GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD FOOD GO TOGETHER

My wife and I had Dinner with a couple of dear friends last night. While the food was great, being together with these two was even better. We shared stories, kidded with one another, and laughed a great deal of the time. Had it not been getting late in the day, I think we would still be there talking and listening to one another.
What an honor it was that these two very busy people took time to be with my wife and myself.
They didn't have to do it but they did. I think it says something about friendship. As I've said so
many time before, we all need friends with whom we can chill. That's what we did while dinning
on a wet Thursday night. And it was good. Very good.

LOOKING BACK INTO THE FUTURE

I need to take a trip today. I have a mission that I must do again this year. My mission is to go
get 2007 calendars from a funeral home here in town. I place these in a number of places in our
house so that we have one when we need it. What bothers my family is a day like today. I just
tore off today's date at the computer desk so I won't have to do it December 1st, tomorrow. It's
just a bad habit I have. Why break a bad habit when it's for the good of us all?
I have my little black books stashed away in a corner that I can turn to if need be. I'm speaking
of the little calendar books that we Pastor's get each Fall for the next new year. It is interesting
to take time to turn through the pages of each one and see where I was and what I was doing each year. It's like a road map to the past. As I write these words, I wonder about the future. I
have already posted a few dates as reminders. One is the 95th birthday of my father April 2nd.
When I told him that the date was already in place, he said he didn't know if he would be here for it or not. Nor do I. We can plan to be somewhere, some day in the future but today is the
only day we have right now and we're not real sure just what may happen today. So, I best be
doing something else that I have planned before my plans get changed. Remember, one of the
things I plan to do is pick up 2007 calendars at of all places, a funeral home. That's all I plan
to do there, I assure you. No need to rush things.

MY MISTAKE MAKES ME LAUGH AT MYSELF

I heard lots of laughing coming from the study Wednesday night. It had to be a funny joke, I
thought. Well, the joke was on me. My wife was laughing so much she couldn't even talk, which
is in itself a miracle. I had emailed someone a couple of days ago but hadn't done a spell-check on
what I had written. What was so funny was what the email said instead of what I meant to say.
Even the one to whom the email had been posted had not emailed back, called me back or, even
laughed at me. Yet! Maybe Thursday night when we meet to eat. Isn't it amazing how leaving one little letter out of a word can really make a mistake stand out. I admit that the wrong word
was worth a laugh, and I'm glad it made my wife laugh since she hasn't had much to laught at here of late. They say that laughter is good medicine. Take a double dose of laughter, Dear, and
call me in the morning.

"Fill My Cup, Lord.."

I awoke around 5:00 a. m. Tuesday morning. I tossed and turned and then got out of bed to start my day. I put on a pot of coffee and sat down with the Scrptures. After reading a couple of chapters, I began getting a whiff of fresh coffee coming from the kitchen. I had to have my morning coffee to jump-start the rest of the day. One of the books I'm reading as a daily guide is, A Year With Jesus, by Eugene Peterson. I dig up nuggets of gold in what he has to say daily as I read from it. Today's text is about not judging others. Peterson offers a suggestion to pray for people instead of pronouncing judgement on people. The thought came to me, do I have good judgement? I must confess that too often I don't. I judge people as if I'm the Judge. Well, I'm not and neither are you! Let the Lord judge, not us. It's easier to see the faults of others than to see our own, isn't it? It's also easier to condem others sins than confess our own. Ouch! That ouch didn't come from the strong coffee in the cup but from the strong Word of the Lord, and it's not even 6:00 a. am. yet. I need another cup of fresh coffee as I continue my day, but more than that, I need another fresh word from God. What about you? Can I pour you another word of the Lord? "Fill my cup, Lord..."

THE RIGHT KEY IS: DELETE

As I work with this Blog I look down at the keyboard and see a six letter word that has a great
deal of power. The word is "delete". If I hit that key, I can delete these very words as if I didn't
even write them at all. There are times when I make mistakes and decide not to use a Blog. So
I hit the "delete" key and zap, it is gone in an instant, as if I had never written anything at all. In the last few days we've heard about or seen where someone said something they wish they had
not said or did something they wish they had not done in the first place. But, too late. Much too late! So the they want to be pardoned. they want their slate wiped clean. Friends, only God
can grant that wish. It's called grace. Grace is an even greater five letter word. And, it's even
greater to experience it after failing, sinning, etc. When we pray and ask for forgiveness, it's
like hitting the delete key. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten as if we never said or did what
we said or did. But there is a warning with these words that is key: don't go out and say or do
the same things again. God's grace is available to us all, but it doesn't allow us to play games with grace. It's not a game. It's grace, amazing grace! It's always the right key to hit!

