The Real Becks

William Carl Beck Jr.

Aged: eighty-two years
November 27, 2011 

July 26, 2011

Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

 Prepared & coordinated by – William C. Beck Jr.

The Aaronic Prayer

Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV 24

"The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."'

{ I prepared the first part of this document from a handwritten copy given me by my Aunt Myrtle Beck-Wells, who died about 5 years ago.  As you go through you will see notes in the first person; I, me, my, and so on.    I AM PREPARING THIS IN THE FIRST PERSON TO RETARD CONFUSION. My special notes will usually be in red type enclosed in ‘curly braces’. I am enclosing more names than you will need for a family record so that you will have more to work with if you want to do an ancestry search. Good luck.}

William Carl Beck jr, known herein as Bill or Billy

Very little is known about John C. Beck. According to folklore, he fathered 11 (eleven) children by 3 wives. That’s why I haven’t enclosed many of his offspring in this file, it could be overwellming. The Becks enjoyed repeating themselves. From May 7, 1932 until December 5, 1938 my Mother Hazel McCulloch-Beck gave birth to six children. If you are curious about the two year and four month delay between Dec. of 1929 and 1932—Dad was in the Army. (according to him--Mama said he was on the chain gang.} 

{John C. Beck was my G-G-Grandfather.}

John Cewell Beck born 1790 died unknown. John was married to a woman by the name of Mary McLamb, (Born about 1814 died unknown). JCB and  McLamb had a son by the name of William Bryant Beck [borne, April 4,1856, died 1932]  who married Lydia Margaret "Maggie" Long (Born Sept. 15, 1862 died Jan. 17, 1921). Daughter of Joseph Brady Long (Born May 7, 1834 and died March 15, 1915) and Lydia Margaret McLamb (born May 28, 1840 died Nov. 9, 1920.

 

THE FAMILY OF SAMUEL PORTER TODD

1. ISAAC MC DANIEL TODD MARRIED MARY MEL VINA BECK B. 4-5-1851 D. 9-1-1930

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3.2.5. ZELLA E. SOLES                                B. 5-22-1874       D. 12-20-1940 DAU. OF JOHN CEWELL BECK ,SR. AND         Y ELL MC LAMB B.1812 RY ELLEN WAS DIM OF BRYANT MC • B. RY MELVINA WAS SISTER OF WILLIam BRYANT BECK, GRANDFATHER OF GENEVA BECK TODD, WIFE OF ArtHUR COLLINS TODD. THEIR ISSUE

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{ Daughter  of  John Cewell Beck, Sr. and Mary Elisabeth Milam B.1812

Mary Ellen was daughter of Bryant McLamb. Mary Melvena was sister of William Bryant Beck, Grandfather of Geneva Beck-Todd, wife of ARthur Collins Todd. }

B. 2-15-1914 D. DAU. OF WILLIAM BRYANT BECK 8.4-4-1856 D.9-14-1932 AND LYDIA MARGARET LONG B.9454862 D. 1-17-1921 THEIR ISSUE                           1’ COUSINS

3.1.3. t  FRANK LOVE TODD  { ? Beck ?}                               B.             D.

3.1.3.2. WILLIAM YANCE TODD                           B. 3-25 -1905 D. 1-4-1969

3.3.2.6. ARTHUR COLLINS TODD 849-1933      RRIED GENEVA BECK B. 3-20-1917 D. DAU. OF GEORGE ELLIS BECK 8.4104879 D.9-244960 ireik4

3.3.2. MARION COUNCIL TODD MARRIED MARY ELIZA TODD 8.3-6-1878 D.9-2-1907 DAU. OF ISAAC McDANIEL TODD AND MARY NELVINA BECK THEIR ISSUE                         THEY WERE 1sT COUSINS

{ William Bryant Beck was my Gr. Grandfather}

William Bryant Beck and Lydia Margaret "Maggie" Long Beck children were;

George E. Beck (born AprillO, 1879 Died Unknown). Married Dora Watts Beck (Dates Unknown).

Julie Beck Todd (Born Oct. 27, 1882 Died Unknown). Married Sam Todd (dates Unknown).

{Frank Love Beck was my Grand -father.}

L 2 R: Carl Beck-Aunt Myrtle Beck-Grandpa Frank-Uncle Bert

(The family of Frank Love Beck. Aunt Myrtle was Carl and Berts half sister.

