answer: 1 and 0

6. When you walk does your left arm ! swing with your right or left leg?
Answer: Right

7. How many matches are in a standard pack?
Answer: 20

8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?
Answer: Red

9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
Answer: 88

10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
Answer: Clockwise (north of the equator)

11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
Answer: Towards bottom right

12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
Answer: 12 (no #1)

13. On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons?
Answer: Left

14. Which way do fans rotate?
Answer: Clockwise as you look at it

15. How many sides does a stop sign have?
Answer: 8

16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?
Answer: Left

17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
Answer: 5

18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
Answer: 6

19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
Answer: Bashful

20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
Answer: 8

21. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
Answer: Ace of Spades

22. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
Answer: Left

23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
Answer: "*" and "#"

24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?
Answer: 3

25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?
Answer: Counter

I got 17 right!!!

How'd you do???

Barney Services Begin Tonight

Two Lines

This is a funny joke? 8-)

When everybody on earth was dead and waiting to enter Paradise, God appeared and said, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men who were true heads of their household and the other line for the men who were dominated by their women. I want all the women to report to St Peter."

Soon, the women were gone and there were two lines of men. The line of the men who were dominated by their wives was 100 miles long, and in the line of men who truly were heads of their household, there was only one man.

God said, "You men should be ashamed of yourselves. I created you to be the head of your household. You have been disobedient and not fulfilled your purpose. I told you to be the spiritual leader in your family. Of all of you only one obeyed. Learn from him. Tell them, my son, how did you manage to be the only one in this line?"

The man replied, "I don't know, my wife told me to stand here."

25 Questions

Here are 25 questions about things we see every day or have known about all our lives. These simple questions are harder than you think-- it just shows you how little we pay attention to the commonplace things of life.

No looking around! No getting out of your chair! No using anything on or in your desk or computer! Write down your answers as you go. I'll post the correct answers in a couple of days.

REMEMBER - NO CHEATING!!! BE HONEST!!!

Answers are based on United States info.

LET'S JUST SEE HOW OBSERVANT YOU REALLY ARE.

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don't laugh, some people don't know)
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?
6. When you walk does your left arm ! swing with your right or left leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!)
7. How many matches are in a standard pack?
8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?
9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
13. On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons?
14. Which way do fans rotate?
15. How many sides does a stop sign have?
16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?
17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
21. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
22. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?
25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

The answers will be posted on this Blog in a couple of days, but don't look up any answers in the meantime. We are going on the Honor System. 8-)

Columbia Baptist Tomorrow

I will be preaching Homecoming Service at Columbia Baptist Church tomorrow (Sunday, September 25th) at 11am. Special music will be provided by Kevin Owen & Cheryl Kent.

Columbia Baptist Church is located on State Road 47 near Columbia City, Florida.

Please be in prayer for this service.

How Smart Is Your Right Foot?

A friend e-mailed this to me and it's true for me. How about you?

1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand.

Your foot will change direction.

Please don't ask me to explain this. 8-)

The Nail

As the story goes, they built a new church building and people came from far and wide to see it. They admired its beauty! Up on the roof, a little nail heard the people praising everything about the lovely structure-except the nail! No one even knew he was there, and he became angry and jealous.

"If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit!" So the nail then released its hold, slid down the roof, and fell in the mud.

That night it rained and rained. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew away, and the roof began to leak. The water streaked the walls and the beautiful murals. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and the pulpit Bible was ruined by water. All this because a little nail decided to quit!

But what of the nail? While holding the shingle, it was obscure but it was also useful. Buried in the mud it was just as obscure, but now it was useless and would soon be eaten up by rust!

The moral of the story-EVERY MEMBER IS IMPORTANT TO THE CHURCH! You may, like the nail, feel obscure at times, but just like the nail, your absence is felt. When you are not present for worship, in some way the body of Christ hurts. We are ALL a part of the Lord's ministry.

Author Unknown

Where will you be on Sunday?

Shiloh Baptist Added To Schedule

I have been asked to preach in supply for Pastor Mark Driskell of Shiloh Baptist Church next month while he is out of town. I will be preaching the morning (11am) & evening (7pm) worship services on Sunday, October 16, 2005.

Shiloh Baptist Church is located at 173 SW Shilooh Way near Fort White, Florida.

Please be in prayer for these services and for the Driskell family to have great time of rest and relaxation.

See You at the Pole Day

"See You at the Pole" Day was held at Lake Butler (Florida) Elementary School this morning before students went to class. I was honored to be asked to participate in the event this morning. I talked to the students & teachers that voluntarily gathered around the school's flag pole about David & Goliath. I told students that God often uses children (like David) to do "big" things for Him. I encouraged students to take a stand for God whenever they are faced with some of the "giants" that come our way in our life. We then closed with a prayer asking God to use us as He did David.

In the photo above a student is selected to play the role of David as I play the role of Goliath (I was perfect for the role with me being a "giant").

For information about "See You at the Pole" visit http://www.syatp.com/.

Pecans in the Cemetery

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.

"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy.

Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate.

Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me." He just knew what it was.

He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. "Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls."

The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk."

When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled to the cemetery. Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me..."

The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord."

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."

They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the boy on the bike.

"Talk Like A Pirate Day"?

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail today informing me that it is "Talk Like A Pirate Day"! I have never heard of this before so I followed the link she sent to me to the official website: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html. It is a rather funny story how it began. Newspaper columnist Dave Berry brought it to the national scene with his column in 2002. You can read the column at this link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/4018055.htm.

This certainly is not a Christian based holiday, but it is a funny story.

Arrr, I hope you have a great "Talk Like A Pirate Day" and if you don't you may be forced to walk the plank. Shiver me timbers that's no fun a'tall.

