Four Worms and a Lesson to be Learned

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add to his Sunday Sermon. Four worms were placed in separate jars.

The first worm was placed in a container of alcohol.

The second worm was placed in a container of cigarette smoke.

The third worm was placed in a container of chocolate syrup.

The forth worm was placed in a container of good, clean soil.

At the conclusion of the sermon, the minister announced the results.

The worm in the alcohol—DEAD!

The worm in the cigarette smoke—DEAD!

The worm in the chocolate syrup—DEAD!

The worm in good, clean soil—ALIVE!

So, the minister asked the congregation; “What did you learn from this?”

MAXINE was sitting in the back and quickly raised her hand and said;
“AS LONG AS YOU DRINK, SMOKE, AND EAT CHOCOLATE, YOU WON’T HAVE WORMS!”

That pretty much ended the service.

Yeah, I know! You do have to admit: that’s funny! It came from the bride’s sister who is a Baptist minister.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

Testimony 8

After a brief interruption we now continue to share the testimonies of Hartley Stanbridge. As a reminder, these have been accumulated over many decades and are a sharing of one man’s experience with his God. If you feel led to comment; ask for further information, or visit with Hartley, he may be reached at one70maxim@aol.com

”I was born into an RLDS family and my earliest recollections of the congregation I attended were mixed. I loved to hear the Scriptures, but the things they professed seemed to be missing in life as I saw it. I had an uncle of great spiritual nature whose gifts were seemingly overwhelmed by the nature and conduct of the majority of people attending.

At fifteen years an unfortunate incident took place. It was handled very wisely but without any spiritual guidance, and no compassion was shown and the incident caused me to inform my parents this is not for me.

In my mid twenties, I met God on a mountain. He treated me kindly and showed me all that I asked. He spent some time with me, and when I came back to my home I began to search the Holy Scriptures with great zeal. When things puzzled me, usually before I thought to ask, the Spirit came and they were instantly revealed.
I had three aunts living in Independence who invited me to try and find employment in that area. The day I arrived in Independence, I found their house and not an hour went by when an Elder friend came to meet the visitors. Things went very well; he was most kind and gracious and invited me and my family over for supper some evening.

As he was leaving he said, “By the way how long are you staying?” I replied we are moving here. His face got red, the veins on his neck stood out, and he said angrily, “who told you to come here; you have come to steal our jobs.”

The next day we met another Elder, he was equally kind and gracious until he found out we were intending to stay. He too had read the same “welcoming manual” as the previous Elder had the day before. He too accused me of “stealing our jobs.”

What little spiritual anticipation was welling up in me quickly left. “Same old, same old” I said within myself, just like home. I had not been to church for over 18 years.

A year later, can you imagine my surprise, while reading my Book Of Mormon, the Holy Spirit said, “Behold, get thee up into My House.” I laughed, ‘not me’, what ever could God mean, and it must be a mistake.

The very next night, while reaching for my BOM the Spirit said, “Behold, get thee up into my house.” I suddenly got so angry I could not talk; I stomped off into the bedroom.

Sunday morning I found myself running through the house, I had no control over my own body. I ran to the front door and opened it as far as it would go. Standing there with my bare feet across the cold aluminum threshold, wondering what ever had possessed me to do this? As I turned back to go my bedroom, the Holy Spirit once again said, “Behold, get thee into My house.” I sat on the edge of the bed for the longest time, my wife, the wife of my youth, was also an RLDS drop out. I thought of the contention this would create. Finally I got ready to go to Church. I assumed the Spirit meant RLDS. I never thought to ask.

When my hand touched the front door of the RLDS congregation I had decided to attend, the Spirit left me, I paused for the longest time. It was up to me to go in or turn around and go home. I thought ‘I am here,’ I will see if there is anything different.

During the Sunday School class I was invited to attend, the Lord prompted me to speak. I thought ‘they won’t listen to that.’ I saw the Holy Spirit wrap itself around a man across from me; he spoke the very same words that were given to me to say. I was correct, not one soul grasped the intent or meaning or seemed to care.

After the class was over I headed for the door, I had to step back as a number of people were coming in. A man handed me a ‘program’ which I scanned while waiting to leave. Thinking next time I would ask God which was His church. I saw a Missionary was preaching and I thought as they were usually worth listening to, I will stay.
I entered the Sanctuary and there was only one seat left, right up at the front. Things went as they usually do; the man got up to preach. After a few words I got up to leave.

As I leaned forward a strong hand was laid on my shoulder and I was pulled forcibly back into my seat. With that hand on my shoulder the Lord said: “Behold, these are the true lambs of Jesus Christ.” (If I stopped here you might cry out Hosanna, Hosanna, as did an Elder I reported this experience to, but when I told the rest of that which the Lord said to me, He blasphemed the same Spirit he had just moments before cried Hosanna to.)

