HAVE YOU MISSED ME?

Someone asked me a few days ago why I am not listed in the informational booklet that gives the names, address, phone number, email address and other vital information of the clergy in our State. I didn't know that I was a missing person. I like it because if no one knows where I am, I don't have to pay taxes. I don't have to pay my bills. I don't have to do anything anyone wants me to do. If I'm a nobody, nobody knows where I am. I hope they don't read this blog and realize I'm alive and well and living in.........................gotta ya! I'm not telling a soul. I just hope my mail keeps coming with my checks that allow me to keep on keeping on. To tell the truth, I really rather like not being invisible. I like people too much. That's why I share so much through my blog from time to time. So, thanks for blogging me. It makes me feel needed.

I KEPT MY WORD

We were able to go see my Father today as I said I would. I took him copies of all my blogs for him to read at his leisure. He flipped through them and asked that I read one or two to him. What amazed Dad was that I cover so many topics. I told him how much I enjoy spending my time doing this very thing. Dad informed me that I have to come back again next month, like one day next week. Who knows, I might just take him up on it if he will buy my lunch! We had lots of laughs, tons of talking and lots of just listening. It was a delighful day with Dad.

"I'M GOOD TO GO"

It is amazing how often I hear someone say, "I'm good to go". Where are they going? What are they going to do? Will they be good? Will they do good? Or, will they be up to no good?

The Good Samaritian in the Scriptures is called the Good Samaritian because he did something ood. He didn't say, "I'm good to go" and then fail to do good. He was really ready to offer a elping hand when someone was down and out. He was good on his good intentions. What about ou? Are you good at doing what you intend to do or, do you just put up a false front? The next time you say, "I'm good to go", say what you mean and mean what you say. As for me, I'm good to go. Won't you join me somewhere on the journey?

A WAKE UP CALL

I plan to go see my Father on Friday. Dad resides
in a nursing home not far from where he was born
almost 95 years years ago. The answering machine
had a message on it one day last week from Dad. He
said that he was lonely. My step-mother goes to see
him every day as well as calls him daily. My three
brothers go see Dad pretty often but Dad is still
lonely. I asked myself why is Dad lonely and then I
realized that Dad has always been a people person.
Televison and radio simply won't work for this man
who loves to be with people. He knows everyone in
the Nursing Home by name, including the staff, not
to mention Butch, the dog who a dog in residence.
Over my forty years as a Pastor, I always visited
the Rest Homes to see people there who needed
to know someone cares. I'm ashamed that my
Father had to call and leave a message that he is
lonely and I should drive 90 miles and spend
some time with him. I must put aside all the
things I need to do and go see Dad Friday because
I know that is what Dad would do. So, Dad, get
out the Checkers, I'm on my way.
By the way, who do you need to pay a visit with?

ARE YE ABLE?

When I got ready to go down some steps a few minutes
ago I couldn't find my cane. It's my best looking cane,
my Sunday go to meeting cane, named Able. Able helps
me walk due to the fact that I have M. S.. I have another
cane, Protecter, that I use most of the time here at home,
It's like me, all bent out of shape and tired.
I have retraced my steps with my Protector looking for my
new cane but thus far haven't been able to find Able anywhere.
As I walk from place to place looking for the lost, I find myself
wondering how I could do something like this. Maybe Able
isn't able to walk with me today. Maybe Able is resting or
playing hide n' go seek with me. When I see one of my other
canes I ask, "Are ye Able?" "Nope, Dope!" I hate to say it but,
maybe Able has run away! Until I find Able, I will walk with
Protector by my side. We're friends from way back, you know.


NEWS FLASH ! ! !
"I once was lost, but now I'm found..." Able was in the bedroom
of our son. Anyone or anything could get lost in there! Jimmy
Hoffa might be under his bed for all I know. I'm afraid to look.
Able asked how I was holding up. What a nice thing to say. Anyway,
Able will be able to let me lean on him again. He really
doesn't seem to mind. I gave Able a warm welcome and told
him to stick by my side as we walked off together again.

WHAT'S THE POINT?

