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HOW WILL YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Douglas Archambault — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:53:00 EST

As we await the coming of spring, we look forward to preparing the land and sowing good seed so that we will be blessed with an abundant harvest.

How will your garden grow that lies within the sanctuary of your heart? The garden within you needs constant preparation and sowing to continue to bring forth an abundance of good fruit.

TO BELIEVE OR NOT TO BELIEVE

Lori Laws — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:31:00 EST

Writing this article is definitely stepping out of the comfort zone for this Bible-believing, born again Christian. But over and over, I�ve learned that whenever there�s an uncomfortable task or situation�this is God�s way of stretching and growing me.

My assignment for this issue was to do a one-on-one with another faith I am totally unfamiliar with, or a belief that is not my own. I chose atheism (I learned the �a� isn�t capitalized). So I set out to try to understand the reasons why they believe or don�t believe. Since I have a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, I was specifically interested in how they address the subject of suffering.

WHEN THE WELL SEEMS EMPTY

Douglas Archambault — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:53:00 EST

Have you noticed the well that you draw from at times, seems to be running on empty. 

Since my recent surgery last month, at times I find myself asking what is my purpose in life. Why, when cold weather arrives, I often find myself in a hospital for one thing or another. 

When we feel like we are running on empty, it is time to relax and reflex on what God is asking us to do.

WHO WILL YOU SERVE?

Douglas Archambault — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:59:00 EST

To be a friend of Jesus means to honor, obey and serve Him. Most people, no matter in what culture they may live, do not really want to serve others. The Christian is called to serve.

It is very difficult to serve the selfish, the unkind, and the self-centered. The basic problem we have in being what we ought to be is that we are all sinners. We get caught up in the worldly ways with who is the greatest and how to climb the ladder of success.

NO NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:40:00 EST

HOMELESS DON IS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Ray Powell — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:45:00 EST

'Oh, great.' My first thoughts are not charitable. Someone is intruding on my evening, and Christ's unfortunate words come almost instantly to mind: '... as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' In other words, I'm stuck.

The man being presented to me is pretty much right out of central casting--unkempt and smelling strongly of tobacco and two weeks worth of body odor, with a large black pack full of his worldly possessions. Exactly the type you'd expect to find at a homeless shelter. But I'd arrived with simpler motives: our church is performing its occasional service to the needy, and I've dropped in to pitch in where I can. I fully intend to depart on time and unencumbered. Or I did. I hadn't figured on Homeless Don.

A church member brings him to me (why does she hate me so?). He needs a ride, he says, because the shelter is out of beds for males. Naturally ... it's the added 'no room at the inn' angle. And did I mention it's almost Christmas?

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO START SOMETHING NEW

Douglas Archambault — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:17:00 EST

Starting another year and already in my so-called Golden Years I can not think of what I would be doing today if I never took up writing using my computer. When I retired I had little skills to work on a computer, I certainly was not an advanced user. I had never published a book or poem, and heavens, sending them off on my computer to a publisher I would cringe at the thought.

JESUS, OUR ONLY SALVATION

Douglas Archambault — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:41:00 EST

Our Lord�s birth was an Advent, a coming and arrival of unprecedented power and majesty into human history. When Jesus was born, salvation entered the human race in the form of a child.

ACCIDENTAL TRADITION

Jeannie St. John Taylor — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:58:00 EST

Nearly forty years ago, I crafted a Santa piñata for my husband�s nephews and niece. Since I had no children and consequently abundant spare time back then, I could afford the long hours necessary to create him. I covered balloons and tubes with the papier-mâché, slathered more paste on top and waited for everything to dry. Several days later, I sculpted boots and a face from paper pulp and waited for them to dry. Then I painstakingly glued on string for the beard and hair and, after finishing, filled the Santa with candy and closed up the hole in the back.

Done.

I stood Santa on the fireplace and admired him during the days leading up to Christmas. I imagined how the kids would love pummeling that piñata. I saw the candy spilling out and heard the squeals of delight. But when we took him to the family Christmas celebration, both children and parents refused to beat on him.

HEAVENLY FATHER, I AM GRATEFUL

Douglas Archambault — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:18:00 EST

I am grateful for your son Jesus Christ who came and cleansed us and set us free on Calvary.

I am grateful for my earthly parents who gave me a loving home and a lasting foundation routed in You.

I am grateful for my loving wife and family and friends, for my health, and for the home, food, and clothes, that are available to us.

MY GREATEST GIFT

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:09:00 EST

My Greatest Gift was originally written as a meaningful sentiment to my wife on our 29th wedding anniversary November 16, 1997. Some of you might remember I published this writing in The Cypress Times in 2009. I thought I would write it once again as my wife and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary on the 16th of this week.

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVE

Douglas Archambault — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:29:00 EST

When we honor our fallen hero's on Veterans Day and on other occasions I am always reminded of the verse in Scripture, ' Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for friend.' John 15:13. Jesus does not ask us to die for Him but to lay down our life for Him, to follow in His ways.

