"In the Beginning...."

"In the beginning..." That's what this is all about as I attempt to do a daily devotion during 2007.
Sure, I've started such things in the past, but I always get side-tracked. In other words, I don't
do too well with it. I start only to soon stop in my tracks! Good intentions are not good enough.
I've had good intentions of dropping some weight, but it's still there. I've had good intentions of
watching less tv, but the tv is on. The lure of the things still attract and trap me. Maybe that's
why I write this prayer on New Year's Eve:
Jesus, there is a song we sing about You. It's entitled, "Turn Your Eye's Upon Jesus." I admit
that it is easier to sing than to turn and keep my eye's upon You. Forgive me, Lord. Distractions
do me in. I start and then I stop. I'm asking You to keep Your eye's upon me because I desire to
do Your will and I know I'll fail if I try to do it all alone. Lead me in paths of righteousness so I'll
do the right things from the beginning of another new year on into eternity. Amen.
I will share some of my thoughts and prayers with you who read my Blog in hopes that it will help you in your new year. May your new year make a new you, in Christ Jesus.

BOLD HEADLINES

The headlines of this morning's newspaper were printed in bold print: "HANGMAN EXECUTES SADDAM." I couldn't miss those tragic word if I had tried. And then, there's all the news on television about the hanging Saddam. For some reason, I started thinking about the things I've said and done that deserve death. It's not hard for me to think of all the sins I've committed that" stamp these word in bold print: "GUILTY!" I deserve death due to my sins that separate me from our Holy God. I should be punished. But, I'm, spared because Someone else took my place, my punishment upon an old rugged cross 2,000 years ago. His name is Jesus. The headline should be printed in bold print: "JESUS SAVES!" We should go tell everyone, everywhere about Jesus. That's the Good News that overcomes the bad news. And we sure could use some Good News, couldn't we? Well, it doesn't get any better than this!

A Year with Jesus

One of the best books in my study is, A Year with Jesus, by Eugen Peterson. Peterson is the
author of The Message. A Year with Jesus is made up of daily readings and mediatations from
Matthew and John. I go to this book daily to help me take my required daily doses of spiritual
instructions and inspiration. These tend to "jump - start" my soul and also provide additional
"Sermon Starters". "Sermon Starters" are a source of sermon seeds that I turn to from time to time to work with new sermons that I might feel led to preach sometime, somewhere.
As I was approaching the section from John's Gospel, I felt that I need to do something different
in 2007. I should start a collections of daily thoughts for my own good. It will be like journaling.
It will be made up of thoughts and prayers that speak to and from my soul. Wish me well as I
work with this. I might even share some of my thoughts through this Blog from time to time.
Most of all, I simply wish to spend more time with Jesus. After all, isn't that what it's all about?

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

While at the Doctor's office this morning, someone said, "I'm sure glad Christmas is over!" I started to say, "Since when?" But, I didn't. The Christmas celebration continues until Epiphany, January 6th. That's when the Christmas decorations can be put away. Until then, let''s sing Christmas carols and continue to celebrate. We need something special in our lives to offer each of us hope and help. That's what Jesus does for us, isn't it? He has brought us hope and help as no one else could ever do. The good news is that it's daily in our ordinary lives, in ordinary places. That's what makes Him so extraordinary. So, I wish you a Merry Christms and a Happy New Year!

BROTHERS

Last night I started reading, Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks. It seems like it is going to be a good book to read each evening before turning over and going to sleep. When he is telling about his family, I reflected upon my brothers and sister and the things we did when we we young. I got to thinking, could I spend three weeks with any one of my brothers? My oldest brother and sister died a few years ago so that means I have an older brother, a twin and a younger brother. All three are wonderful brothers but I doubt I could stand three weeks with any of them. Maybe three hours if I work at it. I doubt that three of them would want to try three weeks with me. Even I have trouble with me. Me, myself and I are a handfull! Maybe I could write a book about all the troubles we've seen and gotten into. It might becme a movie. Now if I could come up with the title for it. What about The Preacher Kids? I hope I get the lead role in it because I've been told I look like a star, a falling star!

"IT'S GREAT!!!"

My wife and I were in Nashville at a book store a few days ago. While she shopped, I looked for a book to buy. I scanned several and than came across, Everday Greatness, by Stephen Covey. I found myself taking time to read some of the stories in it. About the time I was ready to buy the book, she said she was ready to go. I put the book on the shelve and we went on our way. I made a mental note to get a copy of the book when I got back to Bowling Green. When I went to my favorite book store, they didn't have it. I almost told them to order me a copy, but I didn't. The next day I was at a Mall and saw the same book, but I didn't buy it since I was in a rush. When I got home I told her about the book and that I would buy one after Christmas. When we were opening Christmas presents, I discovered that my wife I bought the book for me. The trouble is, there was a note attached to the book saying that I can't read it at home. She not only gave me the book to read but a two night "get lost" to Lexington after the first of the year. Since I was born in Lexington, I love to go there. I love to go to the Joseph Beth Bookstore most of all and just brouse. Then I go to the motel and camp out with coffee, good food and good books. It's a neat retreat. My next job is to get my supplies ready to go. Everday Greatness, some snacks and a good coffee cup. As Tony the tiger would say, "My everyday wife is GREAT!!!!!"

DE-CLUTTERING FOR 2007

I was watching a tv program about de-cluttering for 2007. They spoke about all the things that take up space in our lives that we really don't need any longer. The author said to give things away rather than try to sell them at a yard sell. I wonder what are the things in my soul that I need to de-clutter? I can list several things that I don't need to take into the new year. And, these are things no one needs. So, they go to the dump. I have a sack full of bad memories and bad thoughts that need to be tossed. Then there's the grudge smudge that has to go! The best thing about ridding myself of these terrible things is that it makes me feel and act better. One of the hardest things to give up and leave behind is my own personal complaint department. Not where people come and complain about me or to me, but where I need to stop all my complaining. Who made me God? Who am I to say such things? It's gotta go, folks. I already feel better by just thinking about things that clutter my soul. I just have to be careful what I replace all these things with next year. I don't want to go from bad to worse. I do declare, de-cluttering is coming clean and having a clean page as 2007 rolls around Monday. I invite you to join me as de-cluttering of our souls gets rid of what's not good for our souls. It's soul important.

A DIFFERENT ROAD & A DIFFERENT ME

As our family was leaving Columbia Tuesday after celebrating Christmas with the Coomer clan, I realized that the Scripture was being fulfilled. Matthew 2: 12 reads, "....they left for their own
country by another road." Throughout all the years we've gone to Columbia we always had to go to the far side of the tiny town to get home. About the time we were coming to Columbia, my brother informed me that there was a new entrance to town that shaved off several miles. Was he right! I didn't give it much thought until we were leaving to come back to Bowling Green. We were riding on a brand new road. We were doing something we had never done before. We had often wondered why the State didn't build and entrance-exit on the side of town. We were riding on a road that had only been in our dreams. We were returning home, but not as we always had done. It was something new on something new. It saved time, traffic and mileage. It felt so good! I have an idea that's how the Wise Men felt as they headed home after seeing the Savior born in Bethlehem. The road was different, but more that that, much more than that, they were different. Someone new made them something new. I have an idea their family and friends saw something different about them too. I hope my family and friends can tell that something new has happened to me, again. That something is Someone. His name is Jesus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas. All of our family is home for Christmas. Some are still sleeping while some are wondering when we can open Christmas presents. After all are up, we will eat our traditional brunch and share stories at the table. Tomorrow we will all go to be with the Coomer clan in Columbia. It is always such a delight. They say some snow may fall tonight. So, even if it is the day after, it would be nice to have snow. Again, Merry Christmas. May the Christ of Christmas live in your life and give you blessing upon blessing.

WHAT'S ON MY MIND

While almost everyone, from everywhere are out shopping, I'm "home alone." I like being here at home, alone. The dogs are sleeping and I'm finishing a book I began reading a few weeks ago.
This is my Christmas present to myself. I've taken the book just about everywhere I've been
with "high hopes and great expectations" of completing it. It hasn't happened. It won't happen until I make it happen. This season of solitude has been like tearing open a Christmas present, very, very slowly. The door bell rangand I had to get up and answer it. Someone was out selling something I don't need. So, back to the book. All of us experience interruptions of one kind or another for one reason or another. It's how we handle them that matter. Some things can't be put on a shelve and taken down some other time to finish. They demand action. It's called priorities. Today, my priority is to finish reading a very good book so I can get onto another one. Maybe someone will give me money for a new book or better yet, the very book I want to get to next by Stephen Covey. If they don't, I'll go get it myself. Have a Merry Christmas!

A GIFT OF GRACE

Donald Trump has given the gift of grace to Tara Conner for Christmas. Now it will be up to her
to take that gife and use it well. Some people exchange their Christmas gifts because they don't
like them or they don't fit. Well, if the gift fits, take it! This gift of a second chance is something
she should treasure for years to come. It's up to Miss USA not not mess up. Again. We all need such a gift from time to time, don't we? I know I do! That's really what Christmas is all about.
It's all about a God of grace giving each of us someone who can fully forgive us. His name is Jesus. Don't take God's grace for granted. It is wrapped in love as God wraps His arms around all of us and whispers in our hearts, "I love you." "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.." It comes from Someone richer than Donald Trump too! Isn't that something to really celebrate this Christmas?

"IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS"

Our Living room and Dinning room are really starting to look nice for Christmas now that I've cleaned off my desk. It had stacks of books and papers all over it plus, my own dust collection.
I'm proud of my collection of dust. Since I'm not charge of air-traffic control, the dust lands all
around the room and stays there until one of us cleans it up. Well, today it was my turn. Now
it will be my job to keep two dogs from wandering into the room. Not to mention the dust that
sneaks in somehow from time to time. Almost every day brings something new for the season.
Today I found that the angels had landed on the roll top desk and decoarte it nicely. The three
manger scenes all add to the reason for the season. The Christmas tree in the Dinning room has
white lights with white decorations scattered from top to bottom. I can hardly wait to see what
will show up next. Even though it's warm outside, there is a sled leaning up against the front
door entrance as if to say, "let it snow, let it snow.." "It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas"
at the Coomer's. And that's just fine with me.

