Well, it’s Christmas Day 2019. The tree is shining brightly and adorned with ornaments collected throughout the years. Many are handmade and each one holds a special memory for me and my wife. The TV is playing old Christmas shows one after another. I'm sitting in front of it with my feet up in my chair enjoying a hot cup of coffee. My wife is in her chair occupied with her phone waiting to see pictures of the grand kids and their presents. We’ve enjoyed a very quiet and peaceful Christmas morning.
Our kids are grown with families of their own, and they all live far away. I miss the tromp of little feet coming down the hall to get us out of bed so that they could open presents. I miss the sleepy eyes that brightened up when they saw their gift. I miss the rumpled hair, the scrambling around the tree, the squeals of delight, and all the commotion. Most of all, I miss them sitting in my lap showing off their present and the thank you with a hug attached. Those Christmas days were the best. For us they are gone now. I completely understand, but, I don’t like it.
Ahhh...the smell of giblet gravy simmering on the stove makes me sure that dressing is in the stove. There’s always ham, sweet potato casserole, peas, butter beans, corn, mac&cheese, rolls to go with the chicken dressing, and sweet tea or soda pop to drink...and then Mamaw’s chocolate pie, or lemon pie, or pecan pie, or various cakes...Mmmmm...wait, none of this is happening this year. For the first time in my life, there’ll be no family gathering and meal on Christmas Day. My mother is no longer able to host a big meal even when we all bring good dishes. I miss the meal and fellowship of my kin. I just don’t like it.
With age comes the realization that our children no longer need us in the same way they once did. I know that they still love us, but our position has moved from in the midst to the outside looking in.
We are now more peripheral and that’s difficult...especially for my wife. How many times a day do I hear her say “I wish they’d call me!”. I suppose every loving parent must accept this..and yes, we have the electronic solutions—FaceTime, Skype, Messenger, messages and all that. It’s just not the same. I don’t like it.
Now, having read to this point, one might think that I don't like Christmas! Not so at all, I love celebrating the birth of my Savior and all that goes with it. I still have visions of sugarplums, I adore the Christmas music, and, I am very grateful for all the Lord has allowed me. I look forward to many more. I know they will be different than what I long for, but, time has a way of changing things quite a lot. My life is now made up of more yesterdays than tomorrows!..quite a sobering thought! Getting old is not for sissies for sure! I don't like it!
May you all have a very blessed and merry Christmas with family and friends. Now, I Do like that!
Showing posts with label clean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clean. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
How I grow tomatoes, aka 'maters
For most southern folk, the time period between mid-August till early June is a little sad because we have to buy our tomatoes from a store somewhere. Although better than nothing, we enjoy eating them about as much as we enjoy going to the dentist! They are often tough skinned, bland flavored and the fleshy part is... well...it's just a sad time if you like tomatoes! Here's how I grow tomatoes every year.
I set my plants in basically the same spot of ground every year because it seems to suit them very well. Once every 5 years or so I cut in some lime. This helps prevent the bottom rot on the fruit. Other than that I just use commercial fertilizer (13-13-13) and ammonia (34-0-0).
I order tomato seed around the first of December each year. Better Boy hybrids are my favorite, but, Big Boy, Celebrity, Marion, and Early Girl are also good choices. Beefsteaks hold up good in hot and dry weather, but have too much of a stem core to suit me. Heirloom varieties are good too, but, my wife likes her tomatoes red! I plant the seed one at a time in seed trays about the middle of January to have them big enough to set out by March. It's trouble having to move the trays in and out from the cold and keeping the plants watered, but once they get two sets of leaves on them, they are ready to go.
Here in the deep south, the weather usually agrees and the ground begins to warm around the first week or two in March. Sometimes (as it was this year) I have to cover the plants overnight to keep frost from killing them but those that survive will produce by early June. In the meantime I fertilize them generously, set a wire and stick each plant. As the vines grow, I tie them to their stick with jute string and prune out every sucker branch keeping only the main vine climbing the pole. Tomatoes really like ammonia, so about every week and a half or so, I pitch about a table spoon at the base of each plant, but not directly touching the plant. Ammonia causes the stems to thicken which makes the plant much more hardy and it also causes the plant to produce more fruit. I use a garden tiller to keep the middles clean and an old fashion hoe to work between the plants.
The next thing to consider is bug control. In my little piece of the world, I must defeat aphids, white flies, spider mites and horned worms. Aphids are stem and leaf suckers while white flies and spider mites ruin the blooms. Tomato worms consume the leaves and stems. Later on in the summer we are beset by stinkbugs. You can buy various products that supposedly will control each pest, but, that can get expensive and may or may not control them. You also must be a little concerned about consuming the chemical products, so, be sure to read the labels! I discovered by looking at a label for a certain pest control product that it contained 95% canola oil and sold for $16.95. Well shoot, you can buy a jug of canola oil for less than 3 bucks, so I bought some and found that if you mix a cup of canola oil to a gallon of water and spray it as needed, it will keep these pests off. I still use Sevin dust for the worms and I've also found that dawn dish wash soap mixed in water kills stink bugs. So there you have it.
This year I have around 225 tomato plants in my garden. I am getting some fine tomatoes now and I have about 90 plants that are just getting big enough to stick. A home grown tomato tastes nothing like one bought in a store or from a green house. The flavor and acidity make all the work worth while. We eat them every day while we have them fresh from the garden. Two pieces of loaf bread with mayonnaise and a big ol slice or two of fresh cold tomato will make a fellow want to slap something!
They are also delicious as sides for other meals. Sometimes we just peel and slice one, salt it a little and just eat plain tomato! Green tomato slices coated in meal and fried in hot grease are plumb sinful. They make salads taste totally different and tomato juice keeps several years in mason jars, so my wife puts up a lot of juice each year to make stews and soups for all my family.
It does take a little hard work and time spent to have good tomatoes, but, in the end when you taste one you will be glad. I also very much enjoy giving some away to my neighbors. Most all of us love tomatoes but not all are able to grow their own.
If you can keep the plants watered and mostly free of bugs, they will make until frost so, set out some tomatoes around your house somewhere and enjoy the fresh juicy taste of a home grown tomato. I promise there's nothing else like it!
I set my plants in basically the same spot of ground every year because it seems to suit them very well. Once every 5 years or so I cut in some lime. This helps prevent the bottom rot on the fruit. Other than that I just use commercial fertilizer (13-13-13) and ammonia (34-0-0).
I order tomato seed around the first of December each year. Better Boy hybrids are my favorite, but, Big Boy, Celebrity, Marion, and Early Girl are also good choices. Beefsteaks hold up good in hot and dry weather, but have too much of a stem core to suit me. Heirloom varieties are good too, but, my wife likes her tomatoes red! I plant the seed one at a time in seed trays about the middle of January to have them big enough to set out by March. It's trouble having to move the trays in and out from the cold and keeping the plants watered, but once they get two sets of leaves on them, they are ready to go.
Here in the deep south, the weather usually agrees and the ground begins to warm around the first week or two in March. Sometimes (as it was this year) I have to cover the plants overnight to keep frost from killing them but those that survive will produce by early June. In the meantime I fertilize them generously, set a wire and stick each plant. As the vines grow, I tie them to their stick with jute string and prune out every sucker branch keeping only the main vine climbing the pole. Tomatoes really like ammonia, so about every week and a half or so, I pitch about a table spoon at the base of each plant, but not directly touching the plant. Ammonia causes the stems to thicken which makes the plant much more hardy and it also causes the plant to produce more fruit. I use a garden tiller to keep the middles clean and an old fashion hoe to work between the plants.
The next thing to consider is bug control. In my little piece of the world, I must defeat aphids, white flies, spider mites and horned worms. Aphids are stem and leaf suckers while white flies and spider mites ruin the blooms. Tomato worms consume the leaves and stems. Later on in the summer we are beset by stinkbugs. You can buy various products that supposedly will control each pest, but, that can get expensive and may or may not control them. You also must be a little concerned about consuming the chemical products, so, be sure to read the labels! I discovered by looking at a label for a certain pest control product that it contained 95% canola oil and sold for $16.95. Well shoot, you can buy a jug of canola oil for less than 3 bucks, so I bought some and found that if you mix a cup of canola oil to a gallon of water and spray it as needed, it will keep these pests off. I still use Sevin dust for the worms and I've also found that dawn dish wash soap mixed in water kills stink bugs. So there you have it.
This year I have around 225 tomato plants in my garden. I am getting some fine tomatoes now and I have about 90 plants that are just getting big enough to stick. A home grown tomato tastes nothing like one bought in a store or from a green house. The flavor and acidity make all the work worth while. We eat them every day while we have them fresh from the garden. Two pieces of loaf bread with mayonnaise and a big ol slice or two of fresh cold tomato will make a fellow want to slap something!
They are also delicious as sides for other meals. Sometimes we just peel and slice one, salt it a little and just eat plain tomato! Green tomato slices coated in meal and fried in hot grease are plumb sinful. They make salads taste totally different and tomato juice keeps several years in mason jars, so my wife puts up a lot of juice each year to make stews and soups for all my family.
It does take a little hard work and time spent to have good tomatoes, but, in the end when you taste one you will be glad. I also very much enjoy giving some away to my neighbors. Most all of us love tomatoes but not all are able to grow their own.
If you can keep the plants watered and mostly free of bugs, they will make until frost so, set out some tomatoes around your house somewhere and enjoy the fresh juicy taste of a home grown tomato. I promise there's nothing else like it!
Friday, December 8, 2017
Goodness gracious! It might snow!!
People of the Deep South take on extreme heat and humidity with an air of indifference. After all, it is supposed to be hot and humid here. I suppose it is the stuff of legend in that the southern climate is given by many as the reason southerners talk and move slowly. Maybe, but, I tend to think it's just our nature to roll with the punch.
I mean, we get tornado warning and we'll go outside to see if we can see the tornado! We get a hurricane warning down on the coast and most just move out of its way. No big deal for them other than possible destruction of property and inconvenience. Those who choose to stay in the path know the risk to life and limb, but, it is their choice.
One would think that living through these events in the way that we do would prepare us for anything Mother Nature might do to us.....not so! Today we received word from the national weather service....." The national weather service has issued a winter storm watch/warning for the following counties......". Whoa! Goodness gracious! It might snow tonight! The situation is dire!
Here's what it sounds like in homes across the Deep South. "I hope we don't lose power! We got plenty bread and milk? Go out yonder and check how much propane we got! Reckon they'll have school tomorrow? We might oughta leave the heater on low tonight, don't want no pipes to freeze! Catch up some water case we get out! The cars and trucks got plenty gas? Go get that old raggedy blanket out of the closet and put it in the car port so them dogs/cats can lay on it and stay warm. Remember that time it stayed on the ground for nearly two weeks? 'At was bout 1963 wad'nt it? Hey! You cranked that generator lately? What we gonna eat?...I reckon we can make a big ol pot of soup and eat that. I don't mind a good snow but I don't want no freezin rain! Maybe it'll be enough to build a snowman and make some snow ice cream! I hope it snows a foot!"
Yep! You want to get a southerner giddy with excitement, just mention the "s" word. The tv weather men and women always wait till the last minute to predict snow...they know the phone, email, and texting will explode...especially if the event doesn't happen as predicted which happens more than not!
And then the next morning....."Wow! Look at all the snow! It's still fallin! Boy it's really comin down! It's sho is pretty ain't it? Wonder how long it'll be here? Put ye on a bunch of clothes and a big ol coat fore ye go out....you put them freezer bags over ye socks fore ye put ye shoes on? Ye don't need to git ye feet wet..ye'll get sick shore as the world! Ah-ite! Get out there and build ye a snowman, just don't stay out too long...don't need no frost bit toes or nothin! Man! It's comin a blizzard out there! Better find them candles...might lose power!"
Most consider a little snow and temperatures around freezing no big deal, but, for the people around here who seldom see even a flurry, a snow covered ground is a spectacular event!
God bless us all during this Christmas season and thanks to Him for the beautiful snow! Goodness gracious! It's snowin in Dixie!
I mean, we get tornado warning and we'll go outside to see if we can see the tornado! We get a hurricane warning down on the coast and most just move out of its way. No big deal for them other than possible destruction of property and inconvenience. Those who choose to stay in the path know the risk to life and limb, but, it is their choice.
One would think that living through these events in the way that we do would prepare us for anything Mother Nature might do to us.....not so! Today we received word from the national weather service....." The national weather service has issued a winter storm watch/warning for the following counties......". Whoa! Goodness gracious! It might snow tonight! The situation is dire!
Here's what it sounds like in homes across the Deep South. "I hope we don't lose power! We got plenty bread and milk? Go out yonder and check how much propane we got! Reckon they'll have school tomorrow? We might oughta leave the heater on low tonight, don't want no pipes to freeze! Catch up some water case we get out! The cars and trucks got plenty gas? Go get that old raggedy blanket out of the closet and put it in the car port so them dogs/cats can lay on it and stay warm. Remember that time it stayed on the ground for nearly two weeks? 'At was bout 1963 wad'nt it? Hey! You cranked that generator lately? What we gonna eat?...I reckon we can make a big ol pot of soup and eat that. I don't mind a good snow but I don't want no freezin rain! Maybe it'll be enough to build a snowman and make some snow ice cream! I hope it snows a foot!"
