Blog Archives

CRABGRASS

4/28/2013

                                              CRABGRASS

                              While God may control the elements
                             that He has an extremely difficult time
                           controlling his prize creation...man.
                              Man always seems to be getting himself
                              into trouble with his fellowman and with God.
                             Man constantly detours down dark avenues of
                             emotionalism and skids down the open highways
                              of mindlessness.
                              At times, man's ability to feel, think and act poorly
                             is an embarrassment to us all.

                             Wrote, Hal Borland, "You can't be suspicious of a
                              tree, or accuse a bird or a squirrel of subversion,
                            or challenge the ideology of a violet."

                             But, with man, anything treacherous, infamous,
                             or incredulous is oft times possible.
                              In this garden called life, man too often becomes
                             his own crabgrass.

HISTORY REPEATS

4/28/2013

                                         HISTORY REPEATES

                            There's an old saying, "History repeats itself."
                           In 1868, Charles Dickens published his novel,
                           "The Tale of Two Cities." The time was 1789.
                           The setting, the French Revolution.
                           Dickens begins his novel with these words...

                            "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
                            it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
                           it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light,
                           it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope,
                           it was the winter of despair..."

                            Things haven't changed much, have they?
                            Scientifically and medically, our progress and knowledge
                            in the past 100 years has been tremendous.

                            But the struggle for men's bodies, minds and souls
                           goes on...at an ever increasingly, ruthless pace.
                           More of the worlds' population are in bondage today
                           than ever before. Every new generation continues to
                           make the same old mistakes. Mankind never seems to
                          learn.

THICK AND THIN

4/28/2013

                                            THICK AND THIN

                            We have noticed that in at least one marriage
                            which we have given close scutiny over the
                             the pass 47 years, that not every day has been
                             on "the up and up." Some weeks, there have
                            been a few days that were downers all the way.

                            With so many marriages ending in divorce these
                            days, we wonder if perhaps some marriages could
                           could not have been salvaged had not both partners
                            vowed, at their beginning, to stick together through
                            "thick and thin," rather than abandoning their matrimonial
                             ship at the sign of the first distress signal or grey cloud.

                          Said James Howell, "Faults are thick where love is thin."

                             As we progress down the halls of matrimony may we wisely
                           and consistently eliminate faults that are thick, and accentuate
                           the love we have for our spouses.

SUN STAND STLL

4/21/2013

  SUN STAND STILL 169

                              While attending a banquet in the grand city
                              of Versailles, Ben Franklin listened to the British
                              Minister propose a toast to King George, III, in
                              which he likened the king "to the sun," and then
                              listened as the Minister proposed a toast to
                              King Louis, XIV, comparing him to "the moon."

                              Then the great statesman, Franklin, arose and
                              offered this toast: "George Washington, Commander
                              of the American armies, who like Joshua of old,
                              commanded the sun and moon to stand still, and
                              they obeyed him."

                              Through the centuries, many have given Washington
                              and the Founding Fathers much honor and praise,
                              which they richly deserved. They brought forth this
                              nation, while promising life, liberty, and the pursuit
                              of happiness. These were truly great statesmen.
                              We shall forever be in their debt.

(First published on May 23, 1976)

ON PARTING

4/21/2013

                                                ON PARTING

                                 When was the last time you left
                                 your home and your partner or children...
                                 With angry words or ornery actions
                                  With feelings, blistering and searing?

                                 Wrote John Paul Richter...
                                 "Never part without loving words
                                  to think of during your absence. It
                                  may be that you not meet again
                                  in this life."

                                  A few phrases that have taken on
                                a major importance in our family's farewell
                                  communiques include...
                                  See you in a little while
                                 Have a good day
                                  Remember that I love you
                                  I really do appreciate you
                                  I feel ho-so close to you

                                  Wrote Joesph L. Townsend...
                                 "Let us oft speak soft words to each other
                                  At home or where 'ere we may be..."

                                 May your partings always be sweet ones.

THE GUEST ROOM

4/21/2013

                                             THE GUEST ROOM

                        Several years ago, my wife, Donna, wallpapered
                        our guest room with a print of large, bold flowers.
                        Colors included yellows, greens, reds and pinks,
                        all over the place.
                        There was no place for a gloomy face in the guest
                       room. The room was so cheerful, it entreated us to
                        become guests in our own home. For you see, we
                        often took ourselves for granted. We didn't always
                        straighten up the place for ourselves. We didn't
                        cook that extra special meal for ourselves. We
                        occasionly failed to see that we are the most
                        important guests we shall ever entertain in our
                        home.
                        We should remember to treat ourselves royally.
                        We should become the most important dignitaries
                        ever to enter our home. Let us all treat ourselves
                        as the important guests that we are, and enjoy
                        our time together.

AMONG THE DANDELIONS

4/13/2013

                           AMONG THE DANDELIONS

                               In an 1898 issue of "Harper's Weekly."
                               Williston Fish wrote "I leave to children
                               exclusively, but only for the life of their
                               childhood, all and ever, the dandelions
                               of the fields and the daisies thereof, with
                               the right to play among them freely."

                               With Mr. Fish, we too, would leave...
                               The beauty of the butterfly
                               The lowing of cattle
                               The coolness of a shade tree
                               The feather of the baby owl
                               The morning glories and tulip trees
                               Honey suckle and acres of thistles
                              to be picked and blown at will

                               We would go for as long as possible and
                               as far afield as possible among the daises
                               and the dandelions of the world and we
                               would see and be seen...as little children

TO BE

4/13/2013

                                                            TO BE

                                     One of the greatest psychological writers
                                     of all time was William Shakespeare. We
                                     read or watch his plays with continued awe.
                                     We witness the tremendous insights which
                                     he possessed concerning the thoughts and
                                     feelings of the inward man.

                                     Take just one line of his, for example...
                                     "To be or not to be, that is the question"
                                     What a splendid question for 21st man.

                                     Shall we permit life, or prevent it?
                                     And, with what right? Is life worth living?
                                     If we choose "to be," what or whom shall
                                     we become? And by what means shall we
                                     use to get where we want to go?

                                     Hamlet's search was not singular. His search
                                     is everyman's search.
                                     "To be or not to be." That certainly is "the question."
                                     Our answer determines our destiny.

SPLITTING HARES 451A

4/13/2013

SPLITTING HARES

                                    An unknown author has written, "If
                                   you chase two rabbits, both will escape."
                                    Elijah the prophet put it another way,
                                    "How long halt ye between two opinions?
                                    If the LORD be God, follow Him, but if Baal,
                                    then follow him."(1 KINGS 18:21)

                                    In his lifetime, Joshua also came to understand
                                    this same principle, for he wrote, "Choose you
                                    this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and
                                    my house, we shall serve the Lord." (Josuha 24:15)

                                    And Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters..."
                                    While me may let those rabbits get away, we can
                                    ill afford to let eternal life do the same.

COUNTING FOUR LEAF CLOVERS

4/6/2013

                                                COUNTING FOUR LEAF CLOVERS

                                      Back in March (2013), around St. Pactrick's day,
                                      I was doing my usual late night tossing and
                                      turning, trying to go to sleep.
                                      I even tried counting... four leaf clovers.

                                      After counting for awhile, it dawned on
                                      me that I probably over looked a few.
                                      I still couldn't go to sleep. So I just quietly laid
                                      there, and eventually dozed off. No particular
                                      thoughts came to mind.

                                      But, for some reason, as I awoke in the morning,
                                      these three words popped into my head...

                                      COMFORT    LOVE     PEACE
                                      (may we think on these things).