Sunday in Venice

We are getting ready for a fun day in Venice. The time difference causes some confusion & difficulty in communicating with family. Europe is 7 hours ahead of Illinois--for those of you who don't know but are curious.

We are going on a walking tour with a local guide from 8:30 till 11:00 and then the rest of the day is free.  Some of us are planning to go to the islands of Burano & Murano for the afternoon. Our tour guide is arranging a gondola ride tonight which is always fun!  So it will be a full day--as they all have been.

We will be leaving for Tuscany with a side trip into Florence tomorrow.  The trip so far has been fun and educational as I'm sure the final days will be.

We may have to take a vacation to rest up from this one.  We certainly have crammed the maximum into every day because we didn't want to miss anything.  After all how often do we get to Europe?

Friday's Report

We arrived in Munich yesterday & checked into King's Hotel which is close to the center of Munich but more modern than most Rick Steves' hotels.  Rolinka, our guide, led us on a short walk thru the center and then we went for dinner as a group.  After coming from quiet, peaceful Switzerland, Munich was a shock!!  So loud!! So many people!! So much traffic!! So many bicycles to watch out for!! But after getting used to it we enjoyed today visiting downtown with a local guide, then to the summer palace of Bavarian kings,  We then decided to visit Dachau Concentration Camp.  The 5 of us and another person from our group took the train and the bus to reach it.  We had to ask for a little  help to make certain we were on the right train.  It turns out we were OK but would need to switch to another one at the next stop.  The young lady we asked voluntarily exited the train at that stop and made sure we caught the right one.  Then just as we were arriving at Dachau a man asked if that was where we were going and told us what bus we needed and where to go to catch it.  Our guardian angels have been watching over us and the Lord has directed our path so many times!  A fun adventure!  The camp was sobering.  Many of the descriptions of how it began were warnings to us of how we seem to be heading in our country.

We took the bus & train back to the station walked to our hotel, asked the clerk for advice for dinner and walked to the Augustiner which turned out to be a beer garden in addition to serving good food.  We ate outside with about 1000 other people--most of whom were drinking 1 liter glasses of beer at a time.  We walked back to the train station for  pastry from one of the shops there and arrived back at the hotel to pack for our trip to Venice tomorrow.  We walked nearly 7 miles today so that brings us up to over 40 for the trip so far.  It has all been fun and interesting.

I am excited for the kids to see Venice tomorrow.  It is always so impressive to us land-locked foreigners!

Phyllis Schlafly: on Ann Coulter's New Book "Adios, America".

INVASION USA

NONE DARE SAY IT -- EXCEPT ANN COULTER

Phyllis Schlafly thanks author for book exposing impact of foreigners in America

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Ann Coulter lives up to her reputation of issuing warnings and political comment nobody else dares to say in her newest book, “Adios, America!” It’s aptly titled; she makes the case that it is goodbye to the America we know and love if we don’t stop diluting our population with people who don’t love America, don’t respect our Constitution and laws, don’t even speak our language and commit all sorts of unspeakable crimes.

“Adios, America!” brims with the scathing humor that has propelled Ann’s previous 10 books into best-sellers.

Ann Coulter gives hundreds of specific examples of major crimes committed by illegal immigrants and, in particular, crimes against very young women and girls. She shows the devious ways the media conceal the fact that these horrendous crimes are committed by illegals whom our government should never have let into our country.

The media cover-up doesn’t conceal merely the nationality of these criminals or the frequency of their crimes. The media cover-up also conceals the depravity of these crimes that are so horrific I can’t bring myself to describe them in this column.

“Adios, America!” spells out chapter and verse on the attitudes and customs of foreigners Obama is welcoming by the millions into America, including their horrific mistreatment of very young women and even some younger than teens. Where are the feminists when we need them to shout about the “war on women”?

There are many devious ways foreigners can get into the U.S. and then cash in on our generous welfare system. One route is the family unification policy, which qualifies for entry all varieties of alleged relatives, plus fake marriages by foreigners to U.S. citizens.