While I was waiting for someone in the Doctor's office yesterday,
I read several pages from Philip Yancey's book, Prayer, Does It
Make Any Difference? My custom is to underscore things that
I want to refer to again with a pencil. So, after awhile, the pencil
led broke. I asked a woman in the office if I could get my pencil
sharpened. She said, "I'm not sure we have a pencil sharpener
because we don't use it very much." A couple of minutes later
though she handed me my pencil with a sharp point.
All this got me to thinking, isn't that the way we are with prayer
life, "we don't use it very much." Maybe in times of crisis, like
calling "911" for help. Maybe in a pew on a Sunday morning.
Maybe our prayers don't make any difference because our
prayers don't mean much to us. We say them on the run and run
on our way leaving them behind in the dust to be forgotten as if we
hadn't even prayed at all. Like my pencil, our prayers become dull.
What's the point? Maybe the Great Physican would prescribe a good
dose of prayer so we can get well.

ARE THESE YOUR FINGER PRINTS?

Today while I was reading Phillip Yancey's book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?
I found myself putting it down and going to yet another book he wrote, The Bible Jesus Read. Before I knew it, I was picking up Yancey's. Reaching for the Invisible God. In the Reaching
for the Invisible God book, he refers to a book by Gordon MacDonald and something he says
in Forging a Real World Faith. So, I go and get it off of my bookcase in my study. Then I realized I had not even picked up The Bible today and read even one verse from it.
All this got me to thinking of how we will look all around for information and inspiration and yet neglect the very book that will help us most of all. Shame on us for getting all of our spiritual highs from the books of others and leave The Bible all alone as if it is rustic and unworthy of our time. This has reminded me to get into the best book of all, for all of us, The Bible. Are your fingerprints to be found on yours? Each and every page should give evidence that you read God's Word. John Wesley said of The Bible, "O bring me the book. at any price, give me the book, reffering to The Bible. Can you say that? Maybe we need to put down other books and things and pick up the book that can pick us up. Maybe we should even stop posting our blogs
if we're to keep the SON in our eye's.

LIFE IS DEAR

Life is tought at times. I read about a man who was struggling
to survive some tough times. He had clung to life as long as he
could and as best as he could. When he was asked how he kept
on keeping on he said, "I clung on for dear life because even at
its worst life is dear."
One Sunday a little boy sat in church beside a man who was
dying of cancer. When the passing of the peace was taking place,
the little boy turned to the man and simply said, "Hang in there,
Harry!" What wonderful words of peace. I think that little boy
already knew that life is dear. Do you?

SERMON STUFFERS

At Christmas, we work with coming up with ideas
for stocking stuffers. It is a great way of giving gifts.
As a Pastor, I have placed the same two letters in
the margins of most of the books I've read through
the years. Those two letters are S S. They stand
for Sermon Stuff. In other words, whenever I see
something in a book that gives me an idea for a ser-
mon or a sermon illustration, I put a S S in the
margin and circle the number of that page for quick
reference.
All this got me to thinking about where else in life
might I write S S? I love to watch people and, I
even eavesdrop at times to see if there is some
S S there just waiting for me to take and make
something out of it. I love to watch a movie or
listen to a song and see if there is something that
I might make into a sermon or sermon illustration.
Today, why don't you see if you can come up with
some Sermon Stuffers. It might make your day
into a day to remember. It works for me. Don't
you think this blog is great to use as a sermon
illustration? S. S.

THIS IS A TEST, ONLY A TEST

My daughter tells me I get my words too spaced out for this to work out well. Well, this is a test, only a test, to see if an old man can learn from his young daughter. Why don't we see if this works. How about this? This is a test, only a test.
How does this look, Jennifer?

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

I had my ears cleaned at the Doctor's office today. It was amazing what a big difference it made. I can hear you now. I wear a hearing aid in each ear but I needed my ears cleaned so I might hear even better than before. Isn't it amazing how something so small can clog the channel of one's ear? There are times when we don't hear because we don't want too. There are times when we pretend that we don't hear. Then, there are times when we must admit that there isn't really much worth hearing anyway. There is so much profainty, gossip and the like!As far as I am concerned, some people need their mouths cleaned out more than I needed my ears cleaned out. Let's all try to watch what we say as well as what we hear. Can you hear me now?

