“Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and Batteries not Included”. – English Proverb

Good morning. Even though it is Friday, May 30, 2014, believe it or not, there are some experts who are, even as we go about our daily chores, thinking about nothing but Christmas. That would be correct my friend because it is time for the retailers to place their orders for the upcoming season. They do have a lot of data to work with but the economy has been all over the page, therefore, this year's planning will likely end up being more of an educated guess than a sure thing. One thing they have learned. The retailers that got people into their stores for the black Friday sales event were the most likely to have a successful selling season. Essentially, they are challenged to find what will sell and what they can get people to like and buy. Six months in advance. They do know quite a bit about the shoppers based on mining data from every source imaginable. So much plays into it. The number of days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The weather. The money available for families to spend. The products that will become must haves. There are some certainties we can count on in the midst of all this guessing. It will still be the time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. And, for a fellow like me, there will likely still be kids of all ages who want to sit on the jolly old elf's lap.

Photo my nephew put up on Facebook.

The jolly old elf angle is where I've been connected as a participant over the past several years, therefore, reports like this cause my antenna to go up when I read about matters that will impact the season. I do enjoy keeping up with family and friends on Facebook. The other day my nephew put a photo up of the individual serve container of Community he had enjoyed when they visited us. He had taken the photo because he didn't want to forget exactly which one it was. Why? Because it was sooooo gooooood! I don't think he spelled it exactly like that but that was the gist of his sentiment. He put that photo up on Facebook and that made me to know that my work on behalf of Community has not been in vain. That's the good stuff on Facebook. The huge number of folks who play games on Facebook, well, I, for one, could do without knowing anything about their scores, their invitations for me to play, and any of the other jargon forth and back between them and their fellow players. I have never played even one. Period. They say that playing electronic games are good for older folks to keep your mind active. My wife will soon be a genius. She plays games on her computer tablet until she gets tired and then she grabs hold of her smart phone and plays some more. I look for both devices to soon be smoking from the overload. Then we will have to sit in the smoking section. Life can be tough folks. Tough indeed!

I do appreciate those who hang in there with me each day. I get feedback from time to time. I suppose one of the things I enjoy most is to hear that something I wrote about triggered a special memory for someone. I know how that feels because often that is exactly my thoughts as I share. Special people. Special times. Special memories. For the most part they reflect the ordinary living of life but looking back they become a source of sweet remembrance. I have known folks who want to never remember even a single recollection from their past. I don't know what all they had gone through but I do know that must be a very sad situation. Sad indeed! It causes me to be thankful for those crammed files stacked up on top of each other and filled with mental images, facts, funnies, and yes, sad times as well, those that clutter up this old mind of mine. Maybe that's why some people think of my mind as if it was a minefield. Now I understand. Proceed with caution. Thanks for helping me to clear that one up. Have yourself a wonderful Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. If all goes according to plan, Lord willing, I'll catch up with you on Monday here at the ole blogger fence row where we can chat forth and back. May God bless each one. Amen.   ....More later.

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby." ~ Langston Hughes, Poet and Writer, (1902-1967)

Already? Sure is. It's Thursday, May 29, 2014. On Memorial Day we returned home from our eldest son's house in a very steady downpour. We saw children out playing in the rain just like we did when we were kids. Old school all the way Baby! We also saw folks walking from wherever they had been to wherever they were headed, ever so slowly. All were enjoying the wet stuff falling from the sky. It conjured up in my mind that great scene where Gene Kelly dances as seen in the 1952 classic, "Singin in the Rain." Why is everyone so ecstatic about some raindrops? The old saying about not missing the water until the well runs dry might apply. After several years of near drought conditions, well, we have good reason to be thankful for this refreshing change of pace. We are not glad to see cars flooded out in intersections or homes with water creeping ever so close, but, we know the land we live on needs nourishment too. And, where I live it would be nice to see the sprinklers get a few days of vacation every now and then. We will probably have to add staff when the wife is away because she has our place looking so nice I wouldn't want to even think about something happening to any of it while she was away. I think you can see what I am talking about. Bottom line, praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Amen and Amen.

There's always some downside to almost everything. Right? Isn't that the way it works in life? The wife, she was so thrilled by the rain she went out to the garage and sat there in a chair enjoying the heavenly sight and sound effects show. After maybe 15 minutes she came running in and jumped into her recliner and covered up saying it had turned cold and she couldn't take it anymore. Turned cold? I could hear Paw Paw Mac quizzing me as I sat on that deer stand with my teeth chattering, "Son, 'whatcha gonna do' when it really gets cold?" But, I didn't offer to share that little insight with her. Speaking of stuff that really gets your goat, I returned to work Tuesday morning and opened my email, only to find a one day 25% off with free shipping included on Community Coffee. There was only one problem with the one day program. The one day was Monday and best I could tell, having taken leave of checking emails over the holiday, well, I too got a little chilly feeling, all over more than anywhere else. Aw man, I hate it when that happens! One day....my foot! Sorry. I wouldn't get out of control for too many things but Community is obviously one of them. You do know I am mostly joking. Mostly. Isn't 25% still 1/4 of the total cost? Just checking. New math and all. Please. No sympathy cards. I'm almost over it already. Almost.

Note to self: Try not to let that happen again. Here's one for you: A woman was walking down the street. Without warning, she was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked her for a couple of dollars for dinner. The woman took out her bill fold, extracted ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy some wine with it instead of dinner?" "No, I had to stop drinking years ago" the homeless woman replied."Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?" the woman asked. "No, I don't waste time shopping, the homeless woman said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive." "Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?" the woman asked. "Are you NUTS!" replied the homeless woman. "I haven't had my hair done In 20 years!" "Well," said the woman, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my hubby and myself tonight." The homeless woman was astounded. "Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting." The woman replied, "That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and wine." I guess that's what one would call an object lesson. Take care. See you next time, and may God bless each one. Amen.  ....More later.