The racket called asylum allows a foreigner to claim without proof that he faces persecution in his home country, and then he can qualify for admission to the U.S. plus generous financial support by the U.S. taxpayers. The Tsarnaev family, whose sons bombed the Boston Marathon, were admitted after phony claims of persecution and then cashed in for $100,000 in U.S. handouts.

Attacked, debased, maligned and vilified: This foundational institution is fighting for its life. Order Phyllis Schlafly’s latest book, “Who Killed the American Family?” along with her updated classic, “A Choice, not an Echo”

Ann Coulter exposes the giant deception covered by the trendy liberal goal of “diversity,” which excused dumping 100,000 Somalis on Minnesota. We’ve allowed 30 million Mexicans to settle inside our country; that’s one-quarter of Mexico’s entire population of 120 million.

In 2011, the Government Accountability Office reported that the minimum estimate of criminal aliens in U.S. prisons and jails was 351,000, a figure that includes only a portion of the criminal aliens incarcerated in state and local facilities.

Ann asks a relevant question: “Why can’t we adopt Israel’s policy on immigration?” What do you think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would do if thousands of Israelis were being murdered by uninvited foreigners coming illegally into Israel?

If you guessed, “Give them in-state college tuition, driver’s licenses, and free medical care,” you would be laughed at. But that’s what Obama gives to our illegal aliens.

Ann Coulter’s book quotes scores of news reports describing the horrendous crimes committed by aliens against U.S. citizens, but somehow the news reports consistently fail to mention that the criminal was an alien. Here’s a typical headline: “Man wanted for Raping Girl, 11, Robbing Her Family.” The news story never used the word “immigrant” but described the criminal only as a “man,” or “a 26-year-old man.”

To illustrate the false slogan that “diversity is our strength,” Ann tells what happened to A.G. Currie Middle School in Tustin, California, which flew 65 foreign flags to make it a “model multicultural school” because, as its principal said in 1992, “we are looking to build on our diversity as a strength.” By 2009, the school had become 91 percent Hispanic. Ann’s comment: “Nine percent more Mexicans, and it will have achieved perfect diversity.”

“Adios, America! The Left’s Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole” is Ann Coulter’s latest best-selling book — hard, cold facts about immigration’s impact

When we’re told we can’t fence our southern border because “fences don’t work” – since people can always go over, under or around them – Ann responds: That’s like saying “wheels don’t work” because you might have a flat tire. And, remember, the Great Wall of China is still doing its job after centuries.

A new Gallup poll reports that Americans are becoming more liberal on social issues. In fact, Americans are becoming more conservative on many social issues such as pro-life, so our candidates don’t have to take any more advice from those highly paid strategists who tell them to avoid mention of social issues.

Americans want our border closed to this flow of anti-American foreigners and criminals. Thank you, Ann Coulter for alerting Americans to how Obama and the Democrats are destroying the land we love.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/none-dare-say-it-except-ann-coulter/#gq7DMyPU1qLPjSQ2.99

Wednesday in Europe

We are getting ready to say good-bye to Switzerland. Tomorrow we drive to Germany. Switzerland has been absolutely gorgeous!!  The weather has been perfect!  Actually, the weather on the entire trip so far has been great.  We went to the top of the Schilthorn today by train and gondola then hiked the North Face Trail which took about 4 hours because we stopped for lunch at a shepherd's hut about half way thru our hike. We also had to stop for many photos because everything was so beautiful. The beauty can't really be captured but we continued to try.

  I wish I could quickly figure out how to post pictures from the iPad but I just haven't been connected to wifi long enough to do it.  The last 2 hotels have had their wifi set up so that the Internet disconnects if you shut off your phone or iPad for any reason. It is such a nuisance to continue looking up the password & typing it.

We will stay in Munich two nights and then go to Venice.