IT'S ALL ABOUT ME

My wife has left me. Again. She does it all the time. She leaves me home alone while she shops till she drops. Then she comes home with the trunk of our car filled full of goodies for someone to carry in. Me. Trip after trip has to be made from the car to the door and on into the house. Then someone has to put all these things away. Me. I wonder how in the world this woman can get so much into the trunk of our car. I wonder why she has to have so much. Then all of the sudden I see something she bought for me and all of the sudden I'm glad she is home and I'm no longer alone. She has bought me a new shirt, a new tie, food, mints and many, many other things. While I was home alone, my dear wife was shopping for me. Oh me, I better be nicer and tell her more often how much I adore her and that I'm so glad she is at home in my heart. You see, my wife is always thinking of others. She is always thinking of what they need or what they want. I'll tell you what I want. I want my wife home so I can hug her (after I've looked in the shopping bags), I want my wife home so can tell her I love her, even if she will look me in the face and says, "It's all about me, isn't it?" Yep!

The Dash

While my wife and I were at The Cove last week, we met and heard Kirk and Deby Dearman from Franklin, TN. Towards the closing of their time with us, Kirk sang The Dash. The Dash refers to that time between our birth and our death and how we spend that time. Do we use the dash well or waste it? And, since we don't know how long the dash might happen to be, we best be using the dash well. My father is 94 years old. I'm 62 years old. Dad doesn't know how much longer he will live on earth, nor do I, neither do you. So, let's take advantage of the dash as long as we can and as best we can. Don't put things off that you want to do. Today would be a good day to get going. That's what I'm doing right now. I'm going to see two of my best buddies, Barnes & Noble. As for you, you might look up The Dash at a store or on the internet. It will be well worth your time. Remember the words of Henri Nouwen, "Life at it's longest is short." Go!

LONGINGS

Some words I heard at The Cove a few days ago were spoken by a grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham. We were told that his Grandparents are doing quite well considering how old they are. We were told that often they just sit together holding hands and looking at each other without speaking a word. They just sit and hold hands. They don't have to speak aloud to be know what's going on down deep within their hearts.
The final words from this Grandson said something that will stay with me for a long, long time. He told us that they long to see Jesus and just wonder how long it will be before that happens. These words got me to thinking down deep within my own heart.
Do I long to see Jesus? Do I wonder how long it will be before that takes place? What
I really need to do it simply be still, be quite and listen. I think Jesus already knows what I feel and need without having to speak. That's what is so great about
having a long lasting relationship with the Son of of God. If you don't believe me, go ask Billy and Ruth Graham.

OVER LOOKING THE OVERLOOK

While my wife and I were walking in the woods in North Carolinia yesterday sight seeing we wanted to stop and take in the scenry and the silence. I saw a couple of rocking chairs at an overlook where one could look out and see nature putting on quite a show. But as we drew nearer to the two chairs I overheard a voice from one of the two chairs. Sure enough, a man was on his cell phone talking away as if he had nothing else in the world to do. He wasn't even looking out over the overlook, he was just taking up one of the chairs that we would of liked to of used. After several minutes of waiting, we went on our way and enjoyed other scenry. I felt sorry for the two of us but I felt sorrier for someone who didn't see the sights right there before him. What an oversight at the overlook.

ATTENTION, BLOG READERS

My wife and I were just wondering if anyone ever reads my blogs. Maybe you do but don't want to admit to it. I understand that. But, I really want and need to know
if anyone ever reads my blogs. If you have read this blog, would you please let me
know before I go out and let the air out of someone's tires. You see, i really don't want to have to get up and go do it. Thanks for your time and thoughtfulness.
Signed,