The Lord continued: “Behold, these are the true lambs of Jesus Christ. They have eyes that see not.” I turned and deliberately looked into the eyes of those beside me and behind me. They were as colored glass, no light could penetrate. I quickly looked up to the eyes of the man preaching, and as I looked up a white veil fell over his pupils and the Sprit said, “Behold, the blind doth lead them.” Then the Lord showed me the hearts and minds of His people, every one in that sanctuary! Nothing is hid from the Lord. Nothing!

On the way home I was screaming internally: “What have you done to me, what have you done to me? If I respond to that which you have shown me I won’t have a friend in this whole land.”

I have since reconciled myself to the fact I have not been commissioned to save anyone’s soul. That is for the politically astute, socially adept priest craft; the carnally minded Elders. Oh what a gospel they have. If they like you they will touch your nose and proclaimed you saved. Once saved, always saved. They study the people so when they speak they can make themselves popular. If they do not like you they will if, possible ignore you. If you will insist on giving a testimony they will attack you--all in Jesus’ name.

No man has the right of himself, to proclaim that anyone is saved. My commission is to give accurate testimony before the unbelieving and the rebellious, strengthen the feeble, and praise those who carry the Holy Spirit.

Elder Hartley Stanbridge”

We continue to thank Hartley for sharing his testimonies and encourage you to pray to validate them.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

Napolitano update!

We should no longer call the current flu epidemic (?) the swine flu. Rather, it should be referred to as H1N1 which you have to admit is a much catchier name. The announcement was made earlier in a joint statement which included Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture.

Since swine (pork, bacon, pink meat, pig, or what have you) have little to do with what causes this virus to proliferate, it is as a matter-of-fact, inappropriate to use that moniker. The effect on the industry has been serious as sales of pork related products have plummeted. For in house reasons which make sense to them, the people who name outbreaks found reason to assign the name. (Ed.: Um, isn't it a little late for that?)

Our current administration, who never really fully understood Shakespeare, chose to rename the rose despite its lingering aura of sweetness. Not “terror” but “man made disaster;” and men and women of valor who served to maintain freedom in a troubled world are now “right-wing extremists,” and other simple names have been replaced by multi-syllabic aberrations which either distort or ignore their original and clear intent.

So, in fact, this constitutes a reversal of appellation appropriateness. Thus we have a failure to penalize an innocent industry (pork production,) by associating it with an apparent deadly virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control, we may safely continue to overdose and clog our arteries on bacon, chops and ham sandwiches. Can someone clear this up for me? This development has me confused.


In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

Felony Stupidity

Here follows a quote from The Corner on National Review gathered by Kathryn Jean Lopez regarding the New York City “flyover” by a mock-up of Air Force One and an accompanying fighter jet.

Fran Townsend, former White House homeland-security adviser, on CNN earlier: “I would call this felony stupidity. This is probably not the right job for Mr. Caldera to be in if he didn't understand the likely reaction of the New Yorkers and the mayor. And while the White House have said they are furious, I think they have to look at whether or not this is the right job for Mr. Caldera.”

“I think this office is too important to have somebody who doesn't have the judgment to understand the impact of this. This was not necessary.”




I certainly agree with Fran Townsend but I find it goes much further. The entire culture of the White House is dedicated to projecting the false idea that they care for the American people while in fact they selfishly don’t give a “rat's patootey” about how you and I feel. Under the direction of the new chief executive, it becomes clearer by the day (this would be the 99th) that all is predicated on their personal agenda. They don’t know you; they don’t respect how you feel; they think you are stupid and frankly; they wish you would just get out of the way and continue to graze.

Harping constantly on near daily “apologies” falling short of anything close to a heart-felt expression, I saw Ms. Napolitano (DHS) once again “apologize” without any acknowledgement of the damage that this event caused. If you do not understand the hurt inflicted upon the offended, any attempt at reconciliation is impossible. Her ingenuous blather has become extremely tiresome, and in this case—dangerous!

In the long run this will eventually cripple this administration. The fears shown by those in New York and nearby New Jersey were genuine and based on a prior experience which no observer will ever forget. To not understand the tragedy of 9/11 is to dismiss the most serious civilian casualty event of our country’s history. How can we depend on a president who can’t understand established fact to anticipate and deal with future events?

Harry Truman famously said; “the buck stops here.” Those who speak to the people from Washington are those who have supposedly been vetted and are prepared to do their jobs. Their failures therefore are not just their own but also those of the man who appointed them. Perhaps now “the one” should take time out from grading the press corps and evaluate those he has appointed to high public office—let the D’s and F’s fall.

