You should never tell me you like my little “just writing” columns. I use that as reason to be lazy, to not venture out in the cold of winter to talk with nice people who are willing to share a bit of their lives with you.

This week I am bouncing all over the place, from one subject to another, but with main concentration on something which I think has helped many — Dial-A-Prayer. Next week, I am not venturing far either, but did interview an interesting fellow . . . just waiting on some pictures from him.

Also, I am looking forward to next week meeting someone special to many. I will tell you about her along about January 19th.

First I want to share a Santa story — a little about the Spirit of Christmas and Santa’s helpers who were working overtime.

Did you know postmasters go “above and beyond” in helping Santa by delivering Christmas packages on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and even the day after? I’ve heard of the Christmas Eve work of the Rayle postmaster and assistants, and probably all area postmasters and assistants. I didn’t take time from my Christmas pleasures to call the other post offices.

On Christmas Eve night Diane Tiller, postmaster at Rayle, received a call from her boss in Athens, telling her that a truck was on the way to the Rayle Post Office. Word had come down the line that the U.S. Postal Service was to deliver for Christmas anything that looked like a Christmas package.

Diane and her mother, Dot Thomas, drove the 60 miles from their homes in Winder to Rayle, where they called all who had packages at the post office. They reached all but one. That line at a home on Bartram Trace was busy for a long time. They later learned she was on the internet. The others arrived to pick up their packages. Diane and her mother returned home about 10:30.

Then, Nita Doolittle, Diane’s (and Santa’s) helper at Rayle, came in Christmas Day and again on Monday when the post office was officially closed. She called others with P.O. Boxes who had packages waiting, and delivered those on the rural route.

Santa has good elves in postal workers, doesn’t he? I hope Santa was good to them too.

Have you ever seen so much accumulated trash? The many dumpsters about the county were overflowing, were emptied, and quickly filled again. People threw away good stuff. I heard of unopened boxes of candy being tossed — guess that’s healthier, but surely someone would have enjoyed the candy.

I saw beautiful gift bags on top of one dumpster — I hope someone saved it from the landfill. I save mine. I recycle. Sometimes I have to grab a pretty bag before it goes into the trash bag.

I could never throw away a beautiful hand-made and decorated gift bag. I have one especially pretty birthday gift bag, which I’m saving for a special birthday, when it will go back (filled) to the one who gave it to me full of pretty presents.

Some considerate folks leave usable items by the dumpster, or inside near the door, in case someone can use them. Do you suppose if there was a special place for unwanted, but good, items, people would put them there so others might enjoy them? I think Washington did have a Salvation Army thrift store at one time, but where does one take things now?

I told you I was going to bounce about . . .

Did you sit up until midnight last night, the 31st? I did. After enjoying supper with family and friends at grandson’s new home, I welcomed the New Year, saw “the ball” drop with Dick Clark again able to count down, and heard firecrackers across the pond. I hear not-too-distant neighbors had beautiful fireworks, which other neighbors enjoyed. Before after-midnight bedtime, I received and sent New Year greetings via email, especially to children in Alabama — telephone calls waited until today, Sunday the first.

For years now, in The News-Reporter, you have seen the little articles about Beaverdam Baptist Church sponsoring Dial-A-Prayer, with a toll-free number (1-877-337-7785) to dial, any time, for uplifting messages by different Christians — many pastors.

Rev. Jim Edwards is pastor at Beaverdam, and everyone hopes Mrs. Edwards continues to recover well from open-heart surgery last week. She had triple bypass surgery. Prayers are with her — with them.

Locally, the Dial-A-Prayer messages once left my home, as I had the equipment here and would change the taped messages daily. New tapes were brought on a regular schedule by Rev. Robert Scruton or his assistant, Eric Shelton, a very personable young Christian.

Then, Dial-A-Prayer acquired a toll-free number and all of the equipment, from all areas, was moved to Maysville, Georgia, to Rev. Scruton’s home.

For a while we received regular reports of the number of callers who took advantage of this free service. March of 1999 was the last time I recorded the number, and it was 260.

I no longer have regular contact with Dial-A-Prayer, but did receive the December 2005 newsletter, and decided to update you on the beginnings and workings of Dial-A-Prayer.

Fred Corbett, treasurer of Beaverdam Baptist Church, receives newsletters and statements regularly. These are shared with members of Beaverdam in reports by Fred, and when he is not able to attend by postings them on the bulletin board. He makes sure the church is informed on all financial matters, for which members are grateful.

So, through the December newslettter and the one of July, 2005, I am reminded of the history of Dial-APrayer, and am sharing it, mostly in Rev. Scruton’s words.

