Blog Archives

FALL GUY

10/23/2012

                                                                          FALL GUY

                                                        Once again, it is that season of the year
                                                        which we enjoy bragging about so much
                                                        (as if we had a great deal to do with bringing
                                                        it about)...

                                                        Autumn has arrived once again...

                                                        With flamboyant flare, the eastern skies are
                                                       aflame with splashes of tangerine and gold.
                                                        There are plucky pecans and orange plastered
                                                        plump pumpkins, hot apple pie ala mode
Brisk, invigorating walks down tawny leaved lanes.
Yesterdays remembered down golden green roads.

Each year we bask in the beauty of this wonderous
season. With deep breaths we inhale the expectant
                                                        exhilarating air as the passage of each day pushe
                                                        us closer toward Thanksgiving and Christmas.

                                                        Street lights, porch lights, parlor lights take on
                                                        a warm after glow and homes once again become
                                                        our safe harbor.

To all of you who would join with us in celebrating
                                                        this glorious season...We salute you...as one fall
                                                        guy to another.

ROUGH DIAMONDS

10/23/2012

ROUGH DIAMONDS

On occasions, we have tried so hard
to be so good, so right, so perfect...
and have failed so miserably.

And then, we have punished ourselves
with feelings of guilt, inadequacy and shame.
When, what we really needed to do was to
learn to accept ourselves...as we are.
For, after all, God has.

Certainly our Heavenly Father desires us
to become like Him. But, He is wise enough
to know that our Godward journey may take
a little time.

While on this journey, may we learn to love
and like ourselves so that we may better love
and like others.

And, don't forget, that the diamonds on display
on the jeweler's shelf...were once lumps of coal
like us.

PAINT JOB

10/23/2012

                                                                           PAINT JOB

                                                       During the summer past we were doing
                                                       a little painting around home. And, while
                                                       we may not have become experts in "putting
                                                       it on" (the needed areas), we are becoming
                                                       rather adept at removing it (from our own selves).

                                                       And speaking of painting, we have a few
                                                       neighbors who know how to "paint the town,"
                                                       and a few acquaintances who are able to paint
                                                       "a dark picture" for any situation.

                                                       On the other hand, we have friends who can
                                                       paint a "rosy picture" even in the most difficult
                                                       circumstance. They have the ability to paint
                                                     "silver linings" around the darkest clouds.

                                                       How shall we paint this day?

                                                       It is the hope of our heart that the tableau
                                                       of our lives may always reflect and reveal
                                                       ...the touch of the Master's Hand.

THE SMOKE DETECTOR

10/23/2012

                                                                THE SMOKE DETECTOR

                                                        "Where there's smoke, there's fire."
                                                        So goes the old chiche'.

                                                        A good friend of ours recently showed
                                                        us a new smoke detector he had purchased
                                                        for his home. His device was unique in that
                                                        it detected "invisible" smoke particles as well
                                                        as "visible" smoke particles.

                                                        Statistics indicate that asphyxiation, not heat
                                                        nor flame is the cause of 80% of all fatalities
                                                        in the home. Interesting isn't it? It's usually
                                                        the smoke that kills us...not the flame.

                                                        God offers to us all, a personal smoke detector,
                                                        ....the Holy Spirit.
                                                        It is this Spirit that lets us know when there's
                                                        danger to our bodies, our spirits, or our homes

                                                        The best time to quench a fire is before it gets
                                                        out of control. The sooner the better.

                                                        "Big" sins usually evolve from "little" sins.
                                                        Seldom are our "fires" caused by "spontaneous
                                                        combustion."
                                                        If we let Him, The Holy Spirit will act as our
                                                        smoke detector system and will protect us
                                                        from spiritual asphyxiation.

HOW GOES THE SUN?

10/18/2012

HOW GOES THE SUN?

Wrote St. Paul, "Let not the sun go down
upon your wrath." (Eph. 4:26)

How many marriages could have been
salvaged by just obeying this one admonition.

How many sons and daughters might still have
fond memories of home had these words been
heeded.

How many hearts may have been saved from
breaking simply by acquiescing to the spirit
of gentleness.

Tonight, may the sun not go down our wrath,
but rather...upon our serenity.

SQUARE INCH SUNSHINE

10/18/2012

                                                                    SQUARE INCH SUNSHINE

                                                            Wrote Walt Whitman, "Some people
                                                            are so much sunshine to the square inch."

                                                            We know of a few friends that would fit
                                                            that glimmering description. They don't
                                                            have to say a single word, for their very
                                                            presence makes us feel ten feet tall.

                                                            They have a way of uplifting, of bestowing
                                                            hope and confidence and power.
                                                            They have a way of making us feel
                                                            important and warm, inside and out.

                                                           Won't you join the "Square Inch Sunshine"
                                                           club today? Sow your sunshine to those
                                                           around you, ...and watch them grow.

BEING LITTLE

10/18/2012

ON BEING LITTLE

"Life" said Benjamin Disraeli,
"is too short to be little."

"Little", here of course, has no reference
to physical size, but rather alludes to
the height of our mental and moral
stature.

Our spiritual tallness does not depend
on harmonal activity, but rather, on our
ability to live in harmony with our God
and fellowman.

Are we growling and grovelling...
or are we growing and glowing?
Do we treat our fellowman with respect
or do we trodden down his soul with a discouraging word and the vindictive
glance?

  When the sun comes up in the morning,
whence shall be our direction?...
Toward tallness...or smallness?

After all is too short...to belittle.

COME TO OURSELVES

10/18/2012

                                                                      COME TO OURSELVES

                                                           How often have we heard someone say,
                                                           "I'm just not myself today"?

                                                          This poses an interesting question...
                                                          If we are not ourselves today, who shall
                                                          we be tomorrow?

                                                          Of course, what we are implying is...
                                                          that we are not our "better" selves.
                                                          "I'm just not myself today" is usually
                                                          followed by the profound (?)statement,
                                                          "I've just got to get hold of myself."

                                                          Again, what we really mean is...that
                                                          at the present time, we have a hold of
                                                          our less desirable selves, when we would
                                                          prefer to be holding on to our more agreeable
                                                          higher selves.

                                                          Wrote Emerson, "I want to bring men, not to
                                                          me, but to themselves."
                                                          May we "come to ourselves"...
                                                          while we may still be found.

WHAT COUNTS THE MOST

10/10/2012

WHAT COUNTS THE MOST

What counts the most in our lives?

Great thoughts
True friends
Honest toil
Prayer time
Words sublime
Quiet places
Clean hands
Pure hearts
Humble souls
Unbroken promises
Old truths
New beginnings
Immortal intimations

That which counts the best...
should count the most.

GOOD MEN

10/10/2012

GOOD MEN

"Good men," wrote Christian
N. Bovee, "have the fewest fears."

Good men have no fears of yesterday...
No hidden skeletons
No regrets over failures
No gloating over successes
Good men just press on toward the mark

Good men have no fears of tomorrow...
Good men realize that tomorrow always
enters our lives as the child of yesterday,
bringing with it twenty-four hours of
bounteous and new opportunities.

Good men have no fears of today...
For on this day...
Lessons will be learned
Work will be accomplished
Confidence will be instilled
Examples will be set
Spirits will be uplifted
Prayers will be answered

Everyday this fearing world continues
to yearn for...good and faithful men.

(First published on October 10, 2012)
(Not too many good men or women
abiding in Congress or the White House,
today are there?! bm 10.02.2021)