I am certain that those folks in the Big Apple who ran down stairs and flooded the streets in absolute and unnecessary terror would agree.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

Monday Morning Rant 89

Send Her Packing!

There are those who say I should just let this go. It would be easier if Janet Napolitano would quit throwing fuel on the fire to further lower my opinion of her qualifications for the critical office she holds.

Ignoring governmental boards of inquiry, the secretary informed the world that the 9/11 terrorists crossed the border from Canada to perform their nefarious acts. Without a shred of evidence she chose to insult and defame our closest and most dependable friend in the world community to support an outrageous assertion.

In conversations with veteran groups this week she allegedly further apologized for her ill timed suggestion that we should be aware of returning veterans as potential “right wing extremists” supposedly susceptible to recruitment by home grown terrorist groups. The apology consisted of shifting the blame for her remarks to staffers and bad timing on the “Assessment.” The concept of defamation has escaped her mind. She has yet to recognize the wrong doing and hurtful result of her ill formed remarks to those she offended.

She further degraded her legal capabilities by acknowledging that she sees illegal border crossing as a civil and not a criminal matter. The appropriate statutes clearly delineate the criminal nature of illegal entry of aliens and it is amazing that she denies it. Perhaps a review of first year law school would be helpful.

She continues to use the usual partisan math to support her position. One verified veteran, acting alone, out of 23,000,000 known living returnees, did manage to do considerable damage to both life and property . Statistically that is a non-risk factor compared to the crime, costs, and social service burden created by the presence of illegal aliens who have also crossed our borders surreptitiously. By statutory requirement, each of these millions of people becomes a criminal at the moment of their crossing. Those factors constitute a measurable “man-made disaster.” I truly believe what she fears is that each of these noble men and women who have served the country and exposed themselves to danger have sworn an oath of allegiance to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Her partisan prejudice and demonstrated ignorance of U.S. law disqualifies her for further occupation of the vital government seat she holds.

I now know why my friends and family in Arizona were so happy to see her gone from that fair state. Apparently her service as attorney general and governor were insufficient to prepare her for the big leagues. On second thought, she is an ideal fit (with the exception of the secretary of defense) in that collection of miscreants that form the cabinet.

On A More Worthwhile Note

The mail box seems to be alive with heart-warming worthwhile material this weekend. This was sent by a friend of Jan’s whom she met while volunteering at the animal rescue shelter in Slidell, LA during the aftermath of Katrina. The woman and her friends (the critters) who are the subject of the story are absolutely amazing.

Once you have viewed the video you may wish to have more information. This open policy without cages is absolutely unique and I am certain has its own sets of problems. If you feel led, they tell you how you can help.

Why Go To Church?

This was sent by a friend of six decades who has recently been in touch. This is her message:

”A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals but I do know this: they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are down to nothing... God is up to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment.”

Britain Has Talent

I realize that I am covering you up with video today but each requires your full senses to be appreciated. I have referenced this type of programming before in the aspect of how empty I found it. In fact I once included watching one of these programs as being on my list of things which are the equivalent of torture.

I do believe their track record of disdain and cynicism makes their reaction to this individual all the more remarkable. She is such an unlikely candidate that the whole thing takes on a Cinderella mode which is welcome and thrilling.

If you haven’t experienced Susan Boyle, this is a must! I promise that it will set back prejudice, both yours and mine, for years. If you can bring Simon Cowell near to tears you have talent. (Ed.: I sent it to my cynical daughter in Albany and she cried all the way through it.)

And Finally

Life goes on; God is in our lives and makes it known. Witnessing the resurgent growth on the property is constant and continuing evidence of His omnipresence.

The newly planted grapes are enjoying exceptional growth. They are all fully leafed and already striving for their final destination; the roof of the deck. In just a week they have tripled their leaves and doubled in size.. It’s possible that the bag of manure I mixed into the soil has made a difference or maybe God decided to give me a break. He has before.

The week’s rare downside was the ten-penny nail I stepped on Thursday. A quick follow up at the emergency room for a tetanus shot and a prescription for the antibiotic, Cipro, should take care of everything except my embarrassment for the ignorance of leaving that nail exposed. I’ll live!

The birds have given me a respite from filling their feeder. The cats are upset because their targets are less frequent and warier. The birds do, however, grow more colorful by the day. Aint love grand? We have added an occasional male brown headed cowbird to the mix but no evidence of the female who looks like an overgrown sparrow. Both are in the 7” range. His body color is like fine black satin.

So, Bud and Jean, welcome to the family of Zion Beckons readers. May God bless you all.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon