"Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. To make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt." (Unknown Author)

Howdy and welcome back. It is Monday, June 16, 2014 and I've showed up here today to tell you that some of these early days of summer around here are beginning to remind me of that Johnny and June Carter Cash phrase from their hit song, "....hotter than a pepper sprout." Myself and our eldest son Chris were able to run over to Louisiana this past Saturday morning to share breakfast with dad to honor him for Father's Day. (Although dad prepared the breakfast but that's what he likes to do.) What a joy to be able to sit down and enjoy conversation with mom and dad. It was way too brief but as the old saying goes, we couldn't stay too long because "we had places to go and people to see." Chris needed to get back to finish his Bible lesson preparation for Sunday and I needed to do the same thing. Speaking of Sunday, we had a wonderful Father's Day celebration as well. A good time was had by all, or, I think that's the way they usually report on it. The wife kicked it up another notch on the home cooked meal and that made me announce that if anyone could find a eatery that could match her, I would go on the road to promote their business. (I have no fear that I will be making any of those road trips anytime soon.) Another blessed family gathering and we give God thanks. Thinking about all of that caused me to hear in my old noggin the admonition that says if you are going to leave a legacy, you've got to live a legacy. Do they always have to be so clear? Sounds like a full-time job for a fellow like me. What say you?

Well, well. I suppose it's good that our meteorologists do not practice their trade in North Korea. Last week the angry red-faced tyrannical dictator leader of that communist nation threatened the weather forecasters with getting it right. Or else. I put in the 'or else' because that was implied in the account I read. Or else in North Korea can take on many forms and from what we know about how it works, none of them are supportive of long term survival, as in, not only not keeping your job, but perhaps also not keeping your life. The good news for us here in this area is how our weather folks typically always get the forecast correct, about 30 minutes before an unexpected event takes place, or 30 minutes after. Maybe our weather people grew up playing a lot of horse shoes where leaners count. While I don't won't any part of North Korea's approach to governing, there are some aspects of the supreme leader's challenge to the weather people that resonates with me. A little. You know. A little bit of fear does tend to get one's attention. Right?

Charlotte Judd, Runner, Conroe, Texas: Heart Transplant Recipient

God has allowed us to live at a time when some remarkable achievements are being realized every single day. The lady in the photo lives in our area and she is a living testimony to the medical advancements that have been achieved. Born with a congenital heart defect she lived a life of great restriction and high powered drugs that kept her going to age 21 when her heart then began failing. In 2003 she was blessed to have received a heart transplant. She had never been able to do anything involving physical activity or athletics. After healing she got permission to begin running. She is now 32 and has competed in 30 road races with 6 of them being half marathons. At the time of the article I read she was preparing for a major run up in Central Park in New York City. The first heart recipient back in 1968 lived 18 days. Eleven years after the heart she received from a 21 year old man who she was told had been athletic, she had this to say about him: "Oh, I constantly think about him whenever I run,” she said admitting that at miles 9 and 10 in a half marathon, when the going gets tough, she thinks about him the most. She runs for him and his family too." The article didn't mention God but I will. The Bible tells us: "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." (James Chapter 1, Verse 17) See? I do occasionally end with a good news report. Take care. Remember to thank God for ALL His many blessings. Amen.   ....More later.