On to Burgundy

We have had so much fun in Paris and have gotten the maximum 'bang for our Bucks'.  I am wearing my pedometer to calculate distance.  It says we have walked 23 miles in the 3 days that we've been here.   Yesterday we went to the beautiful St. Chappelle church to see the fabulous stained glass windows--2/3 of which are the original installed when it was built in the 1200's!  We decided not to wait in line to go inside Notre Dame since our guide gave us her talk outside because we wanted to go to a little island in the Seine for lunch.  We took a boat ride on the Seine, exiting at the Eiffel Tower & took the Metro to the Arc d'triumph and then after taking it back too our hotel we walked to the Moulin Rouge and The site of Vincent Van Gogh's house, passing back past the Montmartre Cemetery.  It was some kind of music holiday in Paris so there was music & bands playing in many places as we walked.

It was a full day, but not as full as the day before when we started out on our own before meeting the group.  We stopped at the beautiful Sainte Trinity Church, walked to the Lafayette Gallery (shopping) which was wonderful! (I will try to post pictures when I have time to figure out how).  After meeting our group we took the Metro to the Louvre for a guided tour by a very knowledgeable museum guide, had dinner with our group and then walked to the Eiffel Tower to see it sparkle.  Then took the elevator to the 2nd floor for a beautiful view of Paris at night.  We got home about 1:00 a.m.  So it was a short night.

Our bus leaves in a few minutes for a one night stay in Beaune, France, our way to Switzerland.

Day 2 in Paris

We are having a wonderful time in Paris!  Yesterday we arrived in Paris around 8:30 a.m.  We took a taxi to our hotel to check our bags. Our rooms weren't ready so we set off exploring.  We stopped in at St. Madeleine Eglise to admire this beautiful church. Later we walked to the Eiffel Tower. The lines to take the elevator to the top were very long so we took a taxi back to our hotel and rested awhile and the went to a street side cafe, Le Cafe Augustin.  It was so fun!  We came back to the hotel early and went to bed. We walked 4.85 miles yesterday--I'm wearing my pedometer.   Today was even more fun but I don't have time to write since it is after 1:00 a.m. and I must get to bed.

Leaving

It has been a hectic week but we are now at the airport after getting our house sitter settled in, feeding the animals, finishing packing, and driving to Indianapolis. We are headed for Paris, France where we will join a two week Rick Steves' Best of Europe Tour.  Our oldest son, his wife and daughter are going with us.  We took their boys on a similar tour two years ago when Daniel graduated from high school. It was our plan to take all the grandkids when they were in high school but one of the younger ones thought we might be too old by the time he was ready.  It seemed a good idea to speed up the process and include the parents since they had never been to Europe either, so we can share the fun with all of them eventually.

I hope to post updates with pictures to keep those who are staying home informed about our trip, so check back soon if you're interested or in a couple of weeks after we return for other postings. 

An Unguarded Heart by Francis Frangipane

I like this explanation by Francis Frangipane of why Christians succumb to temptation and why ministries (ministers) fall.  I believe there is much truth contained.  We must guard our hearts to ensure it doesn't happen to us.

