Star Wars Christmas Eve

I've always considered myself more of a Trekkie than a Star Wars fan. I grew up with the original Star Trek television series. I did revel with my first born son Matthew through the first three Star Wars films with all their action figures and collectible spaceships; but Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Bones have always been foremost in my science fiction space travel fantasies.

My dream has been that "Beam me up, Scotty" would become real technology. My wanderlust has me stepping into our walk-in closet with a suitcase and dialing in the coordinates for Yellowstone National Park on the Transporter Room control panel. A few seconds of shimmer later and...I'm scarily in the middle of a bison herd in Hayden Valley.

But, alas! My imagination drifts me from my topic. Shortly after the first Star Wars movie became a hit, I  found myself parodying those characters into some popular Christmas songs. Some of the agenda for the Shreve Christian School Chorus, of which I was the director, included the following: Up on the Death Star, Chewy the Star Man, A Star Wars Wonderland, The 12 Star Wars Christmases, among others. My favorite, R2 the Bleeping Droid, I present in this blog for your holiday enjoyment. Feel free to sing along...

from robojapan.blogspot.com

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen;
But do you recall the most famous robot of all?
R2 the Bleeping Droid (droid) had a few funny walk (knee, walk)
And if you ever heard him (heard him) you would laugh at how he'd talk (bleep, squawk)

All of the other robots (robots) used to laugh and call him names (like C3PO)

They never let poor R2 (D2) join in any robot games (like Staropoly)

Then one Star Wars Christmas Eve Leia came to say

"R2 with your bleep so bright (bleep) won't you guide Luke's fighter tonight?"

Then how the Rebels loved him (loved him) and they shouted with C3 (PO)

R2 you Bleeping Droid (droid) you'll go down in history (like Ben Kenobi).

from robojapan.blogspot.com

Have yourselves a merry little Christmas Eve; and may your dreams of a white, peaceful Christmas Day tomorrow come true!

Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom

After anxiously obsessing over election results so that I lost sleep last night and remain annoyingly agitated this morning...I decided I needed this blog today.

[Note: This original version of the Serenity Prayer was written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in 1932-1933. It has been used as a major comforter in 12 Step meetings for decades.]

So this one's for me. Perhaps you can glean some peace of mind from it as well.

Serenity is napping with a grandson

GOD, give me grace to accept with SERENITY the things that cannot be changed, COURAGE to change the things which should be changed, and the WISDOM to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time. Enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace. Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that YOU will make all things right, if I surrender to YOUR WILL; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy WITH YOU FOREVER in the next. Amen.

In the Planning

Robert Frost once penned about the road less travelled. It was all about choices. Recently I've joined several Facebook groups concerned with vacations to national parks and other scenic places. These sites get lots of questions from those planning trips. People want to know about those experienced with lodging, eateries, side trips, hikes, and best time of year, etc. They get lots of answers in addition to many fantastic photo posts. Many of these travelers I agree with; some not so much.

Today I read a query submitted by a family planning a trip from an eastern state to some of the parks out west. They had 16 days for the entire trek. Over the years I have planned many such pilgrimages of varying lengths. I took time to share my preferences. In my opinion there are several general ways to form the itinerary for such an occasion. None is right or wrong. They are just what's best for preferences of those going.

The first is to visit as many places of interest going and coming and spend a few days at your main special destination. The second is to get to the favorite spot as quickly as possible and spend as many days there as you can, returning home speedily. Of course an alternative would be to go one way expeditiously and the other way stopping frequently to smell the roses. I have followed all three of those advisory timelines in my planning over the decades. 

My wife and I have managed to see every one of the 50 states and have so far visited about 50 of the 62 national parks including my favorite Yellowstone. I've been there 18 times.

Contemplating the sunset on Kauai

So what gem of wisdom did I offer to the Facebook questioner? I quoted a line from an old pop song Kokomo by the Beach Boys: "Get there fast and then...take it slow." The planning options are many; choices will vary depending upon the traveler's Bucket List. I believe much of the pleasure in any vacation is in the planning!

Stop the Chariot!

 Last Friday Delores and I were privileged to complete a journey that began a year ago but was prematurely interrupted by sickness (no, not Covid related). In October of 2019, we were concluding a long road trip which included Washington, D.C., Cooperstown, NY, and Niagara Falls. Our final stop was the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky. We purchased the combo ticket. After that day at the museum, I was sick. Delores drove us home the next day. Fortunately the ticket would be honored for the next year. After enjoying the Ark Encounter this past week, we didn't head straight home.

Our detour took us to Mitchell, IN, to visit our son Daniel and his family. While there we got to celebrate a birthday and the baptism of a grandson. That Sunday we got to hear an excellent preacher present a dramatic lesson that included the story of the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts 8. It tells of Phillip's conversation with and conversion of this high official as he was returning home from worshiping in Jerusalem. As his chariot was driven leisurely south, the eunuch was reading from Isaiah. Phillip was explaining a passage about Jesus.

The travelers happened upon some water, and the eunuch asked, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” Phillip immediately exclaimed, "Stop the chariot!" [While the sermon was about baptism, this blog is not...so let's move on.) Two thoughts came to my mind as the minister continued his sermon.

The first was how busy we all are especially in a year as crazy as 2020 has been. Even though our lives sometimes move along at a calm pace as with the eunoch reading on his long journey home, there are other days when the tempo approaches frantic. We just need someone to call a timeout and holler "Stop the chariot!"

The second related thought was concerning the most famous chariot driver in the Bible. Jehu was aboard his turbo-charged chariot kicking up a dust cloud in the desert. The evil queen Jezebel's son Joram was king. He spied the speeding chariot and asked his lookout who it was. The man stated, "The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.” (2 Kings 9:20, NIV)  The KJV states that Jehu driveth furiously. Although Jehu needed to stop, let the dust settle, and smell the roses...there really weren't any flowers blooming in proximity. Jehu was in a hurry to squelch the evil of the queen and her son.

photo from padfield.com

The point of this rambling blog is that there are occasions to put the peddle to the metal and rev up your chariot to do God's work. Other times you just need to rest and refresh with the Word. When these latter daze are not so apparent, we can all use a friend or mentor who can step up beside us in our chariots and command, "STOP THE CHARIOT!"

