Sunday Devotional

For this Sunday's thoughts on prayer and provision read this piece which was written three years ago.  Be sure to read the comments, for the conversation may be more powerful than the article. --vanilla

God's Mercy

Progress in Perfect

This is the  view from our kitchen window on Christmas

Day, on Christmas Day in the morning.

A commercial well drilling company is moving in, 

is moving in to our neighborhood.

A closer look at the goings on 

the goings on, a closer look

at t he goings on in our neighborhood.

Here we are looking back at our house, 

back at our house from the other side of

the construction site.  

The big trees are ours.

 Across the road Verizon has blessed us with 

a honking big tower, a great big tower.

On the parcel next to the tower we are building a jail, 

we are building a big new jail.

(The community may or may not be growing, but

evidently the criminal element is, 

for it will have eighty beds, eighty beds,

thrice the number we have now.)

(To the tune and lilt of "Lazy Mary Will You Get Up."  

See if that get stuck in your head.) 

Merry Christmas!

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jigsawyers at it Again

This picture was taken on the --st birthday of BBBH

and sweet Erin had it made into a puzzle and presented it to us.

Lest you assume that the picture chopped into bits and pieces, as it was, was entirely too easy to assemble, I hereby attest that it was more difficult than it looks.  Witness that when down to the last eight pieces there was no way it would go together, hence, BBBH , persevering to the end, disassembled a portion of it and did it over.  Success!

Thank you, Erin!

C'mon, Fingers, Thaw!

 Here we go!  Leaving the house for an evening of

cookies and candy and hot cider on The Square.

 And who should greet us there but Old Saint Nick--

or an imposter:  looks suspiciously young for a white beard.

 Even the old stone court house is in a festive mood (mode).

Me doubting that stones have "moods."

And whom should we meet on the street but my most-recently

born greatgrandson, age three months.

 Then we arrived safely home in spite of the biting cold and

the arduous walk.  (Six blocks, and that is arduous-- for us.)

Haven't mastered the "selfie"  Actually something

these folk seldom engage in.

Remember

 

December 7, 1941

Tick tock

Admittedly BBBH did more than I did, but I made a significant contribution.  She's good with color, I with orientation.  Well, she's good at that, too.

(She says things like "Do you see any more purple pieces?" 

Well, no, I don't say, I never saw any "purple pieces" in the first place.)

I say lavender, she says puce; I say tan, she says beige.  Okay, you see how that  works.

Love and Correction

Many people raised in the Christian faith memorized the 23rd Psalm when they were yet children.  This Psalm of David is held in high esteem by both Jews and Christians as an expression of joy in the Lord, our shepherd, our provider, our guide, our protector, and our salvation.  Most people, even those of other faiths or no faith are familiar with this Psalm, given its value as literature and its frequent use.
 
This morning, though, we will focus on one line, quoting from the KJV: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

It was only recently that I really grasped the import of the rod and staff imagery.  We readily think of the shepherd using his staff to rescue a sheep from a pit, and this is good.  We may think of the rod as an instrument of protection used by the herder to fend off the wolves.  Also good.  But it occurred to me that the rod throughout scripture was a symbol of the head of household, and even as the Master is the Head of His flock.  Moreover and equally important, I think, we see references to the rod as an instrument of correction.  You may verify this observation by checking some of the references listed at the end of this article.  These will suffice for openers.

From the Pentateuch: 

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so the Lord thy God chastens thee.  Deuteronomy 8:5

From the Proverbs:  

He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes. Proverbs 13:24

And from the Revelation:  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Revelation 3:19

 Because He loves us he corrects us, guiding us from sin and error.

For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:6

If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?  Hebrews 12;7

Are you comforted by the Lord's correction?

References:  Deuteronomy 21:18, 2 Samuel 7:14, Job 5:17,  Psalm 94:12, Psalm 118:18, Proverbs 3:11. Job 5:17 1 Corinthians 11:32

Wha?

BBBH will be tooling around in her new wheels.