Bert's name was John Bertner Beck. Aunt Myrtle served as an R.N. for thirty-five years. } 

                                              (Frank Love Beck: my grandfather)                                              
Frank Love Beck (Born Oct 28, 1884 Died march 27, 1961). Frank married at least twice. First wife Mary Elizabeth Newton (Born 1886 Died 1913). Second Wife was Mary Callie Moore Beck (born Jan. 20, 1887 Died May 13, 1951).

{Mary Elizabeth Newton, was my fathers mother. She was about 27 when she died}

{Frank Love Beck was my Grandfather.}

Raliegh W. Beck (Born Sept 5, 1888 Died Unknown). Had two known wives, first was Arnett Evans Beck (no dates) and Della Wright Beck (Born Unknown, Died April 13, 2002, She was 104 years old.

Carrie Beck White (Born June 2, 1889 died Unknown) husband Chester White (no dates).

William Henry Beck (Born July, 1895 Died Jan. 6, 1929). Married Dala Brickhouse Beck.

Weaver Beck (Born Feb. 16, 1892 died Jan. 13, 1981). Married a lady known only as "Cara" .

Flora Beck Bland (Born Aug. 16, 1897 Died Unknown). Married husband Carson Bland (no dates).

Mary Beck (Born Sept 24, 1900 Died unknown). Married twice, first husband was Issac Jennrett and second husband was Bradley Gore.

Dawson "Doss" Beck (Born May 28, 1902 Died Unknown). Married "Kathleen", the rest of her name not known.

Joseph ‘Joe’ E. Beck (Born Oct. 22, 1903 Died Sept. 8, 1987). Married Ella Mae Tripp Beck.

Rent Beck: There was one child that died young, his name was Rent. I do not have any info or dates for the gentleman. Rent Beck is not his full name.

Children of Frank Love Beck and his first wife Mary Elizabeth Newton Beck:

  

My Dad: Carl Beck 

William Carl Beck (Born Oct. 8, 1908 died march 1, 1968. Married twice. First wife Hazel McCullough Beck. Second wife was Rhoda Hill Beck

 

Hazel Iro McCulloch-Beck: My Mother 

{William Carl Beck sr was my father and Hazel was my mother.}

John Bertner "Bert" Beck (Born April 11, 1911 died Aug. 24, 2002). Married twice, first wife Carleen Welch and second wife was Dorothy Louise Hunt (Born Apri117, 1917 died Nov. 11,2002.

Ella Beck (Born Unknown Died when she was about 1 year old

Children of Frank Love Beck and his second wife Mary Callie Moore Beck

Myrtle Lee Beck- Wells {Aunt Myrtle}  (Born June 23, 1921 Died- 2005). Married Robert Johnston Wells (Born July 20, 1920.

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{Now we are getting down to the REAL Becks}

 The Becks   1939

L  to R -- Harold, Snooks, Timothy. Glendon, Billy

William Carl Beck, Sr.

            Born, (Oct. 8-1908-Whiteville, NC-died-Feb. 29-1965

Hazel Iro (McCulloch) Beck

            (Born, July 30-1906—Wilmington, NC-died Nov.21-2000),

married in 1927,I’m not sure of the date.

Children born to them were:

Frances Yvonne  Beck

May 8, 1928—St. Pauls, N C; Died: July 27-1997    

William Carl Beck Jr.

            Nov. 27, 1929—St. Pauls, NC

Jack Glendon Beck

May 7, 1932 Rnnert, NC; Died: July 13- 1987

 Franklyn Delono Beck

            Aug. 23-1933—Thomasville, NC  (Died at about six months of age).

Harold O’brion Beck

July 13-1934—Thomasville, NC

Little brother “NO NAME” accidentally euphanized by doctor at birth. Born at Mooresville, NC, about 1935- not sure of date. Note: Mama was going to name him “Benji”

Thomas Mitchel  Beck 

            Aug. 8-1936—Lumberton, NC(Tommy only lived about six days)

James Timothy Beck

            Dec. 5-1938 St. Pauls, NC; Died, Dec. 24, 2005.  

