Yesterday I woke up to snow again!! What’s going on here? I can’t believe it. Please tell the Alabamans among us to quit praying for snow. My daughter said Ian woke her up yesterday morning. He was standing at the back door loudly singing, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.”
I decided to have a special breakfast to comfort myself. Ate some cheesecake. Then crumbled two handfuls of potato chips into a cheese dip and salsa mix. Ate six olives to provide a pungent garnish. Oh no! I forgot to eat a kosher dill pickle spear. Sad.
Money is my topic for today’s sermon. It’s a whole new ball game tackling the subject in the midst of a serious Recession. Fortunately, the Bible is timeless and speaks to all economic conditions, good and bad.
Humor helps. When Caleb was six, Jake was brought to the family Christmas gathering. Caleb took Jake home in the family Honda station wagon. He often escaped the back yard. His reward for bad behavior was scraps and bones from Price Cutter. Yum. Jake loves attention. The bigger the crowd, the better. I know what you’re thinking. Like owner like dog. I resemble that remark.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Technicolor Marriage
My mathematical mind kicked in this week. I was 19 when I married Ruth. I am now 57. This means I have been married to her for two-thirds of my life. The first third was lived out in black and white, these last two-thirds in technicolor.
My Grandpa Marshall died 29 years ago today. He was my emotional soul-mate. He and I were very much alike in our outlooks on life. I still miss him. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone more than half of my life. He influenced me greatly.
I spoke to 25 students last night at the Baptist Student Center on the Missouri State University campus. Want to guess my assigned topic? Right. Missions. I enjoyed every second of it. I spoke and answered questions. I loved the banter. At the end, I participated with the students in a time of footwashing.
More Jake bio info. After Caleb’s aunt’s friend had kept Jake four months, she felt she would have to give him away. Caleb’s aunt took him and kept him a year. He was an indoor dog at the time (never again!!).
My Grandpa Marshall died 29 years ago today. He was my emotional soul-mate. He and I were very much alike in our outlooks on life. I still miss him. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone more than half of my life. He influenced me greatly.
I spoke to 25 students last night at the Baptist Student Center on the Missouri State University campus. Want to guess my assigned topic? Right. Missions. I enjoyed every second of it. I spoke and answered questions. I loved the banter. At the end, I participated with the students in a time of footwashing.
More Jake bio info. After Caleb’s aunt’s friend had kept Jake four months, she felt she would have to give him away. Caleb’s aunt took him and kept him a year. He was an indoor dog at the time (never again!!).
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Ben and LCR
Ben Pilgreen and I spent the last two days in sunny southern Florida at the annual Large Church Roundtable meeting. It is my favorite Pastor meeting of the year. About 20 of us Pastors sit in a large circle and talk about church finances, staff relationships, denominational issues, what’s working, what’s not working, what’s trendy, what’s here to stay, etc. No agenda, just nuts and bolts stuff about getting the ministry done right. On and on it goes from noon Monday till noon Tuesday.
Richard Harman, my blog comedy researcher, is on the mend. He is now at home. Thus, he is able to return to what he does well, finding funnies for this blog.
Would anyone like to guess what my desk looks like? I have two desks. Both look like mayhem has invaded my life. Maybe the top of a desk does say something about its owner.
Humor helps. Jake’s bio. Jake’s ancestry is a duke’s mixture. He was found on the street by a friend of Caleb’s Aunt Deidre. He had probably been abused, because at the time he was terrified at sticks and people. The friend nursed him, kept him, and took good care of him for four months.
Richard Harman, my blog comedy researcher, is on the mend. He is now at home. Thus, he is able to return to what he does well, finding funnies for this blog.
Would anyone like to guess what my desk looks like? I have two desks. Both look like mayhem has invaded my life. Maybe the top of a desk does say something about its owner.
Humor helps. Jake’s bio. Jake’s ancestry is a duke’s mixture. He was found on the street by a friend of Caleb’s Aunt Deidre. He had probably been abused, because at the time he was terrified at sticks and people. The friend nursed him, kept him, and took good care of him for four months.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Nathan Addy Williams
Happy Real Birthday, President Washington.
Last night the two TV commercials Second had done for August 24 won Addy Awards. Our contract is with ADSmith, a local advertising firm. My son-in-law, Nathan Williams, works for them. The ads for Second were assigned to him (surprise!). Overall, Nathan won 10 Addy Awards last night. That makes 22 in 3 years. He has earned Addy Awards for video work, graphic design, and web design. Can you tell I’m proud of him? Way to go, Nathan.
Richard Harman, who researches and supplies the lion’s share of the humor I use on this blog, is in Cox South Hospital with pneumonia. Agent Orange in Viet Nam left its mark on him. Get well, Richard. Cyberspace misses you. I do too, friend.
Humor helps. Parental notes. Excuse Betsy’s absence; she was sick and I had her shot. Joseph has been absent because he had two teeth taken off his face. My son is under doctor’s care and should not take fisical education; please execute him. Ralph was absent from school because he had very loose vowels.
Last night the two TV commercials Second had done for August 24 won Addy Awards. Our contract is with ADSmith, a local advertising firm. My son-in-law, Nathan Williams, works for them. The ads for Second were assigned to him (surprise!). Overall, Nathan won 10 Addy Awards last night. That makes 22 in 3 years. He has earned Addy Awards for video work, graphic design, and web design. Can you tell I’m proud of him? Way to go, Nathan.
Richard Harman, who researches and supplies the lion’s share of the humor I use on this blog, is in Cox South Hospital with pneumonia. Agent Orange in Viet Nam left its mark on him. Get well, Richard. Cyberspace misses you. I do too, friend.