Simple Things

Young lady, thirty-something, came up to me yesterday and sald, "Mr. Lacy, when I was in kindergarten and you were my principal, you once loaned me a dime so I could have a carton of milk.  I'll always remember that." 

I thanked her for telling me that; gave me the warm fuzzies to be remembered for a simple thing I had long forgotten.

Lester Lockard

The scriptures say of Barnabas, "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord."  (Acts 11:24 NIV)

Today I attended a Celebration of Life for my good friend, Lester Lockard.  As a general rule I prefer that a funeral be called a funeral, but in the case of Lester's service, it was truly a celebration of the life of a good man, a good man, like Barnabas, full of the Holy Spirit and faith; a man who brought a great number of people to the Lord.  Pastor Johnnie made the comparison to the degree that he even referred to Lester as a modern-day Barnabas.  The message of salvation in Jesus Christ would have pleased Lester, for it was his mission in life to share his faith in Christ.

Lester was kind and gentle and a great story teller.  I will remember him always for his glowing smile which lit any place he entered.  His joy of living was infectious.

Lester Lockard, 1924 - 2018

Nonagenarian Mouse

Mickey Mouse turned 90 last week.  I noted the occasion but hadn't time to remark on it.

When Mickey was a mere lad of 16 or so, juvenile you see, I kept my stash of semi-forbidden (that is, frowned upon but not outright prohibited) comic books under the bed.  Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and their ducky cousins, Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Uncle Scrooge, not neglecting to mention Goofy, were pals of mine.

Fast forward.  I was principal of an elementary school.  I helped the kids celebrate the Mouse's 50th birthday.  Here I sit today scarce comprehending that 40 years have passed since that day.

I can only wish that I could age as gracefully as that little rodent has done.

Be Thankful for Blessings Small and Great

Espied the rascal running across the path in the woods  Scrawny as ever.  The bird and I wish all y'all a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Be thankful for your blessings; I know I am.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  --Psalm 100:4

Dinner Out #T

A Learning Experience.

Monday afternoon as I hurried across the quad, not quite late yet to my 3:10 in the Applied Physics lab, I flipped open the phone and tapped Ellie's number.  She answered.

"Del.  We still on for tomorrow evening?"
"Sure."
"What is your dining pleasure?"
"Italian tomorrow, I think."
"Great!  Pick you up at seven."
"'Bye!"

And I was on the steps of her sorority house at 6:58 Tuesday evening.  Her stylishly mangled jeans fit all too well, but I have to admit she looked really good in the outfit which was completed with an oxford-style white shirt and a red bandanna tied loosely around the neck.

It was a short ride to Matteo's where I had made reservations.  It would be a new experience for me as I am more of a Texas Roadhouse kind of guy.  Our table was ready.  The fact that the hostess used a flashlight to lead us to our table told me this would not be any experience with which I am familiar.

The waiter brought a wine list.  Imagine his disappointment when Ellie announced that she did not imbibe and "I would like water with lemon, please." 

"I would like the same," I averred.  He left the menus and went to fetch our drinks.  I found that there was a little twenty-five watt light beside the candle on the table and by switching it on there was just enough light to make out the offerings.

Elspeth ordered the linguine frutti di mare and a side dish of sauteed portobellos.  My internal calculator rang up "36" and I ordered the penne norcia, no side at a mere eighteen dollars.

"So, you are going to tell me how you knew my name is Elspeth."

I'm from Kalispell, and you are a Montana girl.  I attended the high school state finals in women's track last spring.  Some girl named "Ellie McCall" finished first in the 3200 meters.  What was your time?  I've sort of forgotten."

"10:23.47.  Sixteen hundredths off the state record but good enough that day."

"Yeah.   Most girls who run the 32 in under 10:50 get college scholarships. Not that I am a stalker, but I looked you up on the 'net, and lo and behold, 'Ellie' is 'Elspeth' and Bob's your uncle."  She looked a bit puzzled.  "Never mind.  When I saw you in the coffee house the other day I recognized you at once."  You are from-- Bozeman? is it?"