Rev. Scruton always credits the late Miss Clydie Hood of Commerce with starting the taped-message ministry. In 1982, she began by having different ministers prepare brief messages on tape so her friends and neighbors could call and listen.

Miss Clydie died in 1984. Rev. Scruton, a retired pastor, had assisted her in preparing the messages. So, he searched for and found the equipment she had used. He then began the ministry of Dial-A-Prayer. He operated from his home and first attempted to finance the ministry alone. But, as the ministry grew, so did the expenses.

Rev. Scruton set up a board of directors, applied for non-profit corporation status, and in April 1986 DialAPrayer Ministries, Inc., was born. Since then the operation of the ministry has depended solely on designated faith promise support.

In his most-recent newsletter Rev. Robert Scruton, Dial-A-Prayer president and CEO, wrote: “ . . . What a patient God we have! As I see His love and mercy month after month — passing my 96th milestone — I am more amazed at His grace every day!

“I am amazed at the falls, aches, sleepless nights, and other ‘minor’ negatives of life that I never noticed 40 or 50 years ago. I was too busy planning what the Lord had for me that day.

“I can only praise Him for His love and mercy — the 1929 depression, four years in the Army, the years before I met Jesus in 1935, and then life began!

“I was born in Canada, saved in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ordained in Royston, Georgia. I served the Lord in Africa, but had to come back to America because of Rose’s health. I served as pastor mostly in Georgia, and started in 1984 with DialA-Prayer, Inc.

“How good my Savior

has been to me all of these wonderful years! –I Samuel 2:8, 9; II Timothy 2:15. Thank you all, you dear people who have been so good to me.”

The newsletter told of the unique mission of Dial-APrayer: “Many people of all denominations and beliefs look to Dial-A-Prayer daily for encouragement. Calls and letters with many prayer needs are received each day. Their requests are shared with the ministry family so that there are prayers for them daily.

“The Prayer lines are open 24 hours a day, and the messages are changed daily. The ministry is expanding as the Lord provides. Since the beginning the counters have recorded over three quarters of a million calls.”

Dial-A-Prayer is a nondenominational mission helping lost and troubled people where they are found.

Dial-A-Prayer’s mission verse is “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” -I Peter 5:7. Dial-A-Prayer’s mission song is “Cheer Up You Saints of God.”

Rev. Scruton says of Dial-A-Prayer: “We are an outreach to the unreached within reach!”

He also says, “When starting, I was concerned about the elderly, the shut-in who couldn’t even go to church, and the church forgot and ignored them. $45.00 bought a cassette player and a relay to activate it when the phone rang.

“An invitation at the close of the three-minute message began to gather names and phone numbers, and we, in turn, received opportunities to council with souls in need. The lost — saved, but drifted away; sick people the doctors had given up on; dear ones with financial problems. Here, we are helpless except for prayer that has produced many blessings, as God answered our cry for help.

“Being a faith mission looking to the Lord for all needs to be met, keeps us on our knees. No salaries are paid. We exist from God’s Hand to our mouths. He has never failed.”

Dial-A-Prayer Ministries, Inc., also has a Bible Correspondence Class which is offered free of charge. One may call or write for more information. The phone number is above. The address is 26 Homer Street, Maysville, GA 30558.

Rev. Scruton listed blessings, for which to thank the Lord: Another wonderful Christmas, not forgetting the “WHY” of the Occasion. Let us not forget that at Christmas we are celebrating Jesus’ birthday. What did we give Jesus as His present from us? The most precious item we could give Him would be our heart — self and life. Nothing would make Him happier. He would never forget it because it would be a one-time forever gift.

He continues: Has The Lord been good to you this past year? Thank Him! Lest we forget, we praise God for His loving care for these past 21 years. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

And he asks for prayer for: “the dear ones who have lost members of their families; those in nursing homes who can never come home again; the many who are in and out of hospitals; for our churches and our pastors; for the unsaved friend and, or neighbor living nearby; our president; all of our public officials. Our nation was built on prayer. It can and will survive only on prayers. Please pray for Dial-A-Prayer. Our secretary left us to go to school and get a degree. She is married, has two children — one still in high school. Her husband is disabled. Our electronics department supervisor is completely disabled and is waiting for surgery. Your CEO is 96 and is long past being replaced!”

And I am now stopped in my “bouncing around.” This computer is acting up and I can’t save a thing, so will just see if I can email what I have to The NewsReporter.

I hope all of you are getting 2006 off to a great start and will continue to have a wonderful year.