Margie Joann Beck- Wright  {Born to Carl’s second wife,  Rohda Hill}

Born at Thomasville, NC April 8, 1935        

{You may want to notice that Sister Joann was born at a strange time. I grouped all of them together to keep their birthdays in their proper places. These are the children of our father William Carl Beck sr;. You can read between the lines.}

Dec. 2, 1983

Dear Aunt Myrtle,   {Myrtle Wells was our Dad’s half sister. She didn’t know m uch about what Dad was doing.}

When I met Joann it was in the summer of 1940, as best I can remember. I was told that she was four and a half years old. I had not known of her existence prior to that time. Though I was very young myself at the time, only about  eleven, I remember making the decision that she spoke her words more clearly; engaged in conversation with everybody and was more aware of what was going on around her than any four or five year old I had ever known. That wasn't an after-thought either; I made the decision at the time. Through the past sixty years I have been able to spend very few days with Joann. Probably about ten weeks totaled. But since that first day I have always been happy to call her my sister. My sister Snooks was well pleased with her too. I also respected her mother. I have always loved Joann and spoke of her often to my three brothers who have never met her. Our sister "Snooks" passed away in 1997, but our sister "Joann" lives on.

Aunt Myrtle, I'm not sure how much you knew about the children my mother bore to Carl Beck before he left her in early 1939. I'm not even sure how much Rhoda and Joann knew (though Rhoda asked me about it in late 1943 at Christmas time. I cannot be sure how much she believed). Mom bore Dad eight children. Three of them died and the rest were living when he left in 1939. I'll tell you the whole story later. I learned in the early forties from Rhoda and her mother that Dad only claimed three children to his friends in and around  Thomasville—Snooks, Billy,and Joann.

As for now, let me hurry on to say-I loved my Dad, and though he only dropped around to see us about two days of every two years, I was glad to see him. Dad never gave my mother, or Joann's mother, one dime toward our support. Joann will say the same thing. Yet, neither of our mothers taught us to hate or show him disrespect. Carl Beck picked the right mothers for his children. No one can deny him that truth. If Carl Beck had not been there, neither would we.

Aunt Myrtle, it was not my intent to be offensive in this simple outline. But to give you a truthful family outline, as I am the only one who remembers it We believe that our father's fate is in the bands of Jesus Christ who loves him.

In High regards,

 Billy Beck

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"SNOOKS"

 { When Frances was born her father started off calling her "Snookums". After a short  while, it   broke down to "Snooks" and for the rest of her life her family nickname was Snooks.

Friends outside the family usually called her Frances. } 

 This snapshot of Frances--Snooks--was 

taken in 1960, just before the birth of Mary.

{This portion was prepared by Snooks’ daughter  ‘Diann Thomas’. Diann is on your Facebook}  

NAME:     Frances Y. Downes

MAIDEN NAME:     Beck

FATHER: William Carl Beck sr.

MOTHER:     Hazel Iro (Beck) Stone

DATE OF BIRTH:    5/8/28

DATE OF DEATH:  7/30/96

HOBBIES: 

Reading, Movies, Sewing, Traveling

COMMENTS:  My mother loved traveling across the country in their camper trailer.  After my father retired, they spent several months a year on the road.  Her very favorite place to stay was the Louisiana Gulf coast.  She had some wonderful times and met some good friends in Colorado and Texas too. 

She was also an awesome cook.  Our family favorites were split pea soup, baked chicken with noodles, and the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Nothing fancy, but oh soo good!

SPOUSE:  Andrew Joseph Downes (goes by Andy)

ANNIVERSARY:  5/10/56 (I’m not 100% sure)

SPOUSE BIRTHDAY:  9/28/32

SPOUSE BIRTHPLACE:  Chicago, IL

COMMENT:  Andy is retired carpenter who lives with his son Tom in Cary, IL.  He was in the military and served in the Korean war. 

CHILDREN:  Diann and her only son. Tyler at the time of his graduation.

Frances Diann– 8/12/59 – Columbia, SC

                   -goes by Diann

-married name: Thomas

-insurance claim representative

Diann and Mary Downes in 1969

Mary Margaret – 2/2/63 – Aurora, IL

-married name:  Goodman

-died  5/5/99

-owned a cleaning service with 30+ employees at the time of death

Thomas Andrew– 8/13/68 – Oak Park, IL

-goes by Tom

-not married

Diann’s Family

SPOUSE:  Brian Thomas (semi-truck driver)

ANNIVERSARY:  8/20/88

SPOUSE BIRTHDAY:  6/28/63

SPOUSE BIRTHPLACE:  Evanston, IL

CHILD: 

Tyler Alexander Thomas – 12/17/93 – Burlington, WI

-Tyler is a great student.  He got straight A’s this year.

-Tyler is a good athlete.  His favorite sports are skateboarding and baseball.  He also loves art.