A. Desperate Writer

A TRUCK LOAD OF SLOW DOWN DAYS

This has been a week of slowing down. This has been a week of reading and relaxing.
A week of slowing down doesn't come very often. That's why we all should
take all the slow down days we can get. I could use a truck load of slow down days every now and again. Can't you?
Friday, my wife and I are heading to the Smokey Mountains. While we're there I want to look, listen, loaf, laugh and the leave refreshed and renewed. Doing these five things takes a lot of effort because I tend to not look, fail to listen, laugh at
the wrong time or the wrong things, and leave as fast as a speeding car can go.
As Fall finally arrives in a few weeks, I hope we all will take time to see the sights that surround us, hear the sounds that are all about, laugh lots and leave the leafs alone atleast for awhile. Maybe we should just jump up and down in them like a child. Won't you join me in the journey called life. It's full of fun when we stop and think about it.

WHAT A JOKE!

A number of years ago I met a young man who was on the staff of the church I was going to serve as Pastor in just a few weeks. Little did I known then that Gary and I would develope such a warm friendship. I am a number of years older than Gary yet, the two of us bonded very quickly. Over the next five years, the two of us worked well together. The two of us started playing practical jokes on one another. The two of us would try to outdo one another if we could. I hate to say it: Gary won!!
Gary has asked me to participate in his wedding in a few weeks. I have already developed a long list of ways to make their wedding one they will never forget. Knowing that Gary might read this, I will keep my thoughts top secret. All I can say is that Gary and Jennifer will want what I plan to do in their wedding photograph's. All I can say for now is, "Cheese!"

KEEP THE PORCH LIGHT ON

Yesterday there was a great deal of confusion at our house. I had thought we would be leaving today (Thursday) to travel to Asheville, North Carolinia. I said so in my blog yesterday. Then I caught my mistake and had a good laugh but, the last laugh wasn't on me. My wife thought it
was Thursday that we were going. Not! We're still here in our old Kentucky home. Both of us
are getting ready to leave early in the morning (Friday) . But first, I, being the good man that I am, am taking my wife out for breakfast. I just hope we can find the place without getting lost.
If you don't hear from us for awhile, keep the porch light on. We just might show up at your house. By the way, where am I?

ps: I'm sorry that this post isn't looking real good. It's early and I'm still sleepy. Besides, it's my blog!!

I BOUGHT ANOTHER BOOK

I bought another book today. When I got home, I looked at all the books on the shelves in my study and saw that I had several of the writers books already. That's why I bought this new book. I love the way this writer reads. He challenges me to be something more than I ever imagined myself being. While I'm away for the next three days, I hope to read all if not most of this new book because I need a good dose of what he has to say. By the way, the book is entitled, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference, by Phillip Yancey. I'll let you know if this new book makes any difference.

ENROLL NOW - DON'T WAIT

Today as I was I passing by a church in our neighborhood I saw their sign which read: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Right beneath those words were these words, "Enroll now!" Then beneath those words were these words, "Child Care Center". Since I don't need to enroll in child care, I think I will go ahead and enroll for the joy that comes in the morning. I think it would help me considerably. Best of all, it's free! All I have to do is enroll and waite till morning. Won't you join me? I'll be waiting for you.

GET YOUR DAY'S STRAIGHT!

Have you ever been so excited about going somewhere that you couldn't think of anything else? Well, I'm the president of the "Let's Go!" Club. I was elected just this morning when I started packing my bags, gathering my things and looking at Map Quest for directions to travel to The Cove this Thursday. That's why I'm elected! We don't go until Friday morning! You see, I jumped the gun. I got my days all mixed up. I have list of places to go, things to do and, people to see before launching off to The Cove FRIDAY! I'm a day ahead of myself. All this mixed up stuff has got me to thinking though. Am I as anxious to get into the Word of God, to spend time in prayer or, to visit someone, as I am to get going to The Cove? Maybe that's why we're going in the first place. We simply need to put life on pause for a few days and nights and have our souls saturated with God's spirit. Personally, I want to get a good drenching! I can't wait! The sooner, the better!

A NEAT NOTE

This morning I found a note on our computer desk. The message simply said: "Change Your Home, Change Your Life." Well, I think that is backwards. Wouldn't it be better to change your LIFE then change your HOUSE? You see, it's an inside job, not an outside job. If we can get things in our hearts changed first, the changes in the house will follow. Are you following me?

