OFF LIMITS!

After attending worship at the 9:30 contemporary service this morning, my daughter and I
headed on over to Walmart while my wife was in a Sunday School class. SinceI had never
been to Walmart at that time of the day on a Sunday, I was shocked to see all the people.
They were coming out of the wood work! They would almost run over you to get where they
were going. If I ever go back on a Sunday, I'm wearing a helmet!
While I didn't walk all over the store, for a man my age who walks with a cane, I walked
enough to wear me down. I was ready to go get my wife and then go get some lunch after all
the fast-track shoppers tried to stomp on my Sunday go - to Church shoes. The next time I
need something, I'm ordering over the internet! As far as I'm concerned, Walmart on a Sunday
is off limits for me! It's a jungle out there!! I think I even saw a couple of monkeys buying
bannanas and a couple of snakes slipping through the asiles after their prey. So, I pray you
don't enter the Twilight Zone. You will get dizzy from doing such a thing on a Sunday. I did!

GETTING AWAY TO GET AWAY

One of the hardest things about taking a few days off for vacation is know what to take and what not to take. If I start packing stuff too early, I find that my wife will come right behind me and
take this or that out of the suitcase or other boxes of things. What amazes me is that she will
take a bunch of things with her that she plans to read or do and most likely will not even get
around to it. There will always be something else to do or somewhere else to go. Before you
know it, it's time to load things back in the boxes or suitcase and head home. It's always been
this way. Why should I expect things to be different this time?
I know she laughs at me when she see's what I take with me. It looks like work, not relaxation.
But for me, reading a new book, working on a new sermon or Bible study is what helps me chill.
Sure, I get in the hot tub or take in the sights of the Smokies, but most of all, I'm seeking some
down time away from downtown, while I'm away. Got that?
I just hope I can get all of these things in the truck of our car. Maybe I should of rented a
U-haul instead!

Memory Lane

As my wife and I prepare to leave Monday morning for the Smoky Mountains, many memories of my childhood come flooding into my mind. Like the times when my parents took four young boys off to the Smokys for a few days. We rode in an old un-air conditioned car along two lane roads. There were no interstates to travel and to top that, there were no McDonalds and very few motels along the way. But we had a ball each and every time. We wouldn't have been very far down the road when I started asking Dad if we could stop and get a motel because I said I was tired. Then, whenever we did stop and get a motel, I'll be the first one out of the car and running up and down the lawn. Whenever I saw water by the side of the road , I'll ask if we could stop and go swimming. To this day, I can't understand why Dad didn't pull over and take me up on the idea! I guess that's enough of Memory Lane for now. But I have an idea I will be taking a long look back down Memory Lane before much longer because there's still plenty of time to make plenty more memories.

TWO OR THREE THINGS

While we were in Nashville yesterday I bought a new book to take with me to Pigeon Forge next week. It is by Eugene H. Peterson, The Jesus Way. While I'm there, I plan to work on a Bible study I'll be doing for three Wednesday nights in July at State Street United Methodist Church. The theme of the study will be: "Survival Guides for the Soul." I can hardly wait to get there and get to work. It may seem strange to use the word work while being away to relax, but that's the way I relax. I pretty well know what I want to say in the study, so it won't be difficult to do. Besides, it gives me a good excuse not to go down the mountain with my wife to go shopping. Like Nehemiah, I can say, "I can't come down, I've got work to do." I'll let you know how things go if I don' go. For now, I hope to get two or three things done at the chalet: read, work on the study and relax. Sounds like a plan to me. Now if I can just do it.

DO YOU STAND OUT?

My wife and I were shopping in a bookstore in Nashville today when I heard a laugh. I knew who it was without even looking. Although it has been awhile since last seeing her, I knew her laugh. When I turned to look, I saw my wife was talking to this lovely young lady. I was right. It was exactly who I thought! Is there something that identifies you in a crowd? Your giggle? Your sneeze? Your talk? Family and friends know you so well that you can't hide if they are around. I have a brother who has a cough that lets me and others know he is around. My Father has a sneeze that shakes the room he is in. As for myself? I was with someone today I hardly even know and she called me a clown. Maybe. Maybe not. All because I said something funny doesn't mean that that's how I'm identified. Yet, it's strange that this stranger may have it the target. What do you say?