"He's so old....he dreams in black and white!" Anonymous

Hello and welcome. It's Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Here's a strange little tidbit for our area. We've only had one day that hit 90° thus far this year and that was back in April. They tell us this is very different than what we would typically experience by this time of the year. But, not to fear, we have plenty of those sweltering days coming to a homestead near you and they have been working out so they can be fully able to do their thing. They are predicted to get themselves kicked up in earnest by the end of this week. Our aging A/C system must have heard about it because he has requested a handicap parking permit. I was thinking about all that relaxation I did over the holiday weekend but remembered a few of the things we did do. I prepared a Bible lesson for my class and did some other miscellaneous office stuff. We went walking at the big mall. While we were there we met some fellow walkers that we have known for thirty plus years. They used to be in our Church for many years and are a very special couple to us. We hugged and visited. Time well spent. We participated in and enjoyed a wonderful Lord's Day Sunday alongside our brothers and sisters in our local fellowship of believers. Ate out together. We fixed or fixed at the bottom of the piano stool for the umpteenth time. We bought the piano back in 1968. We attended an impromptu luncheon on Memorial Day with our eldest son and his family. This included spending time with all of his clan highlighted by our great grand Madi girl. Went to the grocery store. My wife likes to go places and do things. She remarked on Saturday that we were just sitting around and doing nothing, growing older by the minute. Maybe she was thinking about this funny from the late Art Linkletter, "The four stages of man are infancy, childhood, adolescence, and obsolescence."

I don't know about obsolete but I most often do feel that I am out of touch. It's as if I have greatly exceeded by 'use by date'. The young folks of today, Generation Y, are called Millennials. They follow the Generation X kids. (And, they are already looking at the projected characteristics of the Z Generation coming to families near you.) These millennial kids have different views than their parents, their grandparents, and very much disconnect from their great grands. Why so? The raising of this generation has emphasized through all forms of media a more liberal view of all things in life. They are more likely to embrace and support behaviors and lifestyles that still cause their grandparents to blush. The Internet, computer based video games, social media, smart phone technologies, and all the other sources that keeps them plugged in and busy 24x7 have promoted this amazing transformation. It's hard for us older folks to grasp the magnitude of this sea change that has swept through the cultural landscape of our nation. Folks in Churches are scratching their heads regarding ways to reach out to these free spirits. Some have decided that compromise is the best approach. For me, I choose to believe that God and His Word of salvation through Jesus Christ is still their only hope, just like it is my only hope. Just like it is your only hope. That's the only timeless truth to every generation that can transform from the inside out! Amen.

I also am reminded that we as believers are challenged to live a life of love that can be seen by others. Doing so will give us standing that will allow us to share our faith. When we do share, it is God's work to deal with the heart. We have plenty to stay busy with just doing our part. Often these younger generations see the contradictions and hypocrisy that at times define our lives. They use that as an excuse for dismissing our beliefs and values. They are often correct in their reading of our failures, however, that does not change the truth, and we should prayerfully seek to do all we can, admitting our faults, while doing our best to point them to the God who loves them and will not let them down. It's easy for us to just look the other way and mutter our disgust under our breath. We are prone to do this because we can't fathom the crazy hairdos and colors, the clothes, the tattoos, the metal in their ears, noses, lips, tongues, and who knows where else. I suppose the best thing for you and I to remember is no matter what anyone looks like, God loves them all the same, and wants them to be His very own. Tough challenge for us older folks? You better believe it! Worth it? Absolutely, because we need to always remember their days are numbered just like ours. May God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

“The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it.” — Henry David Thoreau

I can hear that lonesome whippoorwill and today he is tweeting out a John Denver classic, "Ain't it good to be back home again." That's a little of how I feel, coming off a three day holiday, as I am sitting down to finish up and send out my daily dispatch. It's back to the scene of the blog incubator and I send out a welcome to one and all on this Tuesday, May 27, 2014. I watched the President's televised statement on the developing Veterans Administration scandal last Wednesday. If that was how the man responds when he is livid, well, he did a real good job of covering up the heat. Essentially, he said they were investigating and he would await the results. It was a pretty pitiful response if you ask me. For the most part the mainstream press bought it. The next day I checked the online front pages of the ten most prominent newspapers. Only two of them even mentioned the scandal on their front page. The NY Times' mention was only to point to an editorial where it appeared to be mostly focused on how the Republicans and others were geared up to use this for political advantage. I thought it was about delivering care to those who have honorably served our nation. What entitles me to speak on the subject? I actually worked for the VA back in the mid 1960's. I was directly involved in the process of clearing veterans for examination and treatment. It was extremely political back then and obviously the more things change the more they stay the same or maybe they even become more so. This administration made fixing the VA a top priority. The Congress gave them the money. After five years they have literally run out of people to blame although the tone of the President's comments appeared to be still trying. Incompetence is a kind word because intentional negligence that hastened the death of individual service men and women, well, that my friend is both unconscionable and criminal. They've worn out a lot of brooms but they might have run out of rugs to sweep stuff under this time. (I cannot blame anyone other than myself as I am 100% responsible for the foregoing commentary.)

I often tell people that having lost our dad so early (1954) and with mom and the six of us having to move from Texas to Louisiana where we grew up like we did, well, you just have to know that we were in many respects, pitiful. You know. The "Bless their hearts" kind of pitiful. Yet, I cannot for the life of me remember feeling that way. The photo is from a class picture made when I was in the 4th Grade. My teacher had actually also taught my mom and the rest of her siblings. If I had something not to be smiling about I suppose I must not have gotten the memo. Look at those iron-on patches on my jeans. Look at those toe scuffed shoes. Look at my cowboy shirt. I could just as easily have been a stand in for Opie himself. Don't get me wrong. I had my fair share of problems because during class I would rather have been sketching and drawing than tending to business. Sure. I was aware of the fact that mom was struggling to earn a living and take care of us. But she never made that a burden for us kids. The entire community seemed to me to be on our side. I do remember some specific events between myself and particular teachers. They would make for some good stories but rather than ruin your opinion of me, I'll just keep them to myself at this time. And, please don't send any comments about my ears. They were like that 'the better to hear you my dear'.

