THE MOVE – Going from Ohio to Texas was quite a move. Patty has done her best to make me feel at home. She has hung pictures I have taken over the years of nature such as Killdeer eggs, a large woods toadstool, ocean pictures & bittersweet berries. She & Al have treated me royally.

TEACHING – The past three Wednesdays I have taught the midweek Bible study in Galatians as the one who usually teaches it has not been able to. I enjoyed doing so even though my eyes make the words overlap making study a bit difficult.

FENCES – Everyone’s backyard here are fenced in with six-foot boards, something I have not seen before. Everyone wants their privacy I guess. Makes good business for lumberyards. Our neighbors dogs keep trying to break though their fence he apparently doesn't like being fenced in.

COMPANY – Al’s mom and dad visited last week and we had an enjoyable time together. Al took time off from work on Thursday and Friday to spend time with them. They are from Kentucky and returned home after dinner on Sunday.

GALATIANS 6:10 – “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” One of the reasons Christianity grew so rapidly in the beginning was the carrying out the spirit of this verse. Christians were known for doing good to others. Though they were persecuted they didn’t return evil for evil. It was their desire to show forth the love of Christ. Further, Christians suffered for their faith and often were in dire circumstances, needing help. Family should take care of family. May we in our day follow this instruction. If believers will do so they will find their efforts bearing much fruit.

DOCTORING – I am trying to get established with doctors here in Texas. Patty has been working on it for me and I saw a foot doctor yesterday and also filled out papers for an internist. I hate changing doctors after being established with some for so many years. This is one the prices you pay for moving, lots of paper work. It use to be we’d see a GP for everything and now today everyone specializes and you end up seeing half a dozen different doctors.

Well, keep looking up, the Lord is coming.

RAPTURE – I have been thinking back to when I was four or five years old. I must have heard something about going to Heaven. I had gathered all my treasures (toys) and stacked them under the grand piano that my aunt played. I lived with my grandparents who manage a chain variety store. Granny, my grandfather’s mother, took care of me while they worked at the store. When I was asked why I had gathered my toys under the piano I told them I was getting ready to take them to Heaven with me. My point in sharing this with you is to tell you it is never too early to talk to your children about Heaven and how to get there. As parents and grandparents we need to share spiritual truths with our children, preparing for the day when they will accept Christ as their Savior. Simply explained, children are capable of understanding more than what we may think. Pray for wisdom that God will enable you to instill spiritual truths in the hearts of your children.

MOVE TO TEXAS – I never dreamed I would live in Texas but here I am, living with my daughter Patty and her husband Albert. Patty helped me with a huge garage sale getting rid of things in Ohio. The house is up for sale so please pray for a quick sale so I will be out from those expenses and concerns.

TEACHING – This Wednesday I had the opportunity to teach the midweek Bible study. Not many were there but I enjoyed the opportunity of sharing the truths of Galatians chapter five about the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit. I have some difficulty with my vision as letters over lap each other, etc. but we got through it.

BEAUTY EVERYWHERE – No matter where you go in this wonderful county of ours there are beautiful things to enjoy. There are flowering trees and bushes all new to me here in Texas. Even in a fallen world God has given us beauty to enjoy. I can’t begin to imagine the beauty we will enjoy in millennial Kingdom and the new Heaven and Earth when God brings that all about. We long for the day.

BEREAN BAPTIST - I have already joined the church here as I believe Christians should belong to a local church to grow and serve through.

May 12

CHANGE: I believe I mentioned change in last weeks Musings. I am back in Texas where I am planning to live with Patty and Al. The end of the month we plan to go back to Ohio to finish selling things before the big move. I just can't live alone, needing much help and Patty is a great helper. If you know anyone who is moving to Dublin I have five acres with a nice stone home. An auctioneer will check things out tomorrow to see if I have enough things to make it worthwhile. If so this will greatly speed things up.

MINORITIES: The time was when Blacks were the minority in America. In Texas Whites are the minority. The population here is mostly made up the Blacks and Hispanics. This is not a complaint, just stating a fact of life as I observe my circumstances. It is a good thing I like Mexican food, we ate at one Sunday after the Mother's Day services.

GRADUATIONS: On the way back from Ohio last week we went too in a graduation at Le Tourneau where one of the girls from Berean Baptist goes. This Saturday there is another graduation from a State College we plan to attend. It is great knowing that we have young Christians coming up to fill in the place of we older ones that are moving off the scene.