SPEAKING OF SPEAKING

Last night I picked up a book I bought back several years ago. It was like a reunion. It was as if
I had found a long lost friend. It's a book of sermons by a Pastor who died of a heart attack in 1993. The text for one sermon is from Hebrews 11: 4, "....he died, but through his faith he still speaks." Wow! What words! He has blessed me so many times through the years when working
on my own sermons. Something he had said or had written would come to mind and I would be
blessed by it. It was indeed as if he were still speaking.
All this has gotten me to thinking of those who have lived their lives and gone on to Glory. They
are family members and friends, some whom I knew very well and others whom I didn't know all that well, yet, they said or did something that's left a lasting influence upon my own life. It's
also gotten me to thinking, will people remember me or anything I said or did after I'm gone?
I hope so. Maybe I still have time to do something about it. That's why I'm writing this Blog. It
is to remind us all that someone, somewhere, some time, some how has been blessed by our lives. So, let's add to those memory making things that matter the most. That's what that book
did for me last night. I'm so glad I picked it up because it sure did pick me up!

FULL HOUSE

In my last Blog, I said something about all my daughter's stuff that was taking up room in the gargage. When she arrived home, she was quick to remind me that much of what is there is not
her's but her brother's. She's right. He has always taken up a large part of the parking area. He has tools, lawn equipment and a mulitude of other items. I'm just delighted that we have room for all these tings, and more. Just don't tell them I said that!
Isn't it amazing that our houses are full of things already and yet we will go get more things as
if we don't already have enough. Then we will have yard sales to try to get rid of things that we
no lobger need or, didn't need in the first place. I can't say much because of all the books that
take up lots of space in our place. We all are guilty to having too much, aren't we? Maybe we
should slow down on the getting and get to work using what we already have. It saves money,
space and patience. I know from experience. Do you?

BORING BETTLES

For the first time in many months, I can get my car in the garage. After our daughter moved home, we had to store her stuff in the garage and couldn't get a car in out of the rain or snow. There is still a small problem though, the garage door opener doesn't want to work. Sometime today I have to go get a new battery and hope that will take care of that. How can something so small, be so big! These are those tiny "boring bettles" that bug us. Things like: a dripping faucet, a gravy spot on a new tie, etc.. These nagging things drive us nuts! Small boring bettles brought down huge chestnut trees years ago and at times they still seem to try to bring us down. Timber! How do you and I handle the stresses that strangle us? We wait with patience and give it our best. I must admit that it is much easier to preach than to practice. Just ask my wife. But most of the time, most of the tiny problems can be dealt with just like the large ones, get over it and get on with it. What was a problem isn't anymore and the gargage door will not win, I will. Because just like it, life is up and down. So, I don't intend to stay down, I'm going to get up. Won't you join me?

A SWEET DAY AT OUR PLACE

Things were very tempting around our house Saturday. We've been baking cookies, cakes and pies to help pay for our Channcel Choir's trip to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall next June.I washed dishes, scrapped bowls and taste tested the goodies for free. I didn't have to be paid for doing my jobs. It was a sweet job. Somebody had to do it, why not me! I'm an expert taste tester for sure. Saturday morning I made a mistake and went to the Mall. Everyone from everywhere were there. The trouble is, I didn't see even one person I know. I did see someone getting a ticket for parking in a Handicap parking spot. I'm sure that's something that someone didn't want to get for Christmas, but he musta been bad, not good this year. I didn't even go see my two best buddies, Barnes and Noble. Most likely I didn't miss much. I came on home instead and got involved with my family as we did our small part in being helping hands. One of us, I won't say whom, looked like an elf but he has such elf esteem that he didn't really do all that much. Last time I saw him, he was taking a nap. Poor elf. But I'm sure he will elf himself to the goodies. I know I will.

WHERE YOU BEEN - WHERE YOU GOING?

When I went into the Dinning room to open the shades this morning, I saw the three Wise Men. They were behind some stalks of a plant as if they were hiding from me. One had fallen over so I put him in his place. Then I got to thinking: Where have these three Wise men been since last December? Why are they in the planter rather than on display? Maybe they are on their way to celebrate Christmas. They, like us, still have a ways to go. There are many stops ahead and there are many things to do. I'm sure thay they will in the right place at the right time. I just hope I am. And you.
One of my former churches had plastic people and animals on display just outside the building. I noticed that a couple of the sheep had gone astray. I wondered where they were. Had the sheep been stolen? Then I saw the two sheep had been blown across the street to the Baptist Church during the night. I asked the Pastor if he was stealing my sheep. He laughed and said he would have to dunk them and was afraid all they would do would be to float. I told those two lost sheep to stop straying and stay put. we would take good care of them. They did. Now if I can just get the rest of the Methodist to stop straying, everyone and everything will be right where they
belong. Are you?

"I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND"

While we were in the Waiting Room at the Hospital today, I saw an elderly couple come into the room. They were holding hands as they found a seat to sit down. He helped her take off her coat and hat and then took care of checking in. He took time to listen to what she had to say and explained things to her. When their name was called, he took her by her hand and led to the desk. Soon afterwards, they were taken away. I don't think my wife saw what had happened, but I took hold of her hand and told her I loved her. You see, that elderly couple rubbed off on me while my wife was waiting to undergo treatment. Fact is, it really wasn't her needing to hold my hand , as much as my needing to hold hers. Hey! I just had a great idea, someone should write a song about wanting to hold hands. I think it would climb to the top of the charts. What do you think?

DOG - GONE - DOG!

"Memphis has left the building." Memphis is a dog. A dog - gone - dog! No matter to Memphis if it was very cold, he wanted freedom from the home where he gets food, shelter, love, etc. So
we let Memphis be missing most of the afternoon. After all, all he wanted was his freedom. He
knew that we knew he would be back. Even if he would play games with us to get him home to
stay. He would tease us as if to say, "I'll be back when I get good and ready." Well, it was they taste and smell of tomato sauce that lured him home to stay. Memphis is back in the building!
We will watch him when he goes out on his lease to be sure he doesn't escape again. We don't know if Memphis missed us while he was gone, but we sure did miss Memphis. The dog-gone-dog is wagging his tail as I write this Blog because he is planning his next taste of freedom. I sure hope I can catch him before he's out on the town again. I feel like a dog-gone- fool whenever that happens. And, it puts me in the dog house. Again.

WAITING TO HEAR YOUR NAME

While we were in the waiting room of our Hospital today, we were waiting for one thing to take place, hearing my wife's name being called out. Why? So she could get out of one room and into another room where she would be put under for examination. "Janice" had a nice ring to it when her name was called out. We knew part of the waiting was over and another kind of waiting was about to take place. Sure enough, it was my turn to waite while she was put under for the test. I sat in the waiting room where I read and watched my watch. After awhile I heard my last name called out and was told to go be with her. Most everything went well. That's when I called out yet another name, Jesus. I thanked him she was going to be okay. Was He waiting for me to call His name? To thank Him? I think He knew we would call out His name because we do it daily again and again. But today, it was something special, for someone special, Janice.

McFriendship

When I arrived at McDonald's for lunch with a friend today, I couldn't find a parking place and I couldn't find Hal. I looked in the parking lot, the eating area, and the restroom. Hal was no where to be found. Like any good guy, I went ahead and ordered my food. Just as I was seated, he showed up. After he got his food and joined me, we had another great time together. This was the 13th time we've done this since he moved to town. There is seldom silence between the two of us because we have so much to say. Today I was reminded that I need to let him talk and I just need to listen. I always learn more when I just keep quite. Today, I learned a wide range of things as Hal shared things with me. It was worth more and better than the food. I sure got my money's worth at McDonald's today where they do it all for you. Most of all, they provide a place for friends to get together. That's all these two men need and it's not even on their menu. They could call it, McFriendship.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE I HATE TO WAIT CLUB

We have been waiting for a number of weeks for some workers to install insulation in our attic. We've called and asked when they were coming. We've called and been told they would be here on a certain day and they didn't show. Well, today they showed up at our door without calling to see if we where even home. That's fine with me because they are finally here and up in the attic doing their job. Advent is all about waiting. We're reminded that there are still some weeks before we celebrate Christmas. We hate to wait. We hate to wait in line at the grocery store, a red light, or to open the Christmas presents. But there are times when we must wait. It isn't optional, it's required. The thing to do is to spend the time wisely because before you know it whatever it is that we're waiting on is here. And then we wonder how it got here so quickly. We have high hopes and great expectations that we will feel a difference after the attic has new insulation installed. As cold as it is forecast to be tonight, it will be well worth the wait. Thanks to two men doing their jobs, we can get on with decorating the house now. Now is the time we have, let's rejoice and use it well.

"Look Dear, Deer!"

Tuesday morning I looked out our front window and saw two deer under a tree in our yard. It
was a sight to behold. I called my wife and said, "Look, Dear, Deer!" There they were. They
stood still and silent as if they hadn't heard or seen anything. I started sneaking up on them so
I could take a picture. They still stood still and silent as if they wanted to be seen. That's when
I realized that they would leave me alone if I were to leave them alone. These two deer didn't
hear or see me because they are made of wood. My wife had put them there and hadn't told me.
Boy, did I hope no one saw me acting so stupid. It would be the talk of the town. I can hear it
now, " Hey! Did you hear about the guy down on the corner? He thought two wooden deer were
real. What a crazy guy!" Well, tonight I'm going to dress the deer so they won't get cold. I'll
put a ribbow around their necks. Maybe a bow since we live on the corner of Bow and Grider
Pond Road. They sure are something to see, just standing there under a tree watching people
drive by. Bye.