Yep! You want to get a southerner giddy with excitement, just mention the "s" word. The tv weather men and women always wait till the last minute to predict snow...they know the phone, email, and texting will explode...especially if the event doesn't happen as predicted which happens more than not!
And then the next morning....."Wow! Look at all the snow! It's still fallin! Boy it's really comin down! It's sho is pretty ain't it? Wonder how long it'll be here? Put ye on a bunch of clothes and a big ol coat fore ye go out....you put them freezer bags over ye socks fore ye put ye shoes on? Ye don't need to git ye feet wet..ye'll get sick shore as the world! Ah-ite! Get out there and build ye a snowman, just don't stay out too long...don't need no frost bit toes or nothin! Man! It's comin a blizzard out there! Better find them candles...might lose power!"
Most consider a little snow and temperatures around freezing no big deal, but, for the people around here who seldom see even a flurry, a snow covered ground is a spectacular event!
God bless us all during this Christmas season and thanks to Him for the beautiful snow! Goodness gracious! It's snowin in Dixie!
Friday, August 4, 2017
The "eyes" have it!
My wife and I have reached the age where much of our casual conversations with friends concerns the latest procedure or surgery we've been through! "Did they put you to sleep?", "Did it leave a scar?", "When are you getting the other one done?", or " Is it hurting you?" are some of the conversation starters for us these days.
Our latest adventure was cataract surgery. My sweet wife (bless her heart) had been told she had cataracts a couple years ago. At that time the optometrist assured her that they were small and need not be addressed. On her last visit, he said "Gracious! Those things have really grown! You'll need to have them seen about!". With her vision seeming fairly normal to her, and knowing that Medicare will cover cataract surgery, she asked if she could wait until she reached Medicare age. He told her "Sure...you can wait, but you're already illegal to drive in one eye, the other is not far behind and they're only gonna get worse!" This convinced her, so, here we go...he set her up to see a specialist in cataract removal surgery.
The first visit to Dr. M's office involved meeting and greeting and a quick "see for my self" type eye exam. He said "Yep! You have some fine cataracts there!", then he moves over to his computer. My wife has a gift. She can talk to people and make them think that they are the best thing since sliced bread! She noticed how fast Dr. M was typing and, being a former business teacher, she said "My! You are fast! We need to give you a timed writing!" He grinned and said "My parents made me take typing in high school...hated it then, but now, I'm glad they did!". Well, this opened the door to a variety of conversation topics and I guarantee that by the end of the visit, she had him feeling really good about himself!
The next visit was scheduled about a week later. We arrived at his office and the waiting room was packed. Worried that we might be in for a long wait, my wife asked the receptionist "What's going on today?...almost standing room only!" We were told that a V.A. doc visited Dr. M's clinic once a month and this was the day. Relieved that most of the people there were to see him, not Dr. M, we sat down and waited. This time it was a quick "Hello, how ye doin?" from the doc, then a technician took her and measured the lens in each eye. Not too many years back, the only option was to remove the cataracts restoring the vision a person had before. Now they remove both cataracts and natural lenses and insert an artificial lens. This amazing technology not only eliminates the cataracts, it also improves vision to the point that glasses are no longer needed except maybe to read. With measurements complete, we were given a surgery date a couple of weeks later and then instructed to go and register at the surgery center used by Dr. M. With all this done, it was time to go home and wait.
Waiting on a surgery date is certainly more stressful than waiting on a vacation. You think a vacation date will never get here, but, a surgery date gets here much quicker than you want. Anxiety nags at you more and more each day even though you know 99% of people have no problems with cataract surgery. So it was with my wife. Bravely, she got into the car on the morning of the surgery and we set out for the surgery center. She was scheduled for 10AM, but when 11 rolled by, we were both about ready to say "Forget it!". Finally about 11:15 they called her back. I'm thinking about an hour and then we'll be on our way...not the case of course! Three hours slowly drag by and I have just about sat a hole in my chair. I am now a little worried that something is wrong, but, I've heard nothing and I reason that they would tell me if something was up! I sat there nearly another hour and finally a nurse sticks her head out calling for my wife's family. I gather up her purse (which I had been complimented on several times during the waiting period by total strangers) and followed the nurse to the back. There she was sitting up in a recliner, still groggy from anesthesia, and still hooked up to monitors of all sorts. I greeted her awake and rubbed her back and shoulders a little, then asked to see her eye. She opened it. I could not tell that anything had been done to it. She told me that her eye did not hurt and that she could see very well. About 5 minutes later I am told to go get the car and bring it to the patient departure area to pick her up. I'm out and back quickly and we're on our way home.
The next day we head back to Dr. M's office for a follow up examination. Her eye now has 20-20 vision! Again she thanks and praises the doc on his amazing skill. He told her that he had done over 40,000 cataract surgeries. Her first eye is now fixed and healing nicely. Now for the second eye.
Having watched the actual surgery on her first eye from a video provided by Dr. M, my wife prepared herself for the second eye. Even though she knew what to expect, it still weighed on her mind that someone was going to poke around in her eye again! The anesthesia had made her sick at her stomach the first time, so, IV Zofran was administered during the second surgery to alleviate the sick stomach. It did its job well. The second eye took about the same time as the first. The cataract on the second eye was much more involved and thicker than on the first. After watching the video this time, we both wondered how she could have seen at all from that eye! It's amazing how much different it is to her now.
The follow up on the next day verified what we had expected...she is now 20-20 in both eyes! Praise the Lord my wife can see clearly again! Now and for the next couple of weeks we are to administer drops in her eyes to make sure they heal properly and have no infection. Hopefully we are done with "procedures" for a while, but, for now, she has another great conversation experience that she can share with all her buddies. I guarantee she will!
Our latest adventure was cataract surgery. My sweet wife (bless her heart) had been told she had cataracts a couple years ago. At that time the optometrist assured her that they were small and need not be addressed. On her last visit, he said "Gracious! Those things have really grown! You'll need to have them seen about!". With her vision seeming fairly normal to her, and knowing that Medicare will cover cataract surgery, she asked if she could wait until she reached Medicare age. He told her "Sure...you can wait, but you're already illegal to drive in one eye, the other is not far behind and they're only gonna get worse!" This convinced her, so, here we go...he set her up to see a specialist in cataract removal surgery.
The first visit to Dr. M's office involved meeting and greeting and a quick "see for my self" type eye exam. He said "Yep! You have some fine cataracts there!", then he moves over to his computer. My wife has a gift. She can talk to people and make them think that they are the best thing since sliced bread! She noticed how fast Dr. M was typing and, being a former business teacher, she said "My! You are fast! We need to give you a timed writing!" He grinned and said "My parents made me take typing in high school...hated it then, but now, I'm glad they did!". Well, this opened the door to a variety of conversation topics and I guarantee that by the end of the visit, she had him feeling really good about himself!
The next visit was scheduled about a week later. We arrived at his office and the waiting room was packed. Worried that we might be in for a long wait, my wife asked the receptionist "What's going on today?...almost standing room only!" We were told that a V.A. doc visited Dr. M's clinic once a month and this was the day. Relieved that most of the people there were to see him, not Dr. M, we sat down and waited. This time it was a quick "Hello, how ye doin?" from the doc, then a technician took her and measured the lens in each eye. Not too many years back, the only option was to remove the cataracts restoring the vision a person had before. Now they remove both cataracts and natural lenses and insert an artificial lens. This amazing technology not only eliminates the cataracts, it also improves vision to the point that glasses are no longer needed except maybe to read. With measurements complete, we were given a surgery date a couple of weeks later and then instructed to go and register at the surgery center used by Dr. M. With all this done, it was time to go home and wait.
Waiting on a surgery date is certainly more stressful than waiting on a vacation. You think a vacation date will never get here, but, a surgery date gets here much quicker than you want. Anxiety nags at you more and more each day even though you know 99% of people have no problems with cataract surgery. So it was with my wife. Bravely, she got into the car on the morning of the surgery and we set out for the surgery center. She was scheduled for 10AM, but when 11 rolled by, we were both about ready to say "Forget it!". Finally about 11:15 they called her back. I'm thinking about an hour and then we'll be on our way...not the case of course! Three hours slowly drag by and I have just about sat a hole in my chair. I am now a little worried that something is wrong, but, I've heard nothing and I reason that they would tell me if something was up! I sat there nearly another hour and finally a nurse sticks her head out calling for my wife's family. I gather up her purse (which I had been complimented on several times during the waiting period by total strangers) and followed the nurse to the back. There she was sitting up in a recliner, still groggy from anesthesia, and still hooked up to monitors of all sorts. I greeted her awake and rubbed her back and shoulders a little, then asked to see her eye. She opened it. I could not tell that anything had been done to it. She told me that her eye did not hurt and that she could see very well. About 5 minutes later I am told to go get the car and bring it to the patient departure area to pick her up. I'm out and back quickly and we're on our way home.
The next day we head back to Dr. M's office for a follow up examination. Her eye now has 20-20 vision! Again she thanks and praises the doc on his amazing skill. He told her that he had done over 40,000 cataract surgeries. Her first eye is now fixed and healing nicely. Now for the second eye.
Having watched the actual surgery on her first eye from a video provided by Dr. M, my wife prepared herself for the second eye. Even though she knew what to expect, it still weighed on her mind that someone was going to poke around in her eye again! The anesthesia had made her sick at her stomach the first time, so, IV Zofran was administered during the second surgery to alleviate the sick stomach. It did its job well. The second eye took about the same time as the first. The cataract on the second eye was much more involved and thicker than on the first. After watching the video this time, we both wondered how she could have seen at all from that eye! It's amazing how much different it is to her now.
The follow up on the next day verified what we had expected...she is now 20-20 in both eyes! Praise the Lord my wife can see clearly again! Now and for the next couple of weeks we are to administer drops in her eyes to make sure they heal properly and have no infection. Hopefully we are done with "procedures" for a while, but, for now, she has another great conversation experience that she can share with all her buddies. I guarantee she will!
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Explaining God.....sort of!
A professor asked one of his students, "You are a Christian, aren't you son?". The student replied, "Yes Sir." Professor: So, you believe in God? Student: Absolutely, Sir. Professor: Is God good? Student: Sure! Professor: Is God all powerful? Student: Yes. Professor: Well, my brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would try to help others who are ill, but God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm? Student: Silence Professor: You can't answer can you? Let's start again, young fella, is God good? Student: Yes. Professor: Is satan good? Student: No. Professor: Where does satan come from? Student: From--God. Professor: That's right. Now tell me son, is there evil in this world? Student: Yes. Professor: Evil is everywhere isn't it? And God created everything, correct? Student: Yes. Professor: So, who created evil? Student: again silent. Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these things exist in the world don't they? Student: Yes Sir. Professor: So, who created them? Student: No answer. Professor: Science says that you have 5 senses that you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me son, have you ever seen God? Student: No Sir. Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard, felt, tasted, or smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter? Student: No Sir, I'm afraid I haven't. Professor: Yet you still believe in Him? Student: Yes! Professor: According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that? Student: Nothing, I only have my faith. Professor: Yes! Faith, and that is the problem science has. Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat? Professor: Yes. Student: And, is there such a thing as cold? Professor: Yes. Student: No, Sir! There isn't! (class becomes silent) Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, white heat, a little heat, or no heat. But, we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any lower than that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, just the absence of it. (Pin drop silence in the room) Student continues: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness? Professor: Yes, what is night if there isn't darkness? Student: You're wrong again Sir! Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, or even flashing light. But, if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness. In reality, darkness isn't! If it were, you could make it darker couldn't you? Professor: So what is your point? Student: Sir, my point is that your philosophical premise is flawed! Professor: Flawed? Can you explain? Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You view the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought! It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Tell me Sir, do you teach evolution? Professor: Yes. Student: Have you ever seen evolution with your own eyes? Professor shakes his head with a smile beginning to realize where the argument was headed. Student continues: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an ongoing endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion Sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? The classroom explodes in an uproar. Student continues: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain? (much laughter) Is there anyone who has heard, felt, tasted or smelt it? No one? So, according o the established rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, science says that you have no brain Sir! With all due respect Sir, how do we then trust your lectures? The room is again deftly silent. The Professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable. After a long pause, Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son. Student: That is it Sir--Exactly! The link between man and God is faith. that is all that keeps things alive and moving.
The argument above took place in a time quite different than today. Even so, the points made by both the Professor and the Student are still common to arguments today regarding the existence of God. As Christians, we know that we cannot "argue" a person into heaven, but, we can defend our own faith just as the student did in the argument above. More and more scientists are coming to the realization of a "Grand Design". Evolution and Big Bang theories just don't seem to "measure" up in a scientific view, as science is in the business of measurement!
My hope is that someone somewhere might read this and better understand his relationship with God. Faith is the key and, by the way, the Student in the narrative above was____Albert Einstein! Have a blessed day!