"SMILE, YOU'RE ON COOMER CAMERA"

I wish I were as smart as my daughter. She knows how to place pictures with her blogs. I don't.
Sunday night she snuck a picture of me on her blog. It shows me wearing an old pair of my Father's pants. Like the pants, I look old and out of date. I may be old but I'm not out of date and I'm not giving up on this thing she has gone and done to me. Some will get lots of laughs from my daughter's doings, but I get grief. Grief that she didn't get in the picture with her dear Daddy. Then, and only then, would the picture be of real value. One of these days when she least expects it, she will show up on blogs because I've got some shots of her that show her acting a great deal like her dear, dear Daddy. They are old and they are new. They are very valuable and well worth seeing. Until then, be on the watch because, "Smile, you're on Coomer Camera!"

Still Giving Thanks

We went to worship this morning and then I went over to rake leaves to the side of the street for one of my brothers. After doing all that, I even came home and helped my wife plant tulips out in the front yard. Then I raked some of our own leaves to the side of the street. I'm a little on the sore side tonight after all these things, but it's been a great to be with family, friends and the faithful people of our church. Thanksgiving is still going on down deep in my heart. I'll be thankful if I can can get out of bed early Monday morning. If I don't, I'll sleep in and give thanks in my Monday morning dreams. Maybe I can come up with something to do that takes less of
my muscles. They sure are sore!

BLACK FRIDAY

I should of gone shopping Friday. Instead of joining the thousands who went shopping on Black Friday, I stayed home. Wrong idea! I ended up working in our garage. I took things up to the attic, I brought things down from the attic. I moved things from the back to the front and from the front to the back. I lifted things up that were heavy and things that were not so heavy. Now I wish I could say that I have great garage, but I can't. I can't get my car into the garage due to the things our daughter has there after moving here a few months ago. I can't get my car into the gargae due to the thousands of things that our son has all over the place. And, I can't get my car in the garage in the garage due to the things my wife and I have in it. All I can safely say is
I'm sure glad we have a garage because I don't know where else all these things would go! That is truly a black Friday for me. On secon dthought, just think of all the money we saved by not going to the Mall. Am I smart of what!

TOM TURKEY'S THANKSGIVING

When I was walking into the kitchen early Thanksgiving morning, I knew there had to be a turkey in the house. Tom Turkey always shows up. So I looked in the fridge to see if he was hiding in there. Nope. I looked in the pantry. Nope. Then I looked in the oven and there was Tom. Was he ever hot under his collar! I wonder if he knew that when he hid in the oven it would get in him in hot water! I do know that, Tom Turkey has good taste and he is stuffed, just like I'm going to be by the end of the day. Tom will get to go to Grandad's today though, so he wouldn't have to stay home alone. He can even be a real cut up! He will also be in our prayers as we give thanks for all the great food on the table. If he is smart, next year Tom get a pardon from the President and get to go where he can live a longer life. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving from Tom Turkey and my family where the I've been told, I'm the real Turkey! I don't know why they say that. It is really not very nice, but I will pardon them for saying such a thing if I get to go first at the table.
ps: Tom Turkey did show up at my Dad's for Thanksgiving. Just as I thought, everyone ate him up! He was so good! He did his Turkey trick again this year too, almost everyone took a nap. I think there was some kind of drug in the dressing. It is good to be back home after such a great day. I hope you can say the same.

"Are You Ready for Some Football ? !"

Sunday afternoon I watched four football games instead of reading. Sunday afternoon is a great
time to read for me. I relax and read a few pages of a book and then take a nice nap. I wasn't in
the mood to do the same old thing I usually do, I needed a change of pace. I needed to be in full
control. So, I kept the remote tight in my hand and watched football! Our tv allows me to watch two games at the same time, one with sound and one without sound. With a flip of a finger, I can change channels in a moment's time, which I did more than once. I didn't take a nap since I was
so into the games that I didn't attempt to move out of my comfort zone. I was cozy until my team lost to Dallas and had their first loss this season. After that I could care less about football! How could they go and ruin my day like that? Who do they think they are! Just see if I watch next week? I think I'll read a good book or two and take a long nap instead. That will show them whose the real Man!

"AND THE WINNER IS.............."

