HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well, I've gone and done it again. I watched UK defeat UL, took a nap, read a new
book and ate too much Poppa John Pizza today. I hope I sleep tonight. Last night
was not a good night for me. I tossed and turned all night & slept when I could on
a couch. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and never did fall back asleep. Maybe I've worn
myself out enough to sleep tonight.
Happy New Year! My twin turns 67 in 2011. Poor fellow.

GROUCH IS ON THE COUCH

I didn't sleep very well last night. I ended up on our couch where I did
sleep some. I was up at 5:00 to start yet another day. It might be too
much coffee or it could be the UK-UL basketball game that I want to
watch at 11:00 our time. Anyway, I didn't sleep at all last night, almost.
Just call me Grouch on the couch. I'm on the lazy-boy right now with
my broken foot held high on a pillow, Maybe I can sneak in some sleep
by listening to one of my old sermons. Here's one: HE WHO LOAF SHALL
HAVE NO BREAD. Snoring.................................

IN THE RED

I'm in the red at the end of 2010. I have on a RED CAST for the next six weeks.
I'm BIG BLUE since being born in Lexington but Western University is RED
HILLTOPPERS. I'll wear RED this time to honor their colors.
I had my wife stop on our way home and buy a book for me at Barnes & Noble.
I had been reading it there but doubt I will be back very soon to finish reading
it. It's by David Baldacci & entitled, HELL'S CORNER. While we live on one
but it's not Hell's Corner. Although we're going through some pretty touch
times right now. Thank the Lord for blessing us with HEAVENLY blessings.
For now I have to take things easy and ask the good Lord to give my wife
an extra dose of patience with taking care of me. Can I get an AMEN?
I'm tired, so I'm stopping here and heading to bed to rest.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING

Big Brother is watching. I know from personal experience. While I was taking a
nap today, my Big Brother called to see how I'm doing. I broke my right foot a
few days ago and he wanted to see how I'm doing. What a kind Big Brother. He
is one of a kind.
My Big Brother calls others often to see how they are doing and to see how he
can help them. He has always been a Big Brother for the three of us younger
brothers. He goes the second mile to offer assistance. Years ago he and his
wife drove many miles in the snow to help two of us when we were in a wreck.
We have never forgotten that time when Big Brother was watching. He is one
of a kind.
Big Brother helps family and friends in so many ways while he himself could
do other things for himself. He never ask for anything for doing what he does.
He simply wants to watch out for the other guy. He is indeed one of a kind.
So, thanks Big Brother for watching out for someone so silly that he breaks
bones about as often as he goes to Barnes & Noble. You are one of a kind and
I want to thank you from the bottom of my broken foot to the top of my
big head. Thanks Ken.

CRACKING UP!

I was wondering this morning if Barnes & Noble has a book-mobile. Sure there is
The Nook, but I don't have one. I like holding the real thing when I'm reading a
book. I will have to hire someone to buy a book for me (I will pay for it) since it
might be awhile before Barnes & Noble will see me again.
Here are three books I might read: YOU'RE CRACKED UP!, OUCH THE GROUCH
ON THE COUCH, HERE I STAND. Best sellers I'm sure.
I do have books here at home to re-read rather than having to have another new
book. I am amazed at how many books I've re-read through out the years. They
are books that I always have to have. They inspire and inform me in so many ways.
I also like the comics since I am one some say. Funny thing is, I agree.

NOT AGAIN!

An X-ray today shows a broken right foot again. It's a new break rather
than in the same place as last time. I'll be put in a cast again as well so I'll
be unable to do much of anything. I'm thankfull I'll be able to do anything
at all.
I will be unable to serve Commuinion or lead a Bible study as I had planned
to do starting Sunday. I guess I'll be served instead of serving this time. It
might mean I can't washes dishes, drive Ms Daisey or even take out the
garbage. What will I do? I'll read & relax and give God the glory. I just hope
I heal quicker than last time so I can give the cast the boot!