We were able to enjoy a very restful three day holiday and this was a tremendous blessing. It was, as they say, just what the doctor ordered. The wife asked if I was trying to catch up on my sleep because I did do some serious napping off and on during our time together. Sorry Paw Paw Mac, but I was for way too many hours laid up like a pack of sleeping dogs. Sure, I know you can't recover lost sleep but there is this recharging of the batteries that can give a boost. Therefore, I am refreshed and ready, thankful for the rain, thankful for the Community, thankful for the day that is before me, and ready to get after it. Our visiting preacher on Sunday said that he often says, "It is what it is." He said his wife was not that keen on that saying. There I was thinking that phrase was mine but folks, no matter what we are dealing with, it is good to know that with God's help we can do what we can do and He will help us all along the way. What's that? This refreshment probably won't last long? I'm aware of that because I've been there and done that too. However, we can be thankful for how God provides, period. Have yourself a wonderful Tuesday which is Monday for many of us and be sure to remember to thank God for His abiding love and presence. Amen.   ....More later.

"The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree." ~ Thomas Campbell, Scottish Poet, (1877-1844)

Welcome back. It's another one of those most dreaded days of the week, Monday, and this one happens to fall on May 26, 2014. They are usually not dreaded by me. I suppose I deduce that if you are able to get up, able to get your stuff together, and able to go, well, you have something, not to dread, but to be thankful for. That's how I see it. But this particular Monday is very special indeed. It's a national holiday where we pause to recognize and pay homage to the memory of those of our military services who have given their lives for the cause of liberty around the world. Memorial Day. I remember some by name who paid the ultimate price. I thank God for their sacrifice. That cartoon well speaks to what our freedoms are all about. We are free to enjoy a barbecue cookout or travel to visit friends or family. We are also aware of the fact that these freedoms did not come without a cost. So, whatever you happen to be doing today to enjoy our freedoms I suggest that we all take a moment, perhaps a brief time out, to remember and thank our God for His provisions and for those who have shed their blood for the cause of liberty. Amen.

"The mainstream media has its own agenda. They do not want to print the facts. They have an agenda, they have a slant, they have a bias. It is outrageous to me." Curt Weldon, Former Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania

Hello to one and all, those who are here intentionally, and those through a misguided keystroke end up here as an accidental tourist. It is Friday, May 23, 2014 and I'm still overloaded with my opinion container overflowing. There was a heated recent furor that came about because an influential Republican power broker mentioned that Hillary Clinton may have suffered brain damage when she hit her head in her fall last year. This was enough to start a nuclear war with the mainstream press. How dare him even suggest such a thought? Even if she does have continuing issues, what a despicable and wretched slime drenched sorry excuse for a human being to even breathe a word about it. They showed up armed and ready to defend their chosen candidate. It was interesting to observe all of this. Enter the scene one Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential candidate. She wrote an editorial piece about how she agreed that this was inappropriate conjecture. However, she wondered out loud where the mainstream media concern was when they themselves literally trashed her, her family, and even went after her mentally challenged child. They were not the ones responding to the suggestions of others. They had been the perpetrators of the slime job done on her. Yet, here's what they want us to believe: There's no double standard folks and while you are at it, pay no attention to the man behind the screen. That's right. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."

Don't get the idea I am a big Sarah Palin supporter. I'm not. But, in this case, she is absolutely right and it's out there for everyone to see, that is, if they are willing to open their eyes. I read through a list of 51 TV programs that will not be returning next year. Some of them have been on for 12 or more years. While I recognized several of them by name, we are not watchers of any of them. There you go. It's hard to be disappointed when they cancel programs you never even watched. Now if they go off the reservation and start messing with the country/bluegrass/polka/gospel music on RFDTV, well, I would be frothing at the mouth. If they start fiddling with the reruns of the reruns of the reruns of COPS, First 48, Duck Dynasty, Snapped, Solved, NCIS, Mayberry RFD, and other such notable entertainment programming, we might just throw ourselves a little fit. It just dawned on me. You can't watch those programs they are cancelling if you mostly watch reruns on Satellite. See how I figured that out? Not bad for a first year baby boomer. What say you?

Sometimes you just need one. A combination of factors add fuel to that sudden onset force. It tracks you down and sometimes, without warning, grabs hold and will not let you go. I'm talking about the need for a quick restorative nap. I typically have some Community along with me as I drive here and there across the highways and byways of life. If not Community I have a trusty Rockstar Sugar Free Energy Drink along for the ride. (My dad keeps me supplied with cans of these very helpful alertness aids.) The other day I had made a long trip. I had not taken either of my traveling liquids along. I came up to a turn signal. It's a long wait. I knew that. So, I waited. Next thing I know I was aroused from my slumber and the car sitting next to me had two ladies laughing out loud, mouths open, I suppose as in LOL. I don't know what they saw but it must have been my head on my chest as I rested my eyes ever so briefly. I waved at them and made my turn onto my street. The horns had not cranked up behind me, therefore, I knew I had not been out very long. At least somebody thought it was funny. It reminded me of the importance of that slogan, "Don't leave home without it." Old people. We are a funny lot. Life is still working to teach me things I need to know. But, I assume it's doing the same for you as well. I wonder how many times those ladies have told that story. I'm glad they didn't put it on YouTube. Now, you folks take care, have a great Saturday, and a wonderful Lord's Day Sunday, and, for me, I will attempt to be bright eyed and bushy tailed come next Monday. May God bless each one! Amen.   ....More later.

"Today there are about 40 million retirees receiving benefits; by the time all the baby boomers have retired, there will be more than 72 million retirees drawing Social Security benefits." ~ Tony Snow

We're at it again. It's Thursday, May 22, 2014 and the baby boomers are making loud noise again. My status may not be as solidified since I am in the first year class of those who make up this important designated population group. Maybe I am more of a 'early boomer' than the main group. A recent study indicated that here in our nation, folks 50 and older contribute 50% of the purchasing that is done. According to a recent report the boomers are somewhat different than those who preceded them. They are up in arms about any connotation that reflects their aging status. They detest the term, 'senior citizen' and they abhor anything that has the word elderly in it. Advertisers and others are taking notice since this target audience will dictate huge sales for years to come. They don't want to be given information about aging gracefully or hear things about their golden years. Essentially, they demand to be treated as any other person with their age not being a part of the consideration. I'm not sure I can really feel their pain because many of the programs we watch run commercials that are obviously targeted at the high end of the age category. You know the ones. They may be for this, that, or the other product but they mostly have the same type of scenario of the one where the elderly lady cries out, "I've fallen and I can't get up." We may not be those who are so easily offended but the good news is how that we can still chuckle when those types of ads are run. Better to laugh. At least for now. While we still can.