Saturday night I was playing "1 vrs 100" on my computer. Even though I have played it a hundred times, it wasn't until one of the games that I saw what I was attempting to accompish.
My goal in the games is to eliminate people. All of the sudden I felt sad. For some reason I
remembered a quote by the main character in a book I've read, Sabbath By Miscellany: 300
Religious Tales by Charles A. Goodwin. He speaks of a Captain of a boat who said it a severe
storm, "...I should be careful because I have souls on board, I think of myself as responsible.."
This tiny quote had a big impact upon me. It got me to thinking how in society the goal of so
many people is to get rid of people who somehow stand in the way of getting what we want. We
should be on guard not to hurt people but help people, people who make up our families, friends, and even those whom we do not know at all. The game teaches us that if we can eliminate people, we have a better chance of getting what we want. Life is not a game where we set out to rid ourselves of others but to enrich the lives of others. That way, we all are winners.

Me, Myself and I

When Hal called and told me he couldn't meet me at MacDonalds today, I thought that I would stay home and read. But I needed to take a tie to the Cleaners so I dropped it off and then I ate at MacDonalds with Me, Myself and I. What a trio of trouble that was. Me had to go to the rest room twice before leaving. Myself wanted another Big Mac and, I didn't want a thing to do with the other two. I tried to make sure Me and Myself were at their best behaviour. After we ate, Me, Myself and I left. But before we got in the car, Me said he wanted to drive. Myself fussed. So, I drove. I drove to see our two best buddies, Barnes & Noble. They had lots of company. They were looking at books, magazines and newspapers and didn't see Me, Myself & I slip on out and head on home. The three of us need a nap now. After all, all of us are tired and need our rest. Till next time, we'll be seeing you.

"COMING!"

I remember how my Father would call us children home for supper each evening when we were younger. Dad would step just outside our house and call us home. He didn't call our names. He would whistle. It was his whistle. No one else in the neighborhood had the same sounding whistle. No one. Nor did anyone else, anywhere. Wherever we were and whatever we were doing, we knew that when we heard it to head home. We would cry out, Coming!" and head home as fast as our feet or the bikes could get us there.
I find myself doing as Dad did every once in awhile. If I know that they are near enough to hear
me whistle at all, I whistle my own whistle and they know Dad's calling them to come home. It
works most of the time. They show up pretty soon after hearing the sound of my whistle. It's not their names being heard that brings them in, but the simple sound of a familair whistle.
When my Father God calls me home, I doubt I hear Him whistle from Heaven's door to come on home. I think He will call me by my name and I will simply stop whatever I'm doing and head home, knowing that there's a feast awaiting me there. If I can, I'll say, "Coming!" and head home right away. So I simply ask you, do you know the voice of God whenever and wherever you are? And, how will you respond? I hope you head home because there's no greater call than the call of God to head home into the heart of the One who makes it all possible, His very one Son who knew His Father's voice when He was here long, long ago.

THE LAST LAUGH

While I was blowing the leaves to the back of the back yard this afternoon, I thought I heard the leaves laughing at me. It was as if they were laughing at me all my hard work. It was as if the
leaves were laughing at me for thinking I would finally finish this Fall tradtion. When I put the blower away I thought they were laughing at me again, but I may be mistaken. It might of been
the leaves last gasp for life because they haven't been looking too good for the past few days. Their color isn't good, they look dirty, dingy and as if they are dying. Too bad that they have to go "to the dump, to the dump, to the dump , dump, dump" to lay in state for the remaider of Fall, all of Winter and some of of Spring where they will work to enrich the soil and bring forth new life. It could well be that they are laughing because they know they do have the last laugh after all. These leaves really have put on a good show, as well as provide shade for the Summer months. So, to the laughing leaves, I give a standing ovation. You see, I've got to go to the bathroom or someone will be laughing at me. And, I'm too proud for such a sight! I'm not going to Fall for that! Nope! Not me!

GIVE A "LIFE LIFT" TO SOMEONE TODAY

I have been looking forward to today for some time. My wife and I are having lunch with five of
our friends where we will share stories, have lots of laughs and enjoy fantastic food. Every time
the seven of get together like this, it is a time to affirm one another. It's so sad that there's not
enough of that going around these days. What goes around is putting people down, gossip about people and things like that. The just ended political races illustrate what I'm saying. They put others down to lift themselves up. "If the other person looks bad, it makes me look good" was their motto. What we need to do is lift others up with words and acts of kindness, not knock them down and then go off leaving them in the dust. The Good Samartian gives us a good example of how we should live life. He went out of his way to help someone. It took time on his part but it gave the one he helped a LIFE LIFT. Why don't you give someone a LIFE LIFT and see if it makes them have a happier day? I promise you this, you will have a happier day as you go on your way.