WHAT A WEAK

I backslid today by watching First Baptist Church on tv since I didn't attend
Broadway UMC. I heard a good sermon and was blessed by taking time to
watch the service. My wife and daughter attended Broadway and brought
me my lunch from a resturant. They told me I was missed by some of the
flock.
I'm "on call" this week to visit the sick for my church. I think I'll need to
be put "on hold" and let someone take my place and come and see me.
I may have to even hold off on assisting at the 8:15 service for a few
weeks. I sure will miss being a minister doing whatever I can to serve
others.
I have enjoyed today as best I can by simply taking it easy for once.
I've even obeyed orders not to do dishes or shovel snow. What a
change. I'm weak this week.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Well, I did it again! Yesterday while I was helping clean off the dinning room table,
I re-hurt the foot I fractured two years ago. I had to wear a boot, a cast and one
more boot for a long time. I sure hope this time I can skip (pun) all of that. I hope
to get an x-ray Monday to see what is what. In the meantime I'm walking with a
walker and staying off the foot as much as possible. I didn't even go to church this
morning since there is snow on the ground.
We've had a wonderfull Christmas except for the foot stuff. I'm going to sleep and
watch football this afternoon since I'm stuck in the snow. I'm also hurting, so back
to bed or the lazy-preacher place.
Warning: don't go and do something silly like I did.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Our family went to the 6:00 p.Candlelight Christmas-Eve service at Broadway
last night. There were more people there than I had anticipated being there. The
service was wonderfull. The message and music was very moving. The 4:00
service was well attended as well.
When we left our house to head to Broadway, snow was falling. By the time the
service was over, we had snow covering everything, everywhere. We scraped
snow off the car and headed home being follwed by my brother in his snow-
mobile. When were all in we fixed fondue and ate while sharing stories of some
of the celebrations of Christmas from childhood. Wayne remembered things
that I couldn't. I think he dreams it or makes it up. Not really, I think he does
remember most things quite well. Maybe too well!
I went out early this morning and removed snow off Wayne's snow-mobile. I
hope I have a newspaper out at the mailbox but I'm not going to I need to
sneak a peak under the Christmas tree and see if Santa showed up while I
was snoring, I mean sleeping.
Have a wonderfull Christmas day and celebrate the reason for the season.
Merry Christnas from our house to your house.

A BUSY DAY

I've spent all afternoon with an elderly man at his house while his wife undergoes
test after falling today. We still haven't heard how she doing. I know she will be
very sore for a few days. I feel so sorry for the two of them. I took Derby to see
him when I took him his mail and paper. They were glad to see one another.
We had to have our septic tank drained this morning since it was giving us some
trouble. Just glad we got that job behind us. (no pun)
We have company coming this afternoon and tonight so we're cleaning house
and getting ready for them. We love it when our son shows up at home. He
can't stay very long due to having to get back to work tomorrow.
We plan to attend a Christmas Eve service at church with high hopes of
some snow tomorrow as well.
Merry Chrismas to you.

MARK TWAIN & ME

I had coffee with Mark Twain at Starbuck Cafe today. He was dressed in a
white suit and sat at a near by table to me. He had long white hair and a
mustach. Even though Starbuck Cafe is a no smoke zone, Twain puffed
away at his cigcar as he blew smoke wings into the air.
There were many more writers across from my chair as I drank my
coffee. They all have been drawn by someone with great talent. It
is interesting that six of these famous writers smoked in a public
place. I wondered what they though as they looked down at all
of us. No telling what.
I did talk with one couple who live near to our house and to a woman
I hadn't seen for a number of years. It was good to have time to
simply take it easy when everyone else seemed so busy. Mark Twain
& I took our time just taking things easy.

LIGHT A CANDLE

I love the look and smell of candles at Christmas. I have a small one lit before me
on the computer desk even as I write this blog. What I don't like are candles lit
and left in a room unattended. I heard on tv this morning that the number one
reasons for fires in homes are lit candles left unattended. That's so sad, but so
true.
One of my favorite songs of Christmas is about lit candles. The words were
written by my wife several years ago. It goes like this: "Light a candle, light
a candle, and tell the world Jesus Christ is born today, Jesus Christ is born
today." So, during Advent and Chrismas, light a candle and tell the world
Jesus Christ is born.
Don't leave the candle lit and unattended. Instead, let your little light shine
so others can see Jesus through you. Light a candle. "It only takes a spark
to get a fire going."