Hands Up!

I've been invited to speak to some volunteers who work at a local Hospital. I think I'll share
some thoughts along the line of doing you very best as a volunteer. Why do these people give
so much of their time and talents when they could do something else? Do they do it to get attention? Would I be willing to do what they do? Most of the people who do volunteer work
are seldom seen if they do their work well. That is to say, it's not about themselves, it's all about others. Attention and applause isn't their goal, it's attenting to the needs of others. They
don't want to be in the spotlight, they want to spot a need and handle it as best they can. You
know, I think I just decided what to talk about next Tuesday: "Is There A Volunteer In the House?" I'm sure I will see a sea of helping hands popping up all over the room.

"AND THAT'S THE TRUTH!"

Yesterday I bought a new book entitled, Simple Truths. I plan to start reading it today. Before I do, I have to tell a simple truth. My daughter is at it again. When I went to my Blog early this morning, I found that she had added my picture to my last Blog. I hadn't asked her to add it and I didn't like the picture in the first place, so, I deleted it. The simple truth is, I didn't even like the Blog. I hope I have a good time reading, Simple Truths now that the truth has been told. It looks like the kind of book I will really enjoy reading. The simple truth to the book is that it was on sale. Had it not been, I doubt I would of bought it. I didn't need another book to go with my stack of books. But who can turn down a sale? Not me. I had gone to the book store to buy a book by a dear friend, J. Ellsworth Kalas. It is entitled, What I Learned When I Was Ten. His book will be my bed time sleeping pill. I read every night before turning off the light. It puts my mind in a better mood for sleep. I even find that something from the books show up in my dreams. This one deals with the span of a couple of years. When I read a couple of pages last night, I found myself going back to the time when I was ten. I can hardly wait to pick it up again tonight because this book is really going to be good. And, "That's the truth!"

GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD FOOD GO TOGETHER

My wife and I had Dinner with a couple of dear friends last night. While the food was great, being together with these two was even better. We shared stories, kidded with one another, and laughed a great deal of the time. Had it not been getting late in the day, I think we would still be there talking and listening to one another.
What an honor it was that these two very busy people took time to be with my wife and myself.
They didn't have to do it but they did. I think it says something about friendship. As I've said so
many time before, we all need friends with whom we can chill. That's what we did while dinning
on a wet Thursday night. And it was good. Very good.

LOOKING BACK INTO THE FUTURE

I need to take a trip today. I have a mission that I must do again this year. My mission is to go
get 2007 calendars from a funeral home here in town. I place these in a number of places in our
house so that we have one when we need it. What bothers my family is a day like today. I just
tore off today's date at the computer desk so I won't have to do it December 1st, tomorrow. It's
just a bad habit I have. Why break a bad habit when it's for the good of us all?
I have my little black books stashed away in a corner that I can turn to if need be. I'm speaking
of the little calendar books that we Pastor's get each Fall for the next new year. It is interesting
to take time to turn through the pages of each one and see where I was and what I was doing each year. It's like a road map to the past. As I write these words, I wonder about the future. I
have already posted a few dates as reminders. One is the 95th birthday of my father April 2nd.
When I told him that the date was already in place, he said he didn't know if he would be here for it or not. Nor do I. We can plan to be somewhere, some day in the future but today is the
only day we have right now and we're not real sure just what may happen today. So, I best be
doing something else that I have planned before my plans get changed. Remember, one of the
things I plan to do is pick up 2007 calendars at of all places, a funeral home. That's all I plan
to do there, I assure you. No need to rush things.

MY MISTAKE MAKES ME LAUGH AT MYSELF

I heard lots of laughing coming from the study Wednesday night. It had to be a funny joke, I
thought. Well, the joke was on me. My wife was laughing so much she couldn't even talk, which
is in itself a miracle. I had emailed someone a couple of days ago but hadn't done a spell-check on
what I had written. What was so funny was what the email said instead of what I meant to say.
Even the one to whom the email had been posted had not emailed back, called me back or, even
laughed at me. Yet! Maybe Thursday night when we meet to eat. Isn't it amazing how leaving one little letter out of a word can really make a mistake stand out. I admit that the wrong word
was worth a laugh, and I'm glad it made my wife laugh since she hasn't had much to laught at here of late. They say that laughter is good medicine. Take a double dose of laughter, Dear, and
call me in the morning.

"Fill My Cup, Lord.."

I awoke around 5:00 a. m. Tuesday morning. I tossed and turned and then got out of bed to start my day. I put on a pot of coffee and sat down with the Scrptures. After reading a couple of chapters, I began getting a whiff of fresh coffee coming from the kitchen. I had to have my morning coffee to jump-start the rest of the day. One of the books I'm reading as a daily guide is, A Year With Jesus, by Eugene Peterson. I dig up nuggets of gold in what he has to say daily as I read from it. Today's text is about not judging others. Peterson offers a suggestion to pray for people instead of pronouncing judgement on people. The thought came to me, do I have good judgement? I must confess that too often I don't. I judge people as if I'm the Judge. Well, I'm not and neither are you! Let the Lord judge, not us. It's easier to see the faults of others than to see our own, isn't it? It's also easier to condem others sins than confess our own. Ouch! That ouch didn't come from the strong coffee in the cup but from the strong Word of the Lord, and it's not even 6:00 a. am. yet. I need another cup of fresh coffee as I continue my day, but more than that, I need another fresh word from God. What about you? Can I pour you another word of the Lord? "Fill my cup, Lord..."

THE RIGHT KEY IS: DELETE

As I work with this Blog I look down at the keyboard and see a six letter word that has a great
deal of power. The word is "delete". If I hit that key, I can delete these very words as if I didn't
even write them at all. There are times when I make mistakes and decide not to use a Blog. So
I hit the "delete" key and zap, it is gone in an instant, as if I had never written anything at all. In the last few days we've heard about or seen where someone said something they wish they had
not said or did something they wish they had not done in the first place. But, too late. Much too late! So the they want to be pardoned. they want their slate wiped clean. Friends, only God
can grant that wish. It's called grace. Grace is an even greater five letter word. And, it's even
greater to experience it after failing, sinning, etc. When we pray and ask for forgiveness, it's
like hitting the delete key. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten as if we never said or did what
we said or did. But there is a warning with these words that is key: don't go out and say or do
the same things again. God's grace is available to us all, but it doesn't allow us to play games with grace. It's not a game. It's grace, amazing grace! It's always the right key to hit!

"SMILE, YOU'RE ON COOMER CAMERA"

I wish I were as smart as my daughter. She knows how to place pictures with her blogs. I don't.
Sunday night she snuck a picture of me on her blog. It shows me wearing an old pair of my Father's pants. Like the pants, I look old and out of date. I may be old but I'm not out of date and I'm not giving up on this thing she has gone and done to me. Some will get lots of laughs from my daughter's doings, but I get grief. Grief that she didn't get in the picture with her dear Daddy. Then, and only then, would the picture be of real value. One of these days when she least expects it, she will show up on blogs because I've got some shots of her that show her acting a great deal like her dear, dear Daddy. They are old and they are new. They are very valuable and well worth seeing. Until then, be on the watch because, "Smile, you're on Coomer Camera!"

Still Giving Thanks

We went to worship this morning and then I went over to rake leaves to the side of the street for one of my brothers. After doing all that, I even came home and helped my wife plant tulips out in the front yard. Then I raked some of our own leaves to the side of the street. I'm a little on the sore side tonight after all these things, but it's been a great to be with family, friends and the faithful people of our church. Thanksgiving is still going on down deep in my heart. I'll be thankful if I can can get out of bed early Monday morning. If I don't, I'll sleep in and give thanks in my Monday morning dreams. Maybe I can come up with something to do that takes less of
my muscles. They sure are sore!

BLACK FRIDAY

I should of gone shopping Friday. Instead of joining the thousands who went shopping on Black Friday, I stayed home. Wrong idea! I ended up working in our garage. I took things up to the attic, I brought things down from the attic. I moved things from the back to the front and from the front to the back. I lifted things up that were heavy and things that were not so heavy. Now I wish I could say that I have great garage, but I can't. I can't get my car into the garage due to the things our daughter has there after moving here a few months ago. I can't get my car into the gargae due to the thousands of things that our son has all over the place. And, I can't get my car in the garage in the garage due to the things my wife and I have in it. All I can safely say is
I'm sure glad we have a garage because I don't know where else all these things would go! That is truly a black Friday for me. On secon dthought, just think of all the money we saved by not going to the Mall. Am I smart of what!

TOM TURKEY'S THANKSGIVING

When I was walking into the kitchen early Thanksgiving morning, I knew there had to be a turkey in the house. Tom Turkey always shows up. So I looked in the fridge to see if he was hiding in there. Nope. I looked in the pantry. Nope. Then I looked in the oven and there was Tom. Was he ever hot under his collar! I wonder if he knew that when he hid in the oven it would get in him in hot water! I do know that, Tom Turkey has good taste and he is stuffed, just like I'm going to be by the end of the day. Tom will get to go to Grandad's today though, so he wouldn't have to stay home alone. He can even be a real cut up! He will also be in our prayers as we give thanks for all the great food on the table. If he is smart, next year Tom get a pardon from the President and get to go where he can live a longer life. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving from Tom Turkey and my family where the I've been told, I'm the real Turkey! I don't know why they say that. It is really not very nice, but I will pardon them for saying such a thing if I get to go first at the table.
ps: Tom Turkey did show up at my Dad's for Thanksgiving. Just as I thought, everyone ate him up! He was so good! He did his Turkey trick again this year too, almost everyone took a nap. I think there was some kind of drug in the dressing. It is good to be back home after such a great day. I hope you can say the same.

"Are You Ready for Some Football ? !"

