ALL IN THE FAMILY

I had a wonderful time Friday with two friends at the Whistle Stop in Glendale, Ky. I had
been with one a few months ago but hadn't seen John for almost twenty years. What was
so amazing was that we were the same wild and crazy guys we were twenty years ago
and that neither one of us had changed at all!Not!!
We spent three hours together and I as much as I hate to say it, we talked non-stop.
Thom is moving this Tuesday to Gainsville, Florida to pastor there. I don't know when
we will be together again, if ever. I do know that I hope he has a great time in Gainsville.
While we were there I saw someone I knew from Bowling Green and introduced him to
Thom and John. Then John saw someone he knows and introduced us to him. It is indeed
a small, small world, after all.
My youngest brother will be staying with us for a few days following a couple of days in
the hospital. Wayne needs some time to rest and heal from some infections he has had.
Being my brother's keeper that I am, I will giving him a discount on our bed & breakfast
if he doesn't eat too much while he is here. Yesterday my older brother and his wife were
here to visit Wayne and us. It was so good to see them again. Now if my younger twin
brother will show up, I will be more than happy.
Our daughter is taking a vacation next week and wants to paint her bedroom so I think
I'll get out of town before she tells me I have to help her move things in and out of her
room as well as remove old wallpaper and then paint. I've been there & done that! Of
course being the great father I am, I will stay and help her if she lets me rest while
working. Isn't what Labor Day is about? Even God rested on the 7th day.

TOGETHER AGAIN

I am looking forward to this Friday when I will meet a couple of friends at the Whistle
Stop in Glendale, KY. Thom and I met at a resturant a number of months ago to renew
our friendship after a number of years of not seeing one another. Another John will b
there Friday whom I haven't seen in several years. He was my lawyer when we lived
in Shepherdsville, KY.
Thom is moving to the sunshine state in September, The two John's will have to hold
down the fort with Thom leaving us. It amazes me that these two fellows would want
to be with a much older man than they are. All I can think of is that they want to
draw from the deep well of my wisdom or hope I'll buy their lunch Friday. Not! I
may be dumb but I'm not stupid!
Speaking of getting old, I might have to have John update my will since it's been
awhile since we did it before. He did if for free way back when. I wonder if he will
do it for free again? I doubt it since he has been a Judge since I last saw him. But
I'll let him be the judge of that. All I really want is to get together again.

I'm Bushed!

I have been busy working at my younger brother's house for the past couple of days. He
had two trees removed in the front yard and was needing others things done as well. So
being my brother's keeper, I have been pulling weeds, trimming bushes and putting the
trash out to be picked up. Therefore, I'm sore all over my old body!
It will take a few more days before I'm finished. The back yard is in severe need of lots
of work. Hard work! My only hesitation are the snakes that might be in them there bushes.
I hate a snake. I dread that there might be more than one as I work for the night is
coming. But being the good brother that I am, I will sweat it all out until it's done. Even if
I do say so myself, "I'm bushed!"

A Bob Blessing

After a visit with a friend who had triple bypass surgery last Monday, my wife and I paid
a short visit with him Thursday. When we leaving the hospital my wife said, "Bless Bob's
heart!" I responded by saying, "That's why he is here." We had a long laugh as we left
to return home.
The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. Bob is coping with a crisis that could
have been much worse had he not had surgery when he did. He will have to take things
step by step in order to heal. I'm sure his faith, family and friends will enable him to
heal over the coming weeks. We were blessed by being with Bob and hope he was
blessed by our being with him. As my wife said, "Bless Bob's heart." And, may God bless
you!

GET LOST!

I have been busy this morning wth places to go, things to do and people to see. Just as I
ready to relax after returning home, my wife asked if I wanted to go out to eat with her.
I don't know where we're going but I have an idea that there will more than one place
to go, if you know what I mean. But that will okay as long as I get a good meal.
Isn't it amazing that there are always places to go, things to do and people to see! That's
why we have to hit the pause button from time to time so our souls, as someone said,
can catch up with our bodies. It so easy to go places, do things and see people, what's
hard is making and taking time to rest. Jesus knew He had to "get lost" from time to
time so that He could keep on keeping on doing God's will. Maybe we all need to "get
lost" soon. Very soon.

ADVANCE WARNING

I finished reading The Last Lecture, last night. I recommend this 206 page book by
Randy Pausch. Often I found myself pausing to think about what I had just read. I
circled the page number so I can go back and re-read that page again. As I was
reading I found myself looking in rear view mirror of my life to see some things I
had forgotten or needed to see again.
Randy Pausch had advance warning that he wouldn't life a long life. With that in
mind, he sought to live life to the fullest rather than have a pity party about his
passing soon. In looking back in his rear view mirror of his own life, Pausch was
able to celebrate so many things that he had done or said. He also was able to
see some flaws that he had but he didn't dwell on them long enough for them
to pull him down. We all could learn from that lession, couldn't we?
God's given each of us advance warning that we too will die at some time. What
we need to do is to enjoy each day and be ready for the last day of our life. While
we might not know when that day shall be, we can know the One who gives us
the days of our lives. Let us live them with great gusto!