An Unguarded Heart I know a few will regard the following remarks as coming from "the deep end." Others will take what I'm presenting and exaggerate it beyond its legitimate boundaries. But I want to focus on one reason why some leaders have serious moral failures. I want to offer an insight into how all of us, as Christians, can protect ourselves from a similar failure. The idea that a leader whom we've known and loved should suddenly be exposed in a devastating scandal seems incomprehensible. Certainly these who have taught others could teach themselves. Is there not resident within them saving knowledge that would protect them from worldly passions? What is it then that can worm into an individual's thought-life, burrow into his heart, and then grow so compelling that a leader is willing to risk everything he's loved and attained for a mere fulfillment of the flesh? Is it just sin? Or is there something deeper -- a lack of spiritual discernment -- that left the heart of that leader vulnerable to demonic manipulation? Their heart was unguarded to the exploitation of hell. An Unparalleled Warfare Please note that I am not blaming the devil for every sin we commit. The fact is, selfishness and self-indulgence, which produce sin, are basic instincts of our fallen nature. At the same time, let us also discern the unique warfare of our times. Our world has been flooded with hyper-sexuality and excess. The "red-light district" has moved from the city and entered our homes via the Internet, movies and television. We deceive ourselves if we think we can accommodate an immoral imagination and it not contaminate how we act out our lives. You see, an unguarded mind that willfully harbors darkness will have spiritual predators cultivating and probing our moral weaknesses. Indeed, through modern technology, an alternate reality -- a fantasy world created by our mind's imagination -- can be created and accessed by the demonic realm. We don't just watch movies; we are absorbed by them. We actually have sports "fantasy leagues" and computer games and apps that guarantee their programs will be addicting. There is much within the fallen human nature that can be exploited and plundered for evil. When we do not guard our hearts and avoid what is sinful, this fantasy realm unfolds into darkness, leaving our thought-processes open and unprotected against demons that build strongholds in the human soul. Listen well: what entertains us actually enters us. If you are entertained by pornography or sexual fantasy, perverse or corrupting thoughts, you are opening your soul to hell. You must confront this battle honestly, repent of sin, and set a guard over your heart. If you don't, your battle will advance from temptation to serious, hidden sexual bondage, which in turn will advance to secret attempts to openly fulfill your heightened passions. People of Destiny, Take Heed Jesus reveals that a major source of this sexual manipulation is the Jezebel spirit (Rev. 2:20). The rampant immorality we see manifested in Western culture underscores the increasing influence of this ruler of darkness. Indeed, compare our world today with cultural standards of just fifty years ago and it's easy to see that Western civilization is under siege. Too many Christians have their defenses down, and many otherwise good people have slipped into bondage. Yet Jezebel's arsenal includes more than lust; there is also witchcraft, which attacks and works to disarm the conscience. Remember Jehu's words? "What peace, so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" (2 Kings 9:22). We are fighting the "harlotries" and "witchcrafts" of Jezebel. Those who have been defeated by this spirit often feel they were drugged by their own passions. They did things that were flagrantly sinful, almost daring God (or the devil) to expose them. I am talking about the war against church leaders. How many more must fall before we realize the need for repentance and discernment? The Subtle Attack The Jezebel spirit is a "man whisperer." Its approach typically is not bold but enticing -- seducing and stimulating the degrading thoughts of human flesh. Its quiet power overwhelms and then disarms the human conscience. In your desire to walk upright before the Lord, what you may actually be fighting is Jezebel -- in particular, her many "witchcrafts." One may argue, "My battle is just sin, not warfare." Perhaps that is true for you, but for others it is a spiritual attack on an unguarded heart. Its power may be aimed at Christians in general, but its specific target is church leaders and those called to places of authority in God's kingdom. There are times when I think the world has greater discernment than the church. Consider these select words from the old Frank Sinatra song, "Witchcraft": Those fingers in my hair That sly come-hither stare That strips my conscience bare It's witchcraft And I've got no defense for it The heat is too intense for it What good would common sense for it do? 'cause it's witchcraft, wicked witchcraft And although I know it's strictly taboo When you arouse the need in me My heart says "Yes, indeed" in me "Proceed with what you're leading me to" ---C. Leigh, C. Coleman The song did, in fact, reveal characteristics about the effect of witchcraft. The composers wrote, "[It] strips my conscience bare." It continues, "I've got no defense for it/The heat is too intense for it/What good would common sense for it do?" And then, "When you arouse the need in me/My heart says, ‘Yes, indeed' in me/‘Proceed with what you're leading me to.' " Of course, we do have a defense for it in Christ, but that defense begins with guarding our hearts from the opportunities and deceptions of the Jezebel spirit. Set a Guard I don't want to make too much of the possibility of witchcraft, for becoming overly focused on this type of warfare can itself become a swamp of darkness. Let's keep things in perspective. However, this article is from a book on discernment, and we need to be aware of the spiritual realm around us. Whether witchcraft is what you are fighting or just natural weaknesses of the flesh, you need to close the door to the hyper-sexuality of our world. Indeed, the world has "no defense for it." However, for those in the kingdom of God, "the weapons of our warfare are … divinely powerful" (2 Cor. 10:4). Our weapons and defenses are mighty, but we must use them. Scripture commands: "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23). The NIV says it this way: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." A guard is one armed and trained to recognize an enemy and turn away that enemy's attack. We are in war and must stay militant in attitude throughout our lives. We cannot be casual with sin or temptation. When you use the Internet, use a filtering software program as a guard. Be accountable. Don't feed your sexual appetites, for these kinds of addictions only go from bad to worse (Rom. 1:24-28). If you are currently in bondage to sin, as powerful as the sin seems, the enemy will also work to isolate your battle from others. The efforts we spend hiding sin are the very tools Satan uses to entrap us in it; so, talk to someone (Eph. 5:11-13). If you have a history of sin, then begin a process of cleansing, of washing your "robes … in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). Confess your sins one by one to God and one another. Now would be a good time to build yourself up spiritually. Take the next step in your spiritual journey. Get back in the Word, for the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Use the authority of God's Word to defend your heart against spiritual attacks. The most important thing you can do is to return wholeheartedly to God. The Lord promises, "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name" (Ps. 91:14). Beloved, it is time to set a guard over your heart. Lord God, this day I humble myself before Your throne. You see my heart and the battle I have faced. I ask that You restore me; make me wiser. Let not my enemy triumph over me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and grant me the grace to walk with a pure heart, a guarded heart, before You. In Jesus' name. Amen. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, Spiritual Discernment and the Mind of Christon sale this week at www.arrowbookstore.com.