I BELIEVE

Douglas Archambault — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:47:00 EST

I believe in the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ.

I believe what we ask for in prayer we will receive.

I believe the power of truth will always overcome the power of evil.

I believe the smile of a child will warm the hardest of hearts.

LED TO WRITE

Douglas Archambault — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:52:00 EST

When I first joined The Cypress Times years ago, I felt led to write.

Years ago I was diagnosed with more than one serious illness. One required surgery and during the recovery time I started to write. When my first Christian book Two Stepped Out For Him was released in 2005, I thought I was healthy. Having more than one life threatening illness, I wrote a second book The Darkness Before The Dawn. During my convalescence I also wrote a book of poems which I combined with The Darkness Before The Dawn titled In My Footsteps/Poems to Inspire. In 2009 I published my first children's book, The Adventures of Little Buddy and Grizz.

PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:11:00 EST

With all the tension going on in the world today, I thought it would be good to write something humorous and put a smile on your face.

 In Matthew Chapter 6 Jesus tells us that God cares for us. So we should not worry about tomorrow. He couldn't resist saying, 'Each day has enough trouble of its own.'

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES

Bob Valleau — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 06:31:00 EST

A family member dies suddenly from an incurable disease. A storm demolishes your home, causing you to lose everything. Your business goes bankrupt, wiping out your life savings.

When tragedy strikes, how do you handle such loss? Where do you turn for guidance or comfort during moments of uncertainty?

SHARPENING YOUR AXE

Douglas Archambault — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:27:00 EST

Has anyone heard the story of the two woodcutters that had an all day job chopping wood?

One woodcutter chopped wood all day long and did not stop to rest, and at the end of the day he had a large pile of wood.

The other woodcutter would work for fifty minutes and take a ten minute break every hour. He worked calmly and steady. At the end of the day he had a much larger pile of wood than his companion.

TAMING THE TONGUE

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:11:00 EST

One of the hardest things in life, is to tame our tongues. I expect everyone has heard the phrase 'Open mouth insert foot.'

How often has a politician in any party said something that has spoiled their chances to be an elected official. Some of the parties have staffers called 'trackers' who follow prominent people around videotaping their speeches hoping to catch them making stupid or provocative remarks to be later used in TV ads. I know it is often hard at times to trust a politician, but some are more trust worthy than others. That goes for lawyers too, their I go inserting foot.

A LETTER TO A FRIEND

No Author — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:07:00 EST

My dear friend,

We have a mutual friend, or maybe what has become better termed modernly as a frenemy. This supposed mutual friend has the innate talent to see each of us at our worst moments, and if a moment isn't there, will most assuredly push us in the direction of the least attractive side of our character.

Surely, we all know better than to behave in such a manner, for we have been taught week after week, from trusted teachers, using one lone book of instruction. Yet, our frenemy seems to help us so easily into this destructive path. We're not quite sure how we find ourselves caught in this place, or more accurately, the endless cycle of it all. For it certainly isn't our intention to be captured in this dance that ultimately leads to so much heartache for all of us.

GLUTTONY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:52:00 EST

I am sure that a lot of you people have heard of the spending that is rampant at the conferences held by the Department of Justice on their $16.00 muffins and $10.00 cookies. It seems that the Department of Justice spent almost $600,000 to plan five conferences. It also seems they spent $121 million on conferences in fiscal years 2008 and 2009, exceeding their spending limits.

BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:33:00 EST

Oh, to be young again and dream of life as we thought it should be! How often in our early years had we thought of how we were going to change things as we were growing up. Better living conditions, nicer clothes, fancy cars, falling in love and raising a wonderful family of our own without ever having any problems.

Some people have achieved their dreams, others haven't. Sickness and death have no respect of age. Young, middle age, or ready to retire, makes no difference and life can be difficult at any age.

AMERICA UNDER SEIGE 2

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:08:00 EST

I wrote part of this article some time back. America is still under siege and my thoughts haven't changed either.

I love America because it has been based on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for which it was founded.

We are endowed with these principles and they are under siege.

DOING FOR OTHERS

Douglas Archambault — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 07:23:00 EST

I have an excerpt from my book The Darkness Before The Dawn. I would like to share with you about helping others. This was just before my surgery for colon cancer.

COTTON CANDY PROMISES AND CAROUSEL DREAMS

Bob Valleau — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:52:00 EST

Five-year-old Danny sees a commercial about a carnival in his town.

�Can we go to the carnival, daddy, can we?� he asks his single father who is buried under a pile of paperwork.

�Sure, Danny. Sure. We can go. But not now. I�ve got to get this work done before tomorrow.�

That night, while Danny�s father tucks him into bed, Danny says, �Tell me about the carnival, daddy. Is it fun? Does it have clowns?�

�It might have clowns, Danny. But a carnival is like fun on wheels. It has a ride called the carousel that goes around and around with make-believe horses that go up and down. Oh, and the best part of a carnival is eating cotton candy.