Thinking about going back to school…again. We’ll see.

According to this genealogical website, there are five tombstones with markings able to be read.

They are:

Without further ado:

I went out there to see it, plus took a look around at the Palo Duro Cemetery that is right across the road.

In order to get to the school and cemetery, you take Farm-to-Market Road 119 North to Sunray.  Right before entering the main part of town, you will turn right (east) onto Farm-to-Market Road 281. Take this road for approximately 7 miles and turn right (south) onto Road 28 (aka Terrell Rd.).  Take Road 28 for 5 miles to the intersection of East Road I.  The cemetery and schoolhouse sit on opposite sides of the intersection, with the cemetery on the north side of Road I and the schoolhouse on the south side of Road I.  Both are on the west side of Road 28.

Here is an aerial depiction of the intersection obtained from google maps.

Upon arriving, it was to my dismay that both locations had fences up around them.  While the cemetery had a gate for entrance, it was wrapped up tight with chain and padlock.  You could tell that some immature people had been out there having the most amount of fun that they could because there were beer cans and trash everywhere.  Granted that this is West Texas where the wind blows things for miles without any hope of stopping, but I confirmed that this is a popular spot for teenagers to go with people who grew up in Sunray.

At any rate, I did snap a few shots of both the cemetery and what remains of the schoolhouse. [Note: while preparing to upload the photos, I realized that I didn't take any shots of the cemetery with my cell phone.  Due to the fact that we just moved recently, I have not been able to locate the cord used for downloading pictures from my camera to my computer.  Pictures of the cemetery will be added at a later date.)  On with the photos of the schoolhouse.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

xxxx

Sara

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” –Ephesians 4:29

A friend of mine posted this on her Facebook status today, and I was really thankful for the reminder. Then I started thinking…what exactly does this mean?  Unwholesome talk?  I decided to look a little further.

From www.dictionary.com:

unwholesome  (ʌnˈhəʊlsəm)
— adj
1. detrimental to physical or mental health: an unwholesome climate
2. morally harmful or depraved: unwholesome practices
3. indicative of illness, esp in appearance
4. (esp of food) of inferior quality

This really gets me thinking about some of the stuff I say.  I mean…don’t get me wrong, I’m a pretty decent girl.  I just seem to speak before I think sometimes.  I know I have hurt people before without meaning to.  We can face it…we’ve all done that.  I am going to attempt to meditate on this Word and apply it to my life.

I don’t want to be detrimental to anyone.  I don’t want to be morally harmful.  And really – I don’t want to be ill and unwholesome talk indicates that there is an infection somewhere.

Abba Father, please heal the infection in me that causes me to let unwholesome talk proceed out of my mouth. Use me, God, to lift others up and make their lives better.  Create in me a pure heart and clean hands, my Lord. Amen.

At any rate…some of my friends are going through some very tough things right now, and sometimes I fear they will take my response for not caring or for being overly dramatic.  It’s not that.  It’s that I feel exactly what they’re feeling and am sometimes unable to respond in a way that they understand.

This year, these are the verses I’m clinging to; this is what I’m focusing on.  God, that I may be salt and light to Your world.  That I may respond in a way that is understood by those around me.

Romans 12:9-21 (emphasis mine) NIV

 ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

If you prefer the more poetic version, the following are the same verses in The Message (Bible Paraphrase).

^9-10Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

^11-13Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

^14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

^17-19Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

^20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

It is my hope and prayer for all of us today that we live our lives with the purpose and destiny God has granted us.  Please be steadfast in praying one for another.  If there is anything I can do for you, a prayer that I can agree with you through…just let me know.

Love, Salt, Light…

xxxxx

Sara

Lame.

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