It Was A Fabulous Weekend!

      What a wonderful time we had at Heritage Days!  Some of the artist/artisan vendors came from long distances, as did the horse show competitors and many of the spectators.   A couple from London, England, introduced themselves to several of us.  It turns out they had googled horse shows near Chicago where they were taking a train and planned their vacation to come to little old Martinsville, Illinois.  They were very impressed with the Festival and sounded as if they might even return next year.  Amazing, isn't it?  In additon, we had people from AZ, OR, WA, NE, OK, OH, MO, IN, IL, MI, TN, NC and probably lots of other states, too,--those are just the people I met personally.
      We were so glad our friends, Ned & Marcia could come again this year from Omaha.  Ned is a bird carver and has brought his bird carvings to Heritage Days all 3 years of our Festival.
     The Festival began on Friday night with the Night of Bluegrass.  The bands were great and the weather cooperated.  Even though the day before it was forecast an 80% chance of rain in the evening we had no rain.  People brought lawn chairs and spread out over the lawn in front of the amphitheater.

As the evening wore on the lights were turned on and the Amphitheater looked beautiful!

The Horse Show began on Saturday with halter classes and cart show competition.

The bands were excellent, the weather was great--a perfect evening of country music on Saturday night!

Our friend, John Hobbs, from Kill Devil Hills, N.C. gave a wonderfully inspiring message at the community church service Sunday morning.

Hitching for the 6 horse hitch competition

The draft horses were magnificent!

The six horse hitch competition on Sunday was incredible!

Waiting their turn.

It was so exciting to see these horses in competition!

After the 6 horse draft hitch came the Haflinger 6 horse hitches

This hitch is called a unicorn--one in the front followed by two.

The Native American Re-enactors are always a hit--especially with the kids.

It rained Sunday afternoon for a few minutes so the Horse Show waited it out.  The sun came out and they were able to finish the show but then another storm came in by evening. Therefore we moved the Aaron Wilburn concert to the High School.  I didn't get a picture of his performance but it was a perfect ending to a fabulous weekend!  He is hilarious.  Those of us who had worked at the Festival were so tired by then that the evening of laughter revived us.  If you get the opportunity, don't miss seeing Aaron.

And be sure to mark June 10-12, 2016, on your calendar!  You won't want to miss next year's festival. 

Today is the Day!

Today is the day we've been preparing for--Heritage Days on the Old National Road begins tonight with a Night of Bluegrass.  The forecast is for 60% rain but at least we have reserved the high school in case of rain.  The main problem will be deciding whether to move it to the high school if it isn't raining by 5:00 with rain still in the forecast.

I am disappointed.  Randy Dyer with his authentic chuck wagon has informed us he won't be coming.  I know there are going to be many other disappointed attendees.  Having a meal cooked by Randy at his chuck wagon while watching/listening to Jake Hoult, and Battle Creek perform country music sounded like a fun evening!  Of course, since these are such great bands and we will have a couple of food vendors on the premises at the Amphitheater it will be a great evening anyway!  So come on out for a night of fun & relaxation!