Humor helps. Parental notes. Excuse Betsy’s absence; she was sick and I had her shot. Joseph has been absent because he had two teeth taken off his face. My son is under doctor’s care and should not take fisical education; please execute him. Ralph was absent from school because he had very loose vowels.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Alabama, Stop Praying
Snow again??! What’s the deal? This morning we awoke to another surprise blanket of snow on the ground. Conspirators lurk among us. Alabamans have moved among us and during the night they pray for snow to fall because they haven’t seen it much and think it is pretty. Cut it out! Enough snow already.
Last night Caleb and I watched a couple of episodes about Lincoln on the History Channel. This month marks the two hundredth anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. I need to dust off my notes and preach another sermon or two based on Lincoln.
Tomorrow I preach on prayer. The Canaanite woman’s faith was great. We learn from her. Pray for me today as I familiarize myself fully with my manuscript.
Final bio thoughts on Millie. When she escaped her Marshfield home, she often went across the street to the grocery store. On her first visit there, she went in, walked straight to the Deli, and sat down, as if waiting to order. The workers bribed her out of the store by offering her meat. Pretty smart. A free meal.
Last night Caleb and I watched a couple of episodes about Lincoln on the History Channel. This month marks the two hundredth anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. I need to dust off my notes and preach another sermon or two based on Lincoln.
Tomorrow I preach on prayer. The Canaanite woman’s faith was great. We learn from her. Pray for me today as I familiarize myself fully with my manuscript.
Final bio thoughts on Millie. When she escaped her Marshfield home, she often went across the street to the grocery store. On her first visit there, she went in, walked straight to the Deli, and sat down, as if waiting to order. The workers bribed her out of the store by offering her meat. Pretty smart. A free meal.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Wonderful Day
A wonderful day off. At 6:30 a.m. I emailed Rebekah reminding her every day is a good day (she broke her neck 14 years ago today in a car wreck). Took John and Caleb to breakfast at McDonalds. Took Caleb and Ian to school. Picked up Ruth and Lilly Ruth. Ruth shopped at Aldi’s (whose owner, by the way, is one of the richest men in the world) while Lilly Ruth and I enjoyed strolling at Bass Pro Shops.
Ruth brought Ian from school, retrieved Lilly Ruth and me, and the four of us went to McDonalds (or as Ian calls it, “Old McDonalds”–as in the famous song about the farm). His toy treat was a watch. He put it on, stared at it a moment and then said very dramatically, “Grandpa, it’s time to eat again.” He looked at it again and said very seriously, “Grandpa, it’s time to watch a video.” Caleb came home from school sick. I took Ruth home to take care of him. Took Ian and Lilly Ruth home.
Bought Ruth’s birthday and Valentines Day gift. It’s a new cell phone. She was giddy. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to make her happy. Took Caleb, though sick, to an orthodontist appointment. Ruth and Caleb worked on a science fair project tonight. I took Sam out for a while. We went to watch Nathan and Ian play bowling on the Wii. Sam enjoys watching that. Came home. Went to bed feeling I had just finished a wonderful day filled with stuff that mattered.
Ruth brought Ian from school, retrieved Lilly Ruth and me, and the four of us went to McDonalds (or as Ian calls it, “Old McDonalds”–as in the famous song about the farm). His toy treat was a watch. He put it on, stared at it a moment and then said very dramatically, “Grandpa, it’s time to eat again.” He looked at it again and said very seriously, “Grandpa, it’s time to watch a video.” Caleb came home from school sick. I took Ruth home to take care of him. Took Ian and Lilly Ruth home.
Bought Ruth’s birthday and Valentines Day gift. It’s a new cell phone. She was giddy. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to make her happy. Took Caleb, though sick, to an orthodontist appointment. Ruth and Caleb worked on a science fair project tonight. I took Sam out for a while. We went to watch Nathan and Ian play bowling on the Wii. Sam enjoys watching that. Came home. Went to bed feeling I had just finished a wonderful day filled with stuff that mattered.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Overnighter
Yesterday Ruth and I took advantage of our church’s Family Night at Home, and slipped away for an overnighter. We ate out twice, watched a movie and TV, read, and enjoyed being together. I even found time to write out a sermon.
We had a wonderful time, except I did feel the need to talk with her about the fact she seems to be laughing less at my jokes these days. I know she’s heard most of them often, and I know I have little variety in my style of humor, but still, I have always appreciated the fact Ruth laughed when I tried to be funny.
This is especially important to me because I like to humor myself by thinking I might want to be a stand-up comic after I retire from the Pastorate. She said she was not aware of laughing less, but when I tried to make a joke out of it, she did not laugh. I rest my case.
More bio info on Millie. She has white chow fur, which is soft. She has always had hip arthritis, but has never let that keep her from running off a lot. In fact, Caleb says she has always been the ultimate road-tripper. He said she would be gone so much that he thought she was touring the state. Their fence was rusted and had lots of holes in it. To Millie, these were her ticket to adventure.
We had a wonderful time, except I did feel the need to talk with her about the fact she seems to be laughing less at my jokes these days. I know she’s heard most of them often, and I know I have little variety in my style of humor, but still, I have always appreciated the fact Ruth laughed when I tried to be funny.
This is especially important to me because I like to humor myself by thinking I might want to be a stand-up comic after I retire from the Pastorate. She said she was not aware of laughing less, but when I tried to make a joke out of it, she did not laugh. I rest my case.
More bio info on Millie. She has white chow fur, which is soft. She has always had hip arthritis, but has never let that keep her from running off a lot. In fact, Caleb says she has always been the ultimate road-tripper. He said she would be gone so much that he thought she was touring the state. Their fence was rusted and had lots of holes in it. To Millie, these were her ticket to adventure.
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