AM I HEARING VOICES?

I'm home alone today. My wife and daughter are in Nashville and my son is at work. Both dogs are outside. It is seldom that I'm home alone. Most of the time, someone else is here. While we aren't always in the same room, still, we are together here at home. Most of the time, there
are two dogs sleeping beside one of us or following one of us like a shadow. Not so today. I'm all
alone. I miss the talk and I miss the talkers. I've had the tv on and off as well as the radio in my
study. I have been outside a time or two, but found myself coming back in and finding things I
need to do. My 94 year old Father phoned late yesterday afternoon. He didn't really have much
to say. He was lonely and wanted to hear the voice of a family member. Others nod at him, wave at him, and, even stop and speak but then rush on down the hall leaving him all alone. I'm
home alone today and it gives me an idea of what it means to want to hear from someone, even if it is from an automated phone machine wanting your vote. But that's over and done with now and no one will call you back and thank you for your vote. When I finish doing this, I think I'll
call my Dad. I just want to hear his voice again today.

"I VOTED"

It's raining and it's cool where we live. It 's a great day to stay in where it's warm and dry. But I
didn't. Instead, I got out in the cool rain and drove a few blocks to VOTE. Voting is something I
wanted to do today even if it were snowing. I had to wait in a long line before casting my vote but time went by fast. It would of been ok had I had to of waited longer because that would of
meant longer lines. More people casting their votes. I sure hope lots more people show up before 6:00 tonight to let it be known that they care about who is elected to hold offices. It really is an
important thing to do. I'm glad to have a small sticker stuck on my jacket saying, "I VOTED!" I
hope you have such a sticker stuck on you!

Time for a Coffee Break

I have a bad habit of observing how many times someone says something over and over again. I count the times my Pastor says, "if you will", in his sermons. I even count the number of times I say, "it seems to me", whenever I preach. When I started reading a book by Guideposts, I kept count of the number of time mentions coffee. I am on page 263 and coffee has been mentioned ten times thus far. I still have over a hundred pages to go and I have an idea I will come across the word coffee once or more before finishing my book. The funny thing is, most of the time I have to have two or three cups of coffee while I'm reading. I've had two while working with this blog. Often I will have a pot of coffee on knowing that soon I will be picking up a good book and wanting a couple of cups of good coffee. Like, right now. Be seeing ya!

"GONE MARVELING"

It's happened again. It happens each and every year, wherever we move. Every Fall I find that
the leaves I have raked up have been put right back in my yard again. I don'tknow if I rather rake them up or go down on my kness and pray for a windstorm to take them away. The trouble with windstorms is that they tend to blow leaves from someone else's yard right into mine! I wish all those leaves would just leaf me alone, thank you very mulch!
Dr. Fred Craddock tells of how he used to say, "I'm gone marveling." I think that isn't only good
advice, but something I'm going to do. Rather than rake, I'm going to take. Take off and soak in the stunning colors of the Autumn leaves. While I'm gone, maybe someone will come and take all my falling leaves away. They can have all they want for free! Let the leaves leave because more always show up to replace them. Of that, I can be sure on this Fall day when the leaves keep
on falling fom the sky.

The Write Reverend

This morning I came across an article in a church newsletter written by the Pastor. His title
caught my eye: The Write Reverend. One of the things that requires lots and lots of time is the writing of sermons, newspaper artcicles and letters. I know from past experience as well as the writing I do on a daily basis. Just doing blogs takes time, lots of time. Whenever working with a sermon, I find that it takes a great deal of writing. I write down research notes. I write out my sermon in full and then try to outline it so that I don't have to use my writings at all when I preach the sermon from the pulpit. As I read articles, books, magazines, etc, I'm jotting down a number of things for reference in the future. Just this morning I had to write down a list of things to ask of someone at a breakfast meeting, not to mention the things I wrote down in response to what my list was all about. I can't remember things like I used to do so I have to write notes or else I would never know what I need to remember. At times, I even have to write myself a note to stick in my keys pocket to help me ask or do what I need to get done. You see, I want to be a Right Reverend. Well, enough of these writings from someone who hopes someone reads this blog before night fall.