LOOK WHAT I FOUND

On April 28, 2003 I wrote some words in a book I was reading. I was sitting in a rocking chair at a Chalet we were renting for a few days. After LEAVING the day to day routine I found myself: LOOKING, not at my watch, but at the mountains, sky, etc. I also found myself LISTENING to the sounds of silence. As I LOAFED, I relaxed in body and spirit. I found myself LAUGHING a lot. I was able to let the Lord take a LOAD OFF for He is the greatest weight lifter of all! After a few days and nights, it was time to LEAVE. The title of the book I was reading is, OVERCOMING OVERLOAD. It was a tool in my hand that helped heal a hurting heart. God provided the space and the scenery, all I had to do was "be still and know that God is God." When I wasn't working it worked for me. What words would you write down for where you are and how you feel right now? Maybe you need to let the LORD help you overcome the overload in your LIFE. Start now, not tomorrow.

A MAY GET - AWAY

In a few days my wife and I are taking a few days to stay at a chalet near Gatlinburg, TN.. Just give me a rocking chair, coffee and a couple of good books to read and I'll be a happy camper! I can't count the hours I've spent looking out at the mountains from a porch in the Smokys. It is so relaxing for reading, reflecting and just slowing down. Before I can slow down though, I've got to go get a new book or two to read while away. That won't be much trouble since I already have a book I want to buy and read asp. My problem is wanting to read it before we even get to Gatlinburg! I will have to hide it from myself or put a "Wet Paint" sign on it to remind me to keep my hands off it till I'm in the right place, at the right time. I think I can wait till Monday when we will get to Gatlinburg. It won't take long for me to settle in and start looking at the mountains and sky and digging deep into yet another book. Since it will be May, I may even get up off the rocking chair and go some where with my wife if it means getting a good meal. You know, reading and relaxing can get a man real hungry!

INSIDE AND OUT

After preaching for a friend yesterday, my wife and I ate at a near by restaurant. We almost failed to find it due to front of the building. It is located downtown near the courthouse and other buildings. It isn't much to look at from outside. It isn't decorated to draw people to it at all. But inside, it is like being in a fine restaurant in New York City. The food is what draws people to this tiny place to dine. It was well worth the price and the trouble to find it. A number of years ago I met a man who wasn't all dressed up in his Sunday's best. He wore faded blue jeans and a flannel shirt. He wore a cap to cover his gray hair and old worn out shoes. But when I sat down with him over coffee I learned things that I had never known before. While Marvin hadn't finished school, he was one of the smartest men I've ever met. I could listen to him for hours as he shared from the School of Hard Knocks. To hear him talk about things, you would of thought he was at the top of his class. He proved what that small restaurant offers, you can't always tell a book by it's cover. I'm sure glad I didn't miss meeting Marvin!

A POST IT NOTE

My wife told me this morning that the clothes lines out back needed to be painted black. After I had painted one of them I was cleaning the brush when she asked if I was going to paint both of them. I had done only one. Job done. right? Wrong! Half a job doesn't get the job done. I got out the paint and brush and finished the job. I have to admit that it does look lots better than it had. I know there is a "to-do" list somewhere around here but I keep covering it up so I will forget the other things that need attention. Speaking of attention, I'm sure I will get more than I want if I don't get up and get these black spots off my face, arms and hands. Sure hope we have something to do that job! Her list includes: repair and put the bird house back up (on a pole), paint the door coming in from the garage, get the whirly birds out of the gutters, etc. My list includes: take a nap, read a book, take the puppy to the dog park, take a nap, etc. I like my list more than hers because hers has more of the more.

"I'M BACK!"

I need a GPS so I can find my blog. When you get my age you forget where you leave things. It has been awhile since I’ve done a blog because I couldn't remember to remember. My daughter served as my GPS so that I could get back to blogging. I've missed it even if you haven't missed me. So much has happened since I wrote my last post. My wife turned sixty and got a tattoo. I have preached twice. I have taken lots of nice naps. You know, a man has to do what a man has to do. I just can't remember what I was going to do. Not really. This is just a test to see if anyone out there in Blog Land reads my stuff. If so, let me know or I will stop stuffing the stuff. If you like what I say, be nice and tell me...........sooooon!

A LIFE WELL LIVED

I took my wife and youngest brother to Columbia to celebrate my Dad's 95th birthday Monday.
While we were there, Dad read his birthday cards, welcomed family and friends, ate and sang
some songs. It is an amazing thing to see a man who was told a few years ago that he needed
heart surgery, still surviving without it and, going strong for the shape he is in. His youngest
sister is across the hall and having a tough time staying alive.
My Dad's Dad died when he was 94 and five other siblings have died over the past years. Dad
has a desire to live a good life more than a long life. He wants to give God teh glory with how he
lives his life. Hundreds of people who echo the words of Jesus, "Well done, thy good and faithful
servant." My desire is to live my life like Dad is doing because I feel that is what being a Christ
like person is all about. Happy Birthday, Dad!