Hummingbirds

For years I have enjoyed sitting in my living room recliner watching God's creation out the front window. Cardinals, blue jays, gold finches, doves, robins, and other birds are frequent visitors to my observatory. Squirrels often appear in addition to the occasional rabbit, ground hog, and fox. Once a large flock of turkeys entered out front yard and journeyed around to leave via the back. At times butterflies have literally taken over the zinnia beds my wife sowed last year. How marvelous are the wonders our God has placed in our world! Mother Nature, you are truly incredible.

A special addition to our viewing pleasure in 2020 has been the hummingbird feeder we installed on an eight-foot pool. It stands proudly a few feet outside the window...right in the middle of the flower bed. It has attracted lots of ants, as many as five wasps at a time, and its namesake, the hummingbird. Until today these generally arrived one at time. Carefully avoiding the insects, they drank their fill from the white feeder cups sometimes perched on one of the eight yellow plastic bars made for that purpose. They can hover with wings a blur or rest for moments at a time. The sugar water must be a really attractive nectar to the hummingbird palate.

Today the story seemed to change. All of a sudden two and then quickly three birds could be seen darting around the feeder. For over an hour we watched as they performed for our pleasure. How to describe them...they flew, frolicked, played, fluttered, capered, cavorted, disported, frisked, gamboled larked, rollicked, romped, sported, bounded, hopped, leaped, loped, skipped, sprang, tripped, tumbled, curvetted, danced, pranced, caroused, reveled, roistered, carried on, fooled around, horsed around, clowned, cut up, joyrode, roughhoused, skylarked, kited, cut capers, kicked up their heels (or wings), dallied, recreated, skylarked, toyed, and generally delighted us with their antics. They could adequately be described as participants in a World War I dogfight among biplanes with out the crashes and bloodshed.

Our 2020 hummingbird feeder!

We only had three. We have seen friends with multiple feeders that attracted many more...seemingly hundreds. Certainly they were too numerous to count as they flittered around mischievously. Thank you, Lord, for your magnificent creation.

Discovery

 Just finished putting the "final" touches on a major road trip plan that is almost nine months away. It involves meeting all our kids and grandkids in Yellowstone National Park in June and thereby celebrating our 50th anniversary. Yellowstone is a great locale for rediscovering the beauty of God's creation and the loving chaos of family.

That trip plan involves three days travel on each end plus reserving a place close to the park big enough to house 19 people for four nights. Success! It's done; but because of Covid uncertainties, everything includes the right to cancel with full refunds up to just a few days out...peace of mind. Those of you who know us well probably remember our anniversary is actually in January; but that isn't the greatest month for road tripping to a place like Yellowstone especially at our age.

With that task completed Delores and I decided to have a one-hour adventure looking for wildlife in Maury County Park and some the meadows around the industrial areas close to our house. We were also spying out places for a small group of church friends to get together for a picnic lunch this Sunday that includes lawn chairs, blankets, and BYOF (bring your own food). Laughter and fellowship sure to be present in large quantities. We've all been cooped up way too long during this pandemic. We're ready to paint the park red.

photo by Einar Storsul
on unsplash.com

The weather is supposed to be sunny with temps in the low to mid 70s hinting about the advent of fall. We "trust" the meteorologists to get it right this time. We were told to expect rain from Sally as she moved inland earlier this week, so we rushed to mow our lawn before that could happen. Alas, the yard is nicely shortened, but there was no precip from Sal.

On our short trip yesterday, we located several beautiful spots on the greenery of Maury County Park that will be perfect for our post-worship meal. Additionally we discovered 18 deer, one ground hog, and lots of squirrels. Fortunately there was not an ant in sight. We are anticipating a great time with friends this Sunday. Isn't discovery a blast!

Anyone who reads this and can find us is welcome to join us. Just remember to come with a spirit of joy, a smile, a chair, and BYOF!

Roads

 We love to road trip. In our 49+ years of marriage, Delores and I have travelled some very rewarding and challenging highways. This Labor Day we added The Dragon (Highway 129 at the Tennessee/North Carolina border - also known as the Tail of the Dragon) to our list of roads conquered. We actually stayed within the 30 mph legal speed limit most of the time. The same couldn't be said for the many supercharged cars and loud motorcycles who apparently took the challenge to drive the 318 curves in 11 miles as fast as mechanically possible. They can claim the title of dragon slayer. We had no such aspiration. This highway is known for its daring drivers and terrifying crashes.

In fulfilling our bucket list item of visiting every state in the USA, we have driven SAFELY on some amazing roads. This blog is about my sharing our favorites.

For scenic beauty a road tripper couldn't beat the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain NP that takes you up to 12,000+ feet. The last time we summited that road we not only saw the awesome vistas but several bull elk resting in the meadows just beyond the highest point.

Going to the Sun Road in Glacier NP is incredibly breathtaking as well. The result at the top is to view the mountain goats and big horn sheep that frequent the area.

The figure 8 road (upper and lower loops) of Yellowstone NP are a favorite. This offers a lot of scenic variety from mountains to flowering meadows and thermal features to waterfalls. Its real claim to fame though is that there could be and often is a very large mammal or group of mammals around the next curve. We have been surprised by bison, elk, moose, black bear, grizzlies, big horn sheet, mountain goats, deer, pronghorns, et al. I have visited this park 18 times and hope to return in 2021. The secret to seeing the wildlife is to get on the road before the sun wakes up and stay there until the sun goes back to sleep. Take plenty of food and water for the day; because, in this time of pandemic, many sources for those staples are closed. It's simply a waste of  critter-spotting time to have to return outside the park between the hours of dawn and dusk.

One of the most challenging roads of my life was the Dalton Highway -- 500 miles from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, AK. The Ice Road Truckers drive this road on ice in the winter. I conquered this road of mud, gravel, pot holes and frost heaves on my 12,800 mile solo road trip from my home in Columbia, Tennessee, in May of 2011.