Mary’s Family

CHILDREN: 

Misty Dawn Goodman – 2/23/80 – Elgin, IL

-married name:  Crest

-husband:  Billy

-son:  Toby Ryan Crest (dob:  5/19/03)

-birth father:  James (Bo) Goodman

-loving stepfather:  Ceasar Martinez

-dental assistant

Nicholas Thomas Martinez – 7/17/91

-father:  Ceasar Martinez

-Nick is very creative.  He is a talented singer and good artist.  He is also a very good student.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>





Billy Beck 
{ William Carl Beck jr. : second child of Carl and Hazel }

I was stationed with the 11/th Airborne Division, U.S. Army at Yamagata Japan In October of 1947 when this photograph was taken. Damm!!!, Was I cute or what?




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 HAROLD

Harold Obrien Beck      

Father:  William Carl Beck Sr.

Mother:  Hazel Iro McCullough

Born 7-13-1934 @  At Thomasville, NC

Education         

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

College 

 US Air Force GED 2 years 1962

Degree- none

Profession

Maintenance Technician Mechanical

Retired from Kentucky Fried Chicken 17 yrs

Plumbing- HVACR Technician

Hobbies- none

Spouse: Dolores Liles Beck 39 yrs

Married at York SC 6-16-1964

6 Brothers 1 Sister and one half sister: Joann Beck-Wright Of Thomasville NC.

Spouse- Dolores L. Beck                  Fr Lonnie Carlie Liles

Born 1-5-1945                        Mo. Vivian Blanch Liles

of Charlotte NC

Children:                                DOB:                                    Residence:

Steven Harold Beck               10-27-1964                             Denver NC

Rhonda Faye Beck                 10-29-1966                             Kannapolis NC          

Mark Anthony Beck               7-8-1971                                York SC

10 grand children 

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dear: Tammy, Beth, Jenny, Shelia and Lisa,

I was very pleased to hear that you are maintaining a special program for your Dad. Unfortunately, when most of us burry a relative, we go on and soon let them drift from our minds. This humble document is my effort to add a little to your program.
You will no doubt find mistakes in this file. I hope they will b few, but good solid, well thought out mistakes and misspelled words, along with bad punctuation are a major part of my personality. If I leave too much of it out, you won’t recognize it as coming from me.
I think there are some confused dates; if you find some that are confusing; contact me and we will try to make corrections.
I have some old portraits I want to send to you as soon as I can teach my computer to cooperate with my way of doing things. I have other things to tell you, but they will come later.  (I remember the night your dad was born.)

JAMES T. BECK   
{prepared by his wife Rita} 

 Sanding, L 2 R: Lisa, Tammy, Jennifer;

Seated L 2 R: Tim, Rita, Beth, Shelia .

BIRTHDAY:  DECEMBER 5,1938 / Died: December, 24, 2005 MILITARY: USS CARBERRA CDG-2
BORN IN SAINT PAUL N. C.
SCHOOL ; PIEDMONT JR HIGH SCHOOL 195
WIFE: RITA C BECK
BORN OCTOBER 7,1947 IN LEXINGTON, N. C.
GRADUATED GARINGER HIGH SCHOOL 1965
PARENTS ROBERT LEE CAMPBELL BORN IN SAINT PAUL N. C. MOTHER IRENE ELIZABETH JONES CAMPBELL BORN IN DILLION S. C.

CHILDREN:

TAMMIE MICHELLE BECK BARRA BORN SEPTEMBER 4,1974,CHARLOTTE,NORTH CAROLINA
MARRIED TO DOMINICK BARRA BORN JULY 10.1964
IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK

CHILDREN : JAMES LEE MCKENZIE BORN MAY 4, 1990 IN CHARLOTTE, N. C.

TAYLOR NICHOLE BARRA BORN OCTOBER 28,1998, IN CHARLOTTE N.C.

LEIGH ANN BARRA , BORN APRIL 2, 2001 IN CHARLOTTE, N. C.

TWO STEPCHILDREN JOHN JAMES BARRA BORN NOVEMBER 26,1989 IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK AND KATLIN MARIE BARRA BORN DECEMBER 6, 1993

FRANCES ELIZABETH BECK BORN OCTOBER 29,1975 IN CHARLOTTE,N.C. FRANCES GOES BY THE NAME BETH . SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN

JOSHUA RAY FERRELL BORN JULY 8,1995 IN CHARLOTTE N. C.

SHELBY ELAINE FERRELL BORN DECEMBER 1,1997, IN CHARLOTTE, N. C.
SHELIA ANN BECK AVERY BORN JULY 24, 1979, IN CHARLOTTE N. C. MARRIED TO STEVE AVERY BORN IN LINCOLNTON N.C. SHELIA HAS TWO CHILDREN COURTNEY MARIE LEGGE BORN JANUARY 26,1996, IN CHARLOTTE N. C.
DESTINY LYNN COOK BORN NOVEMVER 20, 2000 , IN CHARLOTTE N. C.