Sunday afternoon I watched four football games instead of reading. Sunday afternoon is a great
time to read for me. I relax and read a few pages of a book and then take a nice nap. I wasn't in
the mood to do the same old thing I usually do, I needed a change of pace. I needed to be in full
control. So, I kept the remote tight in my hand and watched football! Our tv allows me to watch two games at the same time, one with sound and one without sound. With a flip of a finger, I can change channels in a moment's time, which I did more than once. I didn't take a nap since I was
so into the games that I didn't attempt to move out of my comfort zone. I was cozy until my team lost to Dallas and had their first loss this season. After that I could care less about football! How could they go and ruin my day like that? Who do they think they are! Just see if I watch next week? I think I'll read a good book or two and take a long nap instead. That will show them whose the real Man!

"AND THE WINNER IS.............."

Saturday night I was playing "1 vrs 100" on my computer. Even though I have played it a hundred times, it wasn't until one of the games that I saw what I was attempting to accompish.
My goal in the games is to eliminate people. All of the sudden I felt sad. For some reason I
remembered a quote by the main character in a book I've read, Sabbath By Miscellany: 300
Religious Tales by Charles A. Goodwin. He speaks of a Captain of a boat who said it a severe
storm, "...I should be careful because I have souls on board, I think of myself as responsible.."
This tiny quote had a big impact upon me. It got me to thinking how in society the goal of so
many people is to get rid of people who somehow stand in the way of getting what we want. We
should be on guard not to hurt people but help people, people who make up our families, friends, and even those whom we do not know at all. The game teaches us that if we can eliminate people, we have a better chance of getting what we want. Life is not a game where we set out to rid ourselves of others but to enrich the lives of others. That way, we all are winners.

Me, Myself and I

When Hal called and told me he couldn't meet me at MacDonalds today, I thought that I would stay home and read. But I needed to take a tie to the Cleaners so I dropped it off and then I ate at MacDonalds with Me, Myself and I. What a trio of trouble that was. Me had to go to the rest room twice before leaving. Myself wanted another Big Mac and, I didn't want a thing to do with the other two. I tried to make sure Me and Myself were at their best behaviour. After we ate, Me, Myself and I left. But before we got in the car, Me said he wanted to drive. Myself fussed. So, I drove. I drove to see our two best buddies, Barnes & Noble. They had lots of company. They were looking at books, magazines and newspapers and didn't see Me, Myself & I slip on out and head on home. The three of us need a nap now. After all, all of us are tired and need our rest. Till next time, we'll be seeing you.

"COMING!"

I remember how my Father would call us children home for supper each evening when we were younger. Dad would step just outside our house and call us home. He didn't call our names. He would whistle. It was his whistle. No one else in the neighborhood had the same sounding whistle. No one. Nor did anyone else, anywhere. Wherever we were and whatever we were doing, we knew that when we heard it to head home. We would cry out, Coming!" and head home as fast as our feet or the bikes could get us there.
I find myself doing as Dad did every once in awhile. If I know that they are near enough to hear
me whistle at all, I whistle my own whistle and they know Dad's calling them to come home. It
works most of the time. They show up pretty soon after hearing the sound of my whistle. It's not their names being heard that brings them in, but the simple sound of a familair whistle.
When my Father God calls me home, I doubt I hear Him whistle from Heaven's door to come on home. I think He will call me by my name and I will simply stop whatever I'm doing and head home, knowing that there's a feast awaiting me there. If I can, I'll say, "Coming!" and head home right away. So I simply ask you, do you know the voice of God whenever and wherever you are? And, how will you respond? I hope you head home because there's no greater call than the call of God to head home into the heart of the One who makes it all possible, His very one Son who knew His Father's voice when He was here long, long ago.

THE LAST LAUGH

While I was blowing the leaves to the back of the back yard this afternoon, I thought I heard the leaves laughing at me. It was as if they were laughing at me all my hard work. It was as if the
leaves were laughing at me for thinking I would finally finish this Fall tradtion. When I put the blower away I thought they were laughing at me again, but I may be mistaken. It might of been
the leaves last gasp for life because they haven't been looking too good for the past few days. Their color isn't good, they look dirty, dingy and as if they are dying. Too bad that they have to go "to the dump, to the dump, to the dump , dump, dump" to lay in state for the remaider of Fall, all of Winter and some of of Spring where they will work to enrich the soil and bring forth new life. It could well be that they are laughing because they know they do have the last laugh after all. These leaves really have put on a good show, as well as provide shade for the Summer months. So, to the laughing leaves, I give a standing ovation. You see, I've got to go to the bathroom or someone will be laughing at me. And, I'm too proud for such a sight! I'm not going to Fall for that! Nope! Not me!

GIVE A "LIFE LIFT" TO SOMEONE TODAY

I have been looking forward to today for some time. My wife and I are having lunch with five of
our friends where we will share stories, have lots of laughs and enjoy fantastic food. Every time
the seven of get together like this, it is a time to affirm one another. It's so sad that there's not
enough of that going around these days. What goes around is putting people down, gossip about people and things like that. The just ended political races illustrate what I'm saying. They put others down to lift themselves up. "If the other person looks bad, it makes me look good" was their motto. What we need to do is lift others up with words and acts of kindness, not knock them down and then go off leaving them in the dust. The Good Samartian gives us a good example of how we should live life. He went out of his way to help someone. It took time on his part but it gave the one he helped a LIFE LIFT. Why don't you give someone a LIFE LIFT and see if it makes them have a happier day? I promise you this, you will have a happier day as you go on your way.

AM I HEARING VOICES?

I'm home alone today. My wife and daughter are in Nashville and my son is at work. Both dogs are outside. It is seldom that I'm home alone. Most of the time, someone else is here. While we aren't always in the same room, still, we are together here at home. Most of the time, there
are two dogs sleeping beside one of us or following one of us like a shadow. Not so today. I'm all
alone. I miss the talk and I miss the talkers. I've had the tv on and off as well as the radio in my
study. I have been outside a time or two, but found myself coming back in and finding things I
need to do. My 94 year old Father phoned late yesterday afternoon. He didn't really have much
to say. He was lonely and wanted to hear the voice of a family member. Others nod at him, wave at him, and, even stop and speak but then rush on down the hall leaving him all alone. I'm
home alone today and it gives me an idea of what it means to want to hear from someone, even if it is from an automated phone machine wanting your vote. But that's over and done with now and no one will call you back and thank you for your vote. When I finish doing this, I think I'll
call my Dad. I just want to hear his voice again today.

"I VOTED"

It's raining and it's cool where we live. It 's a great day to stay in where it's warm and dry. But I
didn't. Instead, I got out in the cool rain and drove a few blocks to VOTE. Voting is something I
wanted to do today even if it were snowing. I had to wait in a long line before casting my vote but time went by fast. It would of been ok had I had to of waited longer because that would of
meant longer lines. More people casting their votes. I sure hope lots more people show up before 6:00 tonight to let it be known that they care about who is elected to hold offices. It really is an
important thing to do. I'm glad to have a small sticker stuck on my jacket saying, "I VOTED!" I
hope you have such a sticker stuck on you!

Time for a Coffee Break

I have a bad habit of observing how many times someone says something over and over again. I count the times my Pastor says, "if you will", in his sermons. I even count the number of times I say, "it seems to me", whenever I preach. When I started reading a book by Guideposts, I kept count of the number of time mentions coffee. I am on page 263 and coffee has been mentioned ten times thus far. I still have over a hundred pages to go and I have an idea I will come across the word coffee once or more before finishing my book. The funny thing is, most of the time I have to have two or three cups of coffee while I'm reading. I've had two while working with this blog. Often I will have a pot of coffee on knowing that soon I will be picking up a good book and wanting a couple of cups of good coffee. Like, right now. Be seeing ya!

"GONE MARVELING"

It's happened again. It happens each and every year, wherever we move. Every Fall I find that
the leaves I have raked up have been put right back in my yard again. I don'tknow if I rather rake them up or go down on my kness and pray for a windstorm to take them away. The trouble with windstorms is that they tend to blow leaves from someone else's yard right into mine! I wish all those leaves would just leaf me alone, thank you very mulch!
Dr. Fred Craddock tells of how he used to say, "I'm gone marveling." I think that isn't only good
advice, but something I'm going to do. Rather than rake, I'm going to take. Take off and soak in the stunning colors of the Autumn leaves. While I'm gone, maybe someone will come and take all my falling leaves away. They can have all they want for free! Let the leaves leave because more always show up to replace them. Of that, I can be sure on this Fall day when the leaves keep
on falling fom the sky.

The Write Reverend

This morning I came across an article in a church newsletter written by the Pastor. His title
caught my eye: The Write Reverend. One of the things that requires lots and lots of time is the writing of sermons, newspaper artcicles and letters. I know from past experience as well as the writing I do on a daily basis. Just doing blogs takes time, lots of time. Whenever working with a sermon, I find that it takes a great deal of writing. I write down research notes. I write out my sermon in full and then try to outline it so that I don't have to use my writings at all when I preach the sermon from the pulpit. As I read articles, books, magazines, etc, I'm jotting down a number of things for reference in the future. Just this morning I had to write down a list of things to ask of someone at a breakfast meeting, not to mention the things I wrote down in response to what my list was all about. I can't remember things like I used to do so I have to write notes or else I would never know what I need to remember. At times, I even have to write myself a note to stick in my keys pocket to help me ask or do what I need to get done. You see, I want to be a Right Reverend. Well, enough of these writings from someone who hopes someone reads this blog before night fall.

MY WISH BOOK CAME TODAY

When our mail arrived this morning, I was so excited to see information about new books at one
of my favorite book stores. As I turned through the pages, I drew a cirlce on each page that has some books that I want to read or, even better, buy and read. It also amazed me that I have met so many of the writers who have books mentioned. It reminds me of how many books I've read just in the past year, not to mention, across the years of my life. By the way, Good Books, is the title of this catalogue. There are page numbers circled where I want to refer to whenever I'm ready to take on another book. Come to think of it, it's like looking at a Christmas catalogue with the title, Wish Book. Maybe, just maybe, I will get some of these Good Books for Christmas, if not before. Who knows? Until then, "I'm checking my list, and checking it twice,
just to find out..........."

