TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE

I am very busy working with what to preach on Father's Day, I find myelf almost over dosing
with what to say. In other words, I can't say everything I want to say in one sermon on the
topic of Dad At The Half. So I find myself working with a jigsaw puzzle as I try to see what
piece fits and which piece doesn't. The trouble is, about the time I throw something away, I
think of something else.The hard work is deciding what's worth keeping and what's
not. I think this is one reason why I love to preach. It's allowing the Holy Spirit to put the
pieces of the puzzle in their proper places and then go forth from there.
Many memories of fatherhood are jumping around down deep inside my soul as I work
with this sermon. There are more good than bad memories, thank God! The wonderful
thing is that I'm adding new pieces to the puzzle day by day and I'm not even half way
through with what I will say on a very special day. I just hope I can get through the three
services without stopping half way through. Now that would be something, wouldn't it!

SAFE PLACE

My workouts are wearing me out! I was out digging in the dirt in the garden before six this morning.
While it wasn't warm, I was starting to sweat after just a little turning of the dirt. Like a
good boy, I drank lots of water without being told to do it. I even rested every few minutes.
Derby, our daughter's dog, was with me as he tried to help me get the digging done.
Now Derby digs digging. He also is in need of a warm bath. So am I!
I think my wife thinks Memorial day is a day to remember to do yard jobs, lots of yard jobs!
When she told me last night all the things that need to be done today, I knew then and there
that I would need to get up early and get with it. The early bird gets the worm, they say. I
didn't see any worms trying to exit stage right as the pick hit the dirt. Maybe they hear my wife
last night and got on a bus for Safe Place, Ky. I sure wish they had told me where it is because
I would of gladly diven the bus! As I've said, workouts wear me out! Rather than being out,
I prefer the lazy-boy for a lazy man on hot days like today. Hey! Maybe that's Safe Place, Ky!

The rest of the story: I didn't get to stay in Safe Place very long. Before I knew what was
going on, I was going outside to dig dirt, move this plant to this place and move this plant to
that place. Then we were busy with bushes that needed to be thrown away. That's when I
felt like running away! This will be a Memorial Day I'll remember for a long, long time
because it will take a long, long time for my bones to stop hurting so much! Speaking of
the rest of story, that's what I need, a rest and lots of it! Now if I can sneak off to Safe Place
again, maybe, just maybe, I can rest in peace.

MEMORIES OF KAREN

I was shocked when I read the obituaries in yesterday's paper. I came across the name of a
lady whom I knew when she was just a girl. I served as youth director of the church that
her father was pastoring at the time. I served the same church two times while I was
working on my Master's Degree.
I remember Karen along with her sister and brother as PK's (Preacher's Kids). They were
always so supportive of their father and mother's work. I saw them throughout the years
from time to time. Then I was invited to help perform Karen's wedding with her father. It
was such an honor for me. A few years ago I saw the Clark family when the three siblings
invited people to their parent's 50th wedding ceremony. I didn't know that that would be
the last time for me to see Karen and Richard.
Karen died of cancer last Sunday in Louisville. I wish I had known about how bad she was,
I would of gone to see her. I regret that a conflict and late notice prevented me from being
at the funeral Thursday. I've spoken to her mother in order to convey sympathy from my
preacher family. We kidded about eatingc corn on the cob together some day soon as a way
of remembering a little girl who sat at table with us so many, many years ago. And, we look
forward to the Great Banquet with Karen and her Lord one of these days. This is my own
Memorial remberance of the Karen I knew and loved as I write these words on this
Friday afternoon before Memorial Day.

MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Being the nice guy that I am, I took my wife out for breakfast this morning. After we ate, we
went to an apple orchard. We didn't buy any apples but she bought flowers for the yard. She
even bought me a hanging basket arrangement for the front porch. As I held it, I felt like a
blooming idiot. I looked like one too!
When we left the orchard we had to go pay the water bill and go buy her her own hose. The
one we have keeps getting lost. This will be her hose and no one else is to touch it! That's ok
with me, I don't want to water all these new flowers she just brought home. I have enough to
do jobs already and I can only handle so much at my age. I don't want to over do my doing, if
you know what I mean. Since it's Memorial weekend, she thinks that stands for remembering
all the things that have to get done around here. I wonder what would of happened if I hadn't
been such a nice husband this morning? Maybe I would be taking things easy. she can't wait
till Labor Day!!