Those are a few of the more memorable roads of our travels. We have been on parts of Highway 95 on the east coast, Highway 5 on the west coast, and the famous Route 66 across the country. Additionally we have driven the length of Highway 1 to Key West. We hope for more of the same in the years we have remaining to travel.

One road I do not aspire to drive is the infamous Death Road in La Paz, Bolivia. You can Google that for some terrifying images. 

Best of luck as you travel the roads of your life. Be safe in the realization that wildlife along the forests and meadows of Yellowstone can offer as great a danger as the motorcycles you encounter on the curves of the Dragon's Tail. Wherever you drive, take your time and smell the roses along the way.

Photo of The Dragon from carthrottle.com

More than Thunder

 I recall a line from the trailer for the movie Jaws, "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..." Then the ominous theme song would play.

I thought about that early this morning as wave after wave of thunder rolled over my eardrums and through my head; some claps were close enough to rattle the house. It also reminded me of the song More than Thunder recorded by Ken Young and the Hallel Singers in 2005. It is a contemporary Christian song about the awesomeness of our God.

More than Thunder
You calm the storm and walk on water.

You heal the blind and raise the dead from out their slumber.
Some hear the voice of God and say, "It's only thunder!"

But as for me I stand amazed.

You make the bread to feed the hungry.

You turn the water into wine for all the thirsty.

Some go away content and fail to see your glory.

But as for me I stand amazed.

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you!

When eagles soar, I will glorify your name!

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord, may it always be to me more than thunder!

You make the stars shine in the heavens.

You tell the moon to move and stir the mighty oceans.

Some see your wonders and they never sing your praises.

But as for me I stand amazed!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you!

When eagles soar, I will glorify your name!

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord, may it always be to me more than thunder!

Who is like the Lord our God?

Great and wondrous are his ways.

Who is like the Lord our God?

Let all the earth be filled with praise!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you!

When eagles soar, I will glorify your name!

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord, may it always be to me more than thunder!

This morning from about 2-6 a.m., there was lots of thunder at my home; but it wasn't only thunder. Psalm 29: 3 sums it up well: "The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders!" It was the voice of my Creator.

As Zephaniah reminds us: "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." I can imagine it was God's way of delighting in and rejoicing over me...and it sounded a lot like thunder! It was more...a lot more. Certainly it was MORE THAN THUNDER!

The God of Glory Thunders!
[photo: Virginia, 2008]

Love

 One of my favorite musicals from back in the day is Oliver. A highly esteemed song from that movie's soundtrack is Where is Love? The opening lyrics of the first verse ask two questions about where love might perhaps be found: "Does it fall from skies above? Is it underneath the willow tree that I've been dreaming of?" The answers to both queries are a resounding, "NO!"

That reminds me of another popular song, Looking for love in all the wrong places. I imagine there are hundreds of songs that attempt to answer questions about finding love.

A religious song, another favorite of mine, actually gives us an answer to a far question: "What is love?" These lyrics were written by Dottie Rambo in 1969. Ponder these words while you remember the message of I John 4:10: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

If That Isn't Love

1. He left the Splendor of Heaven knowing His destiny

Was the lonely hill of Golgotha there to lay down His life for me.

If that isn't love, the ocean is dry; there's no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can't fly.

If that isn't love, then Heavens a myth; there's no feeling like this, if that isn't love.

2. Even in death He remembered the thief hanging by His side.

He spoke with love and compassion then He took him to Paradise.

If that isn't love, the ocean is dry; there's no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can't fly.

If that isn't love, then Heavens a myth; there's no feeling like this, if that isn't love.

photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on unsplash.com

BOOK of Books

When my Pop Pop Strawbridge (grandpa on my mother's side) passed away in the 1970s, he left me the family Bible. It was a huge Pictorial Family Bible published by C.R. Parish & Co. in 1893 in Philadelphia. Its dimensions are 12.5" x 10" x 5"; it weighs about 16 lbs. It's incredibly ornate and extremely delicate.

Recently I took the opportunity to thumb carefully through its pages. I have owned several study Bibles over the decades, but this BOOK of books has study helps that I'd never imagined. Let me list/describe briefly some of them:

• The entire King James Version and Revised Version of Old and New Testaments in parallel columns.
• Copious (their word) marginal references with chronological tables and many important and valuable aids to the study of the Holy Scriptures written to increase the interest in and simplify the Word of God.
• Table of Contents with a list of the essence and topics of each book.
• Natural History of the Bible containing descriptions and illustrations (drawings and photos in color and black and white) of the animals, birds, insects, and reptiles mentioned (by Rev. A.F. Thompson).
• Botany drawings and photographs of trees, plants, flowers, and fruit of the Bible with descriptions by Rev. William Jones.
• Illustrations and descriptions of ancient money including Greek, Roman, and Hebrew coins mentioned in the Bible with their value in American money.
• Stories of the Old Testament Heroes -- Patriarchs, Prophets, and Kings -- with drawings of scenes and events.
• History of the writing of the books of the Holy Bible.
• Biographical sketches of the translators, reformers, and martyrs written by Rev. Joseph Jenkins.
• History of the Religious Denominations of the World both Ancient and Modern written by Rev. H.D. Northrop.
• Comprehensive and Critical description of the Israelitish Tabernacle and its sacred furniture.
• Complete and Practical Household Dictionary of the Bible comprising its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History by William Smith.
• Captivating Bible Stories for Young People.
• The Only Authentic Self-Pronouncing Dictionary of the Proper Names of the Bible (about 4000).
• Apocryphal Literature including I and II Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Esther (chapters not found in OT), Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirac), Baruch, The Song of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susanna, The History and Destruction of Bel and the Dragon (cut off from the end of Daniel), and I and II Maccabees.
• Sacred Biography and History being an account of the lives, teachings, sufferings, and martyrdoms of the Holy Apostles and Evangelists of Our Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by Rev. John W. Fennimore.
• The Parables of Our Lord illustrated and explained.
• The Hofmann Gallery of original New Testament Illustrations.
• A  Chronological Index to the Holy Bible.
• Four Thousand Questions and Answers on the Old and New Testaments intended to open up the  scriptures for the use of students and Sunday-School Teachers.
• Scripture Difficulties Explained.
• Cruden's Concordance to the Old and New Testaments giving the leading words of all important texts.
• Cruden's Concordance to the Proper Names of the Holy Scriptures.
• Psalms of David in Metre (this one really fascinates me).