"No, I'm from Billings."

"That's a fur piece from Kalispell, as we say up north.  So what is it with Ellie and Vanderbilt?"

"So as I think you might have guessed, I am on a scholarship.  I'll be on team this spring.  I'm working every day and plan to focus on the 5000.  I'll still run 3200 when it's on, but I'll drop the 1600."  Then she launched into her eleven-day training cycle, aerobic sessions, anaerobic. . .

And her mill did not stop for the next ninety minutes.  Not one question about me. She managed to eat the full order and still regale me with her exploits on the track.  I finished about half my dish; it was delicious, but I'm not into food on that scale.

Ellie noticed that my fork was inverted on the plate, asked, "Aren't you going to eat that?  Do you mind; I need to keep carbed up.  Running takes lots of fuel!"

I shoved the plate across the table. 

"I'm on the track six out of every eleven days."

"Really?"  Bobby seemed to be under the impression that you go home every weekend."

"Silly Robert!  I couldn't possibly go to Montana every weekend.  And he talks nonstop, never listens."

How often we fail to see the log in our own eye, I thought, somewhat unkindly, I'm afraid.  But to my credit I didn't say it.

I told her goodnight on the steps of her house.  Passed Robert on the quad Wednesday morning.  "Oh, hey," he said.  "How was your date?"

"Fine," I replied. "The field is clear, Robert.  Go for it."

I kinda think they are made for each other.  Whether or not they discover that remains to be seen.

 

The March of Time

October 29, 2014

The Old Guy and the Old Dame

The old house is still standing

Its days of usefulness are o'er

And though it hasn't fallen

It is more decrepit than it was the year before.

Missing panes and tattered shingles

The building is beginning to crumble

Time-battered and weather worn

I, too, am beginning to stumble.

From time to time I stop to visit

To assess the prospects for tomorrow

Some day she'll fall but I may not see it

Like her, I've little time yet to borrow.

Will the house go first, or will I?

 You may not play our little game

We'll soon revert to dust 

The old Guy and the old Dame.

© 2014 David W. Lacy

Pictorial Update 

 December 11, 2017

November 17, 2018

Unpuzzled

*growl*  I had this post up, apparently ran the cursor across a delete button or something, for the thing is gone.  Rewrite:

Another one unpuzzled.  Except for "What is that blotch on Mabel's right cheek?"

Campus Romance #T

Campus Coffee Club, corner table just to the left of the fireplace.  Three occupants, Ginger Girl, Black Haired Beauty, and a big guy with a man bun and a varsity letter jacket.  I approach.  She's sipping a chai latte, Ginger is saying her goodbyes, "Gotta run!"

Manbun is holding forth, "Yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah!"  and so on.  She continues to sip her concoction.

I'm in love.

Of course, I knew who she was, but I had never seen her before in person.  It's not just that her eyes are as black as her hair and her complexion, to use a cliche, is peaches-and-cream.  It's, it's an indescribable thing.  Good thing, too, because I lack both the vocabulary and the language facility.  I'm at the end of the table now, set the laptop down.  "Hi!  Mind if I have a seat?"  Her only response is a smile cast in my direction.  Bunny says, "Actually, we do mind.  This corner is occupied, and we are busy here."

I moved across the room, sat at an unoccupied table.  I opened the computer, but I kept an eye on the happy couple at the corner table.  "Happy" seems to be a bit of a stretch.  His mouth continues to move, more or less nonstop.  She glances across at me.  And again.  The third time she looks my way Bunny stops talking, looks at me, looks at her.  I couldn't hear what he said next, but clearly, he was not making her happy.  She said something to him, took a sip from her mug.  The guy stood, all six foot eight of him, swaggered over to me.   Towering over me, "Hey.  I see you eyeing my girl.  Let it go, Mac, if you get my drift."