TOP TEN THINGS I MISS ABOUT MY FATHER

10. His trying to get me to eat his food when we were with him at the Rest Home.
9. His telling me what to do even though I'm 64 years old.
8. His handing me his to read his mail whenever I visited him.
7. His mini-sermons and sermon notes.
6. His calling me just to say "I love you."
5. My calling Dad to say "I love you. Take good care of my daddy."
4. His prayers.
3. His warm smiles.
2. His hugs.
1. Dad!

"A SMALL, SMALL WORLD, AFTER ALL"

My wife and I had a great get away in Berea, Ky over this past weekend as we celebrated
our 39th anniversary. We ate far too much and saw sight after sight after sight. While she
was in a small shop, I sat down out on the front porch to wait. There were two other men
there as well. One of the men asked where we were from. When I told him he threw both
arms up in the air and said he was from near there! Then he said they had just gotten a
new pastor. He stared to tell me the pastor's name but couldn't remember the last name.
That's when I told him his new pastor used to work for me and I have preached for him
a number of times at his former church when he was away. What a small world!
On our way home we stopped to see my step-mother and to go by the cemetary where
my dad and mom are buried. It was our first time to be there since dad died in late June.
Needless to say, it was a moving moment for both of us.
We're glad to be back home with our family following are few days away. There's no place
like home in such a small, small world.

The Trick is Quick

I bought two books to take with me this weekend as my wife and I celebrate our 39th
wedding anniversary. While she shops, I will relax by reading. I've been wanting to
read, The Last Lecture by the late Randy Pausch and Ax . i .om by Bill Hybels. These
two books will encourage and equip me to live a fuller life.
We are going to Berea to spend some time together and see the sights. One of my friends
told me he was going to send her a sympathy card rather than a congratulations card.
I don't understand why he would do such a silly thing. Can you? Hush!
The trouble with buying books is that there are so many to consider. Whenever I can,
I read an entire books at Barnes and Noble while I'm there. It saves me money and
then if I like the books, I just might go ahead and buy them. Maybe I should write a
book about the books I've read for free at Barnes and Noble. How's this, The Trick is
Quick.?
You know, I think I will send my wife a sympathy card now that I stop and think about
it. Poor woman!

"I'M BACK!"

The local television station in Bowling Green broadcast the Governor's Town Meeting
last night. When I watched the news this morning I was on tv! The news showed the
back of my head and back in living color as I sat next to the asile. I've never looked so
good. This was my way of backing our Governor. Maybe they will show my better side
next time. I can assure you, it's a sight to see!

A HAND SHAKE AND A HUG

Our Governor was in Bowling Green last night so I went to see him. While I waited, I
watched to see who else I knew. I saw a few and then I saw Steve Beshear coming in
my direction as he shook hands with the crowd. As he approached, I stood and asked
if he remembered Carroll Coomer who used to live across the street from him when
we were kids. All of the sudden he shook my hand and hugged me. When I told him
dad died a month ago, he said he had seen it in the newspaper. He spoke highly of
him even though dad wasn't satisfied with Steve on some issues. Before he got away
from me I had him autograph the town hall paper in my hand. He didn't ask for mine.
The IRS does!
I was impressed with the way he answered questions and paid close attention to what
people had to say. His wife is from Bowling Green and was with him. I wanted to tell
the Governor his wife sure is better looking than him but I was afraid he wouldn't
pardon me if I had said that to him. I also wanted to ask him why he is Governor and
I'm just a poor Preacher but I didn't go there! I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid!
It was great to greet my Governor and see a that neither one of us have changed
all that much. He has much more gray hair than I do and less of it than I do. Maybe
being Governor grays the hair faster. I wish Steve well as he serves our State because
he has his hands full!

I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP!

After attending worship at 8:15 and 9:30 this morning, my family went out to eat. I
then went back to Broadway around noon to drop off some boxes of things for the
Mountain Mission Truck to pick up this Tuesday.
I had to wait for worship to finish before I could take the boxes into the building.
As I was going to get my car, I tripped and fell down on the sidewalk. Before I was
able to get up, several people showed up to help me up. The only thing that was hurt
was my pride. I dusted myself off and headed to my car. One of the men told me to stay
still and he would bring the car to the church entrance for me. Afterwards two men
unloaded the boxes and checked once again to see if I was okay. I then drove on
home thankful that I was fine. No real damage done.
I did cut my left knee but not enough to be bothered by it. I took a couple of pills and
went to bed for about an hour and then got up and watched goff on tv. As I write this
Blogg I offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God to to some good samaritians who gave
me real lift. Next time I'll let my wife take things to the church to be picked up.