DAY'S OF OUR LIVES

I love the stillness of the early morning when there is less traffic driving down
Grider Pond Road. When Derby and I walk out to the mailbox to fetch the
newspaper, seldom do we see or hear anything. Not so this morning at 5:30.
The sound of sirens near by caught our full attention. I lifted up a prayer for
safety for everyone as we walked back to the porch. The sounds soon faded
and silence and stillness was still in the air. One lone jogger jogged by as we
came back in the house.
Before long the sun will be shinning and the traffic will be back. Workers
will be at the back door to work in the master bathroom. Our daughter will
be up preparing to go to work in Nashville. For now, all is quite as I start
my daily routines of drinking coffee, reading the newspaper and taking care
of two dogs.
Have a great day and keep the SON in your eyes.

SIghts of the Season

I had a delighfull time this morning at the retirement village. I shared some
thoughts about autumn and the lessons we learn from leaves. I reminded
them that it is so easy to miss the sights of the season because we've seen
it all before. Ho-Hum might be our response most of the time. But I say we
should stand in awe and applaud the Almighty for the sensational seasons.
Next month I'm sharing some thoughts about the silence of the snow and
how it speaks to us if we will listen.
I was up early so I raked leaves around back before leaving to go speak
at the retirement village. I enjoy raking and piling the leaves up in the
corner of the back yard. I just wish it would stop snowing leaves before
much longer. It's work.
Take time to see the sights of the season because it will be gone before
you know it.

My Father's Business

Cokesbury's good books magazine came in the mail today. Now I have to see
what I want to read, now and soon afterwards. I see where some of my favorite
writers have new books in their way soon. I'll have to decide which or worth
reading and/or owning.
I went to the church and two hospitals this morning and plan to make a couple
of visits this afternoon if I can. Wednesday morning I'll be busy going to a
couple of retirement homes to see/speak to people there. It is an honor to
be with these people who have so much to share when I take time to be with
them.
After I ate pizza, I'm ready to take a nap but I must be about the Father's
business.

Books, Coffee & Work

After working at home this morning, I went to see my friends, Barnes & Noble in
the afternoon. I cam across a new book by Phillip Yancey, Grace Notes, where
he has taken something from previous books and articles and complied them into
this 400 plus page book. I'm amamzed at how many of his books I have and how
many of the articles I have read. That being so, I only read what I hadn't read
before.
Yancey has a way of touching my soul even thought I don't agree with him on
everything he writes. He has always challenged my faith and made me stronger
in what I believe and why I believe it. For that I am thankfull. I would like to
thank him in person one of these days.
I like to read mysteries at Barnes & Noble as well. I don't have a favorite writer
when it comes to mysteries, so I read several writers. Today I picked up a new
book by J. A. Jance to read chapter by chapter when I'm drinking coffee and
taking it easy in a comfortabke chair or the cafe.
Tuesday must be a day of visitation for me since I'm behind on that. Wednesday
is the day I speak at the retirement village as part of my monthly routine. It is
always a pleasure to be with those dear people. The piano player is 99 years old
and plays like a young lady who loves playing music, music, music.
The master bath is starting to look more like one after all the work today. They
are at the place where they should be able to move faster without waiting for
someone else to get a job done. The master misses the master bathroom!

SUN DAY

My wife and I went to the 8:15 service at Broadway this morning before leaving
to go worship at 10:00 at Rockfield UMC. When I was serving Communion we
ran out of cups of juice and three people where only given a blessing with their\
bread. There was a larger attendance than we have most of the time.
We heard Bro. Graves preach and had a brief visit with him and his wife before
we went out to eat. When we got home I washed our daughter's SUV and our
car. They were dirty, dirty, dirty! Then I put windsheld wash in both cars and
washed the car windows to get rid of smears. Needless to say, I was ready for
my afternoon nap.
The weather outside is delightfull. Nice day for a drive or just being outside.
I hope we have a full week of day's like today. Have a great week and keep
the SON in your eye's!

Saturday Stuff

I took my wife with me to Barnes & Noble this morning so she could chill. She up
and slipped out on me to shop but came back and read a couple of magazines. I
finished reading Ford County and a new book by Joel Osteen while we were there.
We then went to Panera Bread for lunch and on to Hobby Lobby before getting
back home.
Tonight I listened on the radio to Western University get beaten 40-20. So sad
for the team who has tried to win. I wish them well in the future. We wanted to
go to Nashville to a birthday party but felt it was too much of a trip. Sunday we
plan to go to the 8:15 service at our church and then to the 10:00 service where
a friend is pastor, Gary Graves. Maybe I can take a long nap Sunday afternoon
if I don't sleep while he preaches.