The argument above took place in a time quite different than today. Even so, the points made by both the Professor and the Student are still common to arguments today regarding the existence of God. As Christians, we know that we cannot "argue" a person into heaven, but, we can defend our own faith just as the student did in the argument above. More and more scientists are coming to the realization of a "Grand Design". Evolution and Big Bang theories just don't seem to "measure" up in a scientific view, as science is in the business of measurement!
My hope is that someone somewhere might read this and better understand his relationship with God. Faith is the key and, by the way, the Student in the narrative above was____Albert Einstein! Have a blessed day!
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Keepin up with the Grands
Getting old is not for sissies! Your body does not cooperate with your mind in the way it did when you were younger! I still try to do things as I did when I was a young man and feel just fine during the act. It's the after effects that tell me "Yep! You're old!".
Well, even so, there are some perks with age and one of the best is grand children. We have seven grand children at the moment. Two of them live close to us and we see them regularly. The others live hours away and we miss seeing them all the time!
It's funny....when the grands come around, we go into the entertaining mode immediately. We've bought new toys, fresh chalk, crayons, coloring books, play dough, and brought out old stuff that "Nana" saved from our own kids' childhood. Once here, the playing starts and is non-stop until they either leave or reach bed time. I guess that because we know we won't have much time with them, we think we have to make it count!...so, we do! It's exhausting but worth every minute. We wallow around on the floor with them, well, one of us at the time...we learned that one of was needed to help the other get up off the floor! We sing to them and tell them stories, trying to make as many memories as possible in the short time they are with us. Nana, bless her heart, tries her best to get a "good" picture, but, one or more have their eyes shut, or, are looking at something other than the camera...they just don't get it!
Two of my grand sons are teenagers and are in a different world all together. They just sort of grunt a "Hey Papaw" then settle into their world of silence. Iphones with unlimited text plans have almost taken open verbal conversation out of their lives! Even our own daughters and son spend a lot of visit time looking at their phones....thinking about a "no phone" zone at my house!
One of our former pastors talked about his grandchildren at times. He said "The little angels would arrive early in the morning and the little devils left at dark!" We knew he was joking and he, like us, wanted to have his grand children with him as much as possible.
We are about to pack up and go to one of my daughter's house to keep our 2 and 3 year old grand daughters for a couple of days. Pray for us...they are a busy pair and get into everything! Still, we look forward to it with great anticipation. We'll play with them, sing songs, rock them, feed them, and love them to death. Nana will once again try for that illusive "good" picture, and we'll make memories as we spend our time keeping up with the grands!
Well, even so, there are some perks with age and one of the best is grand children. We have seven grand children at the moment. Two of them live close to us and we see them regularly. The others live hours away and we miss seeing them all the time!
It's funny....when the grands come around, we go into the entertaining mode immediately. We've bought new toys, fresh chalk, crayons, coloring books, play dough, and brought out old stuff that "Nana" saved from our own kids' childhood. Once here, the playing starts and is non-stop until they either leave or reach bed time. I guess that because we know we won't have much time with them, we think we have to make it count!...so, we do! It's exhausting but worth every minute. We wallow around on the floor with them, well, one of us at the time...we learned that one of was needed to help the other get up off the floor! We sing to them and tell them stories, trying to make as many memories as possible in the short time they are with us. Nana, bless her heart, tries her best to get a "good" picture, but, one or more have their eyes shut, or, are looking at something other than the camera...they just don't get it!
Two of my grand sons are teenagers and are in a different world all together. They just sort of grunt a "Hey Papaw" then settle into their world of silence. Iphones with unlimited text plans have almost taken open verbal conversation out of their lives! Even our own daughters and son spend a lot of visit time looking at their phones....thinking about a "no phone" zone at my house!
One of our former pastors talked about his grandchildren at times. He said "The little angels would arrive early in the morning and the little devils left at dark!" We knew he was joking and he, like us, wanted to have his grand children with him as much as possible.
We are about to pack up and go to one of my daughter's house to keep our 2 and 3 year old grand daughters for a couple of days. Pray for us...they are a busy pair and get into everything! Still, we look forward to it with great anticipation. We'll play with them, sing songs, rock them, feed them, and love them to death. Nana will once again try for that illusive "good" picture, and we'll make memories as we spend our time keeping up with the grands!
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Wait on it....Wait!
Have you ever thought about how much time you've spent in your life waiting on something? Most people, including myself, are not good at waiting. We live in a culture that expects instant gratification in all aspects of our lives. When we have to wait on something, we often whine and complain, even lose our tempers, our good sense, and our tongues sometimes!
I don't know anyone who enjoys waiting in a line. We don't like waiting on food at burger joints. We don't like waiting on stoplights (my Pastor says they are instruments of the devil). We don't like waiting on the good things in life such as the fish to start biting or for a good supper to get cooked! Now it's gotten to the point where we snarl and fuss when we click the computer mouse and the page doesn't instantly pull up!
"Have a seat in the waiting room and the doctor will see you in a few minutes."...oh boy!...waiting rooms! All major institutions in our society have designated areas for us to wait....waiting rooms or waiting areas. I don't like waiting rooms one bit! They are usually always nearly full, you have to sit down next to a total stranger, you don't know what sort of germ you might catch from those people, you may have to make conversation with them, and you wonder how long you will have to wait. Once I took my Dad to the eye doctor. My Mom went along as well and we got to the office a few minutes early. After signing in, we moved into the crowded waiting room to sit and wait. Mom and Dad were able to sit next to one another but I had to sit across the room. The nurses were leading people out and taking people back in their usual busy manner. Most of those coming out had dilated eyes from whatever procedure they had undergone, and, because they were nearly blind, the nurses would patiently lead them to the waiting room to deliver them to their family members. One fellow came out on his own and sat down next to a lady who he thought was his wife. He said, "Honey they dilated my eyes and I can't hardly see nothin!". The lady looked at him and smiled as she said, "I believe it cause, I ain't yo wife!....Honey!". I cracked up! His actual wife was there in a flash, gathering him up and both apologizing to the lady. Someone ought to write a book.."Tales of the Waiting Room"...might be a best seller!
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say, on the Lord!
Why is it so hard for us to wait? Christians ought to be good at it for from the moment of conversion we begin to wait upon the return of Jesus. We wait on God all the time for His instruction, His direction, or His intervention in our lives. God can change our circumstances. The problem with us is that God's timing is usually different from ours and we must wait in our present circumstance when we want to move forward.
Even so, it is always wise to wait on God. We live in the "right now" society. Instant gratification defines it, but, we must hone our waiting skills. God gives clear direction to us but seldom quickly. We must wait till He
gives it. Wait on the Lord.
Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye".
God uses our waiting time to prepare us for His purpose. Good parents do not give their children everything the ask for. Besides spoiling them, sometimes we know that the timing isn't right. Give them sugary treats or soft drinks just before bed time?...don't think so...the "timing" isn't right! How much more does God know this for us His children? Waiting also strengthens our faith. We cannot have too much of it for it provides us with hope when all else fails. Faith will sustain in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
Finally, waiting allows us time to sift through our motives. Time allows a good thought process to play in our minds..."Why do I want this?"..."Do I need this?"..."Will I use this enough to justify the expense?"..."Will this benefit my family or just myself?"..."Will this cause a financial burden?"...etc. If we allow God to sift through our motives, the truth will come out, good or bad, and, we can better make a decision. If you need to make a life changing decision, wait a little, think through it carefully and let God direct you.
As I have gotten older, I find that waiting is not as bad for me as it used to be. I can tolerate it much better at my age now than I could when I was younger. A good word and friendly smile seem to expedite the waiting process. Still I must wait till Jesus returns or until God calls me home, we all do, so, let's just call it an "art" and wait on the Lord! He will sustain us.
I don't know anyone who enjoys waiting in a line. We don't like waiting on food at burger joints. We don't like waiting on stoplights (my Pastor says they are instruments of the devil). We don't like waiting on the good things in life such as the fish to start biting or for a good supper to get cooked! Now it's gotten to the point where we snarl and fuss when we click the computer mouse and the page doesn't instantly pull up!
"Have a seat in the waiting room and the doctor will see you in a few minutes."...oh boy!...waiting rooms! All major institutions in our society have designated areas for us to wait....waiting rooms or waiting areas. I don't like waiting rooms one bit! They are usually always nearly full, you have to sit down next to a total stranger, you don't know what sort of germ you might catch from those people, you may have to make conversation with them, and you wonder how long you will have to wait. Once I took my Dad to the eye doctor. My Mom went along as well and we got to the office a few minutes early. After signing in, we moved into the crowded waiting room to sit and wait. Mom and Dad were able to sit next to one another but I had to sit across the room. The nurses were leading people out and taking people back in their usual busy manner. Most of those coming out had dilated eyes from whatever procedure they had undergone, and, because they were nearly blind, the nurses would patiently lead them to the waiting room to deliver them to their family members. One fellow came out on his own and sat down next to a lady who he thought was his wife. He said, "Honey they dilated my eyes and I can't hardly see nothin!". The lady looked at him and smiled as she said, "I believe it cause, I ain't yo wife!....Honey!". I cracked up! His actual wife was there in a flash, gathering him up and both apologizing to the lady. Someone ought to write a book.."Tales of the Waiting Room"...might be a best seller!
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say, on the Lord!
Why is it so hard for us to wait? Christians ought to be good at it for from the moment of conversion we begin to wait upon the return of Jesus. We wait on God all the time for His instruction, His direction, or His intervention in our lives. God can change our circumstances. The problem with us is that God's timing is usually different from ours and we must wait in our present circumstance when we want to move forward.
Even so, it is always wise to wait on God. We live in the "right now" society. Instant gratification defines it, but, we must hone our waiting skills. God gives clear direction to us but seldom quickly. We must wait till He
gives it. Wait on the Lord.
Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye".
God uses our waiting time to prepare us for His purpose. Good parents do not give their children everything the ask for. Besides spoiling them, sometimes we know that the timing isn't right. Give them sugary treats or soft drinks just before bed time?...don't think so...the "timing" isn't right! How much more does God know this for us His children? Waiting also strengthens our faith. We cannot have too much of it for it provides us with hope when all else fails. Faith will sustain in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
Finally, waiting allows us time to sift through our motives. Time allows a good thought process to play in our minds..."Why do I want this?"..."Do I need this?"..."Will I use this enough to justify the expense?"..."Will this benefit my family or just myself?"..."Will this cause a financial burden?"...etc. If we allow God to sift through our motives, the truth will come out, good or bad, and, we can better make a decision. If you need to make a life changing decision, wait a little, think through it carefully and let God direct you.
As I have gotten older, I find that waiting is not as bad for me as it used to be. I can tolerate it much better at my age now than I could when I was younger. A good word and friendly smile seem to expedite the waiting process. Still I must wait till Jesus returns or until God calls me home, we all do, so, let's just call it an "art" and wait on the Lord! He will sustain us.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Tweaking your high school catcher
A fellow coach asked me once, "Coach, what drills and such do you do with your catchers?". He was a young fellow, just starting his career, so, I certainly wanted to give him some sage advice. I said, "Well Coach, I just do basic blocking drills, fielding bunts and pop-ups, and throwing to the different bases.". He said, " I do those with mine too, but, it doesn't seem to make them better!". I said, "Maybe you just need to have a talk with them!".
As a coach you are responsible for a catcher's physical condition, so, use enough drills and running with pitchers to condition him properly, but, don't drill him to death! He already knows what most drills try to teach, so, have a talk with him. Talk to them often, tell him what a good job he's doing, preach the three points above, and most of all tell him to have fun!
I explained what I meant by "having a talk". A catcher is usually a gritty kid who volunteered to play the position as a small child in little league or before. By the time he reaches high school, he's done more drills and caught more games than you can shake a stick at! The drills you do with him should be used just to remind his mind and body how to react, nothing much more. At this point, improvement comes through mental development more than physical, so, have a talk with him.
Talk to him about anticipation. A good catcher must anticipate a bad pitch on every throw, especially with runners on base. Knowing each pitcher he catches and what the ball does out of their hands can help the catcher. Location, count, and stance also come into play. Keeping the ball from going to the back stop or beating the Ump's shin bones to death is much easier if the catcher anticipates the block.
Instruct your catcher and work with him on catching every pitch he possibly can with his mitt up. This will often give the pitcher a low strike call. Many catchers turn the mitt down on low borderline pitches making it easy for the Ump to call a ball. Your catcher can make the umpire earn his money by catching the low pitches with his glove up.
Along the same line, have him work on framing the strike zone with his mitt, knuckles on top of the high or low strike, outside on the corner pitches. To frame the right hand side of the strike zone and get the knuckles outside, the catcher needs to invert the mitt. Framing the strike zone may be new to some catchers, so, bring it to mind early in preseason as the catcher is working the bull pen.