We open the Book of books almost every day at our house. We just don't open this special BOOK of books very often because of its fragility.

ornate cover - 1893 Bible

16 lb. BOOK of books

Skills

When it comes to fixing, building, creating, or taking stuff apart and putting it back together...I have no skills. Even more than that, I have no interest or desire to perform or even assist with any of those tasks. Good thing I married a woman with enough curiosity and intelligence to tinker with things in order to determine whether they can be fixed simply or not. She has skills!

Yesterday our push mower bit the dust. I was weedeating out front and my wife was going to start the mowing to be relieved by me later. She came from the backyard to inform me the machine wouldn't start. I just needed to add my male muscle and we would be good...or so I imagined. It had happened that way before. Nothing doing this time. The old self-propelled, mulching mower was door-nail dead.

I returned to finish the weedeating. My wife visited our neighbor to see if we could borrow her push mower. We had already been looking for a replacement mower since our second one had died some months earlier. It was our habit for me to start with the larger, heavier machine our front while my wife began in the back with the lighter grass cutter. We would meet somewhere out back in half the time it took for one of us to cut the yard. We'd been taking turns in the heat this summer ever since the demise of the smaller mower.

After a few minutes my wife accompanied the neighbor on her riding mower to our side yard. She gave me a quick lesson showing me how to use her rider...something I'd avoided doing my entire life...until today. It was a fairly simple new trick for this old dog to learn. It was quick and the yard was mowed in no time. It helped that my wife took the neighbor's push mower to our back part by the creek and mowed that area, so I didn't have quite so much maneuvering to do on the borrowed monstrosity. Once that task was completed, we now had at least a week to shop for a new mower.

Morning dawned. Flashback to the first paragraph of this blog...remember my wife? She has skills! That and her curiosity for tinkering found us in our garage at 8:00 a.m. We brought both mowers from  the storage shed, put down a plastic sheet, got a kneeling pad, and a couple of tools from the kit in the corner of the garage, and she began. She started her tinkering. Some things she tried didn't work; some things seemed to help. Bottom line...The major culprit on each mower may have been its air filter. By the time I returned these mowers to their side-by-side places in the shed, they both were working. The air filters had been cleaned and successfully reassembled. Wow! What a wife! Told you she has skills.

This brought to mind my early years in education. I began my 40-year career in the 70s with nearly a decade as a high school English teacher. One of my yearly activities with my senior students was a classroom auction. I would participate as moderator and bidder as well. Each of us had $5,000 to spend on a long list of items ranging from vacations to careers and personal attributes...anything of sentimental or financial value to an individual. I remember bidding on, and often b

All kinds of amazing skills!
Photo in Virginia, 2008

uying as high bidder, power over machines. I have always wished for several things in my life: a canoe, a liking for iced tea, and power over machines. I wanted to enjoy and have the knowledge to tinker with and fix things. Alas! I have no skills of that kind. My talents all seem to lie in the areas of reading, 'riting, and...No! Definitely not 'rithmetic!...teaching.

I was sort of fascinated as I sat in my garage this morning on a lawn chair and watched my wife battle those two mowers. She eventually won the war! Did I mention SHE HAS SKILLS?

We will test those skills in a week or so by mowing the yard once again. She will start in the back and I up front. Hopefully our mower shopping will be postponed until at least the off season. We shall see. Time will tell. It's incredible that after 49+ years of marriage...my wife still amazes me!

In His Presence

I believe in partaking of the Lord's Supper every Sunday. It is a pattern of what Jesus did at His last Passover. He ate supper and then the bread and fruit of the vine with His apostles. We follow His example to feel and be in His presence. Acts 2:28 (NET) states: "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of joy with your presence." When we remember His sacrifice by eating emblems that represent His body and blood, we commune with Him and one another in a special spiritual event.

A question I've pondered frequently is whether or not Jesus was advocating a special kind of bread and fruit of the vine? There were special arrangements made for the Passover, but were there special arrangements for the Lord's Supper? He took break. What bread? The bread that was available. Are we limited to yeastless, Jewish feast type bread? What about our wine? Like the  bread it was what was served as part of the evenings festivities. If we look closely at the ingredients in our loaf and juice today, we might be surprised. My opinion? These concerns don't matter...to me.

I do affirm I'm never going to spread peanut butter on a cracker as part of communion. The importance of the ceremony is that I should be full of joy with Christ's presence. The words of Sandi Patty's song In His Presence released in 1992 express it well:

In the quiet of this hour, as I kneel before You now, I believe Your promise to be faithful. I don't always understand what Your perfect will demands; but I've learned to trust You more in Your presence, Lord.

In Your presence there is comfort; in Your presence there is peace. When we seek to know Your heart, we will find such blessed assurance in Your holy presence, Lord.

There can be such sweet reward when we wait upon the Lord. As we take the time, He gives His perfect wisdom. To be found in Him alone; all our deepest secrets known. We're surrounded by His grace When we seek His face.

In Your presence there is comfort; in Your presence there is peace. When we seek the father's heart, we will find such blessed assurance. An ever open door to know our Savior more, in the presence of my Lord.

photo by James Coleman on unsplash.com

Dress Codes

photo by Charles Deluvio
on unsplash.com

 

As an educator for 40 years before retirement three years ago, I was subject to and frequently in charge of implementing and enforcing school dress codes. They were nearly always negatively received by some, relatively unenforceable, and largely ambiguous. In other words dress codes were impossible.

Sometimes there were dress-up days or dress down days. There were casual Fridays for staff. There were a variety of Homecoming themed days such as come as you are, tacky, Sixties, clash, school spirit daze, etc. There were too many to mention. No doubt each of us could conjure up a long list from memory.

Dress code issues can be applied to many careers and professions. Every business and social setting from corporations and churches to McDonalds, 3M, and the military expect adherence to their written policies or understood social mores. The 21st Century has seen many changes in expectations of acceptable standards.