I'm sure that the note is simply a reminder to my wife or my daughter to buy or read a copy of the November InStyle magazine. That's something I can't change in our house. I hope it helps them get our house looking even better. In the meantime, I'll go on about reading the book I'm reading by John Maxwell, The Difference Maker. It's a neat nook.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED?

Next week my wife and I will travel to Asheville, North Carolina to The Cove (Billy Graham Center) for a few days and nights of September spiritual refreshing. We will hear Ken Gire share Scripture after Scripture of what Jesus said and did during His days upon the dusty streets and roads where He lived for thirty years. Gire has written four fabulous books featuring such Scriptures. Each one deals with different aspects of the Lord's life. Next week my wife and I will be blessed by being at The Cove where the food is fabulous, the teaching terrific and, the accommodations, magnificent. But, best of all, my wife and I will be blessed simply by being together. While we look forward to making new friends, eating the food, hearing an outstanding writer share his thoughts with us, simply being with one another will be more than enough. We will be refreshed and renewed as we hold hands and hand it to Almighty God that He does all things well. After all, God gave my wife to me 37 years ago to be my wife, my companion, my best friend. What else do I need?

A COUNTER PROPOSAL

Kitchen counter space can be a problem if the husband and the wife both have different ideas as to where things go on it. Let me explain. My wife wants the microwave, the toaster, the coffee-maker and a number of other small items different than what they have been for a couple of years. I, the husband, think (know) that they should be right where they have been. Why change things when things work well in the first place? I am an early riser. So, before 6:00 this morning I did a little experimenting. I moved things around. I tried every combination I could think of and deal with. After all my hard work, I put everything right back where they had been all this time. I knew before I began that I would end up putting things back in the same place. I just hope that when my wife walks into the kitchen she will give me a huge hug rather than put me in my place. She is really good at that. But just in case she reads these words of wisdom, let me add: Honey, I how can I help you in the kitchen today?

LIKE SON, LIKE FATHER

We all have heard the expression, "Like father, like son." Well, this past Tuesday I was more like my son than my son being like me. If someone does something good for our son he says, "Preciate it." It is an abbreviation "thank you".

When my mother died several years ago, a minister friend showed up at our door within a few minutes after our family had heard the news. Sam hugged me, listened to me and then offered a prayer for us. This brief visit left a long lasting memory for me.

I saw Sam at a funeral this week and had the opportunity to walk up to him and tell him I had been thinking of what he did when my Mom died. I thanked him again after all these years. He smiled and thanked me for telling him that. Then as I was walked away from Sam, I turned around towards him and saw him drying his eyes with his handkerchief. In that moment I realized that the two of us experienced appreciation. It became another moment to keep in the scrapbook of my soul. That moment awakened within me the fact my son Stephen is rubbing off on his old man. And, that's something I truly "preciate!"

HEAVENLY LAUGHTER

Something funny happened on the way to the graveyard Tuesday. I was driving my wife and another couple to the grave yard following the funeral of a dear friend of ours. Just as we about to drive onto the grounds, Bob saw a sign, "Crematory" and said, "They sell cream here, huh?" Well, we laughed hard and long as we went on around to the place where our friend Herb was soon to be buried. I got to I wondering if Herb heard Bob's words from Heaven and had a long
laugh right along with us.

A DECLARATION OF CELEBRATION

Tuesday a couple of things happened to me at a funeral that will stay with me for a long, long time. As the casket of a seventy-seven year old pastor was being taken down the aisle and to the door of the church, I thought of how many times Herb had walked that aisle across the years as he sought to serve the Lord and the people he pastored. And then as we were walking down the steps of the church suddenly chimes started playing. The chimes in the core of the city had to be heard for blocks and blocks.What a wonderful testimony of celebration for all those who heard them. It was a declaration of celebration of a life lived long and well. Herb had heard those chimes over the past years and now those very same chimes rang out in his honor as hundreds of people remembered a man who gave us something to really worth celebrating, a life well lived.