Me with Joshua Steven Channer -- 2 weeks 
Christina Channer -- 2 years (A piano player prospect)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Some of my favorite kids!
I love the kids at our church...so here are some pics.
Me with Joshua Steven Channer -- 2 weeks Christina Channer -- 2 years (A piano player prospect)
Me with Joshua Steven Channer -- 2 weeks Christina Channer -- 2 years (A piano player prospect)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Quote of the Week
Prayer is not getting things from God, that is the most initial stage; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God so that I tell Him what I know He already knows in order that I may get to know it as He does. - Oswald Chambers
*Note from blog author: This quote had me up until midnight last night! What a powerful statement.
*Note from blog author: This quote had me up until midnight last night! What a powerful statement.
The Thief is Dead!
For the past month or so, we've been having problems with a raccoon getting in our chicken pen. Our chicken population has gone from 19 to 4 in the last few weeks, so I guess the fight has been on. Well, last night, I planned on going out and sitting in the woods beside the chicken pen until he came out to get his evening meal. As I was walking across the yard with the gun and a flashlight, one of the boys in the academy ran up to tell me that the coon was in the pen right then! So I hurried over there, and sure enough he was in there. Three 12 gauge turkey-shot rounds later, it was a done deal. Now we need to go buy some more baby chicks to replace all the dead. Anyway, here are the pics...
They are very beautiful animals....if they just wouldn't mess with my chickens!!
They are very beautiful animals....if they just wouldn't mess with my chickens!!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
But there is forgiveness with thee... Psalm 130:4
The ideal of forgiveness is a choice and an emotion of supernatural composition. It is not a humanly natural trait. A heart of forgiveness can only come from the God who gives it. Yet, as hard as it can be to forgive, we are asked to do it often. Why?
If I could think of one characteristic of Christ as it pertains to my relationship with the Lord, I think it would have to be forgiveness. There is not one trait of my Lord that overshadows my relationship with him as much or as strong as his forgiveness toward me. Forgiveness is by definition to pardon or remit and offense or debt; to overlook an offense and treat the offender as not guilty of the said offense.
Many times there is not forgiveness with man. But Psalm 130:4 is one of my favorite verses because He is always willing and able to forgive. His forgiveness toward me is what makes me love him so. In fact, every time I confess my sin to him, I find myself in deep thanks and gratitude for his forgiveness, being amazed at the fact that he would forgive me yet again. In fact, if it wasn't God that was doing the forgiving, I wouldn't believe it to be genuine. But my God is amazing!
So, in essence, to be like Christ, we ought to be a forgiving people. And yet, I think this is one thing that most Christians never learn--a forgiving heart! I think we've learned, in a lot of ways, how to abuse the goodness of God by never showing the goodness we've received to others.
In the account of Matthew 18:21-35, we find a lesson by the Lord Jesus about a man that owed a great debt. After being forgiven by the king of this insurmountable debt, he would not forgive his neighbor of a simple, small debt. Do you think you've been forgiven of 100 sins? 10,000? Probably more? Christ forgave you of all those sins, never needing forgiveness himself, yet needing forgiveness on a constant basis, we would dare to refuse forgiving others. How many times have you not forgiven someone in your heart, then asked God for his forgiveness?
I believe there are Christians all over standing in churches thanking God for forgiveness, and if they would be real quiet, they would hear the Holy Spirit yelling back, "Then why don't you forgive?"
Forgiveness is as much for the one giving it as it is for the one receiving it. Why? Because if you desire to be Christlike, you must forgive. If you do not forgive someone, you are hindering both yourself, and the one you refuse to forgive, in your walk with the Lord.
Has someone ever forgiven you? How did you feel about that? Thankful? Do others deserve forgiveness less than you do?
Galatians 6:1-3
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
The issue of unforgiveness stems from pride. You cannot harbor unforgiveness in a humble heart. You cannot harbor unforgiveness in a heart that is right with God.
The bottom line is, people are worth forgiving. I've heard people say, "You don't know what they did to me." To that I say, I also don't know what you did to the Lord that he forgave you for.
Just forgive.
If I could think of one characteristic of Christ as it pertains to my relationship with the Lord, I think it would have to be forgiveness. There is not one trait of my Lord that overshadows my relationship with him as much or as strong as his forgiveness toward me. Forgiveness is by definition to pardon or remit and offense or debt; to overlook an offense and treat the offender as not guilty of the said offense.
Many times there is not forgiveness with man. But Psalm 130:4 is one of my favorite verses because He is always willing and able to forgive. His forgiveness toward me is what makes me love him so. In fact, every time I confess my sin to him, I find myself in deep thanks and gratitude for his forgiveness, being amazed at the fact that he would forgive me yet again. In fact, if it wasn't God that was doing the forgiving, I wouldn't believe it to be genuine. But my God is amazing!
