Friday, November 21, 2008
Last night Ruth and babysat our three youngest grandchildren. What a hoot! I was in the kitchen when three-year-old Ian said, “Where are my Marlboros?” I ignored him, thinking I surely had misheard. But a few seconds later he said, “Someone got my Marlboros!”
Cigarettes and cancer flashed across my mind. Children are learning things too early these days. Do I need to start teaching my grandson about the dangers of nicotine when he’s only three? I trudged into the living room, dreading what...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Yesterday I talked about Dear. Today let’s discuss deer. My son and grandson Caleb left this morning to hunt deer in Northwest Missouri with Ruth’s brother. They were excited, yea giddy, about it this morning. For 5 seconds they made me wish I could go with them. Then I stepped out the front door to walk to church. I thought I would freeze to death before I made it to my office. Sanity returned. All craziness about going deer hunting flew out the window.
Our college minister, Daniel Hood,...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
My children asked me to do a blog about their mom. I’m glad to oblige. I could write all day about her, but what instigated their recent impulse is the way Ruth greets the special needs bus every morning when it comes to pick up Sam. Ruth has befriended a hearing-impaired girl who sits on the front row of the bus. Every day Ruth gives her in sign language the “I love you” sign. Often Ruth puts her hand against the outside of the window and gives the sign. The little girl puts her hand on the...
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My sermon topic this morning is the depravity of man. What!??! No one deals with that subject anymore. It’s politically incorrect to do so. This is one advantage (some say disadvantage) of preaching through books of the Bible verse by verse. If you try to skip verses, people in the pew call you on it. Therefore, once you commit to expository preaching, you have to preach what the Bible says, not what your own current pet subjects happen to be.
I vividly remember as a young preacher wanting...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
I need a life-coach, someone who can make sense of life’s chaos. This morning I stepped in it. You know what I mean. I was in the backyard helping my son. All was well until I got in the van. First I smelled it. Then I remembered I was driving Ruth’s vehicle. I hit the brakes (bad idea). Oh man, it was a mess (pardon the pun).
Those expensive tennis shoes with all the ridges on the bottom–they are hard to clean. I rubbed in the grass, wiped with napkins from the glove box, used a stick. It...
Friday, November 14, 2008
Last night was wonderful. I love Southern Gospel music. In Heaven, I’m going to sing in the Southern Gospel choir. There will be 144,000 sopranos, 144,000 altos, 144,000 basses, and me singing tenor. After living a lifetime as a dime-a-dozen baritone, when I get to Heaven I’m going to let it rip.
Even with 432,000 other singers in the choir, I’m going to out-sing the whole lot of them. They’ll have to put microphones on them for them to even have a chance at keeping up with me. Did I...
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I am praying for Jake and Millie’s continued health. My grandson told me this morning he would like to have a Great Dane someday. I don’t know for sure how big Great Danes grow, but I don’t want to find out by experience. It seems to me an animal that big could be dangerous, not to mention expensive to maintain.
Our Senior Adult banquet is tonight. I enjoy hanging out with older folks. Being one helps. I had all four of my grandparents till I was 28 years old. They instilled in me a deep...
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I made deer meat chili last night. Ruth laid out all the ingredients for me, but I browned the meat, opened the cans and chili mix, plus mixed everything in the crock-pot and turned it on. By myself. It was so good that I had a big bowl of it for breakfast this morning. I’m off to a flying start.
Oops. My bad. I said Mom and Dad had the record for the longest marriage in the family. Not true. I stand corrected. Aunt Maggie and Uncle Bud made it 62 years. When Mom and Dad corrected me, I...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, World War I ended, ninety years ago today. My mom and dad married on the thirtieth anniversary of Armistice Day, sixty years ago today. I think this gives them the marriage longevity award for any couple on either side of their families. Several have made it past the golden anniversary mark, but I think Mom and Dad are the first to make it to sixty.
What a blessing they are to me. Sitting in their living room, and visiting...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Two ministers were arrested this weekend in Jerusalem at the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb, where six Christian sects divide control of the ancient church. The clergymen were arguing over who should or should not be allowed in a processional. Israeli police rushed the church, arrested the men, and holding assault rifles and equipped with riot gear, stood beside Golgotha, where Jesus is said to have been crucified.
The Prince of Peace’s followers war a lot in this church. Plans for a fire...
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Church was a blessing this morning. I went with fear and trepidation, very uncomfortable with my manuscript. There were four places in it where I didn’t know for sure how to precisely express what I wanted to say.
I text messaged one of my preacher friends before church and told him my dilemma. He reminded me the sermons we think are the worst often turn out to be a blessing because we find ourselves leaning totally on the Lord to provide. I think that’s what happened at Second this...
Saturday, November 08, 2008
I went to a church-breakfast this morning with Rebekah’s family. After lunch I saw John and his two boys playing on the playground at church. Ruth is in the preschool wing working on curriculum. I’m in my office. There’s a huge amount of symbolism in all this. Church is our life. That’s the way it is with preachers. We live, sleep, eat, and breathe the Lord’s work. Dad often says, “Jesus is the best boss I ever served.” I agree. It’s good to be His employee.