WALKING NAKED DOWN THE STREET

The other day while watching cars and trucks driving by our house, I would look at the trees in
our yard and down the street. As the falling leaves were falling from the tress to the ground I felt as if I were watching a strip show. One by one , tree after tree, leaf after leaf, was being disrobed. It was a wonder to behold. The trouble was, I knew that as these leaves fell to the ground, I knew I would have to pick up a rake and pick these things up and put them out in the compost or the black baggies and then carry them out for the someone one else to take off.
While I was working at my desk this morning , I saw a man running down the street nearly naked. He was jogging down the street without a shirt and with shorts on his long legs. I felt a shiver go down my spine as he went out of sight. I must admit that I rather look at the trees strip off their leaves than to watch this man run nearly naked on a cold Thursday morning. While I am writing this blog though, I am reminded about telling someone that I have walked naked down the street many times in the past and never got cold or arrested. Naked was my dog! Now, there was a sight to behold on a cold Fall morning!

A TINY BOOK WITH BIG BLESSINGS

The Inner Voice of Love is a small book by Henri Nouwen which was published in 1996. Every
Fall I find myself re-reading it. I've started reading it for the tenth time as a daily devotional. I
know where it is on my book case and can pull it down for a quick read whenever I feel a need
for some inner soul searching. Today is one of those days. I think I could get found by getting lost with it for the rest of the day. He always says something that seems so tailor made for me.
He shares struggles that he has had in his own life. The amazing thing to me is that I have had
so many similiar struggles in my soul. I've been in the "basement of my soul" and I know what
it's like to "rely upon spiritual guides" to get me on my way every now and again. Like, today.
This tiny book is almost of the top of my top ten best books in my study. It's hard to imagine but Nouwen died ten years ago last September. What a blessing his life and books have had upon so many other lives throughout the years. This tiny one reminds me that I should seek to be a blessing to others too. I guess that's why I wrote this tiny Blog. Maybe you are the one who needs it for some reason. As Henri Nouwen says, "Let Jesus transform you."

WANTED: FAULT FINDERS

I read something a few days ago that grabbed my attention and hasn't let go. I don't remember
where I read it, I just remember it today. Someone said that he heard about a fault finder who
went about finding fault in people. He found fault in his parents, his children and even his Pastor. this fault finder then would pray for those people daily. He would offer help to them through words of encouragement. He would try to bring something good out of the bad. Rather then putting them down, he lifted them up.
I want to be the best fault finder because of what I read about this person. I have an idea that fault finders are in great demand. They can't be bought at some store or over the internet. Fault finders are hard to find so if you see one somewhere, be grateful. Better yet, see if you qualify. All it takes is a caring spirit that you can give to others. Anyone, anywhere , anytime can do it. Even you.

A GOOD REVIEW

Yesterday I started reading a new book by John Eldredge, The Way of the Wild Heart. By the
time I got to page seventeen I wasn't sure I wanted to read any more of it. It wasn't because I
felt as if I've read all this stuff already. It wasn't because it wasn't interesting. It was because I
was seeing too much of myself on page after page and I was uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. It was as if I was looking in a rear view mirror and not wanting to see what I was seeing. So, I put the book down - for awhile - a short while. I felt as if I was being lured to look at yet another page and another page and so forth. So, today I'm picking the book back up to read as much of it as I possibly can before putting it back down.
What I was seeing were things about me as a son and as a father that made me feel like a failure. It hurt. Bad. The Way of the Wild Heart speaks of me and too me. Truth is, it's like having a root cannal! Thus far I'm finding that I want to be numbed from the pain I feel but I know that I have to deal with my pain if I'm going to feel better and do better as a son and as father. So, why do I write these things to you if I don't want you to know me as I know me? It is because if you are a man, you too need to pick up the this book and see if you see yourself as I have seen myself. While it hurts, it also helps heal. No wonder where I will be when I get through reading this 300 page book. This isn't a book review as much as it is a life review. It's also like looking at a map into the future. If you dare, join me on the journey and find out where you have been and where you are going. You will be far better off than you will if you don't see what it has to say to you and about you.

Tuesdays with Hal

A few years ago Tuesdays with Morrie became a best seller. It's about an old man and a young man and life's great lessons. I think I could write a book called, Tuesdays with Hal one of these days. Hal is a friend who goes way back with me. He is the old man by one year so he has lots to teach me. We became buddies when we were both still in school. We meet every Tuesday at Mac Donalds to eat and share stories. We laugh, we cry, we eat. Most of the time I'm the first one there. I wait for Hal to drive up and hope he doesn't drive on through the drive through as if he had forgoten why he was at MacDonald's in the first place. So far, he hasn't. It's not the food but the friendship that draws us together each Tuesday. When we have to miss being together, we can hardly wait until the next Tuesday. It's just the two of us. He would bring his wife and I would bring mine but we both know they need time off from the two of us. They deserve it after putting up with us for all these years. Their motto could even be, "We Do It All for You!" Well, they don't do it all for us, but they are off to a good start. One of these Tuesday's we will let them join us if they will buy.

I'VE BEEN BOOKED!

I found a copy of The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge at the bookstore today. I have
been waiting for it to arrive. I have read all his books and found all of them to worth reading. I'm sure I will get a great deal from this new book. The trouble is, I had to put another book aside to start my reading of this one. My desk looks like a library at times and this is one of those times. For example: The Fourth Frontier, Yearning, and "Leadership" magazine all await my attention, not to mention, The Bible are all on or beside my desk. Every once in awhile I pick one of these up and read a few pages and then put it back down, not because I don't like it but because I don't have time to read it all at once. And, to be honest, other books bid for my full attention at the moment. While some want to watch tv all the time, I want to read most of the time. I used to hate to read books by anyone. Now, I love to read. One of these days I am going to keep my promise and write a book myself. I've been giving it lots of thought: Letters In A Box. Who knows, it just might become a best seller. For now, I've got to go pray and get back to my books.

A DIFFERENT SEAT WITH A DIFFERENT VIEW

I love to take a seat on our front porch swing and look all around.This morning rather than doing what I always do,I did something different, I sat in a different chair, in a different place. I was amazed at what I saw. I had had my back to the beauty behind me as I was seeking to see what was before me. Got that? I sure did get it! I got to see what looked like burning bushes. I got to see tall trees that were changing colors in the Autumn air. I saw these things because I sat somewhere else this morning. What a show. What a blessing. What a great decision I made on a Monday morning as October draws to a close tomorrow. By the way, I understand that Tuesday will be wet and cool. I'm sure glad today I'm able to drink my coffee and read my book with a new view from the back and not from the front as usual. It's a sight to behold! So I invite you to sit somewhere different and see if you see something you've been missing. I bet you do.

COMPARING CHURCHES

The church we attend averages well over a thousand each Sunday. But yesterday, I preached at a small church in the country. That's two Sunday''s back to back now. Both were beautiful services. Both were worshipfull and meaningfull. The two smaller churches were traditional while the church we attend has five services . Some time we attend the tradtional and at times we attend the contemporary service which is the best attended service. What I observed is that the Lord is lifted up in the small and in the large church both. It isn't really the size that matters, it's the worship of the Lord God. I'm proud of these different size churches who do different things to reach the people as they reach up to God and God reaches down to them. It is always a pleasure to preach at the small and the large church. I have served as a Pastor of both and found both to be used to God's glory. I always look forward to attending any church that offers the people a sense of the Holy. That's what happened for me in a very small church, in a very big way yesterday morning.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Isn't it amazing how hearing a word can take our minds far, far away? When I was walking through our kitchen today I heard the word Crisco and immediately my mind went way back to when I was a child. We had a snow white Eshimo spitz dog named Crisco. I can see him in my mind even as I write these words. He was a dog that let you know who was boss - Crisco. He would wag his tail and go wherever you would go as long as he could except in our house. Dad wouldn't dare let Crisco come in there! Crisco's bark was worse than his bite. He liked to watch people walking into the church right next door. This dog from years and years ago has a place in my heart on this October afternoon. I can almost hear him barking as I drink from my cup of coffee. What a dog! What memories! Better than Crisco Oil, that's for sure!

HAVE A NICE NAP

I went to the Library this morning to get a couple of things that I needed. While I was there I saw a man slumbed over at his table. He was sleeping and snoring. He was atleast keeping the rules of the Library by being pretty quite. You had to be right by him to hear him. Once I started sneeze to see if it would awaken him but I didn't. I left him in his slumber not knowing why he was sleeping. Maybe he has had a hard day. Maybe it's the cool weather. Maybe it's the book he was holding in his hand. Must of not been good enough to keep his attention very long. I hope when he awakes he is refreshed and restored. I hope he has a really good day after having such a good nap in the Public Library of all places. I have an idea he won't be taking the book with him when he leaves the Library though. I'ts a real sleeper!

IT'S FOR YOU

When the telephone rang late yesterday afternoon I wondered who it was. The voice on the phone was reminding me that I have an appointmentat 10:00 a. m. today where I bought my hearing aid. After I hung up, I started thinking about what had just taken place. Why would I need a call to remind me about an appointment? One of their business cards has the date written on it so I can refer to it, so why call? Because I had forgotten, that why! I'm glad I got a wake up from their office. When it comes to prayer and Bible reading I sometimes think I need someone to give me a call to remind me that I need to read The Bible or pray. It is so easy to push prayer and Bible reading aside, isn't it? That's why God has placed something down inside our souls to help us remember to pray and read The Bible. We dare not ignore those reminders that can pull is into prayer and the word of God. It helps us to be better and do better each and every day. So the next time you feel a need to pray or read The Bible, don't put it off, instead, go down on your knees and turn to the best book ever written. After all, it's all for you.