Finally, observe your catcher's foot work. Throwing a runner out is greatly aided by the catcher's foot work. We all know that most bases are stolen off the pitcher's action or the base runner's savvy at predicting an off speed pitch on which to run. How quickly the catcher can receive the ball and then throw it can overcome even a good base stealer sometimes. Many catchers need to be taught to position their bodies and thus their feet as if they were throwing a ball, right foot back and left foot forward. When the ball is caught, weight should be on the back foot. As the catcher rises, he should shift weight forward, taking a short jab step with the front foot. During this time, he should bring the ball up to make a short arm throw to the base to get the runner. Again, anticipation is important here and a block may be necessary, but, if the pitch is good and the feet are in place, there is a greater chance to throw out the runner.
Along the same line, have him work on framing the strike zone with his mitt, knuckles on top of the high or low strike, outside on the corner pitches. To frame the right hand side of the strike zone and get the knuckles outside, the catcher needs to invert the mitt. Framing the strike zone may be new to some catchers, so, bring it to mind early in preseason as the catcher is working the bull pen.
Finally, observe your catcher's foot work. Throwing a runner out is greatly aided by the catcher's foot work. We all know that most bases are stolen off the pitcher's action or the base runner's savvy at predicting an off speed pitch on which to run. How quickly the catcher can receive the ball and then throw it can overcome even a good base stealer sometimes. Many catchers need to be taught to position their bodies and thus their feet as if they were throwing a ball, right foot back and left foot forward. When the ball is caught, weight should be on the back foot. As the catcher rises, he should shift weight forward, taking a short jab step with the front foot. During this time, he should bring the ball up to make a short arm throw to the base to get the runner. Again, anticipation is important here and a block may be necessary, but, if the pitch is good and the feet are in place, there is a greater chance to throw out the runner.
As a coach you are responsible for a catcher's physical condition, so, use enough drills and running with pitchers to condition him properly, but, don't drill him to death! He already knows what most drills try to teach, so, have a talk with him. Talk to them often, tell him what a good job he's doing, preach the three points above, and most of all tell him to have fun!
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Scratching my head!
I consider myself a fairly sensible man. I know what's right and what's wrong most of the time. I would think that there are others who cater to the same lines of thought. This being said, I'm " scratchin " my head over some recent events.
In the first place, what judge with good sense would even hear a case involving whether a cake was baked or not? Is there not enough cases of true crime to keep a judge busy? I mean, come on now. In years past judges refused to hear such nonsense...I'm scratchin my head!
I hear that some type of courage award is to be given to a man named Jenner who now wears women's clothes. Since when did the United States of America consider it courageous to glorify such idiocy? There are people in this country who have been maimed serving her. There are people who have put their own lives in danger to save others. There are people who have overcome great hardships in service to our country or countrymen, yet, they are somehow undeserving of a courage award, and, second to, of all things, a male nut in a dress....I'm scratchin my head!
What's going on with this Supreme Court ruling that allows a couple of the same gender to call themselves married? Again I ask, don't they have better things to judge than something like this? Oh yes, I had forgotten their ruling on Obamacare! ...which of course, they, the President, and the congress are exempted from. I can see nothing but detriment for our country from both of these rulings. Are you happy to be paying for your own health insurance and for someone else who had rather drive a Cadillac than buy their own? Have you tried to see a doctor lately? In the immortal words of Charlie Brown, " Good grief!"....I 'm scratchin my head!
I turned the TV on this morning and there was the man we call our President lauding the fact that he and his Secretary of State had reached a "deal" with Iran over the development of nuclear weapons there. Does our President fear Iran? I remember when this nation would demand a cease and desist, and, back it up with the most powerful military in the world. What's changed? Why should we cower down to a nation that cannot be trusted and wants nothing better than to destroy us? What does our great ally in the Middle East, Israel, think of us now? ....I'm scratchin my head!
I have seen in my lifetime a change in public sentiment from "Work hard to get ahead" to "I 'm entitled to a free ride". Doesn't the constitution say we are entitled to life, liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness, and doesn't a pursuit require a bit of work on our part?.... I 'm scratchin my head!
The list of things that make a sensible man scratch his head goes on and on. I've not commented on the Mexican border situation, nor, the President's redistribution of wealth policies. Frivolous lawsuits are heard every day, I have absolutely no confidence in our President, I don't think our society's morals are what they ought to be, and, I worry that my children and grandchildren will not be able to live their lives with as much freedom as I have enjoyed.
God bless America...I 'll just keep scratchin my head and let Him handle it!
In the first place, what judge with good sense would even hear a case involving whether a cake was baked or not? Is there not enough cases of true crime to keep a judge busy? I mean, come on now. In years past judges refused to hear such nonsense...I'm scratchin my head!
I hear that some type of courage award is to be given to a man named Jenner who now wears women's clothes. Since when did the United States of America consider it courageous to glorify such idiocy? There are people in this country who have been maimed serving her. There are people who have put their own lives in danger to save others. There are people who have overcome great hardships in service to our country or countrymen, yet, they are somehow undeserving of a courage award, and, second to, of all things, a male nut in a dress....I'm scratchin my head!
What's going on with this Supreme Court ruling that allows a couple of the same gender to call themselves married? Again I ask, don't they have better things to judge than something like this? Oh yes, I had forgotten their ruling on Obamacare! ...which of course, they, the President, and the congress are exempted from. I can see nothing but detriment for our country from both of these rulings. Are you happy to be paying for your own health insurance and for someone else who had rather drive a Cadillac than buy their own? Have you tried to see a doctor lately? In the immortal words of Charlie Brown, " Good grief!"....I 'm scratchin my head!
I turned the TV on this morning and there was the man we call our President lauding the fact that he and his Secretary of State had reached a "deal" with Iran over the development of nuclear weapons there. Does our President fear Iran? I remember when this nation would demand a cease and desist, and, back it up with the most powerful military in the world. What's changed? Why should we cower down to a nation that cannot be trusted and wants nothing better than to destroy us? What does our great ally in the Middle East, Israel, think of us now? ....I'm scratchin my head!
I have seen in my lifetime a change in public sentiment from "Work hard to get ahead" to "I 'm entitled to a free ride". Doesn't the constitution say we are entitled to life, liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness, and doesn't a pursuit require a bit of work on our part?.... I 'm scratchin my head!
The list of things that make a sensible man scratch his head goes on and on. I've not commented on the Mexican border situation, nor, the President's redistribution of wealth policies. Frivolous lawsuits are heard every day, I have absolutely no confidence in our President, I don't think our society's morals are what they ought to be, and, I worry that my children and grandchildren will not be able to live their lives with as much freedom as I have enjoyed.
God bless America...I 'll just keep scratchin my head and let Him handle it!
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
"Settin" out hooks
As teenage boys in the rural south of the 1960's, our pastimes were sports, hunting, fishing, and of course girls! A few of us had an old worn out car or truck, but most had no girlfriend, or if we did, it meant only one date a week...maybe twice if she'd let you come sit with her on Sunday afternoon between church services. Shoot, we couldn't afford more than that anyway..movies were $1.50 a head, burgers for both would nearly be a 5-spot, and if you used the family car, you were expected to replace all the 25 cent per gallon gas that was used, so, there was always some of my friends ready to go with me to set out hooks.
Spring break was a prime time for "settin" the hooks. We had a whole week to fish. I would "make up" 25-30 lines. I'd take a spool of strong nylon twine and cut pieces about 6 feet long. I'd tie a granny knot on one end and then a slip knot on the same end forming a loop. On the other end I'd tie a large hook and then crimp a large piece of lead about 4 inches above the hook.
Once the lines were ready, it was time to gather some bait. A catfish is a bottom feeder and will eat most anything. Preferably the bait needed to be sturdy enough to withstand the constant pecking from the panfish in the creek. Earthworms and catalpa worms are better used after dark because of this and you can bet the hook will be clean the next morning. My favorite baits were crawfish and " puppy dawgs". "Puppy dawgs" are spotted salamanders indigenous to our area. They are found in the woods under old rotting logs and large tree limbs. It took some effort to find enough of them to bait the hooks for several nights, but it was fun finding them and well worth the effort.
Now with hooks and bait, I'd head over to the creek. Poles could usually be cut along the creek banks unless the hooks were to be set down one of the many cow pastures that existed in those days. Small hardwood saplings were good because they were sturdy and you could usually leave a small fork on the top end which made fastening the line easier. Cane poles were also good, but, required a little more care to fasten the lines so that they wouldn't slip off the end.
To set the pole I would try to select a spot on the bank that would be easy to reach in the dark, then I would stick the butt end of the pole in the bank, pushing down on the pole so that when the ground raised it back a little, the hook would be suspended slightly off the bottom. Depth of the creek didn't matter. If the hole took all the line, so be it, or if the creek was shallow in a spot, just wrap the line around the end of the pole till it reached the desired depth.
Along about dark, we'd all gather up and head to the creek. Most brought a light, a quilt or sleeping bag to sit on, and something to eat and drink. The first thing to do was clean off a spot and build a small fire. Wieners or smoked sausage links roasted over an open fire were some of the best tasting things in the world! Sometimes we'd make a stew, sometimes we'd just snack on cookies or cakes, whatever we could round up to bring. It was all good and we all shared what we had. We joked about each other's performance in the last ballgame, our parents and friends, and our lives in general. We carried on serious conversations about the Vietnam war and especially the draft. We talked of our dreams and ambitions, all the while making jokes and wisecracks. You learn a lot about your friends sitting around a camp fire where nothing inhibits your thoughts and words. Secrets were unveiled and lifelong friendships were formed.
After we ate, when it had become good dark, we'd run the lines. Generally on the first night we'd catch a lot oh mud cat and eel. They are good eating but the prize catch was channel cat, the big boys of the creek. You could tell by the way the pole acted whether you had a good fish or a small one. If the pole was bouncing or just slapping the water...mud cat or eel. If the pole was being pulled under or pulled down and hung up, you knew you had a good fish...channel cat or maybe a blue, flat head, or spotted cat. We'd take turns at each hook, giving everyone a chance to catch something. We'd run the lines four or five times between dark and about midnight, then we'd gather up our stuff, take care to kill the fire, and then walk out, usually with a good mess of fish. Sometimes we caught nothing at all! It didn't matter, we were young and strong, full of hope and ambition, and on the verge of being completely on our own.
If you can read between the lines, setting the hooks was a viable reason for us to get out from under our parents for a while. Jimmy, Bobby, Festus, Lip, Chub, Joe, Chunk, Wesley, Bob and Rocky (brothers), and Moose are some of the guys whose company I enjoyed on these fishing trips. Some were drafted and went to Vietnam. Joe gave his life there. Others chose the military as a career, some made accountants, some farmers, some business men, and a couple made school teachers. Those of us who are left are older now. We don't see each other as often, but, we'll always remember the good times we had "settin" out those hooks!
Spring break was a prime time for "settin" the hooks. We had a whole week to fish. I would "make up" 25-30 lines. I'd take a spool of strong nylon twine and cut pieces about 6 feet long. I'd tie a granny knot on one end and then a slip knot on the same end forming a loop. On the other end I'd tie a large hook and then crimp a large piece of lead about 4 inches above the hook.
Once the lines were ready, it was time to gather some bait. A catfish is a bottom feeder and will eat most anything. Preferably the bait needed to be sturdy enough to withstand the constant pecking from the panfish in the creek. Earthworms and catalpa worms are better used after dark because of this and you can bet the hook will be clean the next morning. My favorite baits were crawfish and " puppy dawgs". "Puppy dawgs" are spotted salamanders indigenous to our area. They are found in the woods under old rotting logs and large tree limbs. It took some effort to find enough of them to bait the hooks for several nights, but it was fun finding them and well worth the effort.
Now with hooks and bait, I'd head over to the creek. Poles could usually be cut along the creek banks unless the hooks were to be set down one of the many cow pastures that existed in those days. Small hardwood saplings were good because they were sturdy and you could usually leave a small fork on the top end which made fastening the line easier. Cane poles were also good, but, required a little more care to fasten the lines so that they wouldn't slip off the end.
To set the pole I would try to select a spot on the bank that would be easy to reach in the dark, then I would stick the butt end of the pole in the bank, pushing down on the pole so that when the ground raised it back a little, the hook would be suspended slightly off the bottom. Depth of the creek didn't matter. If the hole took all the line, so be it, or if the creek was shallow in a spot, just wrap the line around the end of the pole till it reached the desired depth.
Along about dark, we'd all gather up and head to the creek. Most brought a light, a quilt or sleeping bag to sit on, and something to eat and drink. The first thing to do was clean off a spot and build a small fire. Wieners or smoked sausage links roasted over an open fire were some of the best tasting things in the world! Sometimes we'd make a stew, sometimes we'd just snack on cookies or cakes, whatever we could round up to bring. It was all good and we all shared what we had. We joked about each other's performance in the last ballgame, our parents and friends, and our lives in general. We carried on serious conversations about the Vietnam war and especially the draft. We talked of our dreams and ambitions, all the while making jokes and wisecracks. You learn a lot about your friends sitting around a camp fire where nothing inhibits your thoughts and words. Secrets were unveiled and lifelong friendships were formed.