The Equine Parade is going to be amazing tomorrow, I think.  Several of the Draft Horse Show entries will be participating, along with the Old National Road Conestoga wagon, Greeenwell's hearse, miniature horse entries and individual riders.  This year we are having the Parade on the Racetrack at the Fairgrounds so you can have a wonderful view while sitting in the Grandstand.

There is much to do in preparation yet--the rented tent arrives & will be set up this afternoon, vendor spaces will be marked, banners will be hung, tables will be delivered and set up, etc. etc. and the draft horses will begin arriving, so it will be a busy, exciting day.  How blessed I am to be part of it!  I can hardly wait for it all to begin!

What Really Happened In McKinney, Texas by Mychal Massie

I am doing what I can to help get the truth to those who care.  This Daily Rant article helps to clarify what happened in McKinney, TX and refutes most of what you will hear on the mainstream news.

What Really Happened In McKinney, Texas

by Mychal Massie on June 11, 2015 in Daily Rant, Race & Politics 10

It has been a banner year or so for race mongers. They have been able to paint police as over-zealous racist, jack-booted, white heathens, going about in the tradition of the Ku Klux Klan.

This period of time will be etched in school textbooks along with all of the other lies and half-truths portraying the plight of blacks as the fault of “white America”. But the truth will receive far less attention. That is why I am here.

The latest so-called police atrocity allegedly took place in McKinney, Texas just a few days ago. To hear the media and witnesses tell it, a McKinney police officer ruthlessly kneed a poor little black girl in the back as he viciously restrained her, and pointed his gun on others. As you would expect there is even the obligatory cell phone video of the horrible scene.

But as always the truth presents a far different picture. The following is an eyewitness account that was forwarded to me by Nicole S. Judge for yourself how this eyewitness account differs from the stories being spread across be the media. It is shared unedited as I received it.

A DJ set up in a public square next to the private pool in our neighborhood on Friday and played loud explicit (F-bomb) music for multiple hours (it is unclear if he was invited by a resident as no one has claimed responsibility). The teenagers (both black and white) were being brought into our neighborhood by the carload because the DJ was tweeting out invites to a “pool party” for $15 (obviously unauthorized by our neighborhood).

The teens began fighting with each other and pushing their way into our private pool. Some were jumping our fence. The security guard was accosted when he tried to stop the beginnings of this mob scene. Some residents who live around the park/pool area tried to come out and settle things down.

The teens started yelling racial slurs at our neighbors and started yelling racial slurs at our neighbors and started assaulting people and property (throwing bottles at cars and attacking a mother at the pool with her three young children).

The first officer on the scene was by himself. At that time, the party had grown to a large, aggressive crowd. As the officer arrived, many teens started running through our neighborhood. Many of the teens were very aggressive and yelling at the officers as more arrived.

This was a very dangerous situation for the officers AND the teens/residents not involved. The news media has refused to hear the neighborhood’s side of this story. The video being distributed is only a very small segment of what happened. [The] information being distributed by the media and others is extremely distorted and in some cases outright lies.

PLEASE HELP US STOP THE BROADCASTING OF THIS IGNORANCE. The media is trying to make it look like our neighborhood is a white’s only, racist area. Anyone who has spent even a few minutes in our area knows this is an outright LIE.

The unfortunate result is that our neighbors are now being threatened. We have also had cars and property in and around the park area vandalized this weekend. Unfortunately, the press and social media are trying to enflame the situation.

In the aftermath of this melee the accused officer has resigned. His life is ruined while the ignorant and savage youths will continue to think they are above the law.

My job is to present the truth to you factually. The media’s job apparently is to seek ratings and advertising dollars at the expense of the truth.

We must make the truth of what really took place go viral. This type of outburst is closer to your area than you think.