Changes

Dear Family, Friends & Prayer Warriors:

MUSINGS / PRAYER LETTER / 5-5-10

BETTY’S PASSING: Most of you know by now that Betty passed away on March 14th, but for those that are not aware I thought I should get a quick note off. Following the funeral I went to Texas to stay with Patty and Al for a couple weeks and then back home to try and get things in order. I have decided to move to Texas and live with Patty and Al. I am not able to live alone and keep things up. While home Patty has been working hard to get things taken care of to make the move. She now needs to return home to care for things there and I am going with her. We plan to return to Dublin in June to finish getting rid of things and to put the house on the market. Please pray it will sell quickly.

MUSINGS: People keep asking if I will keep writing the Musings. Yes, I plan to keep them up once we get things in order. I want to keep sharing these with you but I’ve needed time to grieve and to get my thought processes working again.

BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH: This is the church that Al pastors along with his full time secular job. It is a small church and the people have been very friendly and accepting of me and I enjoy their fellowship. I am not able to be of help in the church but I can at least add one to their number and fill a place in a pew.

HEALTH WISE: I have been to the doctor since returning from Texas and everything seems to be in order. I asked him again about this foggy headedness of mine and he told Patty I have been asking him about this for 15 years or more but still has no answers for me. Guess I will just have to continue living with this miserable condition.

CHANGE; Life is full of changes. Please continue to pray for me through this major change. I will miss many friends and my son Gary’s family here in Ohio while making new friends in Texas but this seems to be God’s will for me during these closing days in my eighties. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!!

Yours In Christ: Les Newell

Funeral Information

This is an update from Laura again. I just wanted to update you all on the funeral information.

The funeral is on Friday, March 19 at Tidd Funeral Home (5265 Norwich St. Hilliard, OH 43026) at 1:00 p.m.

The viewing will be on Thursday, March 18 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Tidd Funeral Home.

The internment will be at the Dublin Cemetery on 161 in Dublin, OH.

Your prayers are coveted as we go through the grieving process and as other decisions are made for the future. Thanks for all your cards and letters of encouragement.

An update from Laura Lee (Les' granddaughter)

This is an update from Les' granddaughter, Laura...

I just wanted to let you all know that Betty went home to be with the Lord this morning at about 10:30. I will try to keep you updated when I find out details for the funeral. Your prayers are much appreciated during this time.

Dear Family Friends and Prayer Warriors:

I have not sent out a "Musings" for some time due vision and health issues but I will try to get a brief one out today.

HEALTH ISSUES: Betty is not well and is bed ridden. She was in the hospital and they sent her home in this condition. She is not able to get up even to use the bathroom Her daughter, Kathy, lives with us and is near exhaustion caring for her. Please be in much prayer about this. Betty told me last night she wants to go home and I wasn't sure if she thinks she is still in the hospital or was referring to her heavenly home. / I have neurapathy in my legs and a foggy headedness continually that is very frustrating. I pray daily for the Lord to intervene and take us home.

GRANDSON BEN: We don't get much news about Ben, in Oregon, but things are very critical. Please pray for him, his wife, mother and other family members. If you use Facebook you can look up "Ben Newell Updates" for the most current information.

EARTHQUAKES: Ever since the Haiti earthquake, I found it interesting that a number of other earthquakes followed it in Florida, California and several other places. I find significance in this because I believe this fits into prophetic events as mentioned in Matthew 24:7, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famine, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places." We are certainly seeing this in various places today. Keep watching your news for other instances. We are living in momentous days. You might also watch for areas of famine and pestilences. We are also hearing of nation rising against nation. There will no doubt be more such events as time moves along.

GLOBAL WARMING: This might not set well with those who advocate global warming but it is interesting to note that there is not a state that has not had snow this winter. We have had record amounts of snow here in Ohio. These people often attribute global warning to human causes. We no doubt add to the problem but it is rather difficult to attribute weather conditions to human actions. God still controls weather conditions, not man.

UNSAVED FAMILY MEMBERS; No doubt we all have unsaved family members and as we see these end time things taking place it behooves us to be much in prayer for them.

BAD TESTIMONY: The ten missionaries who tried to take children out of Haiti without proper papers have given Christianity a BAD NAME.