So, in essence, to be like Christ, we ought to be a forgiving people. And yet, I think this is one thing that most Christians never learn--a forgiving heart! I think we've learned, in a lot of ways, how to abuse the goodness of God by never showing the goodness we've received to others.
In the account of Matthew 18:21-35, we find a lesson by the Lord Jesus about a man that owed a great debt. After being forgiven by the king of this insurmountable debt, he would not forgive his neighbor of a simple, small debt. Do you think you've been forgiven of 100 sins? 10,000? Probably more? Christ forgave you of all those sins, never needing forgiveness himself, yet needing forgiveness on a constant basis, we would dare to refuse forgiving others. How many times have you not forgiven someone in your heart, then asked God for his forgiveness?
I believe there are Christians all over standing in churches thanking God for forgiveness, and if they would be real quiet, they would hear the Holy Spirit yelling back, "Then why don't you forgive?"
Forgiveness is as much for the one giving it as it is for the one receiving it. Why? Because if you desire to be Christlike, you must forgive. If you do not forgive someone, you are hindering both yourself, and the one you refuse to forgive, in your walk with the Lord.
Has someone ever forgiven you? How did you feel about that? Thankful? Do others deserve forgiveness less than you do?
Galatians 6:1-3
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
The issue of unforgiveness stems from pride. You cannot harbor unforgiveness in a humble heart. You cannot harbor unforgiveness in a heart that is right with God.
The bottom line is, people are worth forgiving. I've heard people say, "You don't know what they did to me." To that I say, I also don't know what you did to the Lord that he forgave you for.
Just forgive.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Quote of the Week
"Isn't it amazing the responsibility with which God entrusts me, in spite of my proven proneness to fail him? But even more amazing to me is that I could ever lack faith in him, when he has proved time and time again that he will never fail me."
-Clay Maynard
-Clay Maynard
Monday, June 8, 2009
Noah
"And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him." Genesis 7:5
Repent! Repent! The judgement of the Lord is come! Any who would escape must flee to the refuge of the Ark of God, through the door that God hath opened. Come, before the rain falls!
What a nut! This Noah guy is crazy. He plans on building a boat in the middle of a field because water is going to fall from the sky? He's nuts....
Noah was alone. When he began this amazing task, the environmentalists began going crazy about the trees he was cutting down, the natural habitat being destroyed, the homes for animals vanquished at the end of an inhumane, crazy man's axe blade. The building department council got together and decided that it was illegal, seeing Noah had not obtained a permit to build such a structure. As punishment, the government confiscated his house with all his earthly belongings.
Nothing of earth matters to me. Get on the Ark! How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
You would think everyone would leave the nutty old man alone, but they didn't. They taunted him, along with his three sons.
Hey Japheth, you as crazy as your old man? You think the water is coming too? Or are you just building along with the family to keep from feeling guilty? You know he's crazy, don't you?
Hey Shem, what about your wife? You gonna take her on that filthy boat with all those vile animals? What kind of man are you to lead your family into something so incredulous? Aren't you responsible for your own wife, or you just trying to appease your dad?
Hey Ham, you know even your uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives think he's crazy, too?! You think God would really kill all the relatives and family--the whole known world for that matter--and only save your family? Are you really that narrow minded? You think you're better than us?
It was taunting for sure. But it didn't stop there. The local nightclubs, dance parties, and proms moved to Noah's field. After all, what better way to drink the night away than laughing at old diluted Noah and his boys building away at that old boat. How long have they been at it, 45, 50 years now?...
When the Ark is finished, then the flood will come upon the world of the ungodly! Come help us build, and get on board!
At first, the relatives tried to engage him in useful conversation.
You know, Noah, we believe like you do, we just think you're a little too hard on everyone else who may not be just like you. You know, Noah, maybe you should settle down on that building a little and show a little more compassion.
But he was insanely committed to this tedious, useless task. He was unmovable.
Would true compassion shield you from the truth to accommodate your sinful practices? Is it greater compassion to leave off building the refuge from the coming storm, suffering my own family to be judged? Nay, nay, brethren, it is compassion that drives me to tell you to leave your sinful ways, and help me build this ark, saving your families as well!!
Noah, Noah. How long will you persist? Till you die? You've been working on this monster of a ship for like 100 years now, and still no water has fallen in any measurable amount, and yet your sure the whole world will be covered? God will punish us? Where is he Noah? Why isn't God helping build the boat? HA!!
Be not deceived. God is not mocked! Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap! Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Say to thy soul, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." THOU FOOL! This night thy soul shall be required of thee.
We went and talked with Dr. Doubtful Disputations, Noah. He said the signs are evident in your behavior that you have a severe medical condition. Noah, you can be treated with doses of community involvement and compromise, and we promise, you'll think a little more clearly.