Aaron Wilburn to be at Martinsville Heritage Days - June 14, 2015

COMEDIAN/SONGWRITER AARON WILBURN WILL PERFORM AT

MARTINSVILLE’S HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVAL

Aaron Wilburn, a humorist, songwriter and inspirational speaker, will perform at the 2015 Martinsville Heritage Days Festival.  Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the performance at the Linn Park Amphitheater in downtown Martinsville on Sunday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m.  Audiences around the world have come to love Aaron’s down-home southern humor and stories from everyday life that can bring you to tears from laughing so hard.

Aaron’s popularity in both the Christian and secular world is evident with his over 15 million views on YouTube.  His award-winning songwriting skills have included successful songs in Gospel, Black Gospel, Praise & Worship, Bluegrass and Country.  One of the highlights of Aaron’s career has been his travels with the Gaither Homecoming Tour and participation in the Gaither videos. 

Since a kidney transplant in May of 2010, with his tremendous testimony of a second chance at life, Aaron has become an ambassador from the stage for the Kidney Foundation.   Even with such a serious subject, he will have you in stitches, as he tells of the results in his life from having a female kidney…he finds laughter, and he finds joy in every situation, and you will find inspiration, and hope in the humor/comedy of Aaron Wilburn.  

You will not want to miss Aaron’s wit and humor, along with his music talents.  In the event of inclement weather, the show will be held in the Martinsville High School gym.

Mordechai Mottel Baleston

PAMELA GELLER ON BEING TARGETED BY ISIS FOR ASSASSINATION: ‘IT WON’T STOP WITH ME’

This is an excellent article by Pamela Geller.  Either we stand for freedom, no matter the consequences, or we won't have that freedom much longer.

PAMELA GELLER ON BEING TARGETED BY ISIS FOR ASSASSINATION: ‘IT WON’T STOP WITH ME’ Now that it has come to light that Boston jihadis Usaama Rahim and Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq were plotting to behead me, the mainstream media is in full panic mode, trying to deny the plot against me and downplay its significance.

The media wants to make it all about Pamela Geller – “controversial,” “provocative,” “inciteful” – as if they think that if they get rid of me, they are rid of the problem. The media has been avoiding reality since 9/11, and now we are suffering the consequences of their avoiding reality. There is a problem in Islam with or without Pamela Geller. By virtue of this jihadist murder plot against me, I have become the proxy for every freedom-loving American who refuses to submit to violent intimidation.

I am the Islamic State’s target because I am, unlike most of the mainstream media, refusing to bow down to them and submit to their dictates. They want to make an example out of me in order to frighten the rest of the US into silence and submission — that is, to frighten those who have not already submitted.

I am often asked, “Aren’t you afraid?” Of course, but it is far scarier to do nothing.

This is not about me. This is about whether the US will stand for freedom or submit and cower before violent intimidation. They targeted me for violating sharia blasphemy laws. They mean to kill everyone who doesn’t do their bidding and abide by them voluntarily.

This is a showdown for American freedom. Will we stand against this savagery, or bow down to them and silence ourselves?

This won’t end with me or with the police whom Rahim and Abdul Khaliq ultimately decided to target, because the Islamic State has vowed nothing less than to destroy America. They have detailed manuals plotting full-scale insurrection and blood in the streets here. The attempt to kill me is just the beginning of their effort to force the US into subjugation.  

Continue reading here

A Little Bit Of Country - Martinsville Heritage Days - June 13, 2015

ENJOY COUNTRY MUSIC WHILE EATING A CHUCKWAGON DINNER

Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy an evening of country music featuring two of the area’s top groups, while you savor the delicious food cooked on a chuck wagon, at the Martinsville Heritage Days Festival on Saturday, June 13. 

Jake Hoult

Jake Hoult, an entertainer from Casey, IL, and his band will kick off the music at 6:30 p.m. on the Linn Park Amphitheater stage at the intersection of Cumberland and Mill in downtown Martinsville.  His ability to engage the audience has resulted in a steady growing fan base.  Jake was the winner of the 2014 Marshall’s Got Talent and the 2014 Vigo County Fair “Voice of the Valley” contests.  In 2014 Jake made a cover CD of some of his favorite songs title “Jake Hoult: That’s Alright”.