Abraham

I'm not sure why I'm not personally offended by the elder care talk but perhaps once you've played Santa without a need for makeup, (except for the belly padding), well, I suppose all bets are off. A younger fellow I stood beside in choir for several years recently returned and attended our services after being away for many years. He told me that while so many others within the fellowship had changed so much, it appeared to him that I always look the same. I thought about that. I wear a bright white beard. Does this mean I have looked old for a long time? Should I care? Not really. I decided to interpret it as a compliment and move on down the road. Maybe he was like the lady I saw that had not seen me in a couple of years whose first thought was that I must be playing Father Abraham in a play or something. At least they care enough to comment. And, I see that as a good thing because God has allowed those folks and so many others to be a part of this journey. I suppose that's better than the fellow who said he never wanted to believe his dad stole from his job as a road builder worker, but, when he got home all the signs were there.

I thought I would add a little humor. I know. I know. All the signs were there. It was very little humor but I needed something to kick it up just a tad. Sometimes the jokes about old people get a little old, if you know what I mean. Someone asked if protocol allowed them to throw vitamins instead of rice for a couple in their 80's who were getting married. Not very funny. I heard about the two elderly ladies who had been best friends for years. One day as they sat on a park bench, one of them said to the other, "This is so embarrassing, but I can't for the life of me remember your name." The other lady glared at her for several minutes and finally came back with, "How soon do you need to know?" Not very funny. This is what we have to look forward to. Old people jokes. Maybe I should try to get in with that bunch of boomers who are so easily offended. Maybe not. Y'all take care and I'll try to come up with a better joke next time I choose to share one. May God bless us all is my prayer. Amen.   ...More later.

"The result is accelerated movement in the direction of a post-American world in which a growing number of decisions are made and actions taken with reduced regard for U.S. preferences and interests. Such a world promises to be messier and less supportive of American interests." Richard N. Haas, President, Council on Foreign Relations

Good morning and welcome to this portion where time and space are both used up and shared, in a manner of speaking. Or something like that. It is Wednesday, May 21, 2014, and I've taken a seat in my Monday morning quarterback chair to look at an area of political happenings where my gut told me, "I could have guessed this to be the outcome." I'm talking about way back when this President decided to no longer launch our own spaceships as a way of saving budget dollars he wanted to spend on other projects. To replace our autonomy in this area he consigned our nation to being dependent upon others, primarily Russia, for getting our astronauts to and from the Space Station. I'm not into I told you so on this one but I want everyone to know that the very day when we did this it put a knot in my belly. (I wrote blogs about this back in 2011.) Okay. Cut to the chase. Today we have the Soviets on the move. They are up to their old habits and we are mostly making noise about it but as a result they are threatening to cut off our access to launch capabilities. Why in heaven's name would the United States of America ever, and I do mean ever, put our men and women in jeopardy by becoming dependent on a totalitarian regime for support services? If someone uninformed as I am could see this coming, then how in the world did the supposed geniuses who run our government not know this could happen? Think about it. You should. We all should. What a mess folks. What a mess!

Last Saturday I went to see our niece play basketball in a club tournament here in our area. She is a small town Louisiana high school freshman or should that be fresh-person, and she has potential for college basketball, thus, she is doing double duty by playing for her school and in doing club ball. Her club is from deep in the heart of Cajun country, therefore, she is like a transplant from a different world, just 100 miles away. They loaded up and came to Texas looking to hone their skills. I'm guessing that the last live girl's basketball game I saw was back when I was in high school. That's when they played half court style. Many of the girls from that era looked more like beauty queens than athletes. (Sorry, but the recollections of a 16 year old boy might be somewhat tainted.) At any rate, they now play full court, full contact, and full slam, bam, thank you mam! The game I saw last Saturday looked more like a roller derby match. The Texas team they drew came ready for a street brawl. Not dirty. Just hard nosed aggressive get in there and take the ball away basketball. It was quite a display and it sure was different from my younger age recollection. In fact, they could have used a boxing scorer to keep up with the number of punches landed. I suppose the good news is how that everyone learned something, including me. Isn't that what they always say?

You don't have to write me and tell me that I am a throw back. I plead guilty by origination, association, and any other connections that might apply. It's not that I am opposed to much that truly supports equality but to me there's a large portion of the political correctness stuff that mostly makes you want to throw up. The craziness that attempts to wipe out any and all differences between male and female, well, to me, it's not only foolish but it's also demeaning to all involved. Here's the deal. Whatever is done should be pursued with the Creator's vision in mind. Or, that's the way I see it. If God is who He has revealed Himself to be, and He is, then His plans and purposes for all people is best, period, end of story. I know. That's considered un-enlightened, backward, and archaic. That might just be a pretty decent description of yours truly. Or a facsimile thereof. We all are entitled to our views. Right? Well, that's the way it used to be. Take care and may that same Creator God provide for each one as we seek to serve Him. Amen. ...More later.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." ~ William Shakespeare

It's Tuesday, the 20th of May, in the year of 2014, and I'm still hanging out here at the old keyboard, squirting keystrokes up on the screen. Put a few up there, take them down, change them around, still didn't help. Figure out a way to come at it from a different angle. No luck there either. The spell checker is getting real aggravated because he thinks some of my words are wrong. Who died and left him in charge, anyway? Don't worry. I do let him know what I think about it too. You can be sure of that. Whew, I do feel a little relief. I looked over the most popular baby names from 2013 here in the state of Texas and I was so glad that Bubba did not make the list. We might be making a little progress here in the lone star state. Many of the names chosen by parents come from the Bible. They may have had a celebrity in mind but Matthew, Mark, Jacob, David, Abigail, Sarah, and many others on the list have Hebrew and biblical roots. I remember telling a little guy one time how that his name had special meaning in the Bible and his eyes got big and he went looking for his parents to tell them. Hopefully they knew that. They do now.