Hey, Noah! The government just put a label on you. You're a fanatic! You home school your children, you read the King James Bible, you believe in the constitution, you believe in the second amendment, and, worst of all, you're building a boat to get out when it's all just seemingly coming together for the first time here on earth with amazing unity under our new president and congress and judges!
We're just having a good time, Noah! Is that so wrong? You think so narrow minded, Noah; just loosen up a bit!
It is not my mind that is narrow, but my morals. My mind is free! It is your mind that is narrow, while your morals are loose! I seek to obey God, by faith, to the saving of my house.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh!
Noah had no ministerial association for comfort, encouragement, and help. He had he, his wife, his 3 sons, and their wives. That's it! No one else! Yet, I happen to believe, that if a man wins his own family, he has won his first and greatest mission field. Noah had no converts, but his family was on the ark with him that day.
Noah finally got them fool animals on the ark with him. Man, what a boat! And what a nutty old man. Ha ha ha... he says he's gonna be inside the Ark seven days before the so-called "rain" falls. What a cook!
Hey, Noah, you old coot! We're just gonna have a party right here outside your boat. After all, "God" shut the door right? (laughing) Hey, everyone, lets have a toast to day 4 of the week before "God" "floods" the earth! Ha ha ha...
Hey, Noah, it's day seven. This is the day, right? I guess we'll see right? Ha ha.
(Silence)
What is that? Do you feel something? It's like water is sprinkling.
3 hours later
Noah! Noah! Open the door!!! (gasp) (choke) Noah, just get a rope out the window or something, Noah. Noah, we're going to drown. (gulping) It's to our shoulders, Noah, help us!!!!
Settled into the innermost chambers of the Ark, sits Noah, his wife, his children, and their wives. They realize the punishment and judgement of God in a whole new way. They pray that somehow God would block out the awful sounds of those people dying...
And when the last knock on the side of that Ark faded away... and all was quiet, Noah was just glad he had obeyed God. And this preacher of righteousness now had spared his family, and in turn, the human race.
Don't quit telling sinners of the wrath to come, but don't feel responsible for their actions. When you've done your job--telling the truth--leave the rest to God, and get on the boat!
Repent! Repent! The judgement of the Lord is come! Any who would escape must flee to the refuge of the Ark of God, through the door that God hath opened. Come, before the rain falls!
What a nut! This Noah guy is crazy. He plans on building a boat in the middle of a field because water is going to fall from the sky? He's nuts....
Noah was alone. When he began this amazing task, the environmentalists began going crazy about the trees he was cutting down, the natural habitat being destroyed, the homes for animals vanquished at the end of an inhumane, crazy man's axe blade. The building department council got together and decided that it was illegal, seeing Noah had not obtained a permit to build such a structure. As punishment, the government confiscated his house with all his earthly belongings.
Nothing of earth matters to me. Get on the Ark! How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
You would think everyone would leave the nutty old man alone, but they didn't. They taunted him, along with his three sons.
Hey Japheth, you as crazy as your old man? You think the water is coming too? Or are you just building along with the family to keep from feeling guilty? You know he's crazy, don't you?
Hey Shem, what about your wife? You gonna take her on that filthy boat with all those vile animals? What kind of man are you to lead your family into something so incredulous? Aren't you responsible for your own wife, or you just trying to appease your dad?
Hey Ham, you know even your uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives think he's crazy, too?! You think God would really kill all the relatives and family--the whole known world for that matter--and only save your family? Are you really that narrow minded? You think you're better than us?
It was taunting for sure. But it didn't stop there. The local nightclubs, dance parties, and proms moved to Noah's field. After all, what better way to drink the night away than laughing at old diluted Noah and his boys building away at that old boat. How long have they been at it, 45, 50 years now?...
When the Ark is finished, then the flood will come upon the world of the ungodly! Come help us build, and get on board!
At first, the relatives tried to engage him in useful conversation.
You know, Noah, we believe like you do, we just think you're a little too hard on everyone else who may not be just like you. You know, Noah, maybe you should settle down on that building a little and show a little more compassion.
But he was insanely committed to this tedious, useless task. He was unmovable.
Would true compassion shield you from the truth to accommodate your sinful practices? Is it greater compassion to leave off building the refuge from the coming storm, suffering my own family to be judged? Nay, nay, brethren, it is compassion that drives me to tell you to leave your sinful ways, and help me build this ark, saving your families as well!!
Noah, Noah. How long will you persist? Till you die? You've been working on this monster of a ship for like 100 years now, and still no water has fallen in any measurable amount, and yet your sure the whole world will be covered? God will punish us? Where is he Noah? Why isn't God helping build the boat? HA!!
Be not deceived. God is not mocked! Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap! Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Say to thy soul, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." THOU FOOL! This night thy soul shall be required of thee.
