Spectaucular september

 September 3 (that's a Tuesday) Academy Street will have the second annual Spectacular September.  Services will be held on Tuesday nights instead of Wednesday.

Church Yard Sale

September 7, 2019 Academy Street Baptist Church is having it's annual yard sale.

Last weekend was busy

  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I was in the mountains of Tennessee on a couples retreat.  I taught Sunday School, then my regular Tuesday night at the Commons Bible Class, then I had to prepare to lead the Wednesday night service, then the following Sunday School plus the Sunday Morning and Sunday Night Services.  I enjoyed every minute of it but there was a lot of study involved a some nervousness, especially on Sunday morning.

Couples Retreat

  Elijah's harbor in Greenville, Tennessee is a remote place which only claim to fame is a Dollar General Super store and Elijah's harbor, a 200 acre estate a mile from anywhere.  They had their first ever "couple's retreat" Aug 15-18 and I was privileged to be part of that experience.  I stayed in the mansion, a 22.000 square foot house.  My quarters were almost as big as my house with a spectacular view of the mountains.  White deer, peacocks, and miniature horses  were viewable also.
  We enjoyed a heated outdoor pool. smores by the fire, and an ice cream social.  Also available were workout room, walking trails, 4 wheelers, a game room, and great dinning, all included in the price.  The hosts went above and beyond anything one could ever hope for, and only on two occasions did we encounter anyone that was not in our group.
  We had plenty of free time and we also had a couple of "sessions" which helped all the couples strengthen their marriage.  It was a fabulous weekend and I can't wait to do it again.  

No help from police

  Had one neighbor use a paper tag on his car for over a year, another neighbor has set at least a dozen fires (once setting  an outbuilding on fire).  Another neighbor rides a four wheeler on the street with no helmet while popping wheelies and another neighbor rides a dirt bike on the street without a helmet either.   One would think the police department would be interested just to keep people safe but they have failed to respond.
  A driver of a four wheeler doing a wheelie has no real control of his bike and one of the kids on a bicycle may ride out if front of him and one of the two is going to be in serious trouble.  

stealing bases in baseball

A recent poll asked the question "is it ok if a team continues to steal bases when they are 7 or more runs ahead?".  Sixty percent of the respondents agreed with me that it was okay.  Football has a time limit and if a team is7 touchdowns ahead it is almost impossible for the losing team to catch up and the closer to the end of the game the harder the task.  Basketball is played with a time limit as is soccer and most other sports.  Golf , tennis, and badminton don't have time limits.
  Now one would not expect a golfer to quit playing quality golf once he gets a 7 stroke lead nor would they expect a tennis player who has won the first two matches of a best of 5 match play, even if he is up 30 - love and one more point wins it all to not give it his best.
  Yogi Berra said it best "It ain't over until it's over."    Baseball is probably the most unpredictable game their is .  I once played a softball game with a 10 run rule in place and we were down 9 to 0 after the first  inning.  We won the game 13 to 12.  One just can't afford to quit in baseball.  I've seen teams score 4,5,6 and even more runs with two out in the inning.  So yes, keep trying to steal those bases.

Old Employer now in Trouble

  My first job was for a small grocery store which is no longer in business.  My second job was for an industrial supply company which is no longer in business.  My next job was for a drug store that was the third largest in the nation at that time.  It is no longer in business.  In high school I worked for a box making company that in now defunct as well as two different newspapers which are no longer in business.
  I once got a job for a department store and was filling out my paperwork when the announcement was made that the company had been sold and the store where I was to begin work was to be closed.  I then took a job in a car dealership which no longer exist.  I worked for one grocery chain that doesn't exist anymore as well as another big pharmacy which went out of business also.  My last employer, while still operating under the name it used when I worked for them has been sold to another company.
  Another company I once worked for is now listed as companies that may soon cease to exist.  I was shocked when I read that it was because they were so deeply into debt and the amount of interest they paid on that debt was staggering.  The reason I was shocked was because when I worked for them they had no debt and didn't believe in debt.  They could buy a hundred or more competitors at a time and pay cash and be turning a profit within a year, recouping all their remodeling costs, even while cutting sales in half because they operated so efficiently.  I have no idea why or when they started borrowing money.  I suppose it was when the company ridded itself of the  founders and original management team that made the company so successful.
  Sometimes it just isn't profitable to mess with success.