We had our annual close out of the Bible Club ministry at our local fellowship of believers this past Sunday evening. There's something special about seeing children grow and develop with the Bible as their base. Our club features game time and other fun activities but the core is learning God's Word through memorization and in doing service projects that reflect Christian service. We don't have any of our own grand kids in this program but there's something so very special about being a part of a local fellowship over a long period of time. All the kids end up being our kids. That's right. We watch them grow up and we share in their lives and in the lives of their families. We see them become fully capable of taking their training from club off to college and eventually into the work place. As they are recognized for their hard work, we feel a sense of parental pride because these are God's children and they are precious to Him and we are so privileged to be a part of His plan and purpose for them. Amen.

Things like that celebration bring renewed understanding of that pop song from yesteryear: We Are Family. I've been called a local Church fanatic but here's how I see it. God designed and brought into existence His way for how men, women, boys, and girls can best function in this life. That includes His local called out assembly, that which we call Church. Since I'm stuck up here on my soap box I want to finish up with this Gaither song that explains it in a way that does put it all together:

The Family of God

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.

From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God


Yes. You can be a part of the family of God without being tied to a local fellowship of believers. That's a wonderful blessing that comes to each individual who are saved by the blood of Jesus. However, His best life for us all includes us connecting into His plan for how we can best live. That includes our being a part of a local New Testament Assembly. Sure. There are ups and downs in any local congregation. What would one expect? We are family, after all. Okay. Enough preaching for one day but I commend you to think seriously about this great provision from the very mind and heart of our great God. Amen.   ....More later.

"People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." ~ Will Rogers

I'm not angry this morning. How about you? It's Monday, May 19, 2014 and I'm thinking about a subject we've probably all witnessed a time or two in our lives, road rage. I was not surprised that in a study published last week, the Houston area turned out to be number one in the potential for road rage incidents in the nation. If I were to be called as a witness I'm pretty sure I could give some insights into what happens most of the time when I'm out there. Very frequently we hear the lead story on the TV news and it opens like this, "Another injury reported today after drivers got into it out on the freeway." The published report stated that Houston drivers are most likely to cut off other vehicles, slam on their brakes, and talk on their phones. The other least courteous cities are New York, Atlanta, Dallas and Baltimore. Portland, Oregon was scored as having the most courteous drivers. I might have to visit Portland just to see that. I suppose the big question is why. One guess in the report was the sheer number of folks who have moved into the Houston area. There are 138,000 additional drivers in this area since the previous survey was completed. Some would say it's the condition of the roadways. My take: Cowboy mentality, jacked-up trucks, too many people who were never taught manners, and folks strung so tight you could play a banjo tune on them. However, there are some days and under certain circumstances when I, you, or anyone else just might be inclined to play our own version of the road rage boogie. Think about it.

If you have read my blogs for any length of time then you know that I do care about accuracy. Content might be lacking most of the time and grammar, well, it might be all over the place, but, I do like to get the words right. I have a team of proof readers who work with me to try and make sure accuracy happens on a consistent basis. The team unfortunately does not always function as it should. The team consists of: Me, Myself, and I. I do know that Eddie Haskell did his smooching up to the Cleavers, not the Beavers, as I had it in last week's little story. I got it right in the caption on the photo but had a hiccup in the body of the text. I thank my wife for letting me know because I always try to correct the original which resides out there somewhere on that giant digital information highway. Believe me, I will be dealing with this issue again, at our next staff meeting. You can be sure the proof reading team will get their own private version of road rage.

Let me close with a little more insight into this road rage situation. I've ridden with folks who get themselves into a frenzy just looking for an incident where they can let it all out. They are wired up before they ever hit the freeway. Here's the deal. My belief is that if you are predisposed to snapping when something you don't like happens on the roadway, well, something you don't like will always happen, every single time. Not being predisposed to find fault and instead going out there with an attitude that you are not going to be bothered by traffic issues is the best way that I know of to have a good experience, and it might just keep you off the evening TV news telecast. Let me repeat this truth. There will be something that you do not like in traffic every single time you get out there. That, my friend, is the reality. Being prayed up and positive will help us to change this less than flattering distinction about our area. Until next time, drive carefully and spend time in prayer. That will always help. Amen.   ...More later.

"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." ~ Albert Einstein

You just never know what you might run into here at the ole blogger ranch. The other day someone was telling me they had learned something they had never known by reading one of my daily episodes. My advice is to always fact check everything, regardless of its source. It's Friday, May 16, 2014 and I'm trying to figure out, even at this late date, just what it would take to make me smarter. I read about a fellow up in Washington State who was attacked outside a bar a few years ago. He received a severe beating by two robbers. He had gone into the karaoke bar as an 'average Joe' but upon leaving, his life was forever changed. After recovering from his injuries and leaving the hospital, he suffered from the results of a severe concussion and he had to deal with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, he also awakened from his ordeal as a mathematical genius. He suddenly was able to see the entire world through the lens of geometry, fractals, and mathematical structures. Through his trauma he had unlocked a part of his brain that brought on this monumental transformation. It's a rare but recognized outcome called acquired savant syndrome. He had struggled to make it through Pre-Algebra in college, now he is finishing his degree where he will specialize in number theory. Here's my take. My grandfather was on to something. Why else would he advise me on more than one occasion, "Come over here and I'll knock some sense into your head." Who knew? I guess he did. No. I'm not looking for volunteers to knock my head around and remember it is very rare.

How rare? No more than 25 cases have ever been reported on in the medical world. Sadly, this individual's new found intelligence comes with a lot of baggage since his mental stability is questionable and he finds it very difficult to go anywhere that people congregate. It seems that in life it's always something. That too is a part of making it in this old world. Hopefully he can utilize this unexpected skill to make a contribution. That leaves me to wonder about myself. I suppose I will have to take what I have and do the best I can with it because I'm certainly not wanting to try out the severe beating to see if I come out smarter approach. And, by the way, using what we have is all we are required to do. I remember a fellow telling me one time that if he had a huge amount of money he would take care of a significant need in our local fellowship. I told him that all he needed to do was what he could do based on his ability and if everyone did that, well, we would make progress. I don't really know where it came from at the time but I've often thought that it was pretty good advice even if I was the one giving it. The worst thing we can do is to overstate our poverty because most of us can typically do much more than we might think if we put our hearts and minds to it. Amen.