BYE TO THE PIE

The telephone rang late this afternoon. It was a call from a friend of our daughter telling her she
was bringing a pie over in forty-five minutes. How nice of her to think of baking and bringing a
pie to our house. Being the guardian of my family, I knew that it was my responsibility to taste
th first bite. I wouldn't want them to get ill just in case the pie wasn't really ready. With a great
deal of skill, I took a taste and then a second, and a third. You can't be too sure these days, you
know. Well, I am delighted to report to you that they are safe to eat the rest of the pie now. It's
not only safe, but marvelous!! So marvelous, I may have to reinspect it before turning in for the
night.

BACK BY POPULAR REQUESTS:
If the wonderful, beautiful person who made the marvelous pie happens to read this and ever feels a need to make another pie for our daughter, it would be okay. Hint - hint.

DON'T MISS THE MOMENT

This afternoon as I was working at my desk, suddenly our daughter rushed into the living room and hid a dog bone from one of our two grand-dogs . Of all things it was like hiding Easter eggs on a cold damp day in late October. Sure enough, one of the two dogs darted into the room as if it were Sherlock Homes in search of something. I realized that our daughter had hidden a bone beneath one of the two couches and was waiting to see if Memphis would find it. Sure enough, like a good dog, he had the bone in his mouth before she could sneeze. I thought to myself, isn't this silly! Here' s a grown womand acting like a little child looking for Easter eggs. Then all of the sudden I realized that I too was having a good time as I watched with anticipation. I had become like a little child who was watching one of our children playing. I'm so glad that what I was doing could wait or, I would of missed the moment. A precious moment. I sure do hope there are many more moments to come in our house we call home. Now, where was I before I was interrupted by a bone, two dogs and a darling daughter?

WHAT % OF YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU LIVED?

While I was working with my last blog, I noticed the process of a blog being published. After I
have written this, the publishing of it will begin. As it is happening, I'm told what % of it has
been accomplished. Then when it is through, I 'm informed that "your blog has been published
successfully. (details.....)"
All this got me to thinking about my life, of all things. This Saturday night we are to change our clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings Time. I wonder, what % of my life have I lived? I'm 62 years old, how much longer do I have to live? How much longer do I , if you will, have to publish my life? I have a pastor friend who has a habit of saying, "if you will", in almost every sermon. One Sunday I counted twenty times that he said that without even realizing he had even said it. Well, he 's rubbing off on me because I just caught myself saying, "if you will?, a second ago. Ugh! So, I really do ponder how much longer I have to live and how much longer do I have to say and do good things before my life is over. Will it be lived successfully? As I look in the rear view mirror of my life thus far, what do I see? Is it successfull or a failure? What are the details thus far? I can't go back and do it all over but I can go forward and try to do better, if I will. As I live my life, I want to keep the SON in my eye's. I deeply desire to live my life with purpose and passion like Jesus who told Almighty God, "not My will, but Thine be done". Join me somewhere on the journey, "if you will."

TIME FLU

I was up early today to get my flu shot. I had an 8:30 appointment at the Health Department and yet here I am at 8: 45 writing this blog. When I walked into the building there were lots of
people so I was told to "take a number, take a seat." Just as I was about to be seated I was told to head on down the hall. Before I could have a seat, I was told to go on in. Before I had my shirt sleave rolled up almost, I had been shot! I was in and out in less than five minutes. Time flu!
As I was going out to my car I saw an elderly woman walking with a cane as she approaced the door. Upon seeing her, I made a u-turn, walked over and opended the door and wished her good morning. She smiled and thanked me as I was walking on off. I came back home knowing I have already had a very good morning. Now I just hope that the flu flies on down the road and leaves me alone. By the way, have you had your flu shot? Maybe you should fly go get one before the flu bug bites.

STRANGE SOUNDS

While working at my computer I heard a strange sound and saw a strange sight. One of our two
dogs came dancing through the room being chased by our daughter. What was so strange was
that she had a battery powered toothbrush in her mouth and the motor was making a strange
sound to both me and the dog. I stopped whatI was doing as the two of them made their way on
out of the room. After this intrusion into my quite study, had a strange sensation in my mouth
until I got up and went and brushed my teeth. Only then was I able to get back to work. Since
then, I haven't seen or heard the strange sounds but I know my mouth sure does feel cleaner.
I don't know about the dog and the catcher.

A GOOD FUSS

It's that time of the year when my wife and I have a good fuss every now and then. I like to turn the heat up to get rid of the chill when I get out of bed every morning. Then when she gets up she turns the heat back down and tells me to stop turning it up. I know it cost money for me to turn it up, but it's not all that much. What I really like is when the two of us cuddle up on the couch and eat popcorn while watching tv. A good fuss is when we both know we can get along with the heat up or down. While I know I'm right, I still let her have her way sometimes. After thirty seven years I think things will work out ok. They have thus far. Besides, the best part of a good fuss is a good kiss and hug as we make up with one another.

R O M E O

I came across a great name for some of my older buddies who meet at McDonalds. ROMEO: Retired Old Men Eating Out. "O Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo?" I enjoy eating but I enjoy being with my buddies most of all. We all need friends whom we can be with, don't we? I'm so glad I don't have call "Rent A Friend". As someone has said, "Relationship R Us" is really what's it's all about. I'm not toying around with that either. As soon as I finish with this I'm going to call a friend and see if he can meet me in the morning at McDonalds. Even the coffee is cheaper for us older people. By the way, if you see some older men at some McDonald's, call out, "REMO", and see what happens. I might even buy your meal.

DON'T FORGET DOXOLOGY

After her surgery last Friday afternoon my daughter's Doctor came to her room to dismiss her from the hopsital. He told her he had to hear a song before she could leave. She looked around the room at the seven family and friends who were with her and said, "Doxology." All of the sudden the sound of music filled the room and hospital halls as we sang: "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen." The Doctor who sang along with us smiled and signed her release and then stepped on out of her room as if he were dancing with the stars. The rest of us just sat or stood there with thanks in our hearts that Jennifer was doing so well.
Dr. Fred Craddock says that too often we leave Doxolgy locked up in the car while we are with
someone in the hospital. Or, we leave Doxology out in the car while we eat. Worse yet, we leave
Doxology out all together as if Doxology didn't even exist. What do you say? Where did you leave Doxology? You better go get Doxology since you never know just when and where you might need him. If you don't believe me, ask the Doctor you see dancing with the stars
somewhere in a hospital in Nashville. He can tell you all about having a song in your heart even
in the hospital. I dare you to start singing the Doxology right where you are. You will praise
God and get a spiritual pick up that will make you feel so much better all day long.

HERE, DOGGIE, DOGGIE

One of our two dogs was determined to run off this morning. Infact, I think he had an escape plan in place already. He was just waiting for the right moment to take off. When he saw that
I wasn't watching he took off like a jack rabbit. Maybe he was chasing one, come to think of it!
What amazes me is that here at home he gets food, a nice place to sleep and a family to love
him. His side-kick has been looking out the window wondering where in the world he could be.
She sniffs and searches all around the rooms in the house, gives out a bark or howl that surely
he can hear. The whole neighborhood can! But Memphis ignores her and us. Maybe Memphis has moved to Memphis is search of the king. I sure hope Memphis can dig something up to eat
because he will get hungry soon, not to go into details about the weather which isn't worth writing home about.
Well, I best be looking for the dog that's gone because the dog that's here isn't none to happy.
Come to think of it, neither am I. so, if you see a back Huskie named Memphis heading to Memphis, give him a ride or bring him back home. We will leave the porch light on.
ps: Don't take this too serious. I know where he is. I also know that he thinks he is the king!!
BREAKING NEWS: The king who left the building is back in the building. He is resting in his bed and wondering why no one patted him on the back becasue he's back. I know: he was very
wet with rain drops dripping off his fur. He came from the fur country, you know.

FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER

I am amazed when I stop to consider how many friends my daughter has. She is having surgery Friday morning in Nashville and I doubt there's enough room to hold everyone who says they will be there. They are coming from California, Kentucky, and even Nashville. To top that, there will be family members, church members, and who knows who else. I hope the surgeon shows up! I'm sure he will. If he doesn't, we will just all go out and eat until he does. Except for you know who.

I am also amazed at all the cell calls, phone calls, and emails she gets day and night. Then there is the mail that comes by the postman and by Fed Ex, not to mention the notes, cards and letters handed to her from family. I used to write her a birthday letter every year but the ink was all gone from my computer last Sunday. So, I hope she reads this blog to see that her dear Dad has done it again. You see, this is my way of letting her know that her father loves her so very much too. Happy Birthday, Jennifer. And, Happy Hospital hours. I hope you find this to be a great success.

I DARE YOU

Isn't it amazing how busy everyone seems to be these days? Just about everyone I see seems to
be busy. We all have "places to go, people to see, and things to do." It doesn't matter how old or how young you are, you've always gotta be going places and doing things. There's not enough time to get it all done. Whenever one project is finished, another props up bidding for attention, now!
Isn't it amazing how we allow others and other things to take control of our lives? Why can't we
learn to say "no" to others and other things and say "yes" to ourselves? If we don't control the
control, someone else or something else will. Just you wait and see. I dare you. We hate to wait, don't we? We've always have to be up and going. But, where will you be when you get there? Will you still have no time to be still? I still dare you to simply be still for a few moments and soak in what's around you and withinin you. Hear it. See it. Breath it. Think about it. I dare you. Well, enough of this being busy with another blog. It can wait.

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

I looked at my lip when I got up this morning to see if the swelling had gone down from my fall
yesterday morning. It seemed to be bigger than yesterday. It still hurts when I eat and even
when I talk. I just hope the swelling is gone by Sunday since I'm to preach for a friend. I've
never spoken in tongues but Sunday it may sound like it. Isn't it interesting that often we say
things that we wish we had never said. If only we could take those words back or be able to say,
"That's not what I said." Words can hurt. Words can cut and leave pain. Words can be down right mean. I know, I've said some and I've had some said to me. Hey, maybe my big sore mouth is trying to tell me something, watch what you say and how you say it. Now that I've said that, what do you have to say for yourself? Speak up, I can't hear you.