WHO IN THE WORLD IS THAT?

I had a great time having breakfast with a friend this morning. We both said we could
do it more often but I know I don't need the food as much as the fellowship. When I
was walking towards my car afterwards, a man jumped out of a big white truck and
came over and hugged me. Since the sun was in my eye's I couldn't see who it was.
When he called my name I knew who he was. He was a member of Broadway when
I was pastor several years ago. We talked for about an hour and then left. It was
great seeing him and catching up with one another.
Since the workers where at our house, I went to Barnes & Noble and read a couple
more stories from the new book by John Grisham. I read a couple of chapters in
another new book by Joel Osteen as well. I felt guilty doing that while my wife was
home. But, she understood and got more done than had I been home. To make up
for my not being home, I'm taking her out to eat tonight. I'll even let her tell me
where to go.
The tile work is coming along pretty well. They hope that they can do a great deal
Monday so that they can soon get on their ways and others can come in and do
what's next. They got away before I could ask if they had raked leaves into our
backyard because I had raked late yesterday afternoon and there were so many
more again when I came home this afternoon. I guess I'll rake again or wait for
James to mow over them next week.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

I just had supper with my wife, daughter and youngest brother. It was wonderfull having
Wayne with us and having a great meal. We've had to put up with the tile people today as
they worked in the bathroom. They got more done than I thought they would. Maybe the
light will show at end of the tunnel yet!
I had lunch with a friend today who asked if attendance was back up at Sugar Grove since
I'm through preaching and their pastor is back in the pulpit. We had a good laugh over it
and I even bought his lunch. Next time, he buys and I'll get more than I did today. I will
get even.
I have breakfast in the morning with a pastor friend at our favorite breakfast place. We
meet about every three weeks but both think we could every Friday if we could. I can.
He still pastors so he can't. The two of us talk a couple of hours and then get up and leave.
I will go buy Barnes & Noble and read another chapter or two from Ford County by John
Grisham. I snuck in today and read one chapter on my way to a meeting.
Well, that's enough stuff for today. Hope you had a good one and an even better one Friday.

WORKING THE WORKERS

Five men showed up to work with our bathroom early this morning. While one was
working, the others had to wait for him to finish before placing tile down. Being one
very creative guy, I handed each of the four a rake and told them to rake up all our
leaves.They left! Just kidding. They got a good laugh out of it before going to work
inside. I'm still laughing except when I still see all those thousands of leaves that
won't leave.
Maybe we can begin to see things coming together faster now that the workers are
at this stage of things. Derby barks at everyone of them and everytime they make
any noise. I'm going to buy a muzzle while I'm out today. Hope it fits my big mouth!
I am going to meet a friend for lunch after going a couple of other places. After all,
I don't want to hear all the noise at our house. Besides, it is a lovely day to be out
and about.
My car needs to be washed even if it does rain again soon. I may run it through
a car wash so I can see what color it is. Or, I might go to a car lot and look for a
new car. Then my wife can drive her dirty one and save me money. Not!!
Gotta get going before she tells me where to go! I hate WalMart!!!!

A SLOW GO

We had hoped to have workers working on our bathroom today placing tile. It didn't
happen even thoughI was told they would be here early this afternoon. I was told
they would be here after lunch. I guess they are still eating lunch somewhere because
they never did show up.
We knew when we went with them that they had a reputation for great work but
very slow work. I agree with what they had to say. I just hope they stop acting
like slow turtles and start moving foward. Surely they will work Thursday with
a little more zip. We've waited awhile to have this remodeling done so we can wait
awhile longer. We're just glad that the work is getting done. Slowly but surely.
I stayed home all day and worked on an Advent devotion and raked leaves in
our back yard. It's been a good day so I'm gratefull for having lived it even if
I myself move slow.

BUSY IN BOWLING GREEN

This morning I went to the church and conducted some business before going to
see someone in the hospital. Afterwards I went by Barnes & Noble and started
reading Ford County by John Grisham. It is a new book of short stories so as
I drank coffee I read two short stories with intentions of reading a couple more
when I'm there the next time. After reading some of the first book I started
reading another book just to get the feel of it. I'm sure I will read it there rather
than buy it.
Following that I dropped by home with intentions of making afternoon visits
to some shut-ins but our son was at the house so my agenda got changed. We
had to transfer his truck to a man who had bought it and that took more time
than we thought it would. The good thing that came from all this was that the
truck is gone and I got to be with Stephen some before he left to go back to
where he lives.
Maybe I can get some visits in Wednesday before my wife goes to Kroger for
Senior Day. I might go just to watch the other seniors shop. It's better than
tv and is free. Besides, I might need something while I'm there if I can remember
what it is by the time I get there.