The evening will be capped off with the country sounds of Battlecreek, a popular band that has been entertaining crowds in Central Illinois since 1985.  They are known for their “family-friendly” performances that contain elements of a Branson Theater, The Grand Ole Opry and a Texas Dance Hall.  The members of Battlecreek like to see their audiences laugh, so they fill their shows with down-home humor and fun in addition to their great country music.  Their love for country music shows and they will make you love it too! Battlecreek’s popularity is evident when you look at their schedule that includes nearly 40 engagements this summer.

Battlecreek

The music will start at 6:30 but come early to enjoy the ‘Old West’ stories as Randy Dyer shares his knowledge of the wagon train days while he prepares and serves a chuckwagon dinner.  Randy, his Rockin’ R Chuckwagon and his team of family members, have participated in a number of competitive chuckwagon cook-offs across the country as well as week-long cattle drives.  The competitions are judged on their period-correct wagons and the methods and ingredients they use for the meal.  In 2008, Randy and his team traveled to Lubbock, Texas where they won fifth place in the National Championship Chuckwagon Cook-off,  a part of the National Cowboy Symposium.  This was quite an honor for a Clay City, Indiana chuckwagon crew competing among the nation’s top teams in the heart of cowboy country.

There is no admission charge for the concerts.  There will be a charge for the chuckwagon dinner, but an experience you will remember forever!  Invite your family and friends to come out and enjoy this unique experience while you listen to the great country music.  

In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be held at the Martinsville High School Gymnasium.  Randy Dyer will also have the Rockin’ R Chuckwagon set up at the Fairgrounds on Sunday, June 14 in conjunction with the Heritage Days festivities.  For details on all events of the Heritage Days Festival, go to: martinsvilleheritagedays.com 

Heritage Days Draft Horse, Mule & Haflinger Show June 13-14, 2015

DRAFT HORSE, MULE AND HAFLINGER SHOWS WILL HI-LIGHT 

MARTINSVILLE’S HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVAL

Martinsville’s Heritage Days Festival, scheduled for June 12-15 will host one of the largest Draft Horse, Mule and Haflinger Shows in this area.  Over 125 of the majestic horses are expected to compete in this inaugural show for the Festival.  Saturday afternoon there will be 16 halter classes showing in front of the grandstands at the Martinsville Fairgrounds.  On Sunday afternoon, the audience will enjoy 15 classes of hitches, including six and four horse hitches, teams, carts and more.  The Draft Horse Six-Horse Hitch class is a sanctioned competition for points toward the national title, bringing some of the top teams in the nation to this event.  The horse shows will start at 1:00 p.m. each day.  There is no admission and parking is free, so come out and take advantage of this opportunity to see some of the most beautiful horses in the world compete.

An all-Equine Parade will kick off the festival activities at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Fairgrounds.  This year’s parade will be on the track in front of the grandstand.  A Conestoga wagon, horse-drawn hearse, chuck wagon, horse-drawn farm equipment, carts, saddle horses, ponies, mules and more are expected to be in this year’s parade.  All horsemen are invited to participate; for information on how to pre-register, please call Brenda at 217-232-3232.  Other Festival activities at the Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday will include free barrel train rides for the children; a Native American Reenactment; demonstrations of period-life skills, all your favorite food vendors and a wide variety of Artists and Artisans offering their hand-made items for sale. 

Evening entertainment during the Heritage Days Festival will be held at the Linn Park Amphitheater in downtown Martinsville.  The schedule is:  Friday, June 12 (starting at 6:00 p.m.) – A Night of Bluegrass featuring Salt Creek, Coon Holler Kids, Cornfields & Crossroads and Firebox; Saturday, June 13 (starting at 6:30) Country Music by Jake Hoult and Battlecreek; Sunday, June 13 (starting at 7:00) Comedian/Songwriter Aaron Wilburn.  There will be food vendors available each evening.  Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the wide variety of top entertainment each evening.  In the case of inclement weather, performances will be held in the Martinsville High School Gymnasium.  

All events of the Festival are FREE, and there is no fee for admission or parking, so plan to spend the weekend in Martinsville enjoying all of the Heritage Day Festival activities!  For details of the Festival schedule, go to:  martinsvilleheritagedays.com