My sermon manuscript for...
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Our computers at church were down all morning. We were paralyzed, not knowing how to act, what to do, or how to communicate. We had to use pencils (what’s that?), notepads (huh?), and had to humble ourselves to the point of being willing to hand-carry written messages from office to office.
I wonder how Paul the Apostle changed the world. He had no computer, iPhone, iPod, email, voice mail, or text messaging. He didn’t even have a typewriter. Wow. That’s archaic.
Sam Arthur is our...
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
I began praying daily for our President during the term of George Bush the Father. I continued the custom though all four terms of Bill Clinton and George the Son. I have for quite a while been praying for Senators Obama and McCain. As of today, and as long as he serves, I will daily pray for our new President. As believers, this is our civic duty. Our Lord sets up and puts down rulers. He determines who our leaders will be, and we humbly receive His decision.
All three members of Second...
Monday, November 03, 2008
I am amazed at the large number of people who criticize my pickle/tomato fetish. Let me explain this “strange” dietary habit. I have always liked dill pickles and fresh home-grown tomatoes. Now that I am a heart patient, I have to restrict my salt intake. The only–and I do mean only–salt indulgence I allow myself is dill pickles, which contain salt. I don’t like tomatoes without salt, but if I take a bite of pickle before I take a bite of tomato, I get the salty taste I want in the tomato...
Sunday, November 02, 2008
I had my breakfast of champions this morning: milk, honey nut Scooters, kosher dill pickles, and a tomato. As I left home, I told Ruth I had left her plenty of pickles and tomatoes for breakfast. She was not impressed.
I needed last night’s extra hour of sleep. Heaven. Mom told me there are on average 5% fewer heart attacks on this weekend than other weekends. The other time change weekend averages 5% more heart attacks than other weekends. Rest is good for the heart.
Humor helps....
Saturday, November 01, 2008
The count is in from Treatsville last night. The grand total was 1,680,000. That’s how many calories I figure were in the 56,000 pieces of candy distributed to over 1250 attenders. This calculation is based on an average of 30 calories per piece. Sounds to me like a lot of pimples, many hyperactive children, and adults more overweight than ever before. It also sounds like pure delight. Congratulations to Leah Capps and her army of helpers. They may have birthed a tradition.
I’m still tired...
Friday, October 31, 2008
Today separates Lutherans from Baptists. Lutherans will greet one another with, “Happy Reformation Day.” Baptists will say, “Trick or Treat.” It’s Reformation Day!! We have at least 95 reasons to celebrate. They were nailed to a church door in Germany centuries ago. Thank you, Martin Luther.
Tonight is Treatsville here at the church. We will have hundreds of children in the building trick-or-treating. We are honored to provide this ministry for our city.
Yesterday when I arrived...
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Ruth and I are back from the Missouri Baptist Convention in St. Louis. We enjoyed seeing friends and co-laborers. The messengers elected me First Vice-President. I guess that means I am number one in vice, or something like that. You would have been proud of Bob Ingold. He did a great job serving as our convention Parliamentarian.
Jake and Millie did well while we were gone. Caleb took good care of them. He told me something interesting about them this morning as I took him to school. Jake...
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Missouri Baptist Convention meets this week in downtown St. Louis at the Millennium Hotel. Preliminary meetings begin tonight with a prayer meeting for the convention. We’re praying for peace among us.
When I go to St. Louis I almost always spend time with Mom and Dad, but not this time. Since I am an officer of the Convention, Second Vice-President, I have to be on the platform at all times while the meeting is in session. I am staying at a downtown hotel.
By the way, our very...
Saturday, October 25, 2008
I owe Jake and Millie an apology. They do get their nails trimmed–every time they go to the vet. I should have known two upper class dogs with sophisticated taste would never let themselves be seen in public with untrimmed nails.
Ruth bought me a black leather coat. No kidding. I remember when only hoodlums and mavericks wore them. They were a real sign of rebellion. Both times I have put the coat on I have felt a strong sense of masculinity come over me. I saw myself in a mirror this...
Friday, October 24, 2008
Winter is here. It’s cold. I’ve always been cold natured. Taking blood thinner hasn’t helped. They say blood thinner doesn’t make you feel colder. Well, something is causing the blood to freeze in my veins.
I drove to and from Jefferson City for a meeting yesterday. I made a lot of telephone calls. I enjoy being a Pastor. The latest USA paradigm calls for Pastors to be CEOs. I much prefer my original title from 41 years ago, Shepherd. I’ve never been able to escape the feeling I am...
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
People are still abuzz about Sunday’s sermon. Cultural values change so quickly that it’s sometimes hard for churches keep up. It would be fascinating to see a list from 20 years ago of things once thought a sin, and it will be interesting to see a similar list 20 years from now. Trust me. We are taking stands now that our children and grandchildren will laugh at. That’s the way human history flows. Teach your children to trust and love the Bible. Let it be their ultimate life-guide.
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