"I have nothing against you, Robbie-- may I call you Robbie?"  Everyone knows this BMOC, name Robert Garrison.  "Do I fancy the lady? That is my concern, and hers if I make it so.  Tell you what.  Let's go over to the barrista, get ourselves a fresh coffee and go talk it over with the girl."

Well, Rob was quite taken aback-- to such a degree that he agreed with my suggestion, and we went for the drinks.  He settled back in his seat next to the girl, I remained standing.  "Del," I introduced myself as I extended my hand toward her.  She took my hand in hers, shook, and smiled.  "Everyone calls me Ellie," she said.

"Ellie.  Elspeth, right?"

"How did you know?  Most people think it is Eleanor."

"Perhaps we could go into all that over dinner, say Tuesday evening, seven o'clock?"

She nodded.  "What's your number?" I had the flip phone from my pocket.  She told me; I entered it, hit "Send."  Her phone rang, I flipped my device shut.  "That's just me.  Call you Tuesday!  Bye, now."  I leaned in close, whispered, "What color are Rob's eyes?"  She looked perplexed, said nothing; she started to turn toward the giant.  "Never mind.  A word: don't be too intimate with anyone whose eye color you don't know."  She was looking squarely and deeply into my eyes. "Gotta go," I explained, "Big test in the morning, Lobachevskian geometry.  Midnight oil, I'm afraid."

I turned and walked away.  Rob caught up with me as I reached the door.  "Nervy.  Why didn't you ask her out Friday night?"

"Why?  I thought you might have things set up for Friday, or hoped to, so I left that open for you."

"Yeah; I wish.  She always goes home for the weekend."

"Oh, my."  I couldn't help myself.  "She doesn't see your performance on the gridiron?  See you around, Robbie."

Judges in Israel

After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.  (Judges 12:11,12 NIV)

Paul in his second letter to Timothy tells us  ^"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"  (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV) hence today's puzzle.

The twenty-two words in the Book of Judges tell us everything we know about Elon so I infer that that is all we need to know.  But Paul's letter assures us that we need to know that much.  Why, then, is it important at all?

The Bible gives us an account of the period in the history in Israel in which the people not having a confederation which could rightly be called a state were led by a series of people that we refer to as judges.  There were twelve of them serving consecutively over a period of  roughly three hundred years.  (Some scholars include Eli and his sons Joel and Abijah as judges, followed by Samuel, bringing the count to sixteen.)  This period ended when Saul was anointed King over Israel.

Several of these judges are given considerable space in the scripture with detailed accounts of their accomplishments, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson being chief among them.  The others are mentioned, like Elon, scripture giving their roots, the length of time they led the people, and their burial sites.   For most a few words are given to some particular in the individual's life, for example of  Abdon who ruled eight years it is said that he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, each of whom rode on donkeys.  Clearly Abdon was a busy man, a virile man, and one wonders how he had time to consider the disputes and legal differences that arose among the people.  But I digress. (Which I am wont to do.)

Then we ask, "Why is Elon mentioned at all?"  Short answer, the ten years represented by his leadership are necessary to a completion of the chronology from the Exodus to the development of the kingdom.

As always, you are welcome.  Insights and comments?
 
Go!  This is the day the Lord has given the enemy into your hands.  The Lord has gone ahead of you!

Deborah, to Barak (Judges 4:14)

Jump to 21st century America.  The Lord still goes ahead of you; He gives you the victory!

Joni Mitchell

Celebrate Joni Mitchell, painter, poet, singer, and perhaps the greatest living song writer as she turns 75 today!



Say a prayer for her well-being as she recovers from her recent illness.

Image: Wikipedia

All Saints Day, 1924

Revisiting Unlce Jep's Halloween tale, 1924.


Happy Halloween, Mr. Principal
 
Did I tell  you about the time your Daddy and your uncles pranked the principal on Halloween? Well, them boys was sump'n, let me tell you.  Now I don' 'spose your Daddy's ever tole you of the onry-ness a them kids?  Anyways, there was a whole passel 'n'm kids, mostly boys and your pa right in the middle the bunch.  Now one a them boys was just a year older'n your pa, and another'n a year younger.  Whut a trio they made.  No, they warn't no singin', but mischief! Lawd, ha' mercy.