Crazy Days at Work

  Sorry, but I haven't worked in eight years and I am enjoying retirement very  much, thank you.  But I still do remember things that happened while I was working and an article I recently looked at recounting moments when customers were mistaken for employees reminded me of one particular incident.
   I had temporarily been assigned to cover another department and it was during the slowest part of the day on the slowest day of the week when a fellow I knew came into the store. He stopped to chat with me and I had the luxury of time this day so we were standing on the sales floor chatting away when  a man walked up to my friend and started yelling at him for being a bigot and accusing him of watching him as if he was a thief.  One could tell from the look on my friends face that he was shocked and left speechless.  Seeing that he wasn't sure how to handle this situation I calmly informed the customer that my friend had no interest   in watching his movements as he was a customer and not an employee.
  When the man realized his mistaken the look on his face was priceless.
  As an employee I have been accused of watching people's movements and usually they are correct.  The first time this happened to me it was a women and she took me to task for my constant observation of her.  She claimed she was an honest shopper and I had no right to be following her with my eyes.  I just told her I was curious if she intended to pay for the two pairs of sunglasses  she had stuffed in her socks.
  The funniest thing that ever happened was in that same store.  A tall, skinny women was in the cosmetic section and Mavis Taylor, a small little old lady  who had been employed there like forever was watching her.  Since the women was so thin and had short hair and Mavis was old, or maybe it was just a Freudian slip, but Mavis asked the women "may I help you Sir? "  The women turned to look at Mavis, grabbed the bottom of her shirt and yanked it over her head exposing her breasts for all to see, exclaiming "Do I look like a Sir to you?"  

Enjoying my yard: Garden News for 2019

  No pictures to share but just an update on my yard, version 2019.  Last year I removed my blackberry and grape vines and cut down all but two of my apple trees to make my yard care chores much easier.  It is harder to mow around thing than one might at first imagine so removing some obstacles has greatly reduced the amount of time I spend mowing each week.
   I have added some things to the yard though.  I planted three more peach trees and a cherry tree but these were planted so as not to interfere with mowing,  I needed the cherry tree as my big one needs a pollinator.  I also planted a daylily garden but I did this by digging a trench on the outside of my central flower bed (my rock garden)    so it actually makes mowing easier.  My wild flower garden is gorgeous this year with the wide variety of flowers and colors.  My tomato garden really looks good this year.
   I added some English Ivy and a hummingbird vine to my privacy fence to give it more privacy and some character.  Hopefully it will add some shade to my pond to help reduce algae growth.  I succeeded in propagating a new butterfly bush and a new hibiscus bush and I had a grape vine come up on it's own right beside my privacy fence where I needed a vine to grow.
  Now that the flowers have filled in the spaces and structures that added to my work load have been removed and soil conditions have vastly improved due to diligence and hard work, I am relaxing more and really enjoying my yard this year more than ever.  Blooming started in December and it has been like a wave of colors from the back yard to the front, back and forth.  At the moment, Daisey's and Cone flowers and wild flowers are carrying the colors in my yard forth into the summer months.
  Planting season is over so now I can sit back, relax and enjoy.

He said "Democrats are idiots"

  He said "Democrats are idiots".  He said that on his facebook page.  He is a preacher.  I wonder if he would walk up to a member of his congregation who happened to be a Democrat and tell him he was an idiot.  Probably not.  I do believe it would be almost impossible to present the gospel to a person you just called an idiot.  Jesus died for those who are different from us and thinks different from us just as much as He died for us.  It isn't a preacher's job to convert Democrats to a new political view.  It is the preacher's job to present the gospel to a lost and dying world.