CLEATS & CHURCH

I wore cleats to church this morning to stay safe walking into/out of worship. It
snowed while we worshipped and the cars were covere with the white stuff. But
it's the black stuff beneath the white stuff that I don't like, ice! Since breaking
some ribs on the ice a few years ago, I try to stay up when waling.
After attending worship, we went out to eat at the Mall. I didn't even go to
Barnes and Noble today. Instead, I came home and watched the snow and
football before taking a nap. I'll get to B & N before the week is over and get
caught up on some reading.
I will wear my cleats Monday morning to go get the newspaper unless it's
not in the box by the street. They made need cleats on the tires to deliver
papers from place to place.

COLDER ON THE OLDER

I need to get my long john's out and on from the way things
look this weekend. I hope I don't need my snow shovel or
sled though. I like warmer weather better than cold weather
since the cold slows me down so much. What I really need is a
trip to where it's warmer this time of the year but since I
can't go there, I'll stay snug as a bug in a rug with coffee
in my mug.
As I get older, it seems to get colder, righ Kenneth? My older
brother should know since he gets up before I do, although
not by much. And his coffee is waiting for him too when he
rises to shine for another day. The best way to start the day
is stay in bed and snooze.

A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE

I attended Charge Conference last night at Broadway and gave
my retired pastor report. I sat beside a retired pastor who had
lots to do with my entering the ministry. He told me started his
ministry the year before I was born in 1944. Doug Mosely comes
out of Broadway because he lived near the old church on Broadway.
He was a teacher at Lindsey Wilson College when I was there. So
being seated by Dr. Mosley last night was a real honor.
I am giving up some of my ministries at Broadway at the end of
this year due to having difficulty walking the halls of the hospitals.
I'm also giving up my monthly devotions at the retirement village.
If I am called to visit or speak I will do whatever possible to the
glory of God. I will continue assisting with Communion at the
8:15 service each Sunday and assisting with serving Communion
at the 9:3o service from time to time.

CHANGING PLACES

I'm in shock while writing this blog on a Sunday afternoon. While
I'm here at home in my study, my wife is at Barnes & Noble!! It's
my Sunday afternoon space to read while sipping some coffee. I'm
sipping coffee at my desk while listening to Christmas music and
suffering the internet instead of being at B & N. I'm sure she just
needed to do what I do sometime by being in slow-motion on a
Sunday afternoon. Changing places is a good thing at times.
Wednesday night is Charge Conference at Broadway and I have
to hand in a report of what I've been doing during the year. I've
preached 12 times, spoke to the Stephen Minister's once, led a
growth group for several weeks, visited rest homes and hospitals
monthly and helped with Communion every Sunday at the 8:15
service as I assist our senior pastor. My wife and I also attend
the 9:30 contemporary service and serve Communion three
or four times per year. I'm "on call" every month for hospital
calls as my way of taking some of the load off other staff members
who have other things to be doing, I wish I were able to do even
more than I do.
Since I'm sleepy and it is three, it's nap time before somone
wonders where I am and wants me to do something for them.
Excuse me, I have some undercover work to do.

"MAKE MY DAY"

While I was at Barnes & Noble this morning drinking coffee
and reading a book I saw something that made my day. Two
women were at a table near by talking when suddenly one of
them stood up and wrapped her arms around another woman
who had approached them. They all three had tears falling
No doubt it would make my day! So, who do you want to see
soon? Maybe you could make their day by showing up out of
the blue. Then it wouldn't be a blue Christmas for them and
yourself. Make my day by doing something about what you
have just read.

"I'M BACK!"

I'm back! After some time off from blogging, I'm back. I got out
of the habit of blogging while doing a number of other things. I
hope I was missed. So, here goes:
This is that time of the year when I love to watch people as they
shop at a mall. It is so strange that most men walk behind the
wife as they go from store to store or that most men take a
seat and wait for the wife to return from some store.
It seems strange to me that so few shoppers carry packages
as they walk through the maze at the mall. How do the stores
stay open? It also seems strange to me that most people are
talking while walking with someone. Trouble is, they aren't
talking to the ones walking but with someone else on the vell
phone! But then so is the other walker with them.
Enough of this silly stuff. I have to go to Barnes & Noble and
watch what's going on there.
Keep the SON in your eyes!