So anyhow there was this October when they was prolly 13, 14, and 15 year ol'.  Halloween a comin.'  Now the principal a the school over there was Ward Livengoodll, he was "livin' good," what with his nice income from the second-best job in the county.  Har! har! Livin' good.  I sometime crack myself up.  Anyway, ol' Ward, he come out here from Indiana, had him a dee-ploma from Oakland Normal School, doncha know.  What was the best job in the county?  Why sheriffin', I reckon.  You got no idee the ways them fellas can line they own pocket.  But that's a tale for another time.  So ol' Livengood marry a sweet thang from over to Terre Haute, and headed West.  Lureen Tuttle, she was, and the only way I would know that is she never cease from tellin' ever' one she meet about "the Tuttles from Terre Haute."

So Principal Livengood got the school over there, an' that school were the centerpiece a McClave. They had just built hit a couple years afore, and it were a two-story brick, three ya count the basement.  Now Livengood drive him a little ol' Model T Ford car, runabout, they call hit.  So anyway, morning of November 1 he walk on over to school-- didn't even notice his car wasn't aside his house, on account he only drove hit to work but rarely.  But he get to school, unlock the building and clumb on up the stairs.  Imagine his surprise when he get to the second floor, and there a settin' in the hallway smack again' his office door is his very own personal Model T!


And do you think that trio and they cohorts had anythin' to do with that?  Not much, they didn't; no more'n hit was them left Fred Sparks's outhouse in the middle George Watt's broom corn field.

© 2013 David W. Lacy

Reminder:  Uncle Jep's tales are collected
under the "Stories" and "More Stories" 
tabs at the top of the page. 

October 31. Again

Still my favorite

I am making this an annual event.  That is how much I like it.  Hope you like it.
 
Today is Halloween.  It has become quite a big deal, commercially, that is.  Why, I would guess that the dollar turnover on decorations and partying is as big as Christmas.  Yet I don't think of Halloween as a holiday.  A day for fun and mischief, perhaps, but even the mischief has gotten carried away from fun into wickedness.

But that's not the reason for this post.

Here is the reason:  Wishing you a fun and safe good time on Halloween.  And,

inflicting on you once again my all-time favorite Halloween cartoon.  You are welcome.

Short-term Prophecy

Now Jotham the sole surviving half-brother of Abimelech stood on Mt Gerazim and preached this to the citizens of Shechem:

Once upon a time the trees set out to anoint a king over them.  They said to the olive tree, "Be our King!"  Don't be silly, replied the olive tree.  Should I give up being a useful producer to rule over you?"

Then the trees implored the fig tree to  become their king.  "That is ridiculous," said the fig tree.  I am useful for sweet, lovely fruit.  Who would want such a  useless position?"

So they turned to the vine and the vine, too, rejected the offer, for it would rather produce grapes for the wine.  Finally they asked the thorn bush  to rule over them.  Perhaps because it wasn't doing anything useful anyway it acceded to their plea, and so the trees anointed a king!¹

"Now," continued Jotham, "this is what is going to happen: fire from the bush will consume the trees and the fire will also consume the bush.  You have treated the family of Zerubbaal thus. This son of his bondswoman has killed all our other brothers.  If you think this is righteous, take joy in his rule and let him take pleasure in you.  If not, however, let fire come out of Abimelech and consume you, Shechem, and let Abimelech be consumed as well!"

Prophecy fulfilled.

Three years into his reign the people of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech, he set siege to the city, a thousand of its principal inhabitants took refuge in the Tower of Shechem² which the king burned killing all within, but as he was igniting the thing a woman in the tower dropped a millstone on Abimelech's head.  He ordered his armor bearer to thrust him through with a sword that it might not be said, "He was killed by a woman."

¹Throughout history thorn bush and royalty equally useful.
²Select your tower of refuge very carefully. 