During my 40 years as an educator, I saw the dress code for teachers shift in many places from "Sunday best" to jeans and spirit t-shirts (especially on Fridays). My last 16 years as a college professor were begun in dress shirts and ties. They concluded in casual professional attire - khakis and collared shirts. Those were my choices as I conformed to comfort and colleagues' preferences. My suggestion to my student teachers was a dual approach that included modesty and neatness. Semantics and popularity often dictated what was worn.

Church has gone the same direction in many places. Some still wear coats and ties, but many dress casually including jeans or even shorts. Should this be an issue at all if we are trying to follow what we used to refer to as New Testament Christianity? What would Jesus do? What did Jesus do?

From what I read in the Bible, He wore his only outfit everywhere and for all occasions. He dressed the same way to the synagogue, market place, temple, weddings, feasts, mountain tops, and boat travel. He even wore the same robe to walk on water. There were two occasions when he change. One was voluntary when he put on a towel to wash the disciples feet in the upper room. The other was when they stripped His garments for the trial and crucifixion. He also seems to have left his grave clothes in the tomb at his resurrection.

What's the point? I don't really have one. These are just some thoughts that came to mind this morning as I contemplated my blog. I have an idea file that I've been adding to for decades. It contains stuff that I found interesting at one point in time...back in the day. I have always believed "if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist." When I get a thought that I might find useful someday, I write it down. If folks find it useless or worse, there is an APP for that. It's called the delete key.

My 21st Century Church

I ask myself what is the function of THE church today, and is that the function of MY church? My thinking takes me down several paths to conclusions about our meetings together. Places can vary from buildings, to tents, to caves, to a front yard. In the following list I will refer to the church as "she" based on the Biblical declaration that she is the bride of Christ functioning in various ways.

We fellowshipped with one another, sang hymns of praise to God, and prayed to the Father. It was a fellowship of caring and loving. The hospital had gathered. The social club came together. The party was filled with smiles and rejoicing. A museum of stories and memories were shared.

1. Sometimes she can be a museum for housing/archival/exchange of church history, stories, teachings, documents, memories, etc.
2. Sometimes she can be a social/country club for the gathering and interaction of Christians.
3. Sometimes she can be a hospital for sinners searching for a covering of or cure for sins.
4. Sometimes she can be an entertaining concert/party for celebration of the Savior.
5. Sometimes she can be an evangelical/edifying fellowship for its members.

Or...she can be some of all of the above depending on the needs, spirituality, and hearts of people.

Two days ago several hundred members of the Lord's church gathered in the front yard of a beloved constituent who is fighting cancer. He is ready to meet God. Some of us are not quite so eager for that event to occur. 

The subject of the celebration sat in a rocker on the porch surrounded by family, an arm lifted with outstretched hand toward heaven, a big smile on his face, and tears streaming down his cheeks...tears of JOY!

What we all experienced that evening in addition to the amazing faith of a brother in Christ was the absolute genuineness of one ready to meet his Maker. I can't wait to see him underneath the shade of the Tree of Life, surrounded by happy children supervised by Enoch, Elijah, and Jesus Himself! When we finally miss Kerry down here...rest assured, he'll be singing up there!

One of the songs might just be: "If you miss me singing down here and you can't find me nowhere nowhere, you just come on up to bright glory; I'll be singing up there!" I imagine he might be passing out candy as well...

Yes! Jesus loves me!

Que Sera Sera

Iceland photo by Davide Cantelli
on Unsplash.com

Toward the conclusion of a particularly moving sermon yesterday, our minister mentioned one of our elders who has had a tough struggle with cancer. He is not responding to the treatments and has decided to discontinue them and rest at home with family for the time that is left to him on this earth. Apparently his doctors have stated that as 6-8 weeks. Though that is very sad, this man of God's attituded is phenomenal.

He always has a big, friendly smile along with words of encouragement for all. The children know him as the Candyman. He is seldom at church without his plastic box filled with hard candies of all kinds, shapes, and colors. Knowing the power of prayer and the membership at our congregation, I can state confidently that the prayers for his full recovery will continue to flow up to the Lord during this time.

This reminded me of a song I used to sing in my preteen years long ago. Que Sera Sera was first recorded by Doris Day in 1956. I was probably about eight years old when I first heard it. I used to change the character in the song to a little boy. Here are the [slightly edited] lyrics:

When I was just a little [boy] I asked my mother, "What will I be?

Will I be [handsome]? Will I be rich?" Here's what she said to me:

Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see

Que sera, sera. What will be, will be.

[When I was] just a boy at school I asked my teacher, "What should I try?

Should I paint pictures? Should I sing songs?" This was her wise reply:

Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see

Que sera, sera. What will be, will be.

When I grew up and fell in love I asked my [sweetheart], "What lies ahead?

Will we have rainbows day after day?" Guess what my [sweetheart] said:

Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see

Que sera, sera. What will be, will be.

Now I have [grand] children of my own; they ask their [Grandpa], "What will I be?

Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?" I tell them, "Wait and see."

Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see

Que sera, sera. What will be, will be.

I'm pretty sure that's the outlook of the man who is the subject of this blog. What will be, will be. I imagine his testimony would be similar to the Apostle Paul's in Philippians 1:22-26 (MSG): As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it’s better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We’ll be praising Christ, enjoying each other.

My other blog, Imagine! is all about what I imagine heaven was/is like for Jesus and subsequently for us. I like to imagine...so allow me to do that for a moment as I close these thoughts.

I imagine someday walking the streets of gold, crossing the bridge over the River of Life, and there in the distance spying a man standing in the shade of the Tree of Life. He is surrounded by children. They are happily singing and dancing as they enjoy his smiling countenance and the treats of varied fruits and candies he is dispensing from the plastic box he holds in his hand. Both he and they are joyful in the moment as they relish this new life. Thriving in the light of God's love in this most beautiful place called Heaven. Can you imagine?

Great Somebody

Great Somebody is a song I grew up singing. It's part of a notebook of favorites that I compiled as a teenager. I liked to go through the several hundred typed pages (from an old dot matrix printer) and sing to myself. My notebook is a hodgepodge from the light rock and popular genres (radio tunes), musicals, ballads, folk songs, etc.