After we ate, when it had become good dark, we'd run the lines. Generally on the first night we'd catch a lot oh mud cat and eel. They are good eating but the prize catch was channel cat, the big boys of the creek. You could tell by the way the pole acted whether you had a good fish or a small one. If the pole was bouncing or just slapping the water...mud cat or eel. If the pole was being pulled under or pulled down and hung up, you knew you had a good fish...channel cat or maybe a blue, flat head, or spotted cat. We'd take turns at each hook, giving everyone a chance to catch something. We'd run the lines four or five times between dark and about midnight, then we'd gather up our stuff, take care to kill the fire, and then walk out, usually with a good mess of fish. Sometimes we caught nothing at all! It didn't matter, we were young and strong, full of hope and ambition, and on the verge of being completely on our own.
If you can read between the lines, setting the hooks was a viable reason for us to get out from under our parents for a while. Jimmy, Bobby, Festus, Lip, Chub, Joe, Chunk, Wesley, Bob and Rocky (brothers), and Moose are some of the guys whose company I enjoyed on these fishing trips. Some were drafted and went to Vietnam. Joe gave his life there. Others chose the military as a career, some made accountants, some farmers, some business men, and a couple made school teachers. Those of us who are left are older now. We don't see each other as often, but, we'll always remember the good times we had "settin" out those hooks!
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Could it be true?
In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the polio virus affected many children in the United States and the rest of the world. In the 1950's, a man named Jonas Salk developed a vaccine to be delivered by mouth on a sugar cube. It was promised that the dreaded polio virus could be eradicated. Could it be true?
During the Cold War of the late 1950's and through the 1960's, the U.S. and the Soviet Union entered a competition for space dominance. It seemed that the Soviets were always a half step ahead until in 1961, President John Kennedy vowed that the United States would put a man on the moon by the end of that decade. Could it be true?
By 1880 the population of the United States had grown so large that it took seven years to conduct a census. The government needed a faster way, so, work began on a marvelous number crunching machine that could sort and assemble names and numbers in much less time. The early machines used punch cards and filled large rooms with equipment, but, the census was taken in three years rather than seven. It was said that someday we would all be able to have these machines in our homes, carry them with us, even wear them on our wrists like a watch. Could this be true?
In 1972 Home Box Office (HBO) took advantage of the developing technology and launched its network. The service offered current and past movies directly in the home. The business was formed on the premise that people would pay a fee for the service. Pay good money to watch TV when free TV existed for all? Could it be true?
Some two thousand plus years ago, a man called Jesus preached that He would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. He told His followers that he would be tortured and killed for their sake and for all humanity. He also told them that on the third day after his death, He would rise from the grave. Based on proven historical record, we know Jesus lived and was put to death by crucifixion. We have the eye witness testimony of reputable men and women of that day that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. They also testify of seeing and touching His body in the days and months that followed. Jesus also promised that one day He will return and all of us who believe will meet Him in the air, the dead in Christ shall rise first, then those of us who remain. Could it be true?
I hope you have a very fine and happy Easter. As for me, I believe that He lives and will come back someday. If you think about it, it's not a whole lot more incredulous belief than the things mentioned earlier in the post that have come to pass as predicted. So, could it be true?...I believe it could!
During the Cold War of the late 1950's and through the 1960's, the U.S. and the Soviet Union entered a competition for space dominance. It seemed that the Soviets were always a half step ahead until in 1961, President John Kennedy vowed that the United States would put a man on the moon by the end of that decade. Could it be true?
By 1880 the population of the United States had grown so large that it took seven years to conduct a census. The government needed a faster way, so, work began on a marvelous number crunching machine that could sort and assemble names and numbers in much less time. The early machines used punch cards and filled large rooms with equipment, but, the census was taken in three years rather than seven. It was said that someday we would all be able to have these machines in our homes, carry them with us, even wear them on our wrists like a watch. Could this be true?
In 1972 Home Box Office (HBO) took advantage of the developing technology and launched its network. The service offered current and past movies directly in the home. The business was formed on the premise that people would pay a fee for the service. Pay good money to watch TV when free TV existed for all? Could it be true?
Some two thousand plus years ago, a man called Jesus preached that He would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. He told His followers that he would be tortured and killed for their sake and for all humanity. He also told them that on the third day after his death, He would rise from the grave. Based on proven historical record, we know Jesus lived and was put to death by crucifixion. We have the eye witness testimony of reputable men and women of that day that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. They also testify of seeing and touching His body in the days and months that followed. Jesus also promised that one day He will return and all of us who believe will meet Him in the air, the dead in Christ shall rise first, then those of us who remain. Could it be true?
I hope you have a very fine and happy Easter. As for me, I believe that He lives and will come back someday. If you think about it, it's not a whole lot more incredulous belief than the things mentioned earlier in the post that have come to pass as predicted. So, could it be true?...I believe it could!
Thursday, March 5, 2015
She's a'comin down!
Stoically she stands in our rural community. Beulah church was established in 1850, and, the original building was constructed prior to the Civil War somewhere around 1855. Some modifications and modernizations have taken place over the years, but, the original foundation blocks and timbers are still in place under the old sanctuary.
Many of us who still live here grew up in the church. As a child, the building was a wood frame structure with an auditorium filled with old wooden pews. Connected to the back were two stories of Sunday school rooms. There was no air conditioning. In the heat of the summer, two giant fans located on the front walls of the church pulled air through the structure. Gas heaters kept us warm in the winter. It didn't matter. People came to hear the Word preached by men of God who were willing and able to be heard over the noise of the fans and in the still of the winter.
There was no baptistry in the church. Baptisms were held in local ponds and creeks, or, in a bigger church located in an area town. There was something special about these events, and they are ingrained in our memories forever.
Every summer the church hosted a Vacation Bible School. In my youth, there were only two structures on the campus-- the church building and the parsonage. Between the two buildings there were some oak trees, some of which were close enough together that someone had nailed boards to them, making rudimentary tables. These became "refreshment" tables during Bible School, loaded with kool-aid and cookies for the children who attended. During these sessions, we learned Bible verses and stories, we crafted things out of popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners that made us so proud, we learned the pledges of allegiance to the U.S. flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible, we learned the four notes on the piano that signified standing or sitting (I still hear them in my mind!), and we learned that the fabric of our lives is the Christian love that binds us all together. I am ever thankful for the Christian example given to me by the men and women of my community who guided us and loved us during these Bible School sessions. I will never forget them.
The church has hosted countless weddings, revival services, and fellowship meals through her history. Many of us that still attend were married at the old altar. Strains of "Revive Us Again" ring in my mind every time I hear the word "revival". Country cooking is the rule at all fellowship meals and I guarantee that the ladies ( and men) of the church can flat out cook! Great food and fellowship abounds every time.
March 8, 2015 is the date of the last services held in the old building. Then, as the old country boy says--"She's a'comin down"! The membership has voted to tear the old building down and rebuild on the same site. A modern structure that will be larger and more energy efficient will replace the old building. Although we are sad to see the old church torn down, we are also anxious to see it reborn in the form of a structure that should last for generations to come. The building that houses Beulah church will look much different, but the church--brothers and sisters in Christ, remain strong and dedicated to follow His will.
Many of us who still live here grew up in the church. As a child, the building was a wood frame structure with an auditorium filled with old wooden pews. Connected to the back were two stories of Sunday school rooms. There was no air conditioning. In the heat of the summer, two giant fans located on the front walls of the church pulled air through the structure. Gas heaters kept us warm in the winter. It didn't matter. People came to hear the Word preached by men of God who were willing and able to be heard over the noise of the fans and in the still of the winter.
There was no baptistry in the church. Baptisms were held in local ponds and creeks, or, in a bigger church located in an area town. There was something special about these events, and they are ingrained in our memories forever.
Every summer the church hosted a Vacation Bible School. In my youth, there were only two structures on the campus-- the church building and the parsonage. Between the two buildings there were some oak trees, some of which were close enough together that someone had nailed boards to them, making rudimentary tables. These became "refreshment" tables during Bible School, loaded with kool-aid and cookies for the children who attended. During these sessions, we learned Bible verses and stories, we crafted things out of popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners that made us so proud, we learned the pledges of allegiance to the U.S. flag, the Christian flag, and the Bible, we learned the four notes on the piano that signified standing or sitting (I still hear them in my mind!), and we learned that the fabric of our lives is the Christian love that binds us all together. I am ever thankful for the Christian example given to me by the men and women of my community who guided us and loved us during these Bible School sessions. I will never forget them.
The church has hosted countless weddings, revival services, and fellowship meals through her history. Many of us that still attend were married at the old altar. Strains of "Revive Us Again" ring in my mind every time I hear the word "revival". Country cooking is the rule at all fellowship meals and I guarantee that the ladies ( and men) of the church can flat out cook! Great food and fellowship abounds every time.
March 8, 2015 is the date of the last services held in the old building. Then, as the old country boy says--"She's a'comin down"! The membership has voted to tear the old building down and rebuild on the same site. A modern structure that will be larger and more energy efficient will replace the old building. Although we are sad to see the old church torn down, we are also anxious to see it reborn in the form of a structure that should last for generations to come. The building that houses Beulah church will look much different, but the church--brothers and sisters in Christ, remain strong and dedicated to follow His will.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
It is what it is
We couldn't put a finger on it. Something wasn't quite right with our grandson. He was born five weeks early but healthy. He did have a bad case of jaundice, but, so do many babies, and there is seldom any lasting effect. Having raised four children of our own and from our careers as public school teachers, my wife and I had been exposed to all sorts of behavioral, social, and mental disorders in children, and as we held him in our arms we just knew. His eyes never became fixed on anything, especially us! He didn't gurgle and coo as most babies do, nor did he often cry.
As he began to sit on his own and crawl, it seemed that he was oblivious to anything around him except for the one thing his little mind was focused on. Perhaps he could not hear? Tests showed his hearing was fine. "Oh well, he's just taking his time about talking." we thought. Finally he began to speak, well, sort of..he still would not respond if you called his name. It seemed that he just ignored your presence. You could put your hand on him and he would push it away, as if he didn't wish to be bothered. After a while he might get up and come give you a hug...just "out of the blue".
It became apparent early on that he was very smart. He taught himself to read by watching children's educational television shows. He absorbed information like a sponge absorbs water. He might suddenly walk up say something incredibly technical about some topic he had read or heard on TV. He became fascinated with Thomas the Train and could name every engine. Later on, Angry Bird and action figures took precedent. Again, he could name each one and even began to write his own stories about them, including crude illustrations. Still, it was very apparent that he would rather play alone, rather than with someone. Social interaction escapes him. He takes everything said to him literally. Picking at him is impossible.
Suddenly, we realized that he had always been aware when we spoke to him. He just had the ability to stay focused on whatever he was doing and hear every word said to him at the same time. It just never occurred to him to acknowledge our presence and our attempts to interact with him. He doesn't like loud noises or music. If you whistle or sing around him, he will say "Stop!". There was no doubt he was a bit different.
We all worried about him starting school. With our public school background, we understood how the system could help a child through various programs, but, at the time we still were not sure what or if anything was wrong. We had no objection when my daughter placed him in a small private academy. Kindergarten year went by with some problems. Soon after beginning his first grade year, he began to get in trouble because of "unusual " behaviors in the classroom. He acted as he did at home. His teacher could get little or no response from him. He would get up out of his seat and walk around, play alone on the playground, and just seem bored and uninterested in anything to do with school. Things began to mount, then one morning just prior to the Thanksgiving holidays of his second grade year, the principal of the school met my daughter at her car as she was about to drop him off. He informed her that the school board had met and decided that my grandson was such a problem that he could no longer attend school there. This devastated her. The next week she enrolled him in the public school...the best thing that could have happened to him.
My wife and the special education director had worked together and were great friends, so, she called her and informed her of our grandson's unusual characteristics. This gracious lady put her at ease telling her not to worry, they would figure out how to best serve him. Soon after enrollment, he was tested and the results pointed toward a condition called Asperger's Syndrome. On the other hand, they also indicated that he was a gifted child! Finally...we had a direction. Appointments with psychologists confirmed that we had a child with Asperger's.
Now it all made sense. After studying about his condition, we realized that he did in fact love us all, he was not purposely ignoring us, he heard everything that was said to him, and he was super smart! We now know that Asperger's children must be taught social skills. Making eye contact is very difficult for them...again this has to be taught. Socially they may come across as arrogant, obnoxious, even disrespectful. They find any sort of change in routine or surrounding unsettling and it may cause them to become very agitated. An outburst may occur if a chair is out of place or something new replaces something worn out.
It is what it is. Our grandson is a great kid and we love him dearly. He will have Asperger's Syndrome all his life. He is now in fourth grade and doing well. He still has trouble with some things, but he is much better in general and we pray that he will grow into a happy and productive adult able to accomplish whatever he desires. God bless all children with Asperger's and their families!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Did You Hear?
It's come and gone again! Christmas for us is a lot different than it used to be. Our titles have changed from "Mama" and "Daddy" to "Nana" and "Papaw" and we are reconciled to the fact that we are no longer the integral part of our children's lives that we once were. They still call on us occasionally for this or that, we still see them once in a while, they still like Nana's cooking and always take the left overs home with them, and we know they still love us even though they really don't have time to be with us much.