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY

In a couple of blogs back I said something about my wife not taking the garbage out. One of my
family members just informed me that she doesn't take it out because I get up and do it before she gets up. Well, I may beat my wife up in terms of getting out of bed, but I don't beat her up! I may beat my wife to the table to eat, but I don't beat her up! I may beat my wife to reading through a book, but I don't beat her up! I may even beat my wife to the bathroom every morning, but I don't beat her up! But, if my dear, wonderful wife wants to beat me up and take out the garbage, she can beat me up each and every time!! I really do mean it.

GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING!

Today would of been a good day to stay and bed and sleep, sleep, sleep. It is raining and even if
it is warm outside, today was made for sleeping. I just said that to see if you are awake out there in where- ever- you- are -land. While we all need more sleep than most of us get, most of us need to get on with our lives. Life won't wait. Life goes on. Already today the 300,000,000 baby was born somewhere in America. That baby didn't sleep the morning away, and neither did the babies dear Mother. That tiny baby said, "Are you ready for a baby?"! It will be interesting as to how much attention that child and his/her parents will get now. I'm sure they will be ready to turn in tonight. But until then it's party time! Sleeping Beauty is here and it's a great day in the Morning!

OUCH!

I fell this morning when I was coming into our garage after taking the garbage out to the side of the street. I hurt my left leg and my lip, but most of all, it hurt my feelings. I thought I had more sense than to let my feet slide out from beneath me. I knew that when the floor gets wet, one has to watch his or her steps. I guess my mind was focused on, "why can't my dear wife take out the garbage?" Or, my mind was thinking about how much rain had fallen during the night. Anyway, I fell down hard and wondered who would even hear my call for , "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!" ? Sad to say, even our two huskies heard me but they didn't go get help. They just kept watching Radar the Weather Dog telling about the rain, not in Spain on the plain, but the rain inside my garage where I was down but not out. After a few seconds of wondering what to do, I was able to lift myself up and walk into the house. I hoped my teeth were still in place and that my leg would be ok. I'm glad to report that I'm alive and well even if my pride is hurt.
The trouble is, I can't find a big enough band-aid to put on my bruised pride. I just hope no one stares at me wondering how I hurt it. Maybe someone will be a good samaritan and give my pride some pity. I sure could use it. Ouch!

STOP IT!

I give myself a shot in the leg every Thursday to help with my M. S.. I have been doing this for a number of years. Today I realized how much I take this for granted. I simply give the shot and get on with my life without giving it much thought. Today I'm giving a great deal of thought to it. If it were not for the Avonex, I might not be walking at all. If it were not for the medicines I take every week, I might not be able to do much of anything. The cost of all these weeklshots and pills is very expensive, but it is well worth the cost since I'm doing as well as I am.

Don't we all takes things for granted? It is so easy just to go through the motions without giving much, if any, thought to what's really go on. It seems to me that we all eat fast food because we
gobble it down and run on our ways. We keep cool or warm without much thought to how we heat or air-condition our homes. We just stay cool or warm depending upon what the case might be. And so it goes. We go on without thinking about it except to complain how much these things cost, and then, we grumble, don't we? I invite you to simply stop for a moment and think about all we have that helps us get on with our lives and the give thanks.

ONE OF THESE DAYS

My Father's oldest sister died during the night last night. She would of been 99 in November. I
remember going to her house when I was just a child. We kids would ride their horses, play hide and go seek, and try to get Uncle Ray tickled under his arms. My Aunt was a resident in the same Retirement Home as my Father and his other sister. We will miss her wit, humor and sweet smile. Just yesterday, I assisted in a funeral for a 80 year old man whose wife had died a couple of months ago. His death came as a shock to all of us. Bob had several things planned that he wanted to get done before dying. Bob will be missed by all of us who knew him through the years.
These deaths remind me that we never know just when or how death will comes to us. Their
deaths remind me that I need to get my house in order. While my Father is 94 and still living,
who knows who might be next to die. I've already lost a brother and sister through death. It
would be a wise thing to "get right with God", as they used to say. Someone said a few years ago,
"I don't mind death, I just don't want to be there when it happens." Well, one of these days, in
some way, it's going to happen, to me, to you. Until then, live life daily with thanksgiving and
gusto. And, most of all, "get right with God."

PLEASE BE SEATED

I used to pull the chair out from beneath someone about to sit down on it. It hurt! I know, I've had the deed done to me! After removing all the seats from our dinning room chairs to put new covers on them, I started putting them back on the chairs this morning. After I had just gotten through replacing the screws in a couple of chairs, my wife thought she would help me out. We worked with a couple of chairs and then she got tired and started to have a seat. It wasn't a good idea. There was not seat on the chair yet. She went right through the bottom of the chair with her bottom. What a sight to see. She was a good sport though, she laughed along with me. I told her that what she did would end up as a blog. I hope she will sit down soon to read this blog because I think it will make her feel better. As for me, I've got to get up and get going before she wants somthing else done around here.

A CHANGE OF PLANS

I had planned to have lunch today with one of my friends. I was really looking forward to our weekly Tuesday time together. Last night my wife informed that she had a job for me today. I must admit that I was frustrated because I already had my agenda for today in place. I had places to go, people to see and things to do. After my wife told me she wanted to put new seat covering on our dinning room chairs, I got up extra early and removed the chair bottoms from each chair, removed the old seat covers and had them all ready for her to work with while I was gone for a couple of hours. It was the perfect plan. I was so proud of myself for being ready to go out at lunch time. Well, my perfect plan just fell through because my friend just called to inform that he would not be able to meet today or next week either due to something that has come up. Now that I've written this, I think I will go get something out of the kitchen for lunch. I sure hope nothing changes my plans. I'm hungry after all my hard work. Besides, I've got to put all this stuff back together before night fall so we will have something to sit on this evening. I'll still be hungry, I'm sure!

ADVICE FROM A DAUGHTER

Today while I was working with something, my daughter kindly corrected me about a mistake I had made. She didn't scold me nor did she make fun of me. She simply helped me correct my mistake. She even went so far as to show me how to do something better than the way I had been doing it. I learned two things from my daughter today. I learned how to correct my mistake and, I learned how to help someone in a gentle way. What I need to do now is go and help others as she has helped me. I hope this helps you, help others.

LOOKING AHEAD & SHAPING UP

When we bought our house a few years ago, we had to tear out some big bushes near the front and side of the house. It took a pretty long time to get the job done. We wondered what it would look like when we were finished. My wife had an eye for the future. She started seeing what it would look like if we were to plant new smaller bushes and a tree or two in place of what we had when we bought the house. After we were through with tree and bush planting, things began to really take shape. I wonder what you and I might look like if we were to do as my wife did. She studied things in her mind and then she went to work to accomplished what she wanted. It worked. I need to drop a few pounds. I need to eat less if I want to drop the few pounds. I know that when I look in the fridge "I can't have that, if I want to look like that." I have to leave something off if I want the weight to drop off. Maybe we should visualize the future and then see if what we hope to look like can come true. I have an idea of what I need and want to look like so that I can live longer. You see, I see the future way out there in front of me and I want to get there in the best health I possibly can.

A GLIMPSE AT GRANDPA'S PLACE

My Grandpa (my Father's Father) owned several acres of farm land until he died. It was a real treat to be there. When I was young, there was no electricity, no indoor plumbing and no real good way to get to their place without going down the road very slowly due to sharp curves and high hills. We used a lantern at night for light, a pot-belly stove for heat and slept on feather beds. We played horse shoes, waded in a creek not far from their house and played with his dog , Brownie. But the best thing was to go off to Tater cave. It was a special treat because it was so spooky. A large tree stood above the entrance of the cave where people used to store their potatoes and other things that needed to be cool. We had to slowly decend into the cave or else we would find ourselves falling down into it. At night we would gather around Grandpa and just talk. When the time came to call it a day , Grandpa would get up out of his old rocker and get down on his knees to pray. Everyone of us got up off our chairs or the couch and got down on our knees and prayed with him. We don't go back there now that he has gone. But I still go back to Grandpa's often in my mind because there's something about that place that has left a lasting impressions with me as I grow older. That's why I get up out of my chair and go down on my knees from time to time and pray just as I did long, long ago with Grandpa way back in the woods in a place called Wonderful.

HOW WELL DO YOU DO?

My Grandfather lived on a small farm that had a small house with a small outhouse out behind the house. The only running water in their house was what someone would run out and get and bring back in. The well was where we Grandchildren loved to play. It was fun to drop a cup as down into the well as we could and then pull it back up with the robe and get a drink from it. It was fun to pretend as we played. We would pretend we were digging for water. We would pull up the water and then pour it out acting like we were putting out a fire. Those were the good old days until there was a drought. Then we couldn't pretend any longer. The truth is, we couldn't pull water up out of the well because there wasn't any water to pull up.

Today we take things like that for granted. We go to the sink and turn on the water and out it pours. We drink it, bathe with it, cook with it and so forth. I think that whenever we turn on the water, we should think of those people in many places of our world who don't even have water to drink, let alone bathe in. We have so very, very much, don't we? Have we given God thanks and helped those who have so much less than we have? How well do we do? Not well enough, I'm sure. Not well enough.

A GROUCHY OLD MAN SPEAK OUT

The toilet backed up, the two dogs spilled their drinking water in the family room, I forgot to take something with me that I needed when I left the house this morning and, I spilled my drinking water at the resturant. These are just some of the things that went wrong today. These things put me in a bad mood. I was a grouchy old man until I saw the man in the mirror and had a talk with him. I told that ugly guy that he was acting ugly and that he should stop it right now! I told him to look for the good and not the bad. I told him that he should be still and chill. Well, it worked. The man in the mirror was last seen watching base ball on tv and eating popcorn. He even shared some of it with the two dogs that had made him mad earlier morning. Isn't it amazing how we react when things happen to us that are just part of day to day life? Why get all out of sorts when it's best to to just sort things out and get on with our lives. That's why I'm writing this blog this afternoon, it has helped me be in a better mood.

