President Lincoln's Proclamation of our national Thanksgiving Holiday

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Phyllis Rine - Missionary martyr 45 years ago

“Only one life ‘twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
(Words hanging on living room wall in Rine home in Ohio-----She actually lived those words!!!

On November 24, 1964 Phyllis Rine made the ultimate sacrifice! She was martyred for her beliefs in the Congo Massacre in Africa. Dr. Jerry Mattingly, Johnson Bible College's “Indiana Jones” urged me to do an article about Phyllis for The Eubanks Institute of Missions and her story has impacted my life in so many ways! You may read my article which was also printed in the Christian Standard on Nov. 23, 2008 Christian Standard - Only One Life. Her dear friend from her days at Cincinnati Bible College, Zola Brown, wrote her story much more poignantly than I in Only One Life (available on Amazon). They were fellow missionaries together in Africa.
Today, nearly forty-five years later, whenever I mention Phyllis' name I hear “I remember her.....I went to school with her......I remember where I was when that happened... She was so quiet and shy yet went to Africa ALONE....” To all of her friends and family I say “Thank you, Phyllis, for doing what we too often are not willing to do—give our life in service to the ONE who gave His all for us”!!

Please stop today and pray for missionaries all over the world and say “THANK YOU” while they can still hear you!!

We are chosen family

  Ten years ago our grandson Charlie came into our lives. Thank God for grace.

( better hair than grand dad and the apple of grandma's eye )

"...that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD..."
 (Exodus 10.2  NIV)

On the way to PBT

Thank you Central Church of Christ

We spent last night with long time friends Tim and Linda S. in Loudonville, OH. Going to miss them. This morning we presented Pioneer Bible Translators to Central in Mt Vernon, OH. Thank you  folks for the send off. Tonight we are in a motel in KY. We are driving two vehicles and pulling two trailers.... soooo it may take us another day or two.

We have religious freedom because they died......

In a long ago "yesterday" Christ died for us......

Men have been dying that we may worship Christ.... My uncle Vic M. was one of only three in his outfit who came home from The Battle of the Bulge. That too was another "yesterday." But, in a more recent "yesterday," young Damon W. was carried home from Afghanistan. For all....  I offer prayers of thanks....!

Snowing on moving work

The snow started flying today in Ohio. Naturally... we feel even more needed in Dallas! Moving will soon be completed! AND, it has been a real learning experience.  When we went to Johnson four years ago,  I could not think of getting rid of any of my possessions--uh..precious treasures to me; junk to all others.  As Bill unlocked the back door on our first return trip to our old farm house,  I knew I could do it.  At least I could part with some things and put the rest in storage for four years, confident it would all go to a new home.  Over those four years God dealt with me and my possessions have become a little less important; not totally—just “a little.”  And, now the time has come to complete that project and when it becomes difficult to part with a past part of my life, the One who has provided all those possessions has graciously found ways to allow me to part with my treasures.  Some things quickly went to Good-Will or were sold.  My family graciously consented to take the things I thought I could not part with—my mother's collection of salt and peppers and my mother-in-law's china my daughter-in-law graciously accepted, furniture to a niece and two nephews who were thrilled to receive a part of their mothers' heritage. I have even been able to gift to my only great-niece some of the books her grandmother, whom Anna knows only through us,  loved to read.  I pray  Anna gets as much pleasure from her reading !   Our children graciously(?) accepted their inheritances of "treasures" early and Lee's house bears the brunt.  Thanks, daughter!!  A loving husband agreed to make sure I didn't have to leave any “treasure” behind as long as I share my jeep occasionally. 
      I have learned so much from this experience.  The joy and delight in giving and receiving the “Thanks” now gives me immeasurable pleasure.  I hope (but not real sure!) that I've learned that possessions are just that--important but not at the top of the list! (God is still working on me)   
      As I have struggled and yet enjoyed reliving the youth of my children in their take home papers, drawings, etc. I have been deeply humbled when I think of our missionaries who go overseas and have no options but to leave it all behind or those who flee their home lands as refugees with nothing but their clothes.  Jesus spoke to all of them but especially  me when He said in Matthew 6: 19-21 “Wherever your treasure is,  there your heart and thoughts will also be.” NLT 
   
My treasure  really is in books—not the Little Golden Books I have held on to- but the 66 books that complete the BIBLE.  We all share that treasure through Pioneer Bible Translators and the work done so that   “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.      Matthew 24:13-15
      When you partner with us,  whether through prayers and/or support,  you know where your treasure is! - Charliece
PBT is working in 43 different places around the world. Many balls to balance from the International Service Center in Dallas, TX. If you can make it to Dallas, TX please come and spend a night as our guest in our home. We will show you the inner workings of keeping our Pioneer bible Translators safe around the world. - Bill
Love and prayers,
Charliece and Bill Fierbaugh

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Religious Freedom

Please stop and take the time on Tuesday to exercise your freedom by voting for the future of America.  Whether or not we agree with the voting results, we will at least have had the opportunity to express our beliefs. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our country. Please vote. Please pray.