I must admit that being a grandparent has a few perks. You can pick up grand kids most any time, keep them till they wear you out, then take them home to their parents! If some are far away, travel opportunities abound! They often confide in you things that they might not want to share with others..the list goes on.
I do not begrudge my children's status as joy bringers to my grandchildren. It is their rightful place just as it was ours with them, but one never forgets the wide-eyed excitement in the eyes of his children, the fun of picking their brains to determine what they wanted Santa to bring, the family dinners at various relatives' houses, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and just the general noise a big family makes when all are in the same house. We miss all of this terribly.
There is a saying that "What goes around comes around!". As it was when we first married, we had a quiet Christmas eve, not silent mind you, just quiet compared to years past when the house was filled with the sounds made by small children in anticipation of the big event on Christmas morning. Mama and Daddy (now Nana and Papaw) were just as excited for the pleasure of seeing the focus of their love, their children, happy, healthy, and thriving because of their effort to provide for them...the wonder of it all given by God Himself!!
Yes, it is now a quiet holiday season for us, but it will never be silent. The love of family resounds throughout the heavens and earth whether we are gathered together or separated far apart. We love our family...hear it loud and clear!
Happy New Year from the Old Coach's bunch....well...'bout half of 'em anyway!
I must admit that being a grandparent has a few perks. You can pick up grand kids most any time, keep them till they wear you out, then take them home to their parents! If some are far away, travel opportunities abound! They often confide in you things that they might not want to share with others..the list goes on.
I do not begrudge my children's status as joy bringers to my grandchildren. It is their rightful place just as it was ours with them, but one never forgets the wide-eyed excitement in the eyes of his children, the fun of picking their brains to determine what they wanted Santa to bring, the family dinners at various relatives' houses, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and just the general noise a big family makes when all are in the same house. We miss all of this terribly.
There is a saying that "What goes around comes around!". As it was when we first married, we had a quiet Christmas eve, not silent mind you, just quiet compared to years past when the house was filled with the sounds made by small children in anticipation of the big event on Christmas morning. Mama and Daddy (now Nana and Papaw) were just as excited for the pleasure of seeing the focus of their love, their children, happy, healthy, and thriving because of their effort to provide for them...the wonder of it all given by God Himself!!
Yes, it is now a quiet holiday season for us, but it will never be silent. The love of family resounds throughout the heavens and earth whether we are gathered together or separated far apart. We love our family...hear it loud and clear!
Happy New Year from the Old Coach's bunch....well...'bout half of 'em anyway!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
The One that Haunts Me
Two very good high school teams had made it to the South State Championship game that year. We were fortunate to be one of them. That particular group of young men were exceptional in that along with being talented, they were also very coachable. We were downright undersized by today's standards, but every one of those kids had worked very hard in the weight room and had made themselves strong. I remember in one playoff game, we were taunted during warmups by the opposing team as being a " junior high" team because they were so much bigger than we were. Well..they WERE bigger, but, they found out that they weren't stronger! We whipped them that night on their own field...made them cry! This was the team we had that year, not overly talented in any area particularly, but, solid in all areas....enough so that we believed we could be state champions.
The team we faced that night was no different...we were outsized again, and this team had some very talented players. As a coaching staff, we had decided early on that we would not be out coached, and the plan we had for this game was the absolute best we could do. The guys executed it very well and with little time left in the game we were leading 7-0, but facing a punting situation. The ball was punted and rolled dead deep in our opponents territory.
Sometimes in spite of having the correct defense, an athlete can simply out maneuver the defenders and this happened late in this game. Somehow one of their athletes got loose and ran the ball through our defenders from around his own 20 yard line to inside our own 10 yard line. With time running out and a couple of plays later, they scored to make the score 7-6.
There may have been a few seconds left on the clock or maybe time had run out, either way, the extra point would be the play of the game, and, it is the one play that haunts me to this day. I don't know if the opposing coach knew how exhausted both teams were or if he had no confidence in his kicker, or what else went through his mind, but, he elected for a 2-point conversion. Once they lined up for the play we called time out to set our defense. From my vantage point on top of the press box, I relayed the formation and suggested that it would probably be a running play. Our defensive coach adjusted his 5-3 allinement, moving the linebackers up close and having the linemen close every gap inside.The plan was to make the ball carrier bounce to the outside where we had the advantage with speed and quickness. When the play was set, they lined up in a pro I formation with a slot to the left. They snapped the ball and ran a fullback lead toward right tackle....exactly what we expected. Our linemen did their job closing the guard and tackle gaps and our end took on and stuffed the fullback forcing the tailback to bounce outside. Our outside linebacker had read the flow perfectly and was able to square the ball carrier up...looked like game over! I don't know if what happened next was planned or just an act of desperation, but, the ball carrier while in the process of being driven back and tackled was able to twist so that his back was to the tackler allowing him to hoist the ball over his head and toward the end zone. There was a mad scramble of course and one of their linemen came up with the ball. The officials did not call the illegal forward pass nor incomplete forward pass, nor lineman down field....they let the play stand! I was flabbergasted as was everyone in the stadium who had eyes to see.
That one no-call cost us not only the South State championship, but probably the State Championship as well because the team that got by us dominated the north team the following week. We protested the call as much as we could, even sending film to the state association for review, but, to no avail.
A lot of things happened during my career as a player and coach, both good and not so good, but this is the one play that makes me feel disgusted every time I think of it. Those kids deserved to win, they played their hearts out!
The team we faced that night was no different...we were outsized again, and this team had some very talented players. As a coaching staff, we had decided early on that we would not be out coached, and the plan we had for this game was the absolute best we could do. The guys executed it very well and with little time left in the game we were leading 7-0, but facing a punting situation. The ball was punted and rolled dead deep in our opponents territory.
Sometimes in spite of having the correct defense, an athlete can simply out maneuver the defenders and this happened late in this game. Somehow one of their athletes got loose and ran the ball through our defenders from around his own 20 yard line to inside our own 10 yard line. With time running out and a couple of plays later, they scored to make the score 7-6.
There may have been a few seconds left on the clock or maybe time had run out, either way, the extra point would be the play of the game, and, it is the one play that haunts me to this day. I don't know if the opposing coach knew how exhausted both teams were or if he had no confidence in his kicker, or what else went through his mind, but, he elected for a 2-point conversion. Once they lined up for the play we called time out to set our defense. From my vantage point on top of the press box, I relayed the formation and suggested that it would probably be a running play. Our defensive coach adjusted his 5-3 allinement, moving the linebackers up close and having the linemen close every gap inside.The plan was to make the ball carrier bounce to the outside where we had the advantage with speed and quickness. When the play was set, they lined up in a pro I formation with a slot to the left. They snapped the ball and ran a fullback lead toward right tackle....exactly what we expected. Our linemen did their job closing the guard and tackle gaps and our end took on and stuffed the fullback forcing the tailback to bounce outside. Our outside linebacker had read the flow perfectly and was able to square the ball carrier up...looked like game over! I don't know if what happened next was planned or just an act of desperation, but, the ball carrier while in the process of being driven back and tackled was able to twist so that his back was to the tackler allowing him to hoist the ball over his head and toward the end zone. There was a mad scramble of course and one of their linemen came up with the ball. The officials did not call the illegal forward pass nor incomplete forward pass, nor lineman down field....they let the play stand! I was flabbergasted as was everyone in the stadium who had eyes to see.
That one no-call cost us not only the South State championship, but probably the State Championship as well because the team that got by us dominated the north team the following week. We protested the call as much as we could, even sending film to the state association for review, but, to no avail.
A lot of things happened during my career as a player and coach, both good and not so good, but this is the one play that makes me feel disgusted every time I think of it. Those kids deserved to win, they played their hearts out!
Monday, December 1, 2014
Approximately $4.50...
I have found that in today's market, the human body is worth approximately $4.50. That's a pitiful amount, barely enough to buy a Big Mac, a couple of gallons of gas, maybe a gallon of milk. Is this all we're worth? I suppose if a person wanted to sell each organ individually he could get much more, but, not a very practical option for obvious reasons. There are people who have accumulated a lot of wealth and we say that they are "worth" whatever the total of that wealth might be, but, truthfully our bodies are all worth approximately that same, almost nothing, $4.50.
Of course, the value or worth of our bodies to each of us is priceless. There are some lines of thought, even by Christians, that project that in eternity we will not need our bodies. Some believe that we will be spirit entities not housed in flesh and bone. The Scriptures teach us differently. The resurrection of the dead does not involve the soul really, it is the reformation of the body! Not only is our body important to us, it is very important to others as well. When a person that we love dies, we do not mourn the soul for the Scriptures tell us in II Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We mourn the absence of the body before our eyes. We can no longer see, touch, or hear the body of the person we loved, therefore, we grieve the loss of it.
There can be no doubt of the value and importance of the body to God. We were wonderfully and fearfully made by Him. The evidence is clear beginning with Enoch. Genesis 5:24 states "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.". God took Enoch body and all...He didn't leave the body and take only Enoch's soul. So it was with Elijah...2 Kings 2:11, "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.". Lazarus was reunited with his body when Jesus called him from the grave. What do the Scriptures tell us when Jesus was crucified?... "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.", Matthew 27:52. Jesus himself appeared after the resurrection to the disciples in His body, inviting Thomas to touch Him to dissuade his doubt. In Jude 1:9 we see the angel Michael confronting the devil over the body of Moses. As the jewel of His creation, God places great value on a person's body.
It may be asked, "Will a person whose body is in the grave have a body until the final resurrection of the dead?"....well...Moses appeared in bodily form on the Mount of Transfiguration. We don't know what type of body it was, but, it was certainly recognizable to Peter, James, and John as they witnessed the event (Matthew 17). I think we will have some type of body during that time, fit enough to house our spirit until that great day of resurrection of the dead, and then, the actual bodies we inhabited here on earth will be resurrected and changed in a way that would suit them to spend eternity with God in Heaven.
It may be true that the value of the trace elements and skin that make up our bodies are worth a measly $4.50, but, in essence it is our most valuable possession. For Christians, the resurrection of the body is the basis of our hope and faith and as we approach the Christmas season, let us not forget that Jesus sacrificed His body on the cross for each of us that we might receive the greatest gift of all....Merry Christmas!
Of course, the value or worth of our bodies to each of us is priceless. There are some lines of thought, even by Christians, that project that in eternity we will not need our bodies. Some believe that we will be spirit entities not housed in flesh and bone. The Scriptures teach us differently. The resurrection of the dead does not involve the soul really, it is the reformation of the body! Not only is our body important to us, it is very important to others as well. When a person that we love dies, we do not mourn the soul for the Scriptures tell us in II Corinthians 5:8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We mourn the absence of the body before our eyes. We can no longer see, touch, or hear the body of the person we loved, therefore, we grieve the loss of it.
There can be no doubt of the value and importance of the body to God. We were wonderfully and fearfully made by Him. The evidence is clear beginning with Enoch. Genesis 5:24 states "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.". God took Enoch body and all...He didn't leave the body and take only Enoch's soul. So it was with Elijah...2 Kings 2:11, "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.". Lazarus was reunited with his body when Jesus called him from the grave. What do the Scriptures tell us when Jesus was crucified?... "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.", Matthew 27:52. Jesus himself appeared after the resurrection to the disciples in His body, inviting Thomas to touch Him to dissuade his doubt. In Jude 1:9 we see the angel Michael confronting the devil over the body of Moses. As the jewel of His creation, God places great value on a person's body.
It may be asked, "Will a person whose body is in the grave have a body until the final resurrection of the dead?"....well...Moses appeared in bodily form on the Mount of Transfiguration. We don't know what type of body it was, but, it was certainly recognizable to Peter, James, and John as they witnessed the event (Matthew 17). I think we will have some type of body during that time, fit enough to house our spirit until that great day of resurrection of the dead, and then, the actual bodies we inhabited here on earth will be resurrected and changed in a way that would suit them to spend eternity with God in Heaven.
It may be true that the value of the trace elements and skin that make up our bodies are worth a measly $4.50, but, in essence it is our most valuable possession. For Christians, the resurrection of the body is the basis of our hope and faith and as we approach the Christmas season, let us not forget that Jesus sacrificed His body on the cross for each of us that we might receive the greatest gift of all....Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Thanksgiving ....my way of thinking!
It's the season to be thankful and I certainly am. This great country, family and friends, good health, and the good food are primary reasons to be thankful for most people, but along with these, I present the following things for which I am very thankful.
1) I am thankful that I live out in the sticks. I can often see deer or turkey out back of my house along with a group of resident squirrels that enjoy the hickory nut trees on the edge of the woods. In the springtime the smell of honeysuckle permeates the air with a fragrance like no other, and in the heat of the summer I enjoy working a garden and sitting on the porch late in the evening with my wife ( mostly listening to her account of the day). Hunting or fishing provides for much entertainment year round, so, I'll take the country living anytime.