Father Named Him Twice #T

Joash the Abiezrite had a son whom he named Gideon "Destroyer" or he who bruises and breaks.  I think of him as The Hammer.  The Midianites were a scourge to the people, destroying their crops and means of livelihood.  The Lord revealed to Gideon that the people had strayed from His ways and their worship of Baal was the reason for their suffering.  Gideon tore down his father's altar to Baal, cut down the grove, built an altar to Yahweh and sacrificed thereon.

Upon discovering the destruction of the grove and the altar of Baal the people were wroth and demanded Gideon's life.  But Joash said, "What? If Baal is god, then let him fight his own battles."  So he gave his son a new name, Zerubbaal "He Against Whom Baal Contends."

Now Gideon was led to drive the Midianites back.  More than thirty thousand men showed up to engage the enemy.  The Lord told Gideon "No.  Take fewer men lest the people think they have prevailed and forget that it is I who give you the victory over the enemy."

Now we recall the Sunday School story about Gideon that we learned in our childhood in which Gideon tests God with the meat and the fleece, how Gideon finally selected 300 warriors to back him up.  The curious picture of the volunteers drinking from the stream, the selection of those who dipped the water in their hands and lapped it like a dog and so on. (Judges 7:5-7)  Seven decades after the SS lessons it occurred to me that there lies within this vignette a parable of alertness and preparedness.  Can we be ready to serve if our faces are immersed in the stream of worldly affairs?  Can we detect the enemy closing in upon us without sight?

God, true to his word as he always is, gave Zerubbaal and  his 300 men victory over the Midianites.Then the people asked this man to be their king.  "No," he said, "neither I nor my son shall rule over you, for Yahweh is King!

The story continues into territory beyond the Sunday school lesson in which we discover that Gideon lived to a ripe old age and had seventy sons "for he had many wives." But he also had a concubine in Shechem on whom he fathered Abimelech.

Sadly Gideon was hardly cold in the grave before the people of Israel again turned away from the true God and built altars to Baal, forgetting all the good into which Gideon and led them.

Abimelech aspired to rule the people, convinced his mother's people to support him in the endeavor to gain control, hired a bunch of lowlifes to assist him and killed 70 of his half-brothers.  The people crowned Abimelech, declaring him to be king.  Then Jotham, Zerubbaal's sole surviving son stood on Mount Gerazim and shouted the parable of the trees and the vine, then ran for his life.  (Chapter 9)

(Based on Judges 6 - 9)

I Can't Have It

 

Yesterday I told BBBH I wanted a hog oiler as decor in our front yard.

"No!" she said, "we are not hillbillies."


I'm hurt.  I had this wonderful idea.  Setting a hog oiler beside the sidewalk leading to our front door with a nice concrete, or fiberglass, Poland China rubbing up against it would be a fantastic representation of the economic contribution of our bailiwick.  Not going to happen, but imagine it with me.  Wouldn't it be great!

A Small Slice

Cloudy all day, about an inch of rainfall.  Somewhere in town someone is cursing the clouds and the water; somewhere someone is singing paeans for the blessing.  Around the corner a child is wailing endlessly, inconsolably, its mother passed out on the kitchen floor from an overdose.  Next door, a couple continues in its fifth year of prayer and visits to fertility clinics in an effort to have a child.  Down the street the preacher lives next door to the boozer.  On the "other side of the tracks" a couple and their six children live in a four-room cottage in ill-repair.  Both parents work to scrape together funds to feed the family and pay the rent-- to the mayor.  The seventy-three year old henna-haired lady behind that cash register goes to work daily because the medical insurance premiums and the cost of medications preclude retirement.  Someone would literally give you his last dollar were you in need, and someone else would literally rip off your last dollar if he could.

We are a diverse lot.  Don't write us off as Hoosiers who have no lives, uninteresting.  We are a kaleidoscope, ever-changing patterns, never-ending entertainment.  Get to know us.

Reporting from Perfect, Indiana, this is your fly-over country correspondent, Buford Bumpkin.