I tried searching on Google for this delight from my past but couldn't find it. So here are the lyrics to Great Somebody. No, I'm not going to sing it and attach an audible link. (Don't beg; it's not becoming.)

You get up in the morning and you see the sun high up in the air.

You know there ain't a man who's tall enough to hang it way up there.

Only some Great Somebody could've hung that sun up there.

Now I didn't do it, and you didn't do it. Gotta be a Lord somewhere.

You wonder why the flowers and the trees all bud when you expect they should.

You know there ain't a man who's smart enough to pull a trick that good.

Only some Great Somebody made the buds pop everywhere.

Now I didn't do it, and you didn't do it. Gotta be a Lord somewhere.

Whoever made the smile on a baby's face sure is wonderful.

You know there ain't a man with heart enough to make that miracle.

Only some Great Somebody could've made a thing so rare.

Now I didn't do it, and you didn't do it. Gotta be a Lord somewhere.

Gotta be a Lord...somewhere!

In the beginning God created...(Genesis 1:1)

Yellowstone NP, 2010

Celebrate!

photo by Ian Stauffer on unsplash.com

In Luke 15:31-32 (MSG), Jesus tells of the prodigal son's return and the father's reaction to the older brother's jealousy: “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’”

When I think about going to church tomorrow morning, I have a difficult time with the concept of having to celebrate. I like to think my attitude is one of getting to celebrate rather than having to.

Whenever I contemplate the wonder of heaven, I ponder several things:

1. God rejoices over us with singing! "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)
2. We win! "They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:14, NIV)
3. How long is the party (the celebration)? "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:17, NIV)

Years, perhaps decades ago, I heard a preacher/teacher use an interesting example to illustrate eternity. Select a person, any person. Tell that person he must perform these four tasks:

1. Pluck every leaf from every tree on the planet.
2. Count all the pine needles from every forest on Earth.
3. Pull up every blade of grass growing in the world.
4. Catch every fly buzzing over the ground.

After all that is accomplished, the party in heaven will have only just begun. Though I am not worthy, I still want to be part of that celebration. That is God's gift to me and you...made possible by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. As Kool and the Gang once sang, "Celebrate good times, come on!"

Faith

Hebrews 11 has often been referenced as the Hall of Faith chapter or the Hall of Fame for faith in the Bible. Recently I ran across a list of "P" words for characters of faith. I have faith that you will find it worth my sharing as you ponder these who lived at various levels of faithfulness.

• Abel endured a PAINFUL faith. His obedience to God led to his being clubbed to death in the fields by his brother Cain.
• Cain possessed only a PARTIAL faith. He did what God commanded but only halfway and halfheartedly.
• Noah displayed a PRACTICAL faith. He built the Ark and gathered animals all the while PREACHING to his neighbors about their imPENDING doom and God's PERFECT love.
• Abraham gained a PROMISED faith as he received God's guarantee that his three-fold blessing would include his seed, land, and nations.
• Enoch was blessed with a PURE faith as he walked with God and was taken to heaven...we might say PREMATURELY.
• Isaac used a PRUDENT faith to gain his birthright, build a family in a foreign country, and become reconciled to his brother.
• Jacob developed a PRECIOUS faith. From his deathbed he "blessed each of Joseph’s sons in turn, blessing them with God’s blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff" (Hebrews 11:21, MSG).
• Joseph clung to a PATIENT faith as he waited for various lengths of time for deliverance from bondage and slavery from a PIT and a PRISON.
• Gideon led with a PRAYERFUL faith as he defeated the Midianites though outnumbered 450 to 1.
• David meditated with a PASSIONATE faith as he wrote and sang his PSALMS becoming a man after God's own heart and an imPERFECT king.
• Samson was PROTECTED from all but his lustful self by his POWERFUL faith that eventually allowed him to destroy the enemy PHILISTINES.

Faith is a foundation stone of any spiritual relationship with God and Jesus. 

photo by Zac Durant on unsplash.com

Peter encourages us in this way: "So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus" (2 Peter 1:5-8, MSG). 

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Gratitude

A long, long time ago in a galaxy...not really; but it was some years ago that I first heard a preacher or teacher say that we need an "attitude of gratitude." After not blogging for more than a week, I fittingly thought that I'm grateful for many things today. Allow me to list a few while urging you to ponder your own personal thoughts of thankfulness. I will sprinkle in a few quotes within this humbling topic:

1. Gratitude teaches us to appreciate the rainbow AND the storm. (Dr. Hibbert)
2. I'm grateful for my eye doctor's appointment yesterday that assured me my glaucoma is being kept at bay by eye drops and not surgery.
3. Gratitude bestows reverence allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies...those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. (John Milton)
4. I'm grateful for the amazingness of my wife. The meals she has fixed us for almost 50 years just keep getting better and better...as does she!
5. There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. (Albert Einstein)
6. I'm grateful that I've been witness to lots of miracles in my life.
7. Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. (Lionel Hampton)
8. I'm grateful that none of my immediate family (me, wife, kids, their spouses, all nine grandkids) have had to deal with the coronavirus as yet. (That sound you may have imagined you heard was my knuckles tapping on my head as I knocked on wood.)
9. I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. (G.K. Chesterton)
10. I am grateful that my procrastination has been at least temporarily overcome. I am blogging again. (My blogs are not for you...they are totally for me. Thanks for your patience.)
11. Gratitude can transform common days into THANKSGIVINGS! (William Arthur Ward)

I Am Gratitude!

Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is THE chapter in the Bible that completely praises God's Word. Its 176 verses present statements about the incredible nature of the Creator's love letter to His Creation. Synonyms such as word, way, law, statute, precept, decree, command, and promise as well as their plural forms are in nearly every verse. Only five verses -- 84, 90, 121, 122, 132 -- don't contain one of those direct references listed above.

Some of my favorite praise verses are in this beautiful chapter are...

18. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

24. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. 

89. Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

164. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.

171-172. May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

There are a multitude of reasons for praising the Lord. One of the greatest of these is His Word.