Hey, what if we had a "Talk & Walk Like Jesus Day" (which should be every day)?!?! I think the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be shared with the lost of the world very quickly if born-again believers would truly talk & WALK like Jesus EVERY DAY and not just on Sunday!!!

NOTE: You never know what you may read on the "Walking With The Giant" blog!!!

Serious Prayer?

This little story is funny, but it has a serious message.

A man was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up toward heaven, he said "Lord, take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up drinking."

Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

The man looked up again and said "Never mind. I found one."

An Organized Life

Two senior ladies met for the first time since graduating from high school. One asked the other, "You were always so organized in school, did you manage to live a well planned life?"

"Oh yes," said her friend. "My first marriage was to a millionaire; my second marriage was to an actor; my third marriage was to a preacher; and now I'm married to an undertaker."

Her friend asked, "What do those marriages have to do with a well planned life?"

She answered, "One for the money, two for the show. three to get ready and four to go!"

Good Advice

An Old Farmer's Advice

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

* You cannot unsay a cruel word.

* Every path has a few puddles.

* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.

* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

* Don't judge folks by their relatives.

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.

* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

* Always drink upstream from the herd.

* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

(Author Unknown)

"See You At The Pole"

I have been asked to present a brief devotion next Wednesday, September 21st. for the annual "See You At The Pole" Day at Lake Butler Elementary School in Lake Butler, Florida. The event will begin at 7:30am at the school's flag pole.

Please be in prayer for this ministry opportunity.

"Friend Day" Scheduled in Tallahassee

I will be preaching a "Friend Day" service at New Life Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday, October 30, 2005 at 11am. This will also be their Homecoming Service. For more information call Pastor Eric Tinsley at (850) 877-2215.

New Life Baptist Church is located at 3625 Woodville Highway in Tallahassee, Florida.

A Neat Story

A man's car broke down as he was driving past a beautiful old monastery. He walked up the drive and knocked on the front door. A monk answered, listened to the man's story and graciously invited him to spend the night.

The monks fed the man and led him to a tiny chamber in which to sleep. The man thanked the monks and slept serenely until he was awakened by a strange and beautiful sound.

The next morning, as the monks were repairing his car, he asked about the sound that had woken him. "We're sorry," the monks said. "We can't tell you about the sound. You're not a monk." The man was disappointed, but eager to be gone, so he thanked the monks for their kindness and went on his way. During quiet moments afterward, the man pondered the source of the alluring sound.

Several years later, the man happened to be driving in the same area. He stopped at the monastery on a whim and asked admittance. He explained to the monks that he had so enjoyed his previous stay, he wondered if he might be permitted to spend another night under their peaceful roof the monks agreed, and so the man stayed with them again. Late that night, he heard the strange beautiful sound.

The following morning he begged the monks to explain the sound. The monks gave him the same answer as before.

"We're sorry we can't tell you about the sound. You're not a monk."

By now, the man's curiosity had turned to obsession. He decided to give up everything and become a monk; for that was the only way he could learn about the sound. He informed the monks of his decision and began the long and arduous task of becoming a monk.

Seventeen years later, the man was finally established as a true member of the order.

When the celebration ended, he humbly went to the leader of the order and asked to be told the source of the sound. Silently, the old monk led the new monk to a huge wooden door. He opened the door with a golden key. That door swung open to reveal a second door of silver, then a third of gold and so on until they had passed through twelve doors, each more magnificent than the last. The new monk's face was awash with tears of joy as he finally beheld the wondrous source of the beautiful mysterious sound he had heard so many years before..........

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But, I can't tell you what it was. You're not a monk.

Where Does Jesus Live?

A Sunday School teacher of preschoolers was concerned that his students might be a little confused about Jesus because of the Christmas season emphasis on His birth. He wanted to make sure they understood that the birth of Jesus occurred for real. He asked his class, "Where is Jesus today?"

Steven raised his hand and said, "He's in heaven."

Mary was called on and answered, "He's in my heart."

Little Johnny, waving his hand furiously, blurted out, "I know, I know! He's in our bathroom!!!"

The whole class got very quiet, looked at the teacher, and waited for a response. The teacher was completely at a loss for a few very long seconds. Finally, he gathered his wits and asked Little Johnny how he knew this.

Little Johnny said, "Well...every morning, my father gets up, bangs on the bathroom door, and yells, 'Good Lord, are you still in there?!"

Ft. Walton Beach Added to Schedule

Revival services at Oakland Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida have been scheduled for October 2005. Services will begin on Sunday morning, October 23rd at 11am and will continue at 6:30pm nightly through Wednesday, October 26th. I will be preaching each service and the music will be under the direction of Graham Boutwell.

For more information call Associate Pastor Danny Adkison at (850) 243-8722. Oakland Baptist Church is located at 118 Wright Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Unique

Place your mouse on the X below and drag to the O.

X Even though you can't see Him, GOD is there! O

Barney, Georgia Services

Biloxi Photos

Photojournalist Jon M. Fletcher of the Florida Times-Union newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida has just returned from Biloxi, Mississippi. He spent a week there taking photos for the newspaper. You can view some of these photos at www.jonmfletcher.com/hurricane.

Jon traveled to Ghana, West Africa with our team in 2003 and 2004. Some of his photos from the Ghana trips can be viewed on my website at www.jamescroft.org.

Please remember to pray for everyone that was impacted by Hurricane Katrina as well as those that are helping with relief efforts.

FBC Glen St. Mary Today

I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Tim Patterson at First Baptist Church of Glen St. Mary, Florida tomorrow (Sunday). Services will begin at 11am & 6pm. Please be in prayer for these services.

Balloonist

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted,” Excuse me, can you help? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist.

"I am," replied the woman. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of you, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded, "You must be in management."

"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault!"