2) At my age I am thankful that I still have teeth!...well most of them anyway. I have lost two or three over the years, each damaged playing football in my youth which contributed to their demise. Yesterday I chomped down on a bite of hamburger steak with a bone shaving in it and broke another of my enameled jewels...looks like it will have to go as well. I hate it, but, at least so far it doesn't hurt and I still have plenty left!
3) I am thankful for expressions of the south. Southerners say things to each other that only they can understand. Here are a few examples:
"Bless ye heart!".....an expression of sympathy, love, consideration, exclamation at circumstance
"Happy as": a) a pig in the sunshine, b) a duck in the water, c) a baby "knawin" on his first chicken
bone ( and many more).....blissfulness
"Like a mule staring at a new gate"....confusion, caution, hesitation
"A long row to hoe".... A difficult task...time consuming task..etc.
" treated like a red headed step child"... being ignored or put aside
"crazy like a fox"....presenting oneself dumber than he really is
" he's got rabbits in that briar patch"..... He needs a hair cut
" hotter than a $2 pistol.....reference to a pretty woman; reference to a sports team on a winning
streak or an individual player performing at a high level
"even a blind hog will find an acorn once in a while"....encouragement to persevere
"Old as Methusala".... Description of an elderly person
There are many, many more!
4) I am thankful for SEC football. This season has provided some great games and I really believe it's
the best conference in America. Certainly the conference winner and possibly a couple more
should play for the national championship this year...trouble is, by the end of the season all the
SEC teams are so beat up from playing each other, it might be difficult to beat a healthy Florida
State or Oregon team who has played a much lighter schedule!
5) I am thankful for the smells of the holidays and the sound of children playing. The aromas of the different foods cooking and the anticipation of the mouthwatering goodness along with the squeals of laughter coming from children having a good time provide a sense of contentment like none other!
6) I am thankful that I still sleep through the night. I seldom have to get up during the night and I wake up feeling rested and ready to meet the day.
7) I am thankful for new underwear...silly I guess, but true nonetheless! It didn't use to matter much as I was younger but now it's a wonderful feeling to put on a new pair of underwear that fits like it's supposed to fit...feels mighty good!
8) I am thankful for gas logs...a wonderful invention! I know how hard it is to heat a big house with firewood in open fireplaces or inserted wood heaters, and I know how expensive it is to run central heat. With one turn of a knob, I have instant heat, something you can back up to, the unit is thermostatically controlled, and the propane is affordable....a marvelous thing!
9) I am thankful for veterans. These men and women deserve the utmost admiration. My Dad and Uncles along with many others in our area served in World War II and Korea, many my age went to Vietnam, I have a son in law who has been to Afghanistan twice. Their valiant and heroic service has allowed me to live a most blessed life and I am very thankful for what they have done for me. God bless every one of them.
10) I am thankful for love...the love of God who sent His own Son to offer us eternal life, the love of Jesus who offered Himself a living sacrifice for us all, the love of the Holy Spirit who remains within us today to guide us through life, the love of my wife and children and their families...my legacy if you will...that comforts and sustains me, and the love of my Christian brothers and sisters who support and encourage me.
These are just ten things that I am thankful for. Some may seem odd to the reader, and I suppose they are, but, to a man like me, based on my life and experiences, they are truly reasons to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
1) I am thankful that I live out in the sticks. I can often see deer or turkey out back of my house along with a group of resident squirrels that enjoy the hickory nut trees on the edge of the woods. In the springtime the smell of honeysuckle permeates the air with a fragrance like no other, and in the heat of the summer I enjoy working a garden and sitting on the porch late in the evening with my wife ( mostly listening to her account of the day). Hunting or fishing provides for much entertainment year round, so, I'll take the country living anytime.
2) At my age I am thankful that I still have teeth!...well most of them anyway. I have lost two or three over the years, each damaged playing football in my youth which contributed to their demise. Yesterday I chomped down on a bite of hamburger steak with a bone shaving in it and broke another of my enameled jewels...looks like it will have to go as well. I hate it, but, at least so far it doesn't hurt and I still have plenty left!
3) I am thankful for expressions of the south. Southerners say things to each other that only they can understand. Here are a few examples:
"Bless ye heart!".....an expression of sympathy, love, consideration, exclamation at circumstance
"Happy as": a) a pig in the sunshine, b) a duck in the water, c) a baby "knawin" on his first chicken
bone ( and many more).....blissfulness
"Like a mule staring at a new gate"....confusion, caution, hesitation
"A long row to hoe".... A difficult task...time consuming task..etc.
" treated like a red headed step child"... being ignored or put aside
"crazy like a fox"....presenting oneself dumber than he really is
" he's got rabbits in that briar patch"..... He needs a hair cut
" hotter than a $2 pistol.....reference to a pretty woman; reference to a sports team on a winning
streak or an individual player performing at a high level
"even a blind hog will find an acorn once in a while"....encouragement to persevere
"Old as Methusala".... Description of an elderly person
There are many, many more!
4) I am thankful for SEC football. This season has provided some great games and I really believe it's
the best conference in America. Certainly the conference winner and possibly a couple more
should play for the national championship this year...trouble is, by the end of the season all the
SEC teams are so beat up from playing each other, it might be difficult to beat a healthy Florida
State or Oregon team who has played a much lighter schedule!
5) I am thankful for the smells of the holidays and the sound of children playing. The aromas of the different foods cooking and the anticipation of the mouthwatering goodness along with the squeals of laughter coming from children having a good time provide a sense of contentment like none other!
6) I am thankful that I still sleep through the night. I seldom have to get up during the night and I wake up feeling rested and ready to meet the day.
7) I am thankful for new underwear...silly I guess, but true nonetheless! It didn't use to matter much as I was younger but now it's a wonderful feeling to put on a new pair of underwear that fits like it's supposed to fit...feels mighty good!
8) I am thankful for gas logs...a wonderful invention! I know how hard it is to heat a big house with firewood in open fireplaces or inserted wood heaters, and I know how expensive it is to run central heat. With one turn of a knob, I have instant heat, something you can back up to, the unit is thermostatically controlled, and the propane is affordable....a marvelous thing!
9) I am thankful for veterans. These men and women deserve the utmost admiration. My Dad and Uncles along with many others in our area served in World War II and Korea, many my age went to Vietnam, I have a son in law who has been to Afghanistan twice. Their valiant and heroic service has allowed me to live a most blessed life and I am very thankful for what they have done for me. God bless every one of them.
10) I am thankful for love...the love of God who sent His own Son to offer us eternal life, the love of Jesus who offered Himself a living sacrifice for us all, the love of the Holy Spirit who remains within us today to guide us through life, the love of my wife and children and their families...my legacy if you will...that comforts and sustains me, and the love of my Christian brothers and sisters who support and encourage me.
These are just ten things that I am thankful for. Some may seem odd to the reader, and I suppose they are, but, to a man like me, based on my life and experiences, they are truly reasons to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
A typical day...Busy, busy, busy!
I am astonished at how much there is to do with my time now that I have retired. I honestly don't know how I got it all done while I was working.....guess I just let a lot of stuff go.(no reference to "Frozen" intended!)
Knowing that I have decent remodeling skills, my wife gently demanded that I rework her kitchen cabinets again. Of course I agreed and after a trip or two to the local building materials store for paints and new cabinet hardware, I was ready to begin. By today's standards, we have a small kitchen, but, that thing is full of cabinets that were hand made when I built my house back in the 70's. There are 24 doors and 9 drawers as well as the facings all coated with a dark wood stain. Over the past two weeks, I have removed, sanded, stain blocked, painted (2 coats), and replaced it all, and I must say...it looks pretty good!
Yesterday, Thinking I was about through and deserving a restful, fiddle around day, I had just settled into my chair when I hear, "We need to replace the contact paper on the shelves...I'm gonna run up to the dollar store and get some...be back in a little." I'm thinking this won't be too bad, just peel and stick..right?
The old paper comes right out, my wife uses it to cut the new paper then peels back about a foot of the slick paper. It's to be my job to hold one end while she " works" the sticky end into place...trouble is, the lower shelf is 4" off the floor! Hands and knees and backsides are the only way to go, so, down we go!
If you've never seen two 60+ year old people flopping around on the floor, well, just wait...you'll probably be there someday. We managed to get the shelf covered and then we looked at each other both thinking the same thing...how in the world are we going to get up? We both unfurl our legs and attempt to rise but we are both tall people and the space in the kitchen floor is tight, so, we knock each other around a little and then I say "time out...one at the time, me first!" I manage to get my knees under me and raise myself up, then I grab her hands and pull her up....flexibility is a fleeting thing for sure!
Today, I was putting the finishing touches on the cabinet doors when my cell phone rings. It is a fellow trustee of our church calling. A new commode was needed in the parsonage and he had it in his truck and he just wondered if I could maybe come down there and put it in. So here I go down to the church already sore as the devil from the previous day shelf paper extravaganza. Truthfully, putting in a new pot is a one-man job and I was the one man. My friend is a great organizer and facilitator, but, not much on actually doing the work...but...I knew this a forehand so, I begin to take out the old pot. Invariably, the nuts on the commode bolts will not come off easily, and I wind up on my knees with my head stuck down under the pot for nearly an hour before they finally come off. I then put the new commode together and set it up quickly ...no leaks!
While all this is taking place, my wife calls from her cousin's house and says " She's bought a new couch and she's giving me her old one and it's just what I've always wanted... Come get it!" I tell her what I'm doing and that I'll be on as soon as I can. I'm thinking " What's wrong with the couch we have? I wonder how heavy it is. What will we do with the one we have? How am I going to move it by myself?". Anyway, I go get the couch, load it in my truck, haul it home, back it up to the front porch steps, wrestle it out onto the porch then through the front door...whew!
Tonight as I write this post, I know tomorrow brings my annual wellness checkup at the doctor's office and probably a stint in Walmart. After that, who knows? In any case, I am very grateful that I am blessed with good health at my age and as happy as a pig in the sunshine to stay... " Busy, busy, busy!
Knowing that I have decent remodeling skills, my wife gently demanded that I rework her kitchen cabinets again. Of course I agreed and after a trip or two to the local building materials store for paints and new cabinet hardware, I was ready to begin. By today's standards, we have a small kitchen, but, that thing is full of cabinets that were hand made when I built my house back in the 70's. There are 24 doors and 9 drawers as well as the facings all coated with a dark wood stain. Over the past two weeks, I have removed, sanded, stain blocked, painted (2 coats), and replaced it all, and I must say...it looks pretty good!
Yesterday, Thinking I was about through and deserving a restful, fiddle around day, I had just settled into my chair when I hear, "We need to replace the contact paper on the shelves...I'm gonna run up to the dollar store and get some...be back in a little." I'm thinking this won't be too bad, just peel and stick..right?
The old paper comes right out, my wife uses it to cut the new paper then peels back about a foot of the slick paper. It's to be my job to hold one end while she " works" the sticky end into place...trouble is, the lower shelf is 4" off the floor! Hands and knees and backsides are the only way to go, so, down we go!
If you've never seen two 60+ year old people flopping around on the floor, well, just wait...you'll probably be there someday. We managed to get the shelf covered and then we looked at each other both thinking the same thing...how in the world are we going to get up? We both unfurl our legs and attempt to rise but we are both tall people and the space in the kitchen floor is tight, so, we knock each other around a little and then I say "time out...one at the time, me first!" I manage to get my knees under me and raise myself up, then I grab her hands and pull her up....flexibility is a fleeting thing for sure!
Today, I was putting the finishing touches on the cabinet doors when my cell phone rings. It is a fellow trustee of our church calling. A new commode was needed in the parsonage and he had it in his truck and he just wondered if I could maybe come down there and put it in. So here I go down to the church already sore as the devil from the previous day shelf paper extravaganza. Truthfully, putting in a new pot is a one-man job and I was the one man. My friend is a great organizer and facilitator, but, not much on actually doing the work...but...I knew this a forehand so, I begin to take out the old pot. Invariably, the nuts on the commode bolts will not come off easily, and I wind up on my knees with my head stuck down under the pot for nearly an hour before they finally come off. I then put the new commode together and set it up quickly ...no leaks!
While all this is taking place, my wife calls from her cousin's house and says " She's bought a new couch and she's giving me her old one and it's just what I've always wanted... Come get it!" I tell her what I'm doing and that I'll be on as soon as I can. I'm thinking " What's wrong with the couch we have? I wonder how heavy it is. What will we do with the one we have? How am I going to move it by myself?". Anyway, I go get the couch, load it in my truck, haul it home, back it up to the front porch steps, wrestle it out onto the porch then through the front door...whew!
Tonight as I write this post, I know tomorrow brings my annual wellness checkup at the doctor's office and probably a stint in Walmart. After that, who knows? In any case, I am very grateful that I am blessed with good health at my age and as happy as a pig in the sunshine to stay... " Busy, busy, busy!
Friday, October 3, 2014
Smoke on the Bottle
Psalm 119: 83: For I am become like a bottle in the
smoke, yet do I not forget thy statutes.