TAKING TURNS

A pastor friend of mine and I have breakfast together from time to time at a resturant. When we met the last time, Paul spilled his water glass on himself and the floor. I laughed at his mistake when it happened. Well, this morning it was my turn. Without any thought of doing such a thing, my right elbow hit my water glass thus spilling water on myself and the floor. This time though it was me who was in trouble. Terresa, the owner of the restuarant was walking by and said a word of "good morning" to us and then she saw the spilled water and ice. When she bent over to clean it up, I told her I had done it. She had a good laugh out of it and then she said, "it happens all the time." Had I had another glass of water near by I think I would of spilled it too just for the fun ot it. I should of told Paul that it would be his turn next time. But knowing Paul he would of just turned and walked away laughing as he got in his car to leave. We all need someone we can enjoy being with as we jouney through life. And, one of the best things about this morning was that Paul paid for my breakfast!

MY PRAYER BOOK

I am on page 235 of the Philip Yancey book, Prayer: Does It Make a Difference?, which I started reading on September 13th. Once again, I find myself feeling as if I am Holy Ground while I read his writing. Yancey yanks my chains. He makes me think. He makes me laugh. He makes me mad. But most of all, he draws me nearer and nearer to the Throne of God. As always, I have a lot of marks throughout the book to remind me to turn to those pages for spiritual jump-starts and to have some sermon seeds to work with in the future. As I read this new book, I find myself wondering why I don't deal with some of the things he deals with. I hope by the time I reach page 334, I will be able to say that this book has given me a deeper desire to be a person who prays much, much more and helps answers the prayers of others much , much more. Now it's left to me to pray and do more and not just read another book about prayer. I have an idea that maybe then I can make a difference in the lives of others just as Yancey's book has made a difference in mine.

A GRAND SLAM HOME RUN

A few minutes ago I came home after a busy day and started watching baseball. All of the sudden I wanted a Babe Ruth candy bar and a couple of cups of coffee. So I went into our kitchen and opened a drawer where we keep candy and pop corn. I could hardly believe my eye's when I saw, not one, but two, Babe Ruth candy bars. I sat down and enjoyed one of my afternoon delights. It was a grand slam home run as far as I'm concerned. I didn't have to run to get anything. I just walked in and got it. What I need to do now is make a run in our home and hug my wife for making me so very, very happy. Yum -Yum!!

I wonder where she keeps the t-bone steaks? Hey, Janice! ...................................

WAVE

One of my favorite things to do is to sit on the front porch swing and watch the traffic passing by. I pretty well know the habits people have as they drive by. Even if I don't know these people by their names, I pretty well know who will drive by at a fast speed and who drives slowler. I know who will stop at the stop sign and who will run it. I know who will be talking away on their cell phone and those who won't. I know who will be alone and who will have others with them. Some will honk at me and some simply ignore me.

I've been thinking about doing what an elderly man who lived by a busy road used to do, day day. He would wave at everbody who passed by. Made no difference to him , who it was or where they were going, He just did it. And now that I think about it, it made a difference on me because I can still see him in my mind as he waved as my car passed by day by day on my way to or from College almost forty years ago. I better finish this blog and get back to the porch swing so I can wave as the parade of people pass by. I wouldn't want to miss someone who needs a wave on their way to where ever it is they are going. It just might make a difference in their lives today. So, I wave goodbye as I go to wave hello to those who pass by our house.

NOT BAD FOR A MAN MY AGE

Today is Senior Citizen Day where we shop for food. Since I am over sixty, I have a Senior Citizen's card that allows me 10% off of what we buy. When I go with my wife, I love to watch the way these folk rush up and down each asile or slowly push their carts down the asiles. There ought to be a warning sign in each asile so the younger crowd can be aware of senior citizens in their midst. The best thing to do, is not to do your shopping on Senior Citizen Day. I have thought about going real early on one of these special days, like 12: 05 a.m., just to see how things might go. But I'm in bed sleeping. I can wait. On day's like today, I know that when my wife drives in the drive way and honks the horn of our car, I better be ready to go unload the trunk and the back seat of all she has bought at a good discount. And, I better do it with a big smile and a warm welcome. After all, I let her use my card and do the shopping without me today. At least I can help carry things in. Slowly. Very slowly, unless I know there is ice cream in one of those many, many plastic bags, then I can get out to the car pretty fast for a man my age. After all, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do! Right?
Wrong!! I was wrong. My wife didn't get ice cream after all. But that's ok. She got a bunch of
other goodies. Goody - goody for her! Now, where was I? Oh yea, back to the game.

IT'S A WRAP

Cereal. Newspaper. Medicine. Have you noticed how almost everything you get these days is wrapped up in something for protection? Your sandwich is wrapped up at a restaurant. Your package in the mail is wrapped up. Just think of the time it takes to unwrap all these things. Just think of the amount of wrap to be thrown way? Just think of how much all this wrap cost.

Why don't we go to as much trouble to wrap up our children for protection? Go to as much trouble to wrap up our minds for protection? Go to as much trouble to wrap up our souls for protection? Maybe we don't do these things because it takes too much time and cost too much. While we will protect our possessions, we fail to wrap up the things that are of most value, ourselves. Let me wrap this up by saying one more thing. Duck tape and wrappings of plastic or paper aren't anything as good as to be wrapped up in the arms of family, friends, faith. It's a wrap!

"HOW MAY I HELP YOU?"

When you go to the counter of a place like McDonald's, someone will ask, "How may I help you?" You give your order and go off to eat it either in or out of the restaurant. Today while I was waiting for a friend to join me for lunch at McDonald’s, I sat near one of the doors. People were going in and out at such a rapid pace that I could hardly help but notice something I had never noticed before. Often someone would approach the door with something in both arms. Almost every time, someone either coming in or going out, would hold the door open for that person. There was even a "thank you" expressed most of the time. There was a smile most of the time on both faces too.

What if all of us were as nice all of the time? Maybe the real "Happy Meal" isn't in a box, but in the spirit of helping some stranger simply go through a door. Maybe the real "Happy Meal" is a smile which someone needs from a stranger. As we were leaving after lunch, my friend opened the door for me. I didn't ask him to do it, he just did it and smiled as we said, "goodbye, see you next Tuesday," and went our way. While he didn't buy my lunch, he did give me a" Happy Meal" to go by being someone who took the time to help someone at McDonald's, me. What a guy!

PEACE TO ALL WHO ENTER HERE

When we got home from a meeting last night, I sat down at the computer to work. When I looked at the wallpaper on the monitor I saw that our daughter has replaced the old one we had with a brand new one. She has taken a picture of the front door knocker and put it up as our wallpaper. It has six words of welcome: "Peace to all who enter here". These welcome words await anyone who turns on our computer. With all the turmoil in the world, we all need these words of welcome, don't we? We all need peace down deep in our souls. We all need peace in our homes. We all need peace in the world. Speaking for myself, these words have given me peace already. I just hope I can convey peace to people whom I know and whom I don't know. We all can use a big dose of peace. This "screen saver" can help save us from things in our lives we really don't need or want if we allow it to really be taken to heart. Don't knock it. It works.

UP AND AT IT!

I began taking a new medication last night that causes one to be drowsy. Was I ever drowsy! Most mornings I am up by 5:30. Not this morning. I didn't get out of bed until 7:00. Our son was already up and gone to work. The garbage guys were already doing their jobs. It's 9:30 and I feel I've wasted time by being in bed so late. Even though I don't have a job to get too, I still want to get going bright and early each and every morning. Now that I stop and think about it, I'm so glad I have something to get out of bed for each and every morning. Sad to say, some people feel that they don't have anything worth getting out of bed for at all. They tend to stay right where they are, as they are. They are not driven to do anything worth while. They are asleep almost all the time. They escape the excitement of another new day by being drowsy and doing little or nothing at all. I feel so sorry for folk like these. "Life is short even at it's longest", Henri Nouwen says. So, get up you sleepy heads and live life.

TREE TALK

While I was reading on our front porch this morning, I kept hearing the sound of the birds in the trees. They were chirping away so much that I couldn't concentrate on what I was reading. After awhile, I took my hearing aids out of my ears in an attempt to get back to the book I was trying to read. All of the sudden I realized that that is how I treat God at times. Fact is that's how I treat people at times. If I don't want to hear what they have to say, I just turn off my inner hearing aid as if they aren't speaking to me. Well, I got to wondering if others do the same thing to me. I'm sure they do. More than anything else, I need to stay tuned to the voice of God and those people nearest to me. They just might have something to say that I really do need to hear.

This afternoon when I went back to the porch swing and sat back down to read again, I didn't turn off my hearing aids. I kept them on and listened to the birds in the trees as they chirped away. While I didn't understand a thing they had to say, I still got their Monday message for me. The sound of silence can be wonderful, but so can the chirping of the birds who chat away as I try to read. Maybe you need to listen to the birds. They might have a message for you too.

SIXTY-FIVE ALIVE

I have one older brother who is still living. He is two years older than my twin and myself. In just a couple of days he will turn sixty-five. I would kid him about it but I know that my twin isn't far behind. Poor fellow! Sixty-five used to be considered as being old. Not now. That's the good news about becoming sixty-five. I remember our Father asking me years ago, "John, when did I grow old?" I told him that he wasn't old yet. Now that my older brother is turning sixty five, I wonder if he has asked that question of anyone. I doubt that he has because he is still acting young. As he goes on before my twin and myself, he gives us a glimpse of how hard or how easy becoming older might be. I guess I better turn up my hearing aids so I can hear him if he starts to tell me all about life at his age. By the way, before I forget it, Happy Birthday, Kenneth! And, many, many more.