The Visitor » The Visitor – May 23, 2010

Here and There by Wes Price will resume when Wes recovers from surgery. We pray he will be back with us soon. =========================================
IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL
Roger Owen

One of the most often quoted statements in our culture today is the one called, “Murphy’s Law”. I don’t think a single day goes by that I don’t hear myself or someone else either refer to Murphy’s Law or quote some variation of it. We seem to be a people who generally EXPECT things to go wrong or badly instead of good. I know I usually express shock when “accidents” happen that are GOOD for me! I am rarely shocked when bad things happen.

We become superstitious and refuse to comment on risks involved for fear of invoking Murphy’s Law. How this all began is quite an interesting story. There actually were numerous people who made this statement either publicly or in print before it officially became known as Murphy’s Law.

In 1877 an engineer named Alfred Holt wrote, “anything that can go wrong at sea generally does sooner or later.” In 1908 an English magician named Nevil Maskelyne wrote, “in the production of a magical effect for the first time, everything that can go wrong will go wrong.” Mountaineer Jack Sack spoke in 1952 about an “ancient mountaineering adage” that said: “anything that can possibly go wrong, does.”

Also in 1952, Ann Roe wrote an article and quoted an unnamed physicist for introducing her to an adage that he called “Murphy’s Law” or “the fourth law of Thermodynamics”: “if anything can go wrong, it will.” It appears that that physicist had mentioned the law to her in an interview conducted in 1949. He had evidently heard of an incident that happened earlier in 1949 when a developmental engineer at the Wright Field Aircraft Lab named, Capt. Ed Muprhy found out that a wiring technician had wired a component wrong, causing it to fail to work. He said of the technician, “if there is any way to do it wrong, he will.”

Robert Oglesby had a space left over in the Waterview church bulletin one time and needed a sentence to fill it, so he wrote, “Vote to repeal Murphy’s Law.” Others have mused about what happens when Murphy’s Law has its effect on Murphy’s Law? What happens when what can go wrong with Murphy’s Law does? I haven’t the foggiest idea and fear I would end up with a big headache if I even tried to imagine that!
So, what of this penchant we have for expecting the worst and not the best? I don’t like disappointment. My defense against disappointment is to never expect anything good to happen – then I am never disappointed. Good things DO happen – I’d just rather be surprised when they do. A lot is said about being positive instead of negative in our thinking, but evidently I am not spending must time listening.

How ridiculous of me to think that I can control the events of my life by how I think! I might CAUSE the events of my life to go one way or another by my attitude about them, but in no way does that mean I am in any way in control of my life. That may be why I believe in Murphy’s Law – because I know I have no control over stopping things from going wrong.

Thankfully I DO have a Father who IS in control of my life! He knows how to put Murphy’s Law in its place. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17 ESV). “Ask, and it will be given unto you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you…If you, then, who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7, 11).

So, the next time I decide to take matters into my own hands, especially knowing that I am immediately invoking Muryphy’s Law as I do, I should remember, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ –yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15).
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The following is a letter from Joshua Martinez which reads: I’m sending this invitation for my graduation. I know it is far for some of you but I want to let everyone know of the exciting events in my life right now. And because you all always ask my grandparents for Val and me. I want to thank you. Val and I go to church in Princeton with my uncle and cousins. When I graduate I’m going to start at Westward College to study to be a medical assistant and continue to work like I do now at Taco Bueno in McKinney. Val leaves this summer to visit our mom and brother in Tennessee for a couple of weeks.
Thank you everyone for always asking for us. We love you and miss you, and will visit soon.
My grandma and grandpa wish to thank everyone who sent them anniversary cards. They loved them all. Thank you all so much. Joshua Martinez (grandson of Domingo & Becky Martinez)
(The graduation announcement and letter will be put on the bulletin board in the Community Room) Our hearts go out to a wonderful young man who wrote a wonderful letter! His grandparents are to be commended. ==================================================
PRAYER LIST
Wes Price–Charlton Methodist– A Tower – Room 3317. May have short visits. Is slowly improving. Remember to limit your visits to 10 minutes. He tires very easily.
Magdalena Gonzalez is a little better. Magdalena and her daughter Delia, who is taking care of her mother, need our prayers.
George Bailey is out of the hospital and his heart is doing well but he does have other problems and still needs our prayers.
Jimmy Mooney will have day surgery for skin cancer at Charlton Methodist at 7:15 a.m. on June 10.

REMEMBER ALL OTHERS ON THE PRAYER LIST
Adrain Arthur (great nephew of Theresa Bersano); R. C. Bell; Addie Bennett; Dr. “J” Coats; Urbanelle Cox; Pete Diamond, cousin of Sylvia & Muriel McMillion; Evelyn Dillon; Tom Duvall; Ruby Faas; Gloria Garcia; Magdalena Gonzalez; Rita Harrison; Doris Henry; Bill Hinton; Ed Horn; Mary Catherine Jayroe; Jean LaPine; Nancy Lindley; Mark Locke; Sylvia & Muriel McMillion; Dorothy Mooney; Jimmy Mooney; Billie Morgan; Bobby Muirhead (sister of Billie & Jean Thompson); Lula Murray; Henrietta Pummill; Rick Ramsey; Sherry Reynolds; Lois Rodriquez; Mary Russell; Mildred Sala, Nancy Spurgeon; Treva Traylor; Marie Works.

Rita Harrison has a new land phone # 214-330-3144. She still does have her cell phone. —————-
Vital Signs: May 16, 2010 Bible Study 56 Morning Worship 75
Afternoon Worship 34 Wed Evening Bible Study, 5/12 36
Offering: $3,013.50 Budget: $2,893.27

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We offer our love and sympathy to the family of O. W. (Buck) Reed. Buck passed away May 12, 2010 and had a graveside service at Laurel Land Cemetery with military honors. He was a loving and caring Christian that will be missed.

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“Reflections” by Jack Armstrong
We all want to thank Bro. Roger Owen for the fine job he is doing filling in for Bro. Wes.

Oleta and I added a new great grandson to our bunch this week. Born to Craig and Brittney Newland at 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 19” long checked in as Master Colman Eugene Newland and boy are we proud!! Mother, father and son are doing fine. Grandparents are our daughter Gloria and Bill Zimmerman. I think this runs us up to around 20 now and about 4 great, greats!

We lost another couple of dear friends this past week or so. Sister Martha Kirk and Brother Buck Reed left us to go and be with the Lord.

Bro. Jacob Locke once again stepped in and this time he held the graveside service for Martha Kirk, and though Oleta and I were not able to be there, I’m sure Jacob did a great job in bidding her farewell for us all. Thanks from all of us Jacob!

Oleta and I just got back from seeing our best friend and our fine preacher Bro. Wes Price. He is getting a little better but tires very easily.

We want to thank Rick Ramsey for continuing to be attentive to Wes and administering his physical therapy all this time. We all love him dearly and I’m sure Alma Faye is so grateful to him, because he always seems to be there when she needs him. Well folks that’s about all for this time. We’ll see you later, the Good Lord Willing!
We pray all of you sick and shut-ins are doing much better. We love you and miss you!
See you soon “Here and There”. Get well soon because we love you and miss you.
REMEMBER OUR GOAL… “When Duty Become Desire”
Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)