In David’s day, most people did not have houses as we know them today. The majority lived in small huts or tents, others lived in mud brick structures in towns or small villages. They were poor folk who didn’t have much. For warmth and for cooking, they would simply build a fire somewhere in the room and since there was no fireplace and chimney to hold the fire, the room would soon fill with smoke. They would build their roofs leaving a small opening in the top so that the smoke could escape, so, I suppose the women would light the fire, then leave the room until most of the smoke had a chance to rise and clear a little.
Also, water was not readily available to every household. Most all of them had to walk to a well or stream somewhere to get water, so they would make bottles out of goat skins and bring it back to their homes. The best place of safety for these bottles would be to hang them on a nail inside the house or from the rafters someway. Of course, each day the bottle hung in the house, the rising smoke from the fire began to blacken it, even to make it shrivel above the level of what it contained. David lamented that he was like the bottle in the smoke.
God’s people have their trials and tribulations don’t they? Throughout the Bible we can read about Godly men and women who went through terrible trials and tribulations. Jesus himself tells us in John 16:33...”In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.
What are the sources of the smoke in our lives? Many people will tell you that the main source of trouble in their lives is their job. A wise schoolteacher once sent a note home to the parents on the first day of school that read “If you won’t believe everything your child says happens at school, I won’t believe everything that he says happens at home! Being a retired school teacher, I fully understand the significance of this statement! Things happen on every job and the more salary you command or the more you can advance in the workplace, the more responsibility you have…smoke!
Often trials arise from the things that make us comfortable. Many people want the finest houses and all the modern conveniences of today to the point that they will take on more than they can handle. Think about the fire that warmed those people in their huts. Did it not also smoke the bottle and the warmer they kept the house with a fire, the more the bottle blackened. In today’s world, the more comforts we have, the more responsibility we have to take care of them---smoke!
Most of us have children and they certainly should be a comfort to us as they are one of God’s many blessings, but, they often do things or don’t do things that are against the way we tried to teach them…smoke!
Many people are losing their livelihoods because of economic conditions. It is very troubling when a company dissolves or moves to a place where labor is cheaper. People who have devoted their entire careers to a company are left out in the cold…smoke!
Even the church can be a source of smoke to the Christian. Have you ever come to church thinking that all is well, going good, and then the preacher delivers a convicting sermon that sort of bursts your bubble? Maybe you’ve come to church with a warm heart toward your brothers and sisters and then left with a heart blackened by something that happened during church or by what someone said. Perhaps you try to perform a Christian service for someone with your heart in the right place and the person you tried to help takes it the wrong way or seems unappreciative…smoke!
Personal health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes, caring for an elderly parent, sickness in a family, the death of a loved one, abusive relationships, terrorism, war and many other things are ever present contributors to the smoke in our lives.
A question: Does being saved mean that we should not feel the effects of our trials and tribulations? Think again of the water bottle in the hut. Does it feel the effect of the smoke? Of course it does, it turns black, it shrivels up because of the smoke. It is not a single puff that does it but rather a daily bombardment over a long period of time. So it is with us, we feel the hurt and pains of our trials and tribulations, often, to the point that we think they will get the best of us, and they never seem to let up on us. But realize this, although the smoke aggravates and damages the water bottle, it does not destroy it. It would take the flame of the fire itself to do that and the water bottle is kept safely away from the flame. A Christian will most certainly feel the pain of his smoke throughout his life, but the Holy Spirit within us will keep us away from the fires of this world and they will not consume us unless we let them.
Perhaps we feel as David did, a bottle in the smoke. What then can we do to make it through? David said though he felt like a bottle in the smoke, he would not forget God’s statutes. The smoke could harm the outside of the bottle, but, it had no power over what was on the inside. Could this be our source of strength and comfort in the face of trials and tribulations? Most people think of statutes as laws, the ten commandments, and we will do well to remember them in the face of adversity, but if you think about it, isn’t everything God says a statute? The Bible is God’s word and it is absolutely true, so, shouldn’t we remember His promises also as statutes? This seems to me the only logical way to withstand the smoke in our lives, remember His promise to those of us who believe. Jesus said “Let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3) Jesus is going to return for us. He promised! Well, “when?“ do we say. No man knows the answer to this, so, what are we to do in the mean time? Jesus says “If ye love me, keep my commandments and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever“(John 14:15-16) “ Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) In the mean time, we are to keep Jesus’ commandments, i.e., love God with all our hearts and souls and love each other, the second causing all the other commandments to fall into place. If we do this, Jesus promises another Comforter, the Holy Spirit will reside inside us forever.
Although we all have smoke in our lives from various sources, as believers we all have one thing in common, that steadfast faith that God will not desert us. We must hold tightly to our faith even when we cannot understand why the God that we love allows things to happen to us His children. The promise that Jesus will return for us is our comfort, our strength is the presence of the Comforter-the Holy Spirit-within us, and our peace is the promise that there is a place of rest awaiting those of us who refuse to let the smoke in our lives cause us to forget God‘s statutes. The future seems uncertain but God’s law and his promises will stand forever. If you feel battle scarred and wounded by life’s trials and tribulations, uncertain about the future, or beaten down by circumstances, remember the example of the bottle in the smoke, blackened and wrinkled on the outside but clean and safe on the inside.
God bless us all!
(adapted from a sermon given by C.H. Spurgeon, March 23, 1856)
In David’s day, most people did not have houses as we know them today. The majority lived in small huts or tents, others lived in mud brick structures in towns or small villages. They were poor folk who didn’t have much. For warmth and for cooking, they would simply build a fire somewhere in the room and since there was no fireplace and chimney to hold the fire, the room would soon fill with smoke. They would build their roofs leaving a small opening in the top so that the smoke could escape, so, I suppose the women would light the fire, then leave the room until most of the smoke had a chance to rise and clear a little.
Also, water was not readily available to every household. Most all of them had to walk to a well or stream somewhere to get water, so they would make bottles out of goat skins and bring it back to their homes. The best place of safety for these bottles would be to hang them on a nail inside the house or from the rafters someway. Of course, each day the bottle hung in the house, the rising smoke from the fire began to blacken it, even to make it shrivel above the level of what it contained. David lamented that he was like the bottle in the smoke.
God’s people have their trials and tribulations don’t they? Throughout the Bible we can read about Godly men and women who went through terrible trials and tribulations. Jesus himself tells us in John 16:33...”In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.
What are the sources of the smoke in our lives? Many people will tell you that the main source of trouble in their lives is their job. A wise schoolteacher once sent a note home to the parents on the first day of school that read “If you won’t believe everything your child says happens at school, I won’t believe everything that he says happens at home! Being a retired school teacher, I fully understand the significance of this statement! Things happen on every job and the more salary you command or the more you can advance in the workplace, the more responsibility you have…smoke!
Often trials arise from the things that make us comfortable. Many people want the finest houses and all the modern conveniences of today to the point that they will take on more than they can handle. Think about the fire that warmed those people in their huts. Did it not also smoke the bottle and the warmer they kept the house with a fire, the more the bottle blackened. In today’s world, the more comforts we have, the more responsibility we have to take care of them---smoke!
Most of us have children and they certainly should be a comfort to us as they are one of God’s many blessings, but, they often do things or don’t do things that are against the way we tried to teach them…smoke!
Many people are losing their livelihoods because of economic conditions. It is very troubling when a company dissolves or moves to a place where labor is cheaper. People who have devoted their entire careers to a company are left out in the cold…smoke!
Even the church can be a source of smoke to the Christian. Have you ever come to church thinking that all is well, going good, and then the preacher delivers a convicting sermon that sort of bursts your bubble? Maybe you’ve come to church with a warm heart toward your brothers and sisters and then left with a heart blackened by something that happened during church or by what someone said. Perhaps you try to perform a Christian service for someone with your heart in the right place and the person you tried to help takes it the wrong way or seems unappreciative…smoke!
Personal health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes, caring for an elderly parent, sickness in a family, the death of a loved one, abusive relationships, terrorism, war and many other things are ever present contributors to the smoke in our lives.
A question: Does being saved mean that we should not feel the effects of our trials and tribulations? Think again of the water bottle in the hut. Does it feel the effect of the smoke? Of course it does, it turns black, it shrivels up because of the smoke. It is not a single puff that does it but rather a daily bombardment over a long period of time. So it is with us, we feel the hurt and pains of our trials and tribulations, often, to the point that we think they will get the best of us, and they never seem to let up on us. But realize this, although the smoke aggravates and damages the water bottle, it does not destroy it. It would take the flame of the fire itself to do that and the water bottle is kept safely away from the flame. A Christian will most certainly feel the pain of his smoke throughout his life, but the Holy Spirit within us will keep us away from the fires of this world and they will not consume us unless we let them.
Perhaps we feel as David did, a bottle in the smoke. What then can we do to make it through? David said though he felt like a bottle in the smoke, he would not forget God’s statutes. The smoke could harm the outside of the bottle, but, it had no power over what was on the inside. Could this be our source of strength and comfort in the face of trials and tribulations? Most people think of statutes as laws, the ten commandments, and we will do well to remember them in the face of adversity, but if you think about it, isn’t everything God says a statute? The Bible is God’s word and it is absolutely true, so, shouldn’t we remember His promises also as statutes? This seems to me the only logical way to withstand the smoke in our lives, remember His promise to those of us who believe. Jesus said “Let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3) Jesus is going to return for us. He promised! Well, “when?“ do we say. No man knows the answer to this, so, what are we to do in the mean time? Jesus says “If ye love me, keep my commandments and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever“(John 14:15-16) “ Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) In the mean time, we are to keep Jesus’ commandments, i.e., love God with all our hearts and souls and love each other, the second causing all the other commandments to fall into place. If we do this, Jesus promises another Comforter, the Holy Spirit will reside inside us forever.
Although we all have smoke in our lives from various sources, as believers we all have one thing in common, that steadfast faith that God will not desert us. We must hold tightly to our faith even when we cannot understand why the God that we love allows things to happen to us His children. The promise that Jesus will return for us is our comfort, our strength is the presence of the Comforter-the Holy Spirit-within us, and our peace is the promise that there is a place of rest awaiting those of us who refuse to let the smoke in our lives cause us to forget God‘s statutes. The future seems uncertain but God’s law and his promises will stand forever. If you feel battle scarred and wounded by life’s trials and tribulations, uncertain about the future, or beaten down by circumstances, remember the example of the bottle in the smoke, blackened and wrinkled on the outside but clean and safe on the inside.
God bless us all!
(adapted from a sermon given by C.H. Spurgeon, March 23, 1856)
Monday, September 29, 2014
"Aww, it don't matter."
"What do you want for supper?" she asked. "Aww..it don't matter." I said. Dang! All I meant was that I loved her and..I appreciated the fact that she was willing to cook for me and...I was trying to let her know that I would eat anything she wanted to fix and..she didn't have to go to a lot of trouble. It didn't go over with her that way...."Just tell me what you want and I'll fix it!", she exclaims and so, I start making suggestions.
I must admit that first thoughts in response to the question were steak and potatoes, or fish and hush puppies, with pies or cakes and ice cream and such...but..in reality I know better. I like plain food........ham sandwiches....butter beans, peas, cornbread, biscuits, potatoes, greens, or anything out of the freezer..and she can make any of it taste really good.
I have found that "It don't matter" is not a good response for other questions as well. "Do you like this outfit or this one?" Best not answer "It don't matter."... even though you mean " you look good in either one.", she reads that answer as you don't like me in either. "Do you want to go out or stay at home?" ....to her "It don't matter." automatically means stay at home. You get the idea.
Communication in any relationship is very important and sometimes it requires reading between the lines. Most men like me are not well schooled in this ability. We make our remarks without thinking about feelings. This often gets us into trouble!
I guess it's just a gender thing mostly. When menfolk say "it don't matter", it usually doesn't and they are giving the lady the choice. Women read it differently apparently. Make the choice ladies! We're just happy as a baby gnawing on his first chicken bone that you put up with us, so...what do I want for supper?........"Aww....it don't matter!".
I must admit that first thoughts in response to the question were steak and potatoes, or fish and hush puppies, with pies or cakes and ice cream and such...but..in reality I know better. I like plain food........ham sandwiches....butter beans, peas, cornbread, biscuits, potatoes, greens, or anything out of the freezer..and she can make any of it taste really good.
I have found that "It don't matter" is not a good response for other questions as well. "Do you like this outfit or this one?" Best not answer "It don't matter."... even though you mean " you look good in either one.", she reads that answer as you don't like me in either. "Do you want to go out or stay at home?" ....to her "It don't matter." automatically means stay at home. You get the idea.
Communication in any relationship is very important and sometimes it requires reading between the lines. Most men like me are not well schooled in this ability. We make our remarks without thinking about feelings. This often gets us into trouble!
I guess it's just a gender thing mostly. When menfolk say "it don't matter", it usually doesn't and they are giving the lady the choice. Women read it differently apparently. Make the choice ladies! We're just happy as a baby gnawing on his first chicken bone that you put up with us, so...what do I want for supper?........"Aww....it don't matter!".
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