I suppose I am ending the week waxing somewhat philosophical, that is, if I am even capable of doing so. I'll have to get back to you on that one. It's been a good week. Cooler air came to town and on behalf of myself and the Community Coffee Company I just want to thank the good Lord for His provision. I'll take mid forties in mid May anytime they can be arranged. That calls for a celebration. Another cup sounds good to me. Please don't report me to the caffeine abuse people. To be honest I've already got enough to say grace over on my plate. But, I know you do too. You do too. I occasionally deal with an older lady who still carries a slight accent from the old country. (Maybe Greece.) She and her family are wonderful people who have built a very successful business. When we conclude our conversation and I tell her to have a nice day, she always sings back to me in her beautiful lilt as if it is one word, "You-do-too!" Enjoy your Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. I'll try to do the same. "You-do-too!"      ....More later.

Sweet memories!

"What could I do, Kayla got the drop on me!"

Good morning class and welcome to another episode of our long running series entitled "You've got to be kidding me. Right?" Thanks for showing up. I bid you welcome to today where we are dealing with Thursday, May 15, 2014. We always remember those near and dear to us on their birthday. Today we are thinking about our baby sister Kayla. Today would have been her 62nd birthday had she lived. She was promoted to heaven back in 1979. One thing I know for certain. Kayla would be proud of the family she left behind. She left behind a testimony and a prayer for them. We can see God's grace at work in her three girls who have all flourished and are very productive in their chosen professions. I am very happy to report that her Spiritual heritage is alive and well. She was not around as long as many but her life counted. It counted to us who were a part of her family and it counted to many that she witnessed to before her departure. What kind of impact? Time and eternity. Happy Birthday Sweetie! We have not forgotten.

Too morbid? Not to me. Sweet. Very sweet indeed. God made those tear ducts for a reason. I've heard about this song many times but never really paid attention to it. It's entitled 'Tears Are A Language'

Often you wonder why tears come into your eyes
And burdens seem to be much more than you can stand
But God is standing near
He sees your falling tear
Tears are a language God understands

God sees the tears of a broken hearted soul
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall
God weeps along with man and takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands

When grief has left you low
It causes tears to flow
And things have not turned out
The way that you have planned
But God won’t forget you
His promises are true
Tears are a language God understands

God sees the tears of a broken hearted soul
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall
God weeps along with man and takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands

The good news is how that mourning turns to joy when we grasp the fact that at the moment of death our Kayla realized the fulness of the object of her faith. Let us not forget that this old world is not our home and we, as those who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on our behalf, we will one day live forever in His presence. While theologians argue this that and the other about exactly what that means, folks like me take heart in the Holy Spirit inspired words from the Apostle Paul,"...we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." (2nd Corinthians 5:8) May we all live with this hope as a priority focus of day by day living. How? The writer of the Book of Hebrews put it this way: "...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Chapter 12, Verse 2) I can hear Kayla saying, "Amen brother, Amen."    ....More later.

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven." George Bernard Shaw

Good morning out there in blogger-world, it's good to make contact with you on this Wednesday, May 14, 2014. This is a personal blog, therefore, I do write quite often about personal things, especially things like my family. We have a remarkable blended family. Mom and dad will, in a few months, celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary. When we had the big blowout for mom's 90th birthday our big blended family came together to honor her. My step dad who is truly my dad was well represented by his own kids and their kids. The photo shows mom and dad and his entourage who helped make her day so special. These folks are our family as much as if they carried our blood. I know how easy it is to sound like I'm bragging but I think the word blessed is more appropriate. These two families came together nearly 37 years ago and we've stuck together throughout these years. Through thick and thin. When our brother Donald passed away, I conducted his service and Victor, dad's son, our brother, read the obituary and made remarks. You hear the word blended tossed about a lot today, but, I might just be tempted to use the word fused instead. Don't really know how it happened but it did and we are the better for it and we thank God for these wonderful members of our family. Amen.

I've been thinking about sending those folks a shout out for the past several days. And, let me say this about that. Folks, if you have something you want to say to someone, don't wait until you get around to it. Why? Well, we all know how temporary this life is and how that on any given day things can change dramatically. The old saying comes to mind. "Give me my flowers now while I can still smell them." I have tried to practice that to some degree over the years. When you sit down and think about others in your family and those outside who have contributed to your life, a fellow like me can stay busy just passing out thanks. One thing is sure. You will never regret showing gratitude to those who have been special to you in your life. On the flip side, there are some I wish I had said more to before they left this life. I'm not preaching a message today, just passing on some little bit of what I have learned in this life. And, while I am thinking about it, thanks for tuning in, thanks for the encouragement I receive in this little daily writing exercise, and thanks for just being there. Amen.

"That's a lovely dress you're wearing, Mrs. Cleaver."

Of course it has to be sincere. Have you ever noticed how even a little kid can spot a phony a mile off? We all have been around folks who shower others with eloquent praise as more of a sales job than it coming from the heart. We've always called it the Eddie Haskell treatment in our home. You remember Eddie, don't you? He was the friend of Wally Beaver who always went overboard in his flowery words to Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver, while Wally and the Beav knew him to be a little devil at heart. (The parents knew that as well.) Okay. It doesn't work well if you've never watched Leave It To Beaver. We did. Our boys did. Guess what? When we or they bump into someone that is obviously smooching up in fake ways to others, well, we and they still call them Eddie Haskell, regardless of them being male or female. Point? Don't be an Eddie. Mean it from your heart. And if you have it in your heart, well, share it. It will do you good and those you recognize will be lifted up. That's a good thing! Amen.   ....More later.

Small victories are worth celebrating too!