Psalm 19:105...a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
[photo by Ray Fragapane on unsplash.com]

Absurdities

There are happenings in life that are weird. Some things seem penultimately strange. We chalk them up as unbelievable, incredible, or even supernatural. They go beyond science fiction or fantasy. When we decide they are true, our faith sets them apart as Godly.

A few of these are the crucifixion of the Son of God, His resurrection, His virgin birth, and other BIGGIES we know to be miraculous. There are many less significant stories from the Bible, though, that get my sense of WONDER up...way UP! Allow me to share a few of these.

In Joshua 6, we can read of the Battle of Jericho. For seven days the Israelites walked around that fortified and impenetrable city in silence...until they didn't. Then they blew trumpets and shouted. The walls fell and the victory was theirs.

In Judges 7, Gideon whittled his army down to 300 men who quenched their thirst in the proper manner. He faced the Midianites force of 135,000 soldiers. The odds were not in his favor. He was outnumbered 450/1. Again trumpets and shouting were involved as the victory was quickly assured. The enemy were even slaying one another.

II Kings 5 relates the story of the great general Naaman. He was a hopeless leper until he was convinced by a slave girl to follow the advice of God's prophet Elisha. He immersed himself seven times in the murkiness of the River Jordan and was cleansed.

Acts 12:19-24 presents the bizarre tale of King Herod, enemy of Christians. He chose not to disagree with the people when they shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” It took but a moment for his demise to come: "Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." [Notice the order indicates he was still alive when the worms feasted.]

These above stories are all illustrations of unusual occurrences of astonishing phenomena. Only my faith allows me to believe in their reality. Absurdities? Probably. Truths? Absolutely!

Below are two of the most unusual photos we have taken in our travels:

Odd signage in Hawaii, 2013

Unusual rendering of Noah's Ark
downtown Bucharest, Romania, 2012

Mad Dashes

photo by Braden Collum on unsplash.com

In Luke 15:20, the Prodigal Son was reunited with his father. On that day that father could've defeated Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt, or Michael Johnson in any short sprint. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

As a child, I was impressed with athletes such as are listed in that last paragraph. One of my heroes was Jim Ryan. He wasn't a sprinter. He ran the mile/1500 meters. He competed at the Olympic level. Later as a Harding University student, I knew of a fellow student and college track star named Jim Crawford. He never achieved the same notoriety as Ryan. Years later I asked a man "in the know" about track athletes of /the RyanCrawford era what the difference was between those two Jims. He said it was about 100 miles. That was the amount of training each week that set Ryan above Crawford. I'm not certain of that reasoning, but it could be the reality.

The Bible is filled with stories of great runs and mad dashes from both heroes and goats. John 20:4-8 relates the time Peter and John raced. Upon hearing of the empty tomb, that set out together in a mad dash. John reach the tomb first and paused allowing Peter to overtake him. Peter didn't hesitate, but sprinted into the cave.

Overcome with an urgency to preach the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip dashed to the chariot. He seized the opportunity, and the Ethiopian treasurer went home a baptized believer. A final positive example of a mad dasher was Joseph in Genesis 39:12 (NLT)...Potaphar's wife tried to entice Joseph into adultery as she came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Others were goats and ran in the opposite direction. Jonah was one who ran away from God (Jonah 1:3) Likewise the story of Jesus' betrayal and capture by the Judas-led-mob in the garden ends when "all the disciples deserted him and fled" (Matthew 26:56, NIV). I hope if a similar opportunity presents itself, I  won't make the mad dash for safety in fear of my life as those men did.

I never was one to enjoy a lot of running just for the sake of running whether it be a jog or a sprint. The extent of my mad dashes in an athletic venue were the few quick steps required to get in position to kill a racquetball in the front corner of the court for a winner.

I long for the day when my heavenly Father will spot me walking those last footsteps to the gates of heaven. Perhaps he will sprint to me, sweep me up into his arms, and kiss me. I pray someday to be witness to that event as God madly dashes to enfold me in his welcoming embrace.

More than Thunder

July 2008 Mississippi River storm

Living in Southern Middle Tennessee, it's not unusual to be awakened by thunder at any time during the night. Early this morning it started about 5:30. As it often the case, it was followed by torrential rain and wind. What do you do when that ominous and always mysterious event interrupts your sleep? You go to the kitchen and peel potatoes for Sunday lunch confident that Mother Nature will subside by then, and your invited guests won't have to paddle to your home.

What came to mind while doing my KP duties was the Hallal song that has been a favorite of mine since it was first published in 2005 by Ken Young and others...More than Thunder.  Realizing that the voice of God is so much more that that; and knowing there is scientific explanation for the thunder and its companion lightning, I still like to imagine His booming through the storm. Psalm 29:3-4 states it well: The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

Click this YouTube link to hear the song (wait through the error message if one appears):

More than Thunder  

You calm the storm and walk on water,

You heal the blind and raise the dead from out the slumber.

Some hear the voice of God and say it's only thunder.

But as for me I stand amazed!

You make the bread to feed the hungry,

You turn the water into wine for all the thirsty.

Some go away content and fail to see your glory,

But as for me I stand amazed!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you;

When eagles soar I will glorify your name.

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord may it always be to me...more than thunder.

You make the stars shine in the heavens.

You tell the moon to move and stir the mighty oceans.

Some see your wonders and they never sing your praises.

But as for me I stand amazed!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you;

When eagles soar I will glorify your name.

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord may it always be to me...more than thunder.

Who is like the Lord our God?

Great and wondrous are his ways!

Who is like the Lord our God?

Let all the earth be filled with praise!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you;

When eagles soar I will glorify your name.

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord may it always be to me...more than thunder!

Blessings

Some years ago when my voice was younger, I enjoyed singing Barbershop music with choruses and quartets. One of our groups closed programs with the Irish Blessing. Today I had cause to remember those special lyrics. I key them for you as a reminder of WHO is in control, and how truly wonderful are HIS blessings? Obviously they come in three austere, metallic colors...

Big Brother Is Watching!

Have you ever wondered why, after a conversation with your spouse about blood sugar test strips, you start seeing numerous Facebook posts about various topics related to your life as a Type 2 diabetic? I sure have recently. My conclusion is that Big Brother is watching us...all the time.

