OPINION July 1, 2009

The World According to Rita, By Rita Hassard

Go with the flow... That doesn’t mean the flow of the world. Try getting into the flow of God. What is God's will for you? That question is asked over and over. First, according to the Bible, the number one will of God is for your salvation. Next is to act like a child of God (Romans 8:15-17). From there, God’s will shows us that we need to pray and listen, and open our hearts. Sometimes we are going so fast, we don't hear God or anything else. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, except ourselves. Remember, that just because you are having trouble, doesn't mean it’s God's will. Satan is the prince of this world. He roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (II Corinthians 10:3-5). I have an opinion on how we may help this. A lion will devour those that are separated from the herd. So don't neglect meeting together (going to church) or reading the Word of God (the Bible). You know, you can also read the Word by listening to the radio, tapes, CDs or TV. And stay in constant prayer. We live in the world, so Satan and his demons may attack us. When we are in trouble, run to God. Don’t get mad at Him. Pray for help and listen to what He has to say. Then do it! If you wander around alone, without God or other believers, you will come under attack. The Bible says that if you live in this world you will have trouble (John 16:33). So why take more chances? At least give yourself a chance by doing what God asks us to do. Let us stay in God's will and in the flow. Please pray for an Azusa Street Revival for our community. Drug dealers - get saved or go to jail! Revelation 22:7: "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the prophecy written in this scroll." (New Living Translation) My name is Rita and this is my opinion.

Close Encounters of the Rattling Kind

Hello everyone, While the adrenaline is still subsiding, I just wanted to share with you all an adventure I would have rather not had. I went out for a late run and climb in the hills off my backyard. These hills are where old tailing ponds used to be. You'll see them and the old mine structures as you drive through Globe above my place. Anyway, I had just reached the bottom of the hill, and the whole way I was thinking about a conversation I had with a lady in Superior who was afraid of running into rattlesnakes in the desert. She asked me if I see them when I go out. I told her that I have probably seen four since I started hiking at 10 years old. It is very eerie that this was on my mind so strongly as I set out just a few minutes ago. I never see snakes out in my hills. As I hit the steep rocky slope that is my gateway into the hills, I reached forward in a half run, half climb and some rocks tumbled as they usually do. All of the sudden a loud violent rattle set off, and it did not take me but a split second to realize what it was and I was half way back home before full reality set in. I sit here and laugh about it now, but that sent shivers down my spine and my heart to my throat! In the dark twilight, especially, I have very poor vision. But I know my way around up there pretty good. Tonight, though, I was happy to let the snake have the hills and pray he m o v e s to New Mexico.

Keeping it Together, By David Rice M.A., M.A. L.P.C.

I'v e grown up and live in the greatest country on earth. I’m free to come and go as I please. I can pursue any occupation I want to. I can move to another part of the country without asking permission, and the list goes on and on. I grew up with heroes, like Babe Ruth, George Washington, and John Wayne. When I was younger, the Hollywood community made patriotic movies about the heroism of the military. Then came the 60’s, and suddenly the military was considered to be bad. There were stories of drug use and massacres, and those fighting in Vietnam became the enemies. By the way, as far as skill, we won every major battle in Vietnam, even the Tet offensive. Our heroes were spat on and abused by children who were never taught any better. I joined the Army in 1971, and I worked with many who returned from the war. These, as a group, were great men and deserved better than they got from us. Most countries wouldn't put up with this type of treatment. Back in 1776, we fought a war that allows all people the freedom to behave as they wish as long as it was legal. Brave men and women sacrificed all they had to form a new country. Their sacrifice made this country what it is today. I still get a thrill when I hear our national anthem. It grieves me that some in this country today won’t participate in the Pledge of Allegiance and teach their children that this country was not founded on Christian principles. The Fourth of July has become a time for fun rather than a time of remembrance and thanks. This Fourth of July, and everyone that follows, spend some time thanking God for our country and teaching your children about those who sacrificed everything they had, so that we can enjoy the life we do. See you next week

FROM SILVER HILL, By Donna Anderson

It is so much fun being Youth Exchange Coordinator for our Lions Club District project, which brings young people to our country for four weeks during the summer. I enjoy corresponding first with the YEC's from other countries and then with the students and their families. We take one student per country so that while they are learning about us and our country, they will also learn about each other and the various countries where they all live. We have host families that agree to house the youths for two weeks at the beginning of the stay so they can learn about our families and homes. Then we take them on a two week trip around the state, going all the way north to the Grand Canyon and many other communities that direction, then down through Safford to the southern part of the state. BUT, and here it comes …. "The best laid plans of mice and men oft do go astray" or something like that. All of the students are supposed to arrive in Tucson, Arizona on July 2. One ran into difficulties with getting her flights and is coming in June 30, but the rest were okay--until last Wednesday. We get a frantic call from the girl from Mongolia. She is in Korea and was planning to spend a week there with her brother, but somehow did not get her papers correct for that stop and immigration would not let her stay. So she was calling to let me know she would arrive in Tucson a week early – Thursday, June 25, instead of July 2, and would let me know what her flight number is a little later. Then later that night, she called and said she was not coming early after all, but would go back to the original plan for July 2. So after I had called and checked to see if the host family could take her a week earlier and someone would meet her at the airport, then I had to call all that off. Then early Thursday, I got an e-mail that says she is coming early after all, and gives me her flight number and time to arrive in Tucson Thursday night. So, I had to get on the phone and reverse the reversal. It is so-o-o-o much fun doing this job. Actually, the unexpected keeps you on your toes. And anything can happen. We had ten girls coming from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Mongolia, Netherlands, Slovakia and Ukraine. Then the girl from Ukraine broke her leg in a skiing accident and had to cancel, so now we have nine, all supposed to arrive the same day. Now we have one on June 25, one on June 30 and the rest on July 2. And, as usual, someone has to leave early so we have one going back early August 1 instead of August 2. After doing this for almost 20 years, I have learned to roll with the punches.