She's not my America

The American Women's soccer team has a lady playing for them who has pink hair and refuses to stand for the National Anthem.  I just read an article claiming  that  in spite of her controversial attitude and hair color. or rather because she is so unconventional, she is actually the true face of America.
  She is not my America and the America of today is not the America I grew up in nor the America I fought for and was willing to die for.  I grew up in a more conservative and more religious America.  Although it wasn't a perfect America it was a good America.
  If this woman truly loves America, as the journalist claims she does, then why is she disrespectful towards our National Anthem and the Flag.  Paying respect to the flag and to our Anthem is paying respect to America, it's values, and to the men and women who fought for this country.  There are still many things wrong with this country.
   No, I don't want abortion to be illegal but I do believe that many women who seek abortions should have, and could have, made better choices before they got pregnant.  Yes, I feel sorry for the poor and wretched from impoverished countries that seek a better life in America but I also respect or countries laws and do believe there is a better way to get settled in this country and for us who are forced to become their neighbors.  If they are honest, hard working people seeking to better their lives and that of their families then we can find a way to welcome them but if they are law breaking, gun toting, drug dealers and everyday common thugs, by all means keep them out.  
  There was a time when Americans could sit down and air their difference and work out a solution without name calling but it seems almost impossible for that to happen today.  That is why MSN no longer allows comments on it's web site and Yahoo requires a person to register before allowing them to comment.
  Yes this woman is a great athlete and yes she has pink hair ( it's pretty) and yes, she cares less about
about me and my feeling about her than she does about me but she is not America personified by one person.  Not even close.

Abortion should be legal

  Back in the days of illegal abortion when back alley doctors performed this function for desperate women, society viewed pregnancy out of wedlock much different than it does today.  When a teenager became pregnant then, they were forced to drop out of high school and often were sent to live with a distant relative so neither the girl nor the family would be embarrassed.  
   In today's American men and women seem to be proud of having alternative lifestyles and open relationships and being pregnant and unmarried holds no stigma, at least in most social circles.  In times past, even in the early days of legalized abortion, it was acceptable only when the woman was raped, had been the victim of incest, or her life or the life of the child was in question.   Now, it seems, that just being pregnant and not wanting to be is good enough reason for an abortion.
   I do not want to return to the days of all abortions being illegal but I sure would like to see the number of abortions drop dramatically.  Most people are smart enough to know how to become pregnant and how to prevent pregnancy,  Women claim they should have the right to an abortion because it is their body and it is their right to control their body.  I agree but they should have controlled the situation before becoming pregnant.
  I do believe that a returning to the worship of Almighty God, bible study, deep meaningful prayer, and being active in one's church would increase responsible behavior and greatly reduce the desire for an abortion.

Tired of the talk

I have a facebook page that is open to everyone but I have strict standards to post on it or for a post to remain on it if you decide to post anyway.  No, profanity, sex, or politics.  It doesn't matter if I agree with you politically or not, your political post can't stay up.  Of course there are a few posts that I may view differently than others do ,and someone may say 'you left their political post up" and I may have saw it as something else.
  The main reason I don't like political posts is not that I don't want to know the views of your party because actually I do but because most political posts no days are not "pro" a position but negative against the opposition.  For eight years I heard about impeaching Bill Clinton and about investigations into his activities, even those before he became President.  Then for eight more years I heard about how stupid George Bush was and how he stole the election and how he got out of serving his country and then for the next eight years  all we heard about was how Obama wasn't a real American and talk about impeachment and now for the past three years all we have heard about was impeachment talk about Donald Trump.
  To people of both parties: stop fighting.  Two people can disagree and not fight or call each other names or threaten to put each other in jail.  We did it for many decades in this country and we can do it again.  How can America lead the world when we can't even lead our own country.