ON BROADWAY

I will be preaching at the three morning services at our church on Father's Day. The theme
deals with Mid-Course Corrections: Dad At The Half. Since my wife and I have two grown
children, I quess I qualify as an expert. Ha-Ha! I do have a lenghty list of the corrections I
have made as Dad. The trouble is, it keeps expanding. After all these years, it looks like I
would get this thing down instead of it getting me down. But everything and everyone keeps
changing on me. Just when I think, "I've got you where I want you!", they or things move on
me. But that's life, isn't it? One thing is for certain, things are uncertain!
I look forward to being back at Broadway to preach again. The last sermon I preached was
way back in 1992. Jennifer would soon start college in Evansville and Stephen would soon
start school in Louisville after we moved. My mother-in-law soon would move in with us for
a brief time. Now we've moved back to Bowling Green, bought a house, Jennifer works in Nashvile
and Stephen has his own business. And, there are three grand-dogs to take care of.
With all this, I can't wait to see what I want to be when I grow old. I just hope I don't crash
before I can make the right mid-course corrections

THE LAST LAUGH

The seven decades of life: Spills, Drills, Thrills, Bills, Ills, Pills and Wills.

Question: What time of day was Adam created?
Answer: A little before Eve.

Question: What Bible character could talk within 24 hours of his birth?
Answer: Job. He cursed the day he was born.

Man 1: When I go to bed at night I see yellow lights and green dots before
my eyes.
Man 2: Have you seen a psychiatrist?
Man 1: No, only yellow lights and green dots!

Ministers don't get much respect. I was in the church restroom this morning,
washed my hands and went to turn on the hand dryer. There was a note on it"
"Push here for the latest word from our preacher."

BLEST BE THE TIE

Since Saturday is a neighborhood yard sale, even if the price of gas is high, I'm high-tailing it
out of town! I think I'll go see my Father since I haven't seen him in awhile. If I stay here, I'll
have to help carry stuff out before the sale and then carry stuff back in after the sale. This
is one of those days when everyone from everywhere shows up. While they don't buy alot,
they sure look alot. They will walk up and down the streets, go into this yard and that yard
but end up taking very little of someone else's stuff home with them. Come to think of it,
we may of ended up with more in the yard than when the sale started! Now that I think
about it, I still have some nice neck ties that are for free. Maybe someone will take them
this time. I only wear a tie when I preach somewhere. Other than that, they are seldom
seen on me. It's the tie that binds! "I'm free, thank God, I'm free at at last!" Last year I
threw in some of my sermons. Trouble is, they threw them back at me!

Keep On Keeping On

Isn't it amazing how things can pile up so fast? Most of the time I have plenty of time to get
things done. But all of the sudden there seems to be a tsunami of things to get done. There
isn't even a "get- out -of - jail free" card for the asking to help me. So I have to to face the
music and get it all done as best I can.
I have two Bible studies to prepare for and the conduct. I have two sermons to prepare and
then preach, not to mention always having a sermon ready just in case I get a SOS. Lastly, I
have a to meet with a couple in counseling and then their wedding to perform. I feel as if I'm
back in the saddle again. Truth be told, it's a great ride! I miss these things since taking my
disability due to my M.S. a few years ago. I think the more I'm asked to do, the more I want
to do. This doesn't take me by surprise. A Minister never retires in the real sense of the
word. He or she has an inner feeling that there's always something more to be said or to be
done. My Dad is a retired 95 year old Minister who would get up out of wheel chair and go
preach if he had to do it. Like Father, like son. Me too. I look forward to giving God my best
for as long as I can because God's given me the very best He had to offer, His Son Jesus.

BACK TO SCHOOL

I have been asked to participate in a study on aging by the Department of Psychology at Western Kentucky University. I have a couple of questions as to why I've been asked. First, I am not a grad of WKU, while my wife has a Masters Degree from there and she is sixty. She didn't get the invitation, I did. Second, how did they get my name? I think they made a mistake. I doubt I do the study because I'm too old. I can't remember to remember. However, I can offer a couple of names of people to participate. My father is 95 and remembers just about everything I did wrong when I was a kid. Then there's my twin brother. Talk about a case load, he qualifies! If I can remember his last name I'll contact the University ASAP. For now, it's nap time after I eat my mid-day meal. No, I'm not going back to school. I'm afraid I would fail. Again!

