Church in Branson

Neil Frank preached a great sermon yesterday morning. I was blessed
at FBC Branson. It was nice to be an ordinary Joe, sitting in the
pew. I do love going to church.

There were more people out and about than I expected yesterday
morning. Branson is home to a good number of churches.

Many entertainment venues offer Sunday worship services. When I
become a travel agent booking trips to Branson, I'll have Ruth play
the piano and I'll preach on Sunday mornings for our tour groups.

Fox News reported women with thin thighs die younger. When I read
this headline out loud, Rebekah said. "I will live to be 250." Ruth
said, "I am approaching immortality."

FBC Branson

I'm headed to First Baptist Church Branson this morning. Pastor Neil
and Kendra Frank went with the Pilgreens and me to San Francisco on a
church vision trip in August. We prayed, explored partnership
possibilities, and laughed ourselves silly.

Traffic has been bumper to bumper this holiday weekend in Branson.
Everything has ground to a halt. Gridlock comes to mind. I wonder if
there will be a traffic jam on the way to church. I hope so.

I intend to park in guest parking. I've always wanted to do that.
Some people don't join churches because they hate to give up their
privileged parking spot.

Ben is preaching all three morning services at Second. He's good. Be
blessed.

Travel Agent To Be

I've decided what I want to do when I retire. Be a travel agent
planning people's trips to Branson.

I would sell a simple package built around a daily threefold
itinerary. Travelers would each day see one show, eat one meal out,
and read one book. That's what I've done. Oh, and one more thing.
Bring someone as wonderful as Ruth along with you.

And wait!! One more thing. Have your grandchildren come and spend
two days with you in the condo. Yes, Ian and Lilly Ruth are headed
here today. They are bringing their mom and dad too. Ruth and I can
hardly wait.

I know what you're thinking. Are Jake, Millie, and Sophie coming? No.

Yep, I plan to make a fortune planning people's trips to Branson.
I'll do the first one in 2018. I'll keep you posted.

Can't See Far

Woke up this morning to a heavy fog over the lake. Can't see much.
Saw plenty yesterday, though.

The Twelve Irish Tenors were wonderful. Actually, there were only 11,
one was sick. They did fine without him. I do so desperately want to
be a tenor in Heaven. They always get top billing.

Went to Dixie Stampede last night. Raw, raucous, and a rippingly good
riot. We laughed the whole time. Even the preshow was mesmerizing.

By the way, the food at Dixie Stampede is second to none. I love food.

Bless The USA

As promised, Ruth and I went to the Yakov Show as his guests. The
crowd always leaves his shows with two things: a lot of laughs, and a
greater love for this country.

The Moscow Circus performers are stunning. Those guys who can kick
their legs out while in a squatting position are painful to watch. If
I ever tried to do that, a crane would have to pick me up and put me
in the ambulance. If you ever see me about to try that feat, please
call 9-1-1 in advance.

Ruth has a date this morning with 13 men. Twelve Irish Tenors and one
Southeast Missouri Baritone. She doesn't know they have heard I'm
coming and intend to have me sing the national anthem of Ireland.
Just kidding.

Music of Heaven

Last night Ken and Stephanie Goodman, Ruth, 4600 other friends, and I
made our annual pilgrimage to the Southern Gospel Festival at Silver
Dollar City. I kept thinking they should let Ken sing. His rendition
of "I Believe in a Hill Called Mt. Calvary" should be required
listening in every home in America.

I saw a sign that said Silver Dollar City serves 40,000 pieces of
fried chicken during the Gospel Music Festival. That's a lot of
religious calories and cholestoral.

I'm not surprised chicken dominates the festival. The Gospel Bird has
long been a staple of Baptist life. Chicken jokes abound.

A Baptist preacher's belt is a fence around a chicken graveyard. On
Sunday, when chickens see the preacher coming for Sunday dinner, they
run to the back of the farm.

A true story. At my brother's ordination, the last question asked him
was, "Do you like chicken?" He said yes and everyone laughed. Over
the years I have wondered if he could have been ordained had he said no.

3 Books

Last night I finished three books I had been reading and enjoying a
while. The first is a book about Gentile Christians sharing their
faith with Jewish people. I appreciated the book's gentle tone.

A second book is about Christian manliness. By the time I finished
reading it, I was feeling like a woos, a world-class sissy, but Ruth
says I'm a real man. I humbly accept her verdict. She has never lied
to me.

The third book deals with the danger of being a leader without keeping
our spiritual batteries charged. This kind of book always sends me on
guilt trip, but I also find them very helpful.

This morning I began a book dealing with the worldwide spread of
religion, a phenomenon none of the pundits foresaw. I will keep you
posted.