What Say You?

This thing has been on the table more than three  weeks now.  I hated it from the moment I watched the pieces cascade from the sack to the table top but we are a persistent couple.  Up to a point.  Is this the point?  Do we continue the agonizing frustration, or do we show ourselves to be quitters?

Consider this.  Working a jigsaw puzzle should be fun.  This one stopped being fun almost before it started (see above).  Excuse the photography* if you can and weigh in on this.  To do or not to do, that is the question.  (We have averaged about six pieces a day for the last ten days, at which rate you-know-where may be frozen before we finish.

*I turned the camera on.  It's broken.  The only thing I could see on the screen was broken colored lines, I could only point and trigger, literally, and you see  how that turned out.

A Clean House

This morning

 This afternoon

At least from the outside it appears that we have a clean house!  Sometimes cleaning has to go beyond the dust rag and the vacuum cleaner.

Work by Jerry Blackburn, Town and Country Power Washing.

50th Tipton County Pork Festival

49 years ago this week the Tipton County Pork Festival was launched, and thus it is that the 50th Annual Pork Festival will be underway Thursday, September 6 and will run through Saturday evening.

This link will take you to the festival homepage where you may find the schedule and the entertainment on the docket.

[Public service announcement by String Too Short to Tie.]

 

Most Recent Thousand

 Finished this morning;   

dismantled this evening.

Jesus in Decapolis

A few months ago the Sunday lesson was taken from the account of the Master's visit to the land of the Gadarenes, or Gergesenes, as they are called in the KJV.  Review here.

Briefly, Jesus had gone to the Heights where he met the demon-possessed, cast the demons into a herd of swine and two thousand animals ran into the sea and drowned

Jesus, it seems to me, made this visit to a strange place in exhibition of this love for all people.  He came to the Gadarenes bearing healing and salvation.  But when the swineherds ran into the city to report the doings of this Jesus in the countryside, the people, the entire city, ran out to him.  Ran out to him seeking his favor?  No! They ran out to him pleading with him to leave their country forthwith.

Now why would they do that?  Loss of the swine, of course.  Those pigs were worth more to them than healing, love, salvation.

What have you in your life that you value so highly that you might ask Jesus to depart and withdraw his gifts?

Matthew 8:28-34

Honoring Mother

110 years ago today my mother, Vera L. Morrell, was born near Hartman, Colorado.  Mama left her earthly family behind 27 years ago.  We still miss her.

The first Ford Model T came off the line six weeks after Mom's birth.












The telephone of the day.



I think is is safe to say that Mother's parents had neither of these modern conveniences, situated as they were on the High Plains of Eastern Colorado.

 
Mom was married 58 years to the love of her life, my Dad, Delbert W. Lacy

A Tale of Two Men in Egypt

Then Moses called for all the leaders of Israel. He said to them, “Pick out a lamb or a young goat for your families, and kill the Passover animal.  Take the branch of a hyssop plant, dip it in the blood which is in a bowl, and put some of the blood on the top and sides of the door frames of your houses. No one may leave the house until morning,  The Lord will go throughout Egypt to kill the Egyptians. When he sees the blood on the top and sides of the door frame, he will pass over that doorway, and he will not let the destroyer come into your home to kill you. --Exodus 12:21-23 (GW)

On the afternoon of the 14th, neighbors Amos and Hezron each of whom had killed a young goat, were in the front of their houses daubing the animals' blood onto the lintels and doorposts.  Amos looked over and said, "I am so frightened; terrified, even."

"But," Hezron responded, "you are painting the blood on the door frame, even as Moses told us to do.  God promised you will be protected.  Nothing to worry about."

"I know," replied Amos, "but I have only one son, and if I should lose him I simply don't know what I would do!"

The men closed themselves with their families into their homes, ate the Passover meal just as Moses directed.  The Death Angel passed through Egypt as foretold.

Which of the two men lost a son? 

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Neither of them.  Both followed the Lord's directive, both were prepared.  Human emotions do not abrogate salvation.