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

I just returned from an appointment with the place I bought my hearing aids a few years ago.
The same young man gave the same old man the same test he had given me a few years ago.
When he said that nothing had changed I said, "What did you say?" He just looked at me and
walked on off. That's when I told him that I made a mistake getting dressed in the dark this
morning and put on my wife's glasses and that now I see things from her point of view.
I'm delighted and thankful that I can hear and see as well as I do. I just wish I could see
and hear things that weren't so ugly or so bad. It's a shame that people put up with what
others say and do as much as they do. Yet, I know we have to be on guard as to how some
might respond. It could be a ugly sight! What do you say when someone says something
that is ugly or does something so wrong? Nothing at all? Act as if it wasn't said or done?
At times a prayer said to God is enough. A prayer for the other person can do wonders
when we feel that we shouldn't speak or do anything to the other person. What do you say?

I'M TOUCHED

On Father's Day I will be preaching at a church I left 15 years ago following five years as their pastor. All three services will give me an opportunity to say some things that I've wanted to tell them. When we moved back to Bowling Green four years ago, we went back to Broadway. When I was pastor, we would have around 250 for one service each Sunday. Now they are running over 1200 with three services each Sunday. It is exciting to see such great growth in worship and in witness. My family attends the contemporary service since we like the flow of it as well as hearing our daughter sing with the Praise Team. I'm always touched when I see so many people whom I don't know as they pass by on Communion Sunday. I'm also touched by how many people pass by whom I took into the church membership and whom I married while I was their. But the thing that touches me most is when I see so many men and women involved in ministrywho were just teenagers way back in 1987 and the years following. I'm also amazed at how much they have changed while I haven't changed at all. I'm still a wild and crazy guy!

THE JESUS WAY

I started reading The Jesus Way while my wife and I were in the Smokies last week. Most of
the time I read a book like using a microwave. Quick. This time though, I read 67 pages of the
book as if it was a crock pot. Slow. Real slow. This 300 page book will take time because I'm
in no rush to finish it. I want to allow each and every word, each and every sentence to soak
down deep into my soul. You see, this book is reading me. It is as if my soul is being scanned
by a MRI to detect the good, the bad and the ugly so that my soul can be cleansed The Jesus
Way.
I haven't picked up Eugne Peterson's book since arriving home Monday. I need some down
time before looking up again. I might miss something if I simply start reading just to finish
yet another book. I don't want that to happen. I rather go slow than go too fast this time. I
have an idea that this might not happen to everyone who reads The Jesus Way, but it is the
way it works for me. There are so many good books that you can read that will touch your
soul like this one has me. I have several on the shelves of my study that I treasure. Now I
have one more to add to them along with the best book of all, The Bible. Talk about a book
that knows you, it knows you from cover to cover! It's all about the One who covers your
sins and mine The Jesus Way.

SCAT!

My wife and I returned home yesterday afternoon after a week in the Smoky Mountains.
The chalet were we stayed sat at the top on a steep moutain. I had to use 2nd gear to drive
up to the top. I was afraid of meeting another car on some of the narror turns. You couldn't
back up or pull over to the side of the road in most places. Going down was like a rolly
coaster but more fear than fun! The key: Going up: keep the foot on the pedal.
Going down: Keep the foot on the break. Most of all: PRAY!
There are warnings of bears in them there hills so we were always on guard. My wife took a
walk one morning and kept seeing evidence that a bear had been there. There was scat all
over the gravel road. Scat is a nice way of saying bear poop. Lots of bear poop! Scat is what
she did! We didn't know that scat is the word for bear poop until we read it in a book about
bears in the Smoky Mountains. While we din't see any bears, we were always alert that there
might be.
We ate at Applewood Farm Resturant two times because the food was so good and the
cost not as high as the mountain where we were staying. We went shopping at a Mall,
took a Sunday afternoon drive high into the woods of yet another mountain where we
could hear the river roaring over the rocks. Most of all, we were in and out of the hot tub,
took in the view from the porch swing and chilled!
They say, there's no place like home. Back to taking out the garbage, mowing the yard and
being with the people we could BEARLY wait to see! Best of all, no scat!