Better

I’m better today. I coughed all night, but the congestion and stuffed-up head feeling is gone. I’m taking Mucinex today, hoping it will help slow down nose drainage.

I will preach tomorrow. Thank you, Lord. When a Sunday goes by without my having a chance to preach, it’s a sad day. My whole philosophy of ministry is, clear off a spot and let me preach.

Last night we celebrated Ruth’s birthday. She shares Lincoln’s birthday. Today is Valentines Day. There’s no doubt about who has been my Valentine for the last 38 years. Five weeks before we married, Ruth gave me a Valentines Day gift I still have. It was a little box which, when opened, had a heart that vibrated. She still makes my heart flutter.

Humor helps. Parent bloopers. Excuse Freddie’s absence; he had the fuel (I hope he didn’t have a match). Please accuse Michael from being absent; he was aleing (underage drinking). George was absent yesterday due to a sore trout (poor fish).

Sick

Despite three days on Zithromax, I’m still sick. Head cold. Nasal trouble. Hacking cough. You know the drill. This is my first day back at the office since Monday. I may not stay long. We’ll see how I do.

Good news; bad news. Good: I’m better. Bad: I’m still sick. Good: I can hear out of my right ear. Bad: left ear is stone deaf. Good: God is teaching me a lesson. Bad: I don’t have a clue as to what it is.

First Baptist Arnold

It’s good to be home. I missed being at Second yesterday, but did enjoy preaching for my good friends, Kenny Qualls and Gerald Davidson, at First Baptist Arnold. It was Rebekah’s birthday weekend. We made it a family outing in St. Louis. On Saturday night, we all ate supper at Mom and Dad’s. My brother and my sister’s family came. Sunday at noon, we all ate at my cousin Paul Hill’s house. He is a deacon at FBCA. Kenny and Gerald also came for lunch. It was a good weekend.

As you would expect, I have Grandpa stories to share. Ian kept singing “Rudolph the red-nosed Santa.” He said something Ruth and I did not hear. When we asked him to repeat it, he told us we needed to take medicine to help our hearing.

Ian kept asking, “Are we here yet?” Not there, but here. At one point I asked if he was okay. He said, “I’m hot because I want to get out and see if we are here.”

Humor helps. Since I have become known as a dog expert, my sister felt compelled to tell me about an English bulldog she recently baby-sat (or dog-sat?). This dog would waddle up to her and throw his paw in the air to give her a high five. I was impressed until I learned the dog cost $5000. For that kind of money it ought to be able to cook, sing and dance, do dishes, carry out the laundry, etc.

Football Roosters

Today is Rebekah’s birthday. I remember the event well. I almost lost my dear wife that day, but I later came home with my two precious ladies okay. God smiled on me through a good doctor, who died days later trying to cut down a tree.

Barron Hagerman and Betsy Shock will wed tonight. She’s one of two vocalists in our 11:00 praise band. Barron helps on the media deck and contributes to running our computers. I’m not a matchmaker, but I did long encourage Barron to ask Betsy out. I’m glad he came to his senses in time.

I enjoyed preaching in South Carolina. I have now preached out there several times. Each time I have been well received. Go Gamecocks!! I wonder who thought of naming a team for a rooster?

Humor helps. I saw something pitiful today. Jake was sitting outside the new gate, peering longingly at the back door. Sad. I may need to buy him a Wiggly Giggly Toy ($14), whatever that is, or maybe a Bar-B-Chew ($7), which tastes like they’re hot off the grill, or maybe a skunk stuffing toy which has squeakers in the head and tail ($6). Or maybe I’ll talk to Ruth and see if she feels guilty about keeping the dogs off the back deck. I’m not optimistic about the outcome of this.

Call me Phil 3:16

Remember all the fuss I made about Punxsutawney Phil trumping Phil Roethlisberger? My bad. Major gaff. Roethlisberger is a Ben, not a Phil. Oh well, it still made for an interesting blog.

Dr. David Tolliver is the new Executive Director for our Missouri Baptist Convention. The Executive Board called him yesterday on a 44-4 secret ballot vote. It was an honor to serve on the search committee. Congratulations to David and Myra.

Tonight I am preaching on missions. Tomorrow I will be cloistered preparing sermons. Pray for me today and tomorrow. Thank you.

Humor helps. Pilot/mechanic interchanges. Number 3 engine missing; Engine found on right wing after brief search. Aircraft handles funny; Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious. Target radar hums; Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics. Mouse in cockpit; Cat installed. Noise under panel sounds like someone pounding on something with a hammer; Took hammer away.

Phil and Phil

Yesterday, the Super Bowl, which is usually a bit boring, was about as exciting as it can get. My hero Kurt Warner fell a little short of winning, but oh my what a game. Don’t you love cliffhangers?

Phil Roethlisberger, quarterback for the winning Pittsburgh Steelers team, was Pennsylvania’s most famous Phil for only about twelve hours. Punxsutawney Phil trumped him this morning. The famous groundhog saw his shadow. Bad news. Six more weeks of Winter.

How in the world did we get such a ridiculous holiday as groundhog day anyway? Wikipedia says it can be traced back to at least the 1700s as part of German weather lore. This answer doesn’t satisfy me. Surely there’s more to this than meets the eye. Pardon the pun, Phil.

Humor helps. Pilot/mechanic talk. Evidence of leak on right main landing gear; Evidence removed. DME volume unbelievably loud; DME volume set to more believable level. IFF inoperable in OFF mode; IFF always inoperative in OFF mode. Suspected crack in windshield; Suspect you’re right.

Skunked

D-Day. Today marks the end of our race to 200. John and I considered various ways we could end this contest. We thought maybe a weigh-off in the middle of a worship service would be interesting. Another possibility was to sell the TV rights and let it be shown at half-time of the Super Bowl.

In the end, humility carried the day. We decided to end our competition quietly at home, away from the press and cameras. Drum-roll please. Here are the final numbers: John 197, me 213. I got skunked. Slam dunked. Smoked. Ten-run rule. Humiliated. I haven’t lost a competition this bad since my basketball days in high school.

Now the question that matters. How did he do it? Several ways. Starve. Mount the treadmill at 5 a.m. and walk 4 to 6 miles on it. Starve. Lift weights. Starve. Eat a light breakfast and lunch; skip supper. Starve. Go to bed hungry each night. Starve. I think you get the picture.

Way to go, John. I’m proud of you.