MY WISH BOOK CAME TODAY

When our mail arrived this morning, I was so excited to see information about new books at one
of my favorite book stores. As I turned through the pages, I drew a cirlce on each page that has some books that I want to read or, even better, buy and read. It also amazed me that I have met so many of the writers who have books mentioned. It reminds me of how many books I've read just in the past year, not to mention, across the years of my life. By the way, Good Books, is the title of this catalogue. There are page numbers circled where I want to refer to whenever I'm ready to take on another book. Come to think of it, it's like looking at a Christmas catalogue with the title, Wish Book. Maybe, just maybe, I will get some of these Good Books for Christmas, if not before. Who knows? Until then, "I'm checking my list, and checking it twice,
just to find out..........."

WALKING NAKED DOWN THE STREET

The other day while watching cars and trucks driving by our house, I would look at the trees in
our yard and down the street. As the falling leaves were falling from the tress to the ground I felt as if I were watching a strip show. One by one , tree after tree, leaf after leaf, was being disrobed. It was a wonder to behold. The trouble was, I knew that as these leaves fell to the ground, I knew I would have to pick up a rake and pick these things up and put them out in the compost or the black baggies and then carry them out for the someone one else to take off.
While I was working at my desk this morning , I saw a man running down the street nearly naked. He was jogging down the street without a shirt and with shorts on his long legs. I felt a shiver go down my spine as he went out of sight. I must admit that I rather look at the trees strip off their leaves than to watch this man run nearly naked on a cold Thursday morning. While I am writing this blog though, I am reminded about telling someone that I have walked naked down the street many times in the past and never got cold or arrested. Naked was my dog! Now, there was a sight to behold on a cold Fall morning!

A TINY BOOK WITH BIG BLESSINGS

The Inner Voice of Love is a small book by Henri Nouwen which was published in 1996. Every
Fall I find myself re-reading it. I've started reading it for the tenth time as a daily devotional. I
know where it is on my book case and can pull it down for a quick read whenever I feel a need
for some inner soul searching. Today is one of those days. I think I could get found by getting lost with it for the rest of the day. He always says something that seems so tailor made for me.
He shares struggles that he has had in his own life. The amazing thing to me is that I have had
so many similiar struggles in my soul. I've been in the "basement of my soul" and I know what
it's like to "rely upon spiritual guides" to get me on my way every now and again. Like, today.
This tiny book is almost of the top of my top ten best books in my study. It's hard to imagine but Nouwen died ten years ago last September. What a blessing his life and books have had upon so many other lives throughout the years. This tiny one reminds me that I should seek to be a blessing to others too. I guess that's why I wrote this tiny Blog. Maybe you are the one who needs it for some reason. As Henri Nouwen says, "Let Jesus transform you."

WANTED: FAULT FINDERS

I read something a few days ago that grabbed my attention and hasn't let go. I don't remember
where I read it, I just remember it today. Someone said that he heard about a fault finder who
went about finding fault in people. He found fault in his parents, his children and even his Pastor. this fault finder then would pray for those people daily. He would offer help to them through words of encouragement. He would try to bring something good out of the bad. Rather then putting them down, he lifted them up.
I want to be the best fault finder because of what I read about this person. I have an idea that fault finders are in great demand. They can't be bought at some store or over the internet. Fault finders are hard to find so if you see one somewhere, be grateful. Better yet, see if you qualify. All it takes is a caring spirit that you can give to others. Anyone, anywhere , anytime can do it. Even you.

A GOOD REVIEW

Yesterday I started reading a new book by John Eldredge, The Way of the Wild Heart. By the
time I got to page seventeen I wasn't sure I wanted to read any more of it. It wasn't because I
felt as if I've read all this stuff already. It wasn't because it wasn't interesting. It was because I
was seeing too much of myself on page after page and I was uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. It was as if I was looking in a rear view mirror and not wanting to see what I was seeing. So, I put the book down - for awhile - a short while. I felt as if I was being lured to look at yet another page and another page and so forth. So, today I'm picking the book back up to read as much of it as I possibly can before putting it back down.
What I was seeing were things about me as a son and as a father that made me feel like a failure. It hurt. Bad. The Way of the Wild Heart speaks of me and too me. Truth is, it's like having a root cannal! Thus far I'm finding that I want to be numbed from the pain I feel but I know that I have to deal with my pain if I'm going to feel better and do better as a son and as father. So, why do I write these things to you if I don't want you to know me as I know me? It is because if you are a man, you too need to pick up the this book and see if you see yourself as I have seen myself. While it hurts, it also helps heal. No wonder where I will be when I get through reading this 300 page book. This isn't a book review as much as it is a life review. It's also like looking at a map into the future. If you dare, join me on the journey and find out where you have been and where you are going. You will be far better off than you will if you don't see what it has to say to you and about you.