@mattvanswol My advice... When it comes to giving don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. Grace is required. Give freely expecting nothing in return . God extended unconditional love.
As newlyweds we were pretty clueless about marriage, kids, jobs, home ownership... at Church we were part of a Sunday school class with a large group of young couples and singles who were at the same life stage that we were. As the years became decades, we shared sorrows, joys, losses and victories.
Join the Church for selfish self serving reasons. God will send others into your life and will provide a path for you to grow in service to others.
@matt_vanswol So happy to hear of your plans. If you know someone who attends there be bold and ask if you can go with them to Church and to lunch afterwards.
From GROK
Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman on September 26, 1774, in Leominster, Massachusetts, was an American pioneer nurseryman who became a folk hero for his efforts in planting apple trees across a large part of the United States, particularly in the Midwest. He was known for his eccentric lifestyle and deep connection to nature, often traveling barefoot and wearing simple clothing or even a coffee sack with holes cut for his head and arms.
Chapman’s mission began in the late 18th century when he started collecting apple seeds from cider mills in Pennsylvania. He would then travel westward, planting nurseries ahead of settlers, cultivating apple orchards, and selling or giving away trees. His work spanned states like Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, where he established numerous orchards over decades. Unlike the myth that he randomly scattered seeds, Chapman was methodical—planting, fencing, and tending to his trees, then leaving them in the care of locals when he moved on.
He was also a devout follower of the Swedenborgian Church, a Christian denomination, and often preached its teachings during his travels, earning him a reputation as a gentle, kind-hearted figure. His love for nature extended beyond apples; he was said to be a vegetarian and cared deeply for animals, even refusing to harm them.
Johnny Appleseed died on March 18, 1845, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, leaving behind a legacy of thousands of apple trees and a near-mythical status in American folklore. His story has been embellished over time—think of the Disney version with the tin pot hat—but at its core, it’s about a man who shaped the American frontier one tree at a time.
Thanks GROK
Shut Up and listen. You monitor every Chinese city street with a pole full of cameras, microphones, lazers, and other spy devices but somehow you can't figure out where the chemical factories are that produce the precursor chemicals for fentanyl production. Get off your Butt and shut it down.
MAHA Tip of the Day:
This weekend, let's detox our pantries from the chemical-laden, industrial foodstuffs that are quietly waging war on our health.
Instead, embrace the purity of single-ingredient foods.
Your body will not only thank you; it will thrive!
MAHA!