We went and talked with Dr. Doubtful Disputations, Noah. He said the signs are evident in your behavior that you have a severe medical condition. Noah, you can be treated with doses of community involvement and compromise, and we promise, you'll think a little more clearly.
Hey, Noah! The government just put a label on you. You're a fanatic! You home school your children, you read the King James Bible, you believe in the constitution, you believe in the second amendment, and, worst of all, you're building a boat to get out when it's all just seemingly coming together for the first time here on earth with amazing unity under our new president and congress and judges!
We're just having a good time, Noah! Is that so wrong? You think so narrow minded, Noah; just loosen up a bit!
It is not my mind that is narrow, but my morals. My mind is free! It is your mind that is narrow, while your morals are loose! I seek to obey God, by faith, to the saving of my house.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh!
Noah had no ministerial association for comfort, encouragement, and help. He had he, his wife, his 3 sons, and their wives. That's it! No one else! Yet, I happen to believe, that if a man wins his own family, he has won his first and greatest mission field. Noah had no converts, but his family was on the ark with him that day.
Noah finally got them fool animals on the ark with him. Man, what a boat! And what a nutty old man. Ha ha ha... he says he's gonna be inside the Ark seven days before the so-called "rain" falls. What a cook!
Hey, Noah, you old coot! We're just gonna have a party right here outside your boat. After all, "God" shut the door right? (laughing) Hey, everyone, lets have a toast to day 4 of the week before "God" "floods" the earth! Ha ha ha...
Hey, Noah, it's day seven. This is the day, right? I guess we'll see right? Ha ha.
(Silence)
What is that? Do you feel something? It's like water is sprinkling.
3 hours later
Noah! Noah! Open the door!!! (gasp) (choke) Noah, just get a rope out the window or something, Noah. Noah, we're going to drown. (gulping) It's to our shoulders, Noah, help us!!!!
Settled into the innermost chambers of the Ark, sits Noah, his wife, his children, and their wives. They realize the punishment and judgement of God in a whole new way. They pray that somehow God would block out the awful sounds of those people dying...
And when the last knock on the side of that Ark faded away... and all was quiet, Noah was just glad he had obeyed God. And this preacher of righteousness now had spared his family, and in turn, the human race.
Don't quit telling sinners of the wrath to come, but don't feel responsible for their actions. When you've done your job--telling the truth--leave the rest to God, and get on the boat!
For further updates
Due to the busyness of my schedule, I will not be posting the updates concerning Silas Blackburn from here on out unless it concerns me. There are other blogs to follow for these updates, and I frankly do not feel like repeating the same information when I could direct you to blogs where the information is found.
http://www.kdforthecongo.blogspot.com/ - Mrs. Karen Blackburns blog
http://www.cherishedheritage.blogspot.com/ - Mrs. Kim Channers blog
http://www.kdforthecongo.blogspot.com/ - Mrs. Karen Blackburns blog
http://www.cherishedheritage.blogspot.com/ - Mrs. Kim Channers blog
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
More Updates
Well, I said not to expect many posts, and I have not disappointed, huh?
Monday morning started with a bang, as I helped early in the morning to get my mother, Mrs. Karen, Paige, and Silas packed and headed down to the hospital in my truck.
What a cute kid!
He has received 2 natural treatments of ozone therapy. This is a proven medical practice that is working around the globe, though yet unapproved my the AMA (American Medical Association) Although this is not administered at Shands in Gainesville, they have been giving him these treatments when he's not hospitalized, and plan to do more of the same. I am told that he pukes after the ozone therapy. This is not a bad thing; it is the detoxifying process of both the cancer and the chemotherapy.
I have stayed pretty busy myself, schooling the 5 remaining Blackburn children every day from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., then going to work at the academy from 3-10 p.m. I had one person joke that I had no life. I beg to differ. It is only when we lose what we think life is that we can find what life is all about. "Whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall find it." If your life is about helping others, you really know what life is.
I love school!!!
All the students but one. (two are in the background)
Can't forget about lunch!
I have had a blast, despite a little tiredness. I have been glad to help in some way. When I school the kids, give blood, anything...I feel like I'm being a part of helping them. That's all I want at this point--to be a blessing. Bro. Nick is on the road for the next two and a half weeks with Josiah and Buddy Stonewall, so that leaves me only four kids to school right now. Also, Charity Lyman flew in today, and I'm being told that she is going take the main load of watching and caring for the kids--possibly including the schooling. If you want to help out financially with the many costs of the treatments, commuting, caring of all the children, etc., You can write a check to "Truth Baptist Church." Write "Silas Blackburn" in the memo, and the money will go straight to a fund set up by the church to take care of the costs as much as is possible. Send the checks to:
4015 Maynard Dr. Panama City, FL 32404
Well, that's all for now.In Christ Alone,
Clay
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