Happy New Year

I'm amazed at how fast our January, 2009 calendar dates are already full of places to
go, people to see and things to do. Most of the dates are to see Doctor's. I guess that's
what happens when you get my age! I'm just hope I can remember to remember the
who, when and why of it all.
I could of preached yesterday and again this Sunday but chose not to yesterday and
I have a wedding to attend out of town this weekend. It's nice to be asked though. I
hope I get to preach more in 2009 than I did this year. I also hope to get the boot
off my right foot in a couple of weeks so that I can get back to a regular routine.
Mywife and I will celebrate our 40 years of marriage in August and my twin will
turn 65 in February . We both will retire as well in 2009. I get tired just thinking
about it. As my Dad said, "John, when did I get old?" That's what I'm asking these
days.
Have a great New Year in 2009. Keep the SON in your eye's!

WELL WORTH STAYING UP

Since I was so sleepy last night I thought I might miss the 11:00 pm Christmas
Eve service at our church. I go to bed by 10:00 most of the time so staying up
after midnight really is hard on me. But, I stayed up and went to worship and
I'm glad I did.
The music was wonderful, the sermon was deep but lifted my soul up in thanks
for the reason for the season called Christmas. The candle lighting is always a
very moving moment for me. As I stood to sing I thought of a song our daughter
used to sing as a child , "Light a candle, light a candle and tell the world, and tell
the world, Jesus Christ is born, Jesus Christis born on Christmas morn, on
Christmas morn."
One other thing that touched me were the number of people who gave greetings
before and after the service. They could of been somewhere else doing something
else but they were like me, blessed by staying up a little longer to be blessed in a
big way. Merry Christmas.

WHAT I'M READING

Yesterday I read The Christmas Sweater written by Glenn Beck. I couldn't put
it down. It took awhile to read it but I stayed with it and am glad I did. I saw
so many rear-view miror things as I read this small book with a big message.
I highly recommend Beck's book to anyone. These days it's great to read a book
without profanity or off colored stories.
I'm still reading Eugene Peterson's, Tell It Slant slowly so that I get all he has to
say from it. He has a way of saying things that stir my soul and send me forth
seeking to be a better Christ-follower. I love to read fromit for awhile and then
take time to let what he has to say sink in down deep in my soul. Most all of his
books do that for me.
A few years ago a dear friend of mine gave my father a new Bible as a gift. It is
a Revised King James edition of The Bible. Dad always wrote scribbles in the
Scriptures so I want to see what he has to say in this translation. I've aready
found sermon outlines and one or two other notations that I find precious. Dad
died last June at the age of 96 but he still speaks to me through this means.
I already have my eye's on a couple of books I want to read as soon as I can get
out of the house and read them.Till then, I'm writing a book entitled, Down and
Out Because I Can't Go Out. (I broke my right foot 15 weeks ago and have been
in a cast and now in a boot for a few more weeks.) Or, All I Want for Christmas
Is Freedom from a Broken Foot.

GO BIG BLUE!

A month ago I started wearing a cast which was blue. Today I said, "Go, Big Blue!"
So after a month the cast is gone but I got the boot. I have to wear this one for a
month and can only be up and about for no more than three hours a day. So it looks
like I'm slowly but surely healing.
I am glad to get the cast off. I don't miss it even if it is UK blue. My foot feels better
and so do I. Thank the Lord.

OUCH, GET OFF THE COUCH!!

I hope to hear this afternoon that my broken foot has healed and that this heavy cast
can come off. I have named it Ouch. Ouch hurts me day and night. I have found that
Ouch delights in rubbing up against my left leg when I'm trying to get to sleep at
night. The only thing that helps is for me to wear a sock over the cast. So, I have on
my Snoopy Christmas sock for protection.
One thing Ouch likes is to be on the couch. That way Ouch gets to rest. I know it's a
real drag for Ouch to have to be dragged everywhere I go but he will get over it. Soon,
I hope! Very soon!! Ouch likes Oprah and The Doctors every afternoon. He has to be
still while I watch tv as part of his daily routine. Poor Ouch!
I sure do hope I can tell Ouch to get off the couch and stay off after today. If not, he
will be Ouch the Grouch!!! Me too!!!!!

I KNOW THAT VOICE

I had just sat down with a cup of coffee to read this morning's paper when the phone
rang. I picked it up and heard a voice that I hadn't heard in a long, long time. Before
she told me who it was, I knew it was Lola. Lola has a laugh that no one else has and
she has a way of speaking that sparkles.
Lola was a member of the church my wife and I attended when I was in Seminary
just outside of Chicago. When I beame youth minister at the church, Lola worked
with me in trying to teach and tame teenagers. We had our hands full! After coming
back to Kentucky we didn't see or hear from Lola very often except a brief visit or
something in the mail. So it was great to get the phone call early this morning.
There are some people who come into our lives and then they are gone. Then there
are some people who are always there in one way or another. Lola and Clete are like
that. Time and space may separate us but we're bound together anyway. I wish we
were closer or able to see one another more often but we're not able to do that. So
we have to keep in contact one way or another. Lola told me she reads my Blogg so
I better watch what I say about here because she might get even with me.
What a wonderful Christmas gift to get this morning as I drank my coffee and
talked with a dear friend. I hope we can get together soon because I need a hug
from friends like Lola and Clete.

AFTERNOON APPOINTMENT

I have an appointment today at 3:00 with my Distrist Superintendent to talk about
several things. The most important thing will be my retirement after 44 years as a
minister. My twin brother and I both will retire at Conference in June. It is hard to
believe that Harold is so old!
One of the gift's God's given our family is to be back at Broadway in Bowling Green.
I served as pastor for five many years ago never thinking I would make Broadway
our church home. But that is what Broadway s for us, home. We're so blessed by
the many ministries that take place week after week through this church.
I look forward to being back at the 8:15 a. m. worship service soon so that I can
be back in ministry after so many weeks off with a broken foot. It is a high honor
to consecrate and serve Communion so that the Senior Minister can leave early
and be ready for the 9:30 a.m. service.
This afternoon's appointment is approaching as I write this Blogg so I best be
getting up and getting on out because it's very, very important appointment to
keep. Maybe my D S will give me appointment!

*Update: I had a good time with my D.S. yesterday. I didn't ask for an appointment
nor was one offered to me which is just fine. If I'm needed, he has my number.

WELCOME

I went to worship Sunday for the first time in several weeks. It was wonderful! I emailed
the pastor to tell him I was in pain the whole time he preached. He hasn't responded yet.
I wonder why?
My wife and I are to be greeter's Sunday. I will stand up as much as possible as people
approach but I may have to be seated for some. I always enjoy being a doorkeeper in
the House of the Lord.
My prayer is that the next x-ray will show that my broken foot has healed and that I
can soon be back on my feet. Carrying this cast around is hard work even if it is Wild-
Cat blue! I welcome the day when I am able to be back up and at it!