I come to you today with a thankful heart. That would be a correct reading of how I feel on this Tuesday, May 13, 2014. It is only 2 tenths but I'm pleased as I can be. My Diabetic A1c number has been trending in the wrong direction over the last year. Anything under 7.0 is considered to be within the targeted range of control. Over the past seven or eight years I have had it as low as 6.3 but recently it had increased to 6.8. That's too close for comfort, as they say. However, my test last week showed that it was back down to 6.6. That was enough for me to do a quick victory lap, at least mentally, and to pause and thank God for this positive change. I really like my current primary care doc who specializes in diabetes but he can be rather passive about it all. The note he sent me on the test results went like this: 'Diabetes is better.' Ask anybody who has this disease about how easy it is to move that needle in a positive direction, any at all, period, and then you will understand why I am feeling thankful. I desire to have it back near or under the 6.5 range and will continue to do my best to do what I can in making choices that help support this effort. Just 2 tenths folks and I know that sounds insignificant, but, that's a result worthy of a hallelujah, praise the Lord! Amen.

It's the good ole summertime and professional baseball is in full swing. Our local team, the Houston Astros, well, they continue to be in a rebuilding mode. They are currently in last place with a percentage of something like winning 3 out of every 10 games. (I could have said a percentage of losing 7 out of every ten games but I wanted to stay positive.) I admire those diehard fans who continue to support them hoping that someday they will turn it around. The Texans football team are coming off a woeful 2 win versus 14 loss season, however, they did get to pick first in last week's college draft. The giant of a fellow they chose has given a glimmer of hope in there somewhere. The Rockets basketball team made it to the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round. The Houston Dynamo professional soccer team is mired in the middle of their 10 team division. Like I say, there's just not a lot to write home about when it comes to the professional sports teams in our area. But, you can purchase your Astros Santa figurine if you are already thinking about Christmas because there's only about 225 days before the big day arrives.

I came in this morning in a pouring down rain. I really needed a car wash. It had rained most of the night, therefore, there was quite a bit of water standing here and there. In spots it was raining really hard. You know. The kind of rain that makes it difficult to see no matter how you set the wipers. I'm usually somewhere, give or take a few minutes, running near the same schedule every morning. I suppose that's why the coyote and I saw each other so frequently as he was punching out and I was on my way to punching in. Sadly, I think he might have ended up getting too close and personal with another driver because I haven't seen him at his usual crossing place for the past two or three months. But I did see the runner this morning. I've been seeing this guy, maybe in his fifties now, for the last five or more years. He is faithful and committed and he didn't make an exception for the rain this morning. That's what I call devotion. I always try to give him plenty of room and I don't think he has ever tipped his little hat to me but he did have plenty of water running off of it today. There's a potential for some flash flooding in our area but there's no way we will not be thankful for this much needed nourishing of our land. Have a great day and don't forget to watch out for the coyotes and the joggers. May God bless each one. Amen.  ...More later.

One fellow's observation: "Why do women live longer than men? Shopping never causes heart attacks, but paying the bills does."

We must be in a hurry to get to wherever it is that we are going. I was getting my thoughts together and generally thinking about 2014 and suddenly I find that we are already here at this particular Monday and it turns out to be May 12, 2014. The word blur comes to mind. Already? But, here we are and it is what we have to work with, therefore, we best get on with it. I read last week where a fellow living in Manhattan, New York was declared the world's oldest living man. He just celebrated his 111th birthday. The world's oldest living man. That's quite an accomplishment but doesn't it rile you a little that they always have to add something to the story. Just so you know, there just happens to be 66 ladies who are older than this newly installed world's oldest man. Couldn't they let the old dude enjoy his momentary crown without qualifying it with that kind of statistical information? Here's another little tidbit. His predecessor almost rained on his parade but just before the then ruling champion reached number 112, he said his last goodbyes to this old world. We all get it. Ladies live longer. In fact, on average, by quite a few years. It's okay. Just don't make such a big deal out of it. Please. If you don't I promise not to make a big deal out of you making a big deal out of it. Thanks. Fair enough.

I have no idea when the madness will stop but we are living in a vortex of craziness where the political correctness is entirely off the rails. Up in Minnesota, a representative rammed through a bill to change the technical name of a fish. Asian Carp were brought into our country to deal with specific issues but now they are taking over our lakes and rivers. They have become known as an invading species. This state official believes that the negative connotation of having the name Asian associated with this fish might, just might, offend someone, therefore, they passed a bill to rename it Invading Carp. A recent survey indicated that those who support the current administration respond in the affirmative when asked if they thought not liking Mexican food was racist. If that doesn't take the cake, well, here's another one. During a particular school observance where Hispanic students were celebrating Cinco de Mayo (5th of May, a Mexican victory over the French Army), other students requested but were prohibited from showing any signs of patriotism for the United States of America. No shirts, no hats, and certainly no American flags because it could be considered as offensive and potentially could have led to a confrontation. I don't have a problem with folks celebrating holidays as they so choose but I ask you one more time: What country is it that we are living in, anyway?

We did have ourselves a wonderful mom's day celebration in our family. It included recognizing all the moms who are so very special to us, having a time of fellowship and feasting, and, our thanking God for all that they have done for each of us. I asked my wife, who is the mother of our children, what she wanted me to buy for her to honor her on mothers day. She reminded me that she was not my mother. That was an accurate representation of the facts. I might have considered leaving it there, but I didn't. As we were driving, we made the decision to make a trip to the mall. That's right. Saturday before mothers day. We did. It was standing room only and quite interesting as folks crowded around the various store displays trying to figure out something appropriate for mom. We ended up at the upscale women's clothing store where the wife worked for so many years and she ended up with a brand new outfit. I waited for her outside the store sitting on a bench. One other fellow was doing the same thing but he was also clicking his teeth which was mildly annoying. With her retired employee discount she got it all for half price. That was great. I suppose. In my way of looking at it the half was nothing to sneeze at but one thing is certain. She deserved it and so much more for being the great mom that she is. Okay. That will do for today but I do hope and pray that you will have a good rest of the week. Amen.      .....More later.

Looking forward by looking back!

Sunday is the day we set aside to honor mothers. I have enjoyed the privilege of being surrounded by great moms throughout my lifetime. There's a verse that comes to mind from Deuteronomy. The Lord told His people that the blessings He pronounced would overtake them. That's how I feel about the mom's that have been in my life. Blessings that have tracked me down and overtaken me. Happy Mother's Day and I say Amen and Amen.