Mt. Rushmore National Monument, South Dakota

During a current major photographic project involving culling and sorting through our thousands of film and digital pictures, I ran across a trip to Mt. Rushmore. If you stand in the precise spot in the main parking lot and look up, you will see just the top of George Washington's face. His eyes seem to eerily stare out at you over the granite parapet.

What is he seeing? Why is it bizarrely ominous in our 21st Century world? Ponder and pray that God continues watching over us as protector and shield. Jesus is the only Big Brother I want watching over my life.

Cades Cove

We frequently sojourn to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in East Tennessee. In addition to its being the most visited NP in the nation, it is adjacent to the ultimate tourist traps of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. There is always lots to do and see. One of our favorite destinations in the area is Cades Cove.

The Cove is a multi-mile loop road filled with historic buildings, scenic landscapes, and wildlife. Tourist vehicles can be bumper to bumper, so each adventure can take awhile. The highlight of any trip to this destination is the search for wildlife. Most times we have seen lots of deer and turkey, and watched the saddle horses playing in the meadows after a long day of carrying tourists on trail rides. We had always heard of the many bear sightings. We just hadn't gotten lucky...yet.

In June of 2020, following  our two month plus quarantine during the height of the pandemic, we returned to this idyllic place for another try at seeing bears. We had invited another couple from church to stay with us in a condo in Pigeon Forge and explore the area for five days. Our first trip to Cades Cove, an hour distant, yielded exploration of some old churches and homesteads but no bear. We did see a lone turkey up close and personal. A couple of days later our luck changed.

Following attendance at several entertainment venues that included a Bible Times concert, Alcatraz East Crime Museum, Country Tonight Show, and the Titanic Museum, the wives decided an outlet mall shopping spree was in order. Not finding that to be a pleasant alternative, the husbands decided on a drive through the country. We began heading west on the Foothills Parkway. That was a relatively new scenic highway. Since that adventure was generally in the direction of Cades Cove, it inspired us once again to go bear hunting.

We drove through Townsend, the last vestige of civilization before the last few miles driving to the Cove. We looked for a bakery or ice cream shop but found none open. With the call of the wild filling our imaginations, we headed to the entrance to the Cove which is actually a part of GSMNP.

After about a dozen previous enterings that nearly always rewarded us with multiple deer sightings but never a bear, providence shined down on us as twilight approached. This time we saw eight bears consisting of a mother and cub(s) in three different spots. Some were even close enough to the road for decent pictures, though the grass was so high that it partially interfered with the photography. It was still exciting reminding me of viewing the moose, elk, grizzlies, wolves, dall sheep, mountain goats, bison herds, and other large mammals of the national parks in Alaska, Canada, and and the western United States.

Exploring God's creation via road trip is always an adventure. That June afternoon was just one more reminder of the Lord's handiwork. All we had to do was LOOK!

More...

In her namesake movie, Sabrina cautioned the extremely wealthy and sometimes arrogant Linus, "More isn't always better, Linus. Sometimes it's just more." I was recently reminded of this quote by the love of my life.

I've been working out regularly and somewhat strenuously at Planet Fitness for the last six weeks or so  since their post-quarantine reopening in May. I had begun on a new fitness journey early this year. After nearly two months, the pandemic hit and temporarily shut that adventure down. I needed the routine, the fixed workout regimen, the regular pattern. I had actually been following most of what the trainer had described in our early meeting to design an exercise program.

After the reopening I felt I wasn't being challenged enough. I nearly doubled my workout. It actually felt pretty good. No pain, no gain...and all that. Today we met with our trusted trainer to rethink and redesign. I discovered I've been a bad boy, a very bad boy. I hadn't been resting muscle groups as I should. I wasn't exercising smarter, just morer (don't correct my grammar...I'm not in the mood).

After an hour and forty-five minute reassessment with an introduction to a whole bunch of stuff I hadn't been doing or hadn't been doing correctly, I left mentally exhausted. Several hours of frustration later, I realized they were right, and I was a hard-headed idiot.

When my wife reminded me of the Sabrina quote, I thought of something else. A colleague of mine at Martin Methodist College about 18 years ago returned from an admissions trip. He had just met my wife who was counselor at the high school he had visited. Tony approached me with the totally truthful statement, "Kerbe, you married up!" I agreed...way up!

This nostalgic trip down memory lane led to another thought from a conversation between Linus and Sabrina's father Fairchild, the chauffeur. Fairchild said, "You don't deserve her." To which Linus replied, "I don't, I know that; but I need her, and I don't need anything."

photo from hospital.news.com

One of my 2020 resolutions was to exercise more. Six months later my July 1, 2020, revolution is to exercise smarter. My wife's reminder was right on! More isn't always better, sometimes it's just more. Thanks, Delores. I look forward to your helping me find the right path at the gym as you always have in life.

What Color Is God's Skin?

In keeping with my last blog about Up with People and given the ongoing violent protests in multiple cities, I will post another UWP song that was a favorite of mine over 50 years ago. The words and music were composed by Tom Wilkes and David Stevenson.

[click title link below to hear song]

What Color Is God's Skin?

“Good-night” I said to my little son

So tired out when the day was done.

Then he said as I tucked him in

“Tell me Daddy what color’s God’s skin?”

What color is God’s skin?

I said it’s black brown it’s yellow

It is red it is white.

Ev’ry man’s the same in the good Lord’s sight.”

He looked at me with his shining eyes

I knew I could tell no lies

When he said Daddy why do the diff’rent races fight

If we’re the same in the good Lord’s sight?”

What color is God’s skin?… etc.

Son that’s part of our suffering past

But the whole human family is learning at last

That the thing we missed on the road we trod

Is to walk as the daughters and the sons of God.”

What color is God’s skin?… etc.

Those words were originally penned in 1964. I wonder that many are still missing the idea of walking as the daughters and sons of God? I'm probably as guilty as the next person. Isn't it time we learned?

Olympian Jesse Owens arranged for two special performances of UWP for athletes
at the Olympic Village Theatre, Munich, Sept.1972, after the tragic massacre of Israeli athletes.