SEASONS

While I was out on the front porch swing this morning, I noticed that a tree
across the street had lost all of it's leaves. The last time I looked at it, it was
pretty full of leaves still. Not now. "Now you see me, now you don't" is what
that tree seemed to be saying.
When I looked at one tree out front, it looked like half of the leaves had left
and the other half were waiting to fall. Yet, another tree still has most of
it's leaves still clinging for life to it.
It is so easy to miss seeing the sensational sights of the season. We're too
busy or too familiar with it all to be bothered by it again. Yet, whenever
I see the Autumn leaves leaving each tree, I'm reminded that even I tear
monthly pages off of the calendars in our house. Where did the month go,
I ask myself. Where did the year go? After all, Christmas is next month.
Next week I'm sharing some of these thoughts with the residents of a
retirement villiage. They could tell me far more than I could tell them,
I'm sure. After all, some are approaching the last months of their lives.
Winter is coming. The seasons go so fast when we stop and think about
it. What is the season of your life right now? Is your cup of life half full
or half empty? More or less? Time is wasting, get going before it passess
you bye!

A Good Day

I attended the 8:15 service and then the 9:30 service at Broadway today. Both
services were very good. Our daughter sang at the second one and also was a
reader for a presentation that was made. Broadway took in 23 members at
the four services. To God be the glory!
Since I'm tired, I think I'll watch football and just make it a day of rest the
rest of the day. I might even sneak in a nap before much longer since I stayed
up and watched the world series lasat night and was up around 5:30 this
morning. Yawn-yawn.
I'm glad the sun will shine most of this week since we've had enough rain for
awhile. I'm sure the farmers need to be out getting their crops in. After all,
it is that time of the year again. And Christmas is next month!
Yawn. I'm out of here.

OUR SATURDAY DATE DAY

My wife and I spent most of Saturday taking things easy. We went to McDonald's
and then to Barnes & Noble. Afterwards we went to Logan's Steakhouse to eat.
I finished reading a new book by Ann Lotz and then started a new mystery.
When we got back home I was told of a friend who is in the Medical Center
and not doing very well. His parentsare dear friends from many years ago.
His father, Rev. J. C. Thorpe passed away awhile back and I couldn't attend
the funeral so I want to be with his son as much as I possibly can. He was
sleeping and no one was there to talk with so I left a note for his family.
I'm watching Western Ky Unveristy playing footbal and wishing them well.
Their Coach attends our Church almost every Sunday morning.
It's nap time but I have an idea the doorbell will ring and rings with trick
or treaters and I won't get much rest.

GONE WITH THE WIND

While I was reading the newspaper out on the front porch, the wind was so hard
that I almost lost it. So, I went in and took a book out to hold the paper down
with. The book is Gone With the Wind. It should work since it is so heavy.
While I was working with a sermon called Autumn Leaves, I saw so many
leaves leaving our yard with the wind blowing that I was delighted. Then
I saw some leaves leaving the yard next door and blowing into our yard,
I was disappointed.
While I was getting a hair cut this morning, I noticed that the mirror in
the shop sure is ugly. He ought to buy a better one. It would help his business.
Come to thank of it, it was that ugly when I started going there many
years ago. In fact, that ugly guy is even uglier!
While was working I just reached down to pet Derby's back because he
sleeps at my side quite often when I'm at the PC. When I started petting I
realized it was a black purse belonging to my wife. Hey! Maybe I should
reach down there again. I might find Gold in them there pockets!
While I was doing this, I could of been taking a nap. What a waste of time.
I better go before I forget it.

ADVENT IS APPROACHING

Today I'm working with an Advent devotion for booklet at Broadway. Advent
begins the last Sunday of November so I better be busy with what I've been
asked to do. Today looks like a good day for praying and thinking about what
I need to write. I just hope it doesn't start snowing before I'm through.
Our daughter's dog barks at all the workers working on our master bathroom.
We have to place Derby in his crate and cover the crave so he can't see when
someone walks by. I think he is trying to protect us by barking. Most of the
time he barks at anyone and anything anyway so this is nothing new for us.
He even barks at me. Who can blame the little feller?
Well, I better get going since the deadline for the devotion is drawing near.