unstable or just plain dangerous

  The campaigning for President in the 2020 race has begun.  So far, Donald Trump is the only candidate on the Republican side and the Democrats have so many candidates here isn't a front runner as of yet.  I had a difficult time with the last election but I do believe the Democrats are going to make this election easier for me though not necessarily more pleasant.
  Donald Trump is abrasive and somewhat of a loose cannon and sometimes that is  a good thing as crazy world leaders like we have in Korea are puzzled by him and are probably  afraid of him.  One thing about Donald Trump is that he knows what he wants and he knows how to get what he wants.  I do believe that why the Democratic field is so large.
   When schools were first integrated I didn't understand the objections to long standing traditions but have come to appreciate that songs, flags, and some statues are offensive.  I grew up when people pulled for the underdog and I feel for people trying to escape harsh living conditions and repressive governments but I also appreciate law and order and do believe we need to respect our laws, even if we do not always agree with them, in whole or in part.
   I understand people who live differently than most other people wanting to be treated fairly and I cringe whenever I hear a Christian criticize those who prefer an alternative lifestyle but only because
Christ loved everyone and we are instructed to do likewise.  If is difficult to claim we love someone while criticizing their lifestyle.  
  I mentioned these issues because there are big issues which divide our country.  It seems the Democrats are becoming more liberal and wanting to change everything about America, including our history.  The great men and women of many years ago stood up for what they believed in and stood fast against those things they thought were wrong.  Sometimes they were wrong but that doesn't give anyone the right to erase them from our memory.
  The biggest problem is our inability to discuss our differences of opinions without resorting to name calling and being negative and overly critical of those of a different opinion.  If there was a problem with our nations health care system then both parties should recognize that fact.  I would expect differences of opinion on how to fix the problem and for both parties to work together to find the solution that works best for the country.
  I understand why some people feel that their pregnancy should be terminated but I do not believe abortion should be used as a birth control method.  Pregnancies should be prevented before they occur, and can be in the majority of cases.  Future generations may look back at us today and want to erase us from their memories or maybe even study this time period as the reason for the failure of this nation.
   Donald Trump is not the man to lead this nation down the proper path but neither was Hilary Clinton and I doubt that there is a candidate out there that can heal this nation.  The trouble is, there is only one who can lead this nation and the majority of people either want to write him out of the history books too  or they prefer to do things  their own way.    No matter who we elect to the White House, Congress, or the Supreme Court, we will always have difference of opinion and there will always be wrong decisions made.
  I'm not the person that has all the right answers and perfect solutions for all our problems but neither is anyone else.  If we just sit down and talk with each other maybe we can come up with a workable solution  and stop having this "if you don't agree with me you are an idiot" attitude.
   I doubt that this little rant of mine will change the mind of any one person.  Our early leaders had their faults just as each of today have our faults but they were able to work together  to solve problems and for that we should learn from them and not deny them because of their flaws.  
 

Last week was rough

  Sat down for lunch Thursday and suddenly felt nauseous and then I got a serious case of the chills.  I left the table and sat down in my recliner and covered up. My wife added three more blankets  but I just couldn't stop shaking.  It was a shivering but a violet shaking and I sat like that from 12 noon until 6:30 before I quit.  Then I began to feel warm so I got up, put myself to bed  with no shirt or pants and the fan going on medium and not covered up at all and I slept until 4 am (which is my normal wake up time).
   I just felt too wasted to go to the gym.  It fact I never even got dressed that day: or the next for that matter.  I felt much better Sunday morning and by Monday I was back to being my normal self.  I had a busy Monday, going to the gym and then   taking my wife out for lunch  before delivering a care package to a couple in need.  My wife headed to the doctor's after doing a little housework while I went outside and did some work in the yard.  I then came in and prepared my lesson for tonight.
 

Family reunion

  We are a small family: just three brothers, two wives and a girlfriend and we've never really been close.  It's been a year since I saw my older brother and two and a half years since I last saw my younger brother But we did get together last week in Blowing Rock, NC for a couple of days.
  I had a great time and I do believe the others enjoyed the time as well.
  My biggest fear was that we would get so involved in activities that we wouldn't have time to really talk with each other.  The first idea was to meet in Tennessee at Dollywood or that other place which is an amusement park.  To many people, to much walking, to many things to distract from the purpose of the visit.  My older brother and I opted for Blowing Rock.  It was a closer drive for the two of us plus my wife and I have health problems so a four hour drive is much to much for us.  My wife wouldn't be up for much walking and I don't think my older brother can venture very far on foot.  Blowing Rock was perfect for us.
  Friday, the only full day we had together was cold and windy and rainy which actually made things better.  We did venture out of the Green Park Inn to shop at one of the road side stands and to find a good restaurant  for lunch.  Even though we stopped in Blowing Rock itself for a little shopping, it was too much for my younger brothers wife as she got cold.  After our brief shopping trip, we rested at the motel for awhile then meet at the piano bar for some good easy music and some fun conversation.  We learned things about each other we didn't know and we left the next morning a closer and much happier group of brothers.

not much for politics

  I don't like to discuss political stuff .  I used to think America was the last sane country of earth but it is now obvious that we are as crazy as the rest of the world.  Mayor's running for president that claim they are both a practicing homosexual and a Christian, abortion of demand, even after birth, illegal immigrants and prisoners receiving more and better help than our fellow soldiers, and all the hate, and race baiting, and name calling, and gun violence, and loose morals, and it is enough to make one cry out to a loving God for an end to the madness.