Hello folks. I do hope that you and yours are well as we do our thing here on this Friday, May 9, 2014. I occasionally am asked to fill in for our music leader at our local fellowship of believers. They now call it worship leader but when I do it, it is mostly just song leader. And, when you think about it, worship has to come from the inside out and praying, singing, or anything else that comes only from the lips is not true worship. They usually refer to my time as leader as hymnbook Sunday. You know what a hymnbook is. Right? It's a book with songs in it. The leader calls out a number and everyone finds the song and then joins in by singing it together. I know that's old school but it doesn't hurt to connect to God's provision even in songs that take us back. I used the Gaither song, 'Because He Lives' last Sunday. That song has been a blessing to people around the world. My baby sister Kayla asked that it be sung for her home going celebration service. She did want one line changed. The 'because He lives I can face tomorrow' became 'because He lives I can face today'. That was her testimony as she struggled with leukemia for some 18 months before making her journey home. After the service on Sunday I was walking to my car and a wonderful young woman stopped me out in the parking lot. She was literally bubbling over because that song brought back such wonderful memories for her as she used to sing it with her family in India. What a blessing to know that God used Gloria Gaither to write some poetic verses and Bill Gaither who set them to music and then it became an instrument of spiritual encouragement and comfort around the globe. Amen.

Another song I used was 'Revive Us Again'. I've heard that song all my life. When I was growing up it typically was used just before we engaged in a series of night services during the week at our Church and we called them revival services. If you ask folks today if we need revival, most will give you a hearty Amen. If you ask if our nation needs revival, again, firm agreement. But, we all know, that true revival is a matter of the individual heart. I'm not sure what I thought about that song as a kid but I'm certain I connected it to having Sunday dinner during the week where we would typically feed the visiting preacher. That was pretty special. You know. Fried chicken with all the trimmings along with banana pudding for dessert, all on a Thursday evening. Wow! Come on down with the revival stuff brother. As I examined this song I tried to grasp what the writer had in mind. Obviously he pointed everyone to the Source of all spiritual wellness, our God and Savior. To be revived means that one is brought back to life or reinvigorated, and in this case, by the Spirit of Almighty God. There I was for all those years where I had mostly connected it to fried chicken during the week instead of on Sunday.

William Paton Mackay (1839-1885) originally worked in Scotland as a medical doctor. He resigned that position to become an ordained Presbyterian minister of the Gospel. Mackay was a staunch believer that the Word of God means what it says. This quote from one of his publications is an example of his straightforward, no nonsense Gospel message of grace and commitment: "Creed, or the belief in a certain amount of doctrine, has made Christendom, but never made a Christian. Ye must be born again." And of course, the song he is most remembered for:

We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.
        Refrain:
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Hallelujah! Amen.
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Revive us again.
We praise Thee, O God!
 For Thy Spirit of light,
 Who hath shown us our Savior,
 And scattered our night.
        Refrain:
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Hallelujah! Amen.
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Revive us again.  
All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.
        Refrain:
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Hallelujah! Amen.
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Revive us again.   
All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us,
And guided our ways.
        Refrain:
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Hallelujah! Amen.
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Revive us again.
Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.
        Refrain:
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Hallelujah! Amen.
        Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
        Revive us again.

I'll readily admit that it takes me a while folks, slow learner and all of that, but maybe just maybe I can appreciate what he was getting at. Not a bad way to end our week together and I do hope and pray that you will enjoy your Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. Until we meet again may God breathe His renewed life into each heart is my prayer. Amen.        .....More later.

"Instead of fretting about getting everything done, why not simply accept that being alive means having things to do? Then drop into full engagement with whatever you're doing, and let the worry go." ~ Martha Beck, Life Coach

Hello and welcome to our little slice of life here on this Thursday, May 8, 2014. I know we are only getting started but just as a preview I noticed Sunday afternoon how the grass appeared to be weeping a little. We are already getting some of those heat wavy thingies floating over the fruited plains, if you know what I mean. But, not to fear, the wife has those sprinklers going like there's no tomorrow. I think I noticed a big huge grin on the face of one of the water workers when I passed by. He must be thinking about summer usage rates and bonuses. Maybe he just had gas. Maybe I don't have a clue. I do hope everyone who has been licking their chops in anticipation of hot weather are happy now. I almost thought I saw the electric meter wink at me when I walked by. He's already working out for his big summer marathon that will not end until maybe October or November. I know. I need to take a few deep breaths and try to regain my composure. That didn't work. Maybe I could qualify for a best fretter competition. Or maybe not.

Last Saturday morning I arrived early at the state park over near Jasper, Texas where we had our family gathering. I needed to pick up the key to the pavilion we had secured for our big day. I was there at 7:45 a.m. Two people were ahead of me. They were both scout leaders. One was from Katy, Texas and the other was from Bellaire, Texas. They were shooting the breeze about all the challenges in acclimating boys who have never camped before. The ranger station was supposed to open at 8 a.m. We could see the lady inside. At exactly 8 a.m. she began to begin to try and get the computer up and going. We stood there. She worked on this for 15 minutes. Finally they got around to unlocking the door. I knew my wife, my son, and my step brother were all over at the pavilion waiting on me. The two scout leaders began the process of registering their groups, renting canoes, and getting passes for all their vehicles. The process was like watching paint dry. I thought I was stuck in a slow motion replay. Why was I so frustrated? Because we don't even think about how fast we live and when we are confronted with folks who aren't trying to squeeze a half second for all it's worth, well, it makes us a little nervous. She didn't seem to mind that I was in a hurry. And, after I thought about it for a while, why should she?

Okay. I continue to be amazed at the 'group speak' 'lock step' mentality of some of the folks that lay claim on being the smartest among us. I read last week about a scientist who is being punished by the leftist community. He has been on his knees and is doing everything he can to somehow get re-accepted back into the fold. He had not said anything wayward or gone off the plantation but he had done something that was unforgivable to his enlightened peers. He had the audacity to be a part of a panel interview program on Fox News. That's enough to lose your privileges within the so called elite world. Forget any and all of the freedoms they supposedly herald. The only thing that counts within their world is that everyone do exactly what the program dictates. Period. Crazy stuff happening here in this old world folks, crazy indeed! And, I thought they were the ones promoting themselves to be the champions of tolerance. Oh well, time to say so long for now. Y'all take care and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.