JENNIFER LYNN BEC , BORN MAY 30, 1977 , IN CHARLOTTE N. C. JENNIFER HAS ONE CHILD KRISTEN NICOLE MEADOWS BORN APRIL 23,1997 IN CHARLOTTE, N.C.




LISA MARIE CAMPBELL HERNANDAZ BORN NOVEMBER 9,1969 IN CHARLOTTE,N. C. LISA HAS TWO CHILDREN

CLAYTON RAY CAMPBELL BORN OCTOBER 12,1994, IN CHARLOTTE N. C.

ADAM TYSON STACKS BORN FEBRUARY 29,1996 IN CHARLOTTE

Last day together

Billy and Tim, two weeks before Tim died

{You may have notice that the scans of Harold Beck and Bill Beck are missing. I will need to supply them later.}---as soon as I find someone who will say something good about me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ABOUT OUR AUNT MYRTLE-BECK-WELLS

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Myrtle Lee Beck Wells Memorial Photos Flowers Edit Share Learn about removing the ads from this memorial... Birth:  Jun. 23, 1921 Robeson County North Carolina, USA Death:  Aug. 23, 2006 Supply Brunswick County North Carolina, USA Myrtle Lee Beck Wells, 85, of Supply, NC, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006, at her residence. She was born in Robeson County, NC, June 23, 1921, daughter of the late Frank Love Beck and Mary Callie Moore Beck. Mrs. Wells was a graduate of Waccamaw High School and Thompson Memorial Nursing School in Lumberton, NC . She had a career spanning 25 years at James Walker Hospital and New Hanover Regional Medical Center, and was the "neighborhood nurse" in the Wrightsboro Community. She was a member of the nursing school alumni association, the Brunswick Islands Baptist Church, and a former member of Wrightsboro Baptist Church. She was also a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class at Wrightsboro Baptist Church. Mrs. Wells was a charitable and loving person who will be dearly missed by her family and the many friends whose lives she touched along her way. She also loved and cared for animals, especially her cats. Surviving is her husband, Robert Johnston Wells Sr. of the home; four children, Robert Johnston "Bobby" Wells Jr. and wife Ginger of Hampstead, NC, Richard Frank "Rick" Wells and wife Marsha of Wilmington, Cynthia Carroll Wells Bennett and husband John of Wilmington and Michael John "Mike" Wells and wife Sheila of Castle Hayne, NC; grandchildren, Matthew Wells, Robin Wells Manning and husband Chris, Pamela Wells, Aaron Bennett and wife Cydney, Megan Bennett, Brad Bennett, Brandon Wells, Andrew Wells, Shawn Wells, and Sarah Wells; great-grandchildren, Evan, Garrett, and Davis Manning; sisters-in-law, Beulah Wells Wood of Lenoir, NC, and Myrtice Wells of Jacksonville, FL; several nieces and nephews; also many special neighbors and friends who are considered to be "just like family." She was preceded in death by a grandson, Jason Wells; brothers, John Pittman, Robert Pittman, Carl Beck and Bert Beck; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Beck and Catherine Pittman. The family received friends Friday at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel. A funeral service was held Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, at Wrightsboro Baptist Church by the Rev. Keith Hollar, the Rev. Mike Lewis and the Rev. David Stratton. Interment followed in Greenlawn Memorial Park . Pallbearers were Jessie Phillips, Elmer Dance, George Futch, Billy Miller, Jim Brown, Mark Owens and Ralston Smith. Topsail Voice - (Aug/31/2006) Family links:  Parents:   Frank L Beck (1884 - 1961)   Callie Moore Beck (1885 - 1951)  Spouse:   Robert Johnston Wells (1920 - 2011)*  Children:   Infant Wells (1947 - 1947)* *Calculated relationship Burial: Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery Wilmington New Hanover County North Carolina, USA Created by: John Evans Record added: Sep 25, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 77069184 Cemetery Photo Added by: BB   Photos may be scaled. Click on image for full size. Accuracy and Copyright Disclaimer

YOU

YOU

{ This section is a 12 minute read } 

But Not Alone

{I was standing in the office of a textile plant in September of 1980 at Hope Mills, N.C. waiting to apply for a job. While waiting, I pencil copied the words below from a poster in the hall. I did not get the job, but I don’t feel that I went away empty. The pencil copy is lying here beside me, 30 years later}

ALONE

Alone you stood before God when you were called;

Alone you had to answer that call

Alone you had to struggle and pray;

Alone you will die and give account to God.

