AT THE ALTER  230                                       
                                           
                                             Have you got burdens that bother
                             Have you got troubles and woe
                             Give them to your Master and Savior
                             Just drop them at the alter and go

                             With a heart that's filled with mercy
                             Jesus is looking for you
                             He knows all your faults and follies
                             Now there's only one thing to do

                             Drop your sins at the alter
                             Your years in battle with strife
                             Come, take the hand of your Master
                             Let Jesus be Lord of your life
                                            
                             Go, go in peace
                             Go in peace, sin no more
                             Go, go in peace
                             And sin, sin no more
                                         
​                             (First published on October 17, 1976)
                                            

                                                               

                                         THE POX AWARD  604
    
    The demon instigators of virulent diseases have
    officially declared March, 1979 as "Chicken Pox Month"
    at our home.

    As recent recipients of the "Pox of the Mouth"
    award, our family feels dubiously, but undoubtedly,
    humbled on this auspicious occasion.

     Mathew, Billy and Heather each qualified for
     the "Don't Scratch You Scab Award." Only Tammy,
     our oldest daughter, failed to receive one of these
     awards, although she did receive one many years ago.

     (Tammy informs us that she is more than happy to
     forego any of these honors this time around.)

      Donna and I also received the prestigious
      "Dutiful Symptomatic Reactions to the Pox
      While Under Stress and Strain" award.

      While painful and trying, these experiences have
      had their blessings, while, at the same time, teaching
      us spiritual lessons, and drawing us closer together
      as a family.

      (First published on April 8, 1979)

                                                                ISAIAH 62:10,11,12

                                        Go through, go through,
                                        Go through the gates
                                        Prepare ye the way of the people
                                        Cast up, cast up the highway
                                        Gather out the stones
                                        Lift up a standard for the people

                                        Behold the Lord hath proclaimed
                                        unto the end of the world,
                                        Say ye to the daughters of Zion,
                                        Behold, thy salvation cometh;
                                        Behold his reward is with him
                                        and his work before him

                                        And they shall call them,
                                        the holy people, 
                                        the redeemed of the Lord
                                        And thou shall be called out,
                                        Sought out, 
                                        A city not forgotten
                                                                  

                                                                 GOODBYE TO SUMMER  534

                                               We ride the surf 
                                               No more
                                               Nor dive beneath
                                               The breakers
                                               Nor tumble 
                                               Toward the shore

                                                We leave behind
                                                The friendly sand crab
                                                To burrow
                                                In the soft, silky sand
                                                All alone

                                                Rusty buckets
                                                And tiny trusty shovels
                                                Gone for another season
                                                Good times
                                                Fun Times
                                                Gone
                                                But not forgotten

                                    (First published on October 3, 1978)

                   
                                G FOR RECESS  602
    
     Our youngest son, Mathew (age 7), came home
     recently with his latest report card...

    "Daddy, you owe me two-fifty."
    "Two-fifty!!! What for?"
    "My ten G's."
     "Ten?... I thought you said nine a little while ago.
     That would only be two twenty-five."

     "No, it was ten! I got a G in Language, G- in
      Arithmetic, G in Recess..."

     "Recess... What do you mean Recess..." I'm
     not giving you any quarter for a G in Recess. You
     must be mistaken, you'd better check on that. I
     think you made a mistake."

    (Matt leaves and returns with report card in hand
    and a smile on his face.)

    "It wasn't for recess, it was for physical education."
     "Oh, Okay... What are you going to buy with your
   money?"

    "A pocket knife."
    "What!!!... (here we go again!)"

    (First published on April 3, 1979)
​                                                                         

                                                       
                                                                FREEDOM TO CHOSE  606
    
                                     Over the past two decades, many writers and 
                                     politicians have advocated  and secured passage
                                     of certain "right to work" laws.

                                     I agree with some of these writers that these
                                     laws should not be labeled "right to work." In
                                     reality, they really ought to be labeled "Freedom
                                     to Choose" laws.

                                     I think a man who procures a job should have
                                     as much right to refuse to join a union as he does
                                     to join one. Any freedom less than that, is indeed...
                                     less freedom.

                                     The Constitution guarantees us the pursuit  of 
                                     happiness... with or without the aid  of any organization,
                                     regardless of how well-intentioned their aims, if we 
                                     so choose to ignore their summons.

                                     As Americans, we should be willing to defend every
​                                     man's "Freedom to Choose."