Getting slack in my old age

  I know I haven't posted much recently but I have been battling health issues.  It started with a routine colonostrophy (sp) That was hardly over when I contracepted a viral infection  which left me with extreme chills, a 104 degree temp and the desire to do nothings.  After several shots and antibiotics I began to feel some better but my stomach has been queasy ever since, somedays to the point of wanting to stay near a toilet but fortunately it hasn't come to that yet.
  The Doctor said I was anemic but my iron levels were fine.  Some days I am fine and some days I just have to stay in bed, rest and try to stay warm.  I was scheduled to see my regular doctor on the 22nd but he is on vacation so my appointment has been put off until the end of May.  Except for type II diabetes which I have under control except for a brief period of time I have been a pretty healthy guy.  But since I had my cancer surgery but body seems to have given up on me.
   I don't know what the immediate or long range future holds but God does so I'll trust Him and leave myself to His care.  What ever happens to me is for God's best interest and mine as well.  Like Paul stated :"To be absent from the body is gain."

The Situation

I'm not complaining but just stating some facts.  I can understand both sides of the issue and I have come to understand that life isn't fair and that what one person considers fair is not always the correct gauge of fairness.
   When I first went to Vietnam in 1970 I met a young man named Dave and we have remained friends all these many years.  As a result of our service in Vietnam we were both exposed to Agent Orange and have developed similar health problems.  Also due to our jobs we both suffer from hearing loses.
   The government furnishes me with hearing aids and supplies at no cost to both of us.  Dave also gets a small compensation check but I don't.
  We both developed similar problems around the same time.  Dave's doctors correctly diagnosed   his problems 4 years ago and together Dave and his doctors made the decision not to treat his condition because he is more likely to die of a heart attack or some other ailment than he is of the cancer they found.  As a result, he receives quarterly monitoring and a large monthly  compensation.
  By the time my cancer was detected  my problems were more severe and the cancer was life threatening.   After weighing all my options it became obvious surgery was my best choice, especially considering my life expectancy was much longer than Dave's due to his heart condition and COPD.  
   To be totally truthful, Dave's problems from his cancer are inconvenient just as mine were for me.  My problems as a result of my surgery are much worse.  Besides the loss of function I have to wear an outside medical devise that is not safe to wear and will be facing the implantation of another device soon.
   Needless to say life was way better before surgery and now I will shortly lose my compensation because I'm considered cancer free even though the surgeon said the cancer could remain in my body for up to 10 years undetected.  To some it doesn't seem fair that Dave should be compensated for a condition that we both have in common just because he elected to live with the condition when he could have a quick one and done treatment that would solve his problem and I'll lose my compensation even though my surgery actually made my daily life much worse.
  On the other hand, some would not consider it fair to continue to compensate me for a problem that I had fixed.
  I don't know if surgery or one of the other forms of treatment will still be an option for Dave down the road.  I hope it will be.
  I'm glad he receives his compensation and it would be nice to continue to receive mine.  It's for sure my cancer would have killed me long before his would have killed him  and if given the choice between surgery and life or the compensation I would choose life.  So I received my benefits for which I am grateful.    

Old friends are the best

  I was young and green  but the man seated next to me on the "Willie" was kind and helpful and guided me through all the procedures and answered all my questions and remained calm for the entire thirteen hour trip.  Since that day, a little over 48 years ago, we have remained friends.  It was great to get to spend some time with him today.
  He retired many years ago and has been traveling about in an RV yet he makes time to stop near me every year, most years, so we can share a day together.    I think this is our first visit together in which we didn't talk about our military service or Vietnam.  It made it more special that more than shared times during a war bonded us together.