You cannot escape from yourself;

For God has singled you out.

Dietrich Bonheoffer—German Theologian

JUST LIKE YOU

For ages God has waited for some- one just like you,

And you are fitted for a work that only you can do;

So you’re God’s opportunity—called for this special time,

And you must live for God alone and make your life sublime.

Since you’re God’s opportunity in this your special day,

If you, perhaps, now fail Him, what will happen then, I pray?

To God’s chance to do the work He planned, through you, to do,

For earth will never see another person just like you.

Adlai Albert Este [sic]
 Carve your name high over the shifting sands,

Where the steadfast rocks defy decay:

All you hold in your cold dead hand,

Is what you have given away.

(Author unknown to me)

The Great Mystery of You   A Bible writer wondered and said, "I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and the moon and stars you put in place. Then I ask, "Why do you care about us humans?" Psalm 8:3-4 CEV*. Part of the answer to the Bible writer's question is found in one of the greatest wonders on this planet---which is, how unique you are. You are absolutely one-of-a-kind, there are no doubles, no clones. The rule of excess production that produces many extras in the animal kingdom so that a few can survive does not apply to humans. Of the seventy-five billion people who have been born on this planet, we can safely say no duplicates were made because what has been discovered about the laws of genetics. Scientists say that there is only one chance in seventy-trillion of another person being physically exactly like you, excluding identical twins. An enormous amount of dried beans will help illustrate this point. First, imagine you are standing in front of a huge sack of dried navy beans. The sack is four feet across and seven miles high. Suppose that each bean contained a complete set of blueprints to make one person like you. These plans would include your sex, whether you would be big boned or small, the size of your brain, your race, eye and hair color plus everything else that together makes you a human being. Each bean in the giant bag would represent a different set of plans---and all seventy trillion of them are in the bag. Now, imagine the beans spilled into a giant pile. A bean pile three miles square and six feet deep contains seventy trillion beans. Next, go stand in the middle of the pile and survey the sea of beans all around you. Six feet deep and over a mile and a half in every direction. These beans represent the different genetic combinations possible from the gene pool of the human family. Every bean represents a unique person. Every bean is different from the one beside it. No two are alike. It is estimated that only one thousandth of the genetic combinations have been used up since the beginning of life on this planet. This means there are blueprints in this giant bean pile for every person who has ever lived and enough left over to populate one thousand more planets like earth! You are one-of-a-kind. This great mystery of your individuality is a clear cut evidence of a Creator God at work making people one person at a time. In wonder the Psalmist wrote, "...I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt." Psalm 139:14 CEV. Two Thumbs Up for Special Gifts When compared to the rest of the living inhabitants of this planet, humans have one striking difference and advantage. Your brain sets you apart. Nearly half of all species of animals have no brain at all. Those that do have some sort of brain are no match for the superior ability of people to think, memorize and use the imagination. Scientists have developed a method for predicting intelligence by comparing the weight of the spinal cord to the brain. They have found that lower animals have brains weighing two to four times as much as their spinal cords. In more complex animals, such as apes, the brain weighed nearly fifteen times as much as the spinal cord. However, the astounding fact is that a man's brain is fifty-five times heavier than his spinal cord! I would say more, but you can figure it out. Another gift that humans have are thumbs---they're special. Opposable thumbs and highly developed hands connected to superior brain power are advantages humans do not share with animals. The ability to delicately oppose every finger with the thumb makes it possible to develop the highly the specialized hands of a surgeon or just be an ordinary person turning the pages of a book. Study for Yourself: We see Jesus at the Creation ________________________________ John 1:3, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." The Apostle Paul speaks of Jesus and Creation: _____________ _________________________________________________ Colossians 1:16, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that in earth, visible and invisible..." The writer of Hebrews speaks of Jesus as Creator ____________ ____________________________________________________________ Hebrews 1:2, "He hath in these last day spoken unto us by his Son, who he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" Concluding Thought The Holy Bible makes it clear that Jesus made you special. Jesus said, "Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 CEV. You are a step of Creation higher than the animal kingdom. There are not 10,000 clones of you, made with the hope that one might survive. Considering all these things, will you trust your Creator to take control of your life and re-create you with a new attitude, a new outlook and a new life? The choice is yours because you were created with the power to make it. Having a wonderful life is making the choice? Will you do it today? o