A Surprise Around the Corner

Yesterday was spent on the road -- or at least a big chunk of yesterday.  I made sales calls today. 

I love making sales calls, but, management responsibilities prevent me from getting out in the country as much as I would like.  It seems there are always e-mails and reports and paying bills and personnel issues and new projects and on and on and on.....that make it difficult to get out and make sales calls.  But, I decided a few weeks ago that this week would be devoted to calling on prospective customers.

One of the things that make my job enjoyable is that most of my travel is in ranch country.  I love ranch country.  I love the wide-open spaces and the people.  I love the small towns that sometimes only have a few hundred people for population.  But, most of all, I just like to see the miles and miles of wide-open spaces dotted with cattle or.........what I saw today.

I had just made a call on a feed yard and plugged in the address of my next stop into my Garmin (I honestly don't know how sales people found some of these places before Garmin) and the directions had me turn north on a gravel road.  The gravel soon gave way to dirt and then sand.  Fortunately, it was a damp morning and the sand was OK for travel.  I was watching the screen to see what was ahead and the windshield to see if the Garmin knew where it was taking me.  It looked to me like the road was getting narrower and the occasional weeds in the middle made me wonder if I might be headed for a dead end.  In fact, ahead of me it looked like the road disappeared into a pasture.

I was wrong.  It just turned.  Below is what I saw.....

Birds in the Yard

As I'm sitting here at the computer trying to compose my thoughts into some orderly manner, I am listening to a Western Meadowlark right outside the window.  It is distracting to me.  I actually hear him nearly every morning -- either him or one of the others that hang around our place.  I enjoy his song even though it is somewhat repetitive.

There are 3 or 4 variations that he sings.  I wish that I could describe them but, it's just not possible with words.  He sings early when there is little wind.  As the winds rise he falls silent.

There are several kinds of birds that hang around our place.  Besides the Meadowlark, we have several Western King Birds.  They are the fearless midget warriors of the plains.  They will attack hawks in mid flight.  They catch grasshoppers and pin them to the barbs of a barbed wire fence.  They will dive at you if they think you are going to go near their nest.  We also have a couple of Mockingbirds that hang around.  And occasionally we see a few Bobwhite Quail.  I always enjoy the quail.  Especially when one sits on top of a fence post calling to his tribe.

Of course there are other birds.  There are numerous varieties of sparrows, the occasional cowbird, lots of grackles, and a few hawks.  There are species that migrate through annually such as robins and the occasional bluejay.  I really enjoy seeing the "rare" ones for our area though.  Like a cedar waxwing, cardinal, house wren, or hundreds of others that I can't name.  We have a couple of bird identification books that are kept near at hand.  When we see a bird we don't immediately know we try to identify him from the books.

I wonder why birds interest us so much?  Is it their song?  Is it the mystery of where they have been and where they are going?  Is it that we long for their freedom?  Could it be that we envy their flight and their seeming joy as expressed in their songs?  I don't know, but, I do know that birds facinate me just as they do many people.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" -- Matthew 6:26

Chris

Pondering Blogging and Neighbors

I decided last Saturday morning to try and post something every day on this blog.  This is day number seven.  A week isn't very long and yet it has sometimes been difficult, even in that short span, to come up with something new to write about each day.

When I first started the blog, on February 8, 2007, I resolved to post something every day for 30 days to establish the habit of blogging.  I missed very few days for the first year.  I guess part of my struggle with what to write each day is that over time since that beginning, I have posted (counting this one) 590 entries and it is very easy to be redundant.

This morning, one of the things that comes to mind is Facebook.  Earlier this morning I was having a Facebook chat with Hama, our guide when I went to Niger in 2009.  He is now working as a translator for a Children's Hospital in Niamey.  I also had a message through our graduating class group regarding plans for a reunion this summer.  Yesterday, I traded messages with a classmate that I haven't seen since our 10-year reunion -- which was more than a few years ago.  Also this morning, I exchanged comments with a friend who is passing through Boston and then wished a happy birthday to a musician friend who just got back from a tour.

When I stop and think about those things I marvel at the wonderful utilization of technology.  With a laptop computer, the Internet, and a social networking site like Facebook, the world is literally at my fingertips.  Yet, in many ways we are out of touch with the people next door.  It seems that it is easier to chat with a friend in Niger over the Internet than it is to walk over to the neighbor's house and say, "Hi!"  Just something to ponder......

Chris

Morning Ritual

In goes the water,
Then come the grounds.
I'm listening to
The percolator sounds.

I smell the aroma
Filling the air,
Then sip the first cup
As I sit in my chair.

I take a deep breath
And let out a sigh,
I guess I'll drink coffee
'Til the day that I die.

Chris

Artistic Bent?

Those of you who know me well, know that there is a little streak of the "artistic" in me.  No, I can't paint (except in broad strokes from a can) or draw (well, do stick figures count?), but, I like the arts.

I suppose the fact that I write probably gives away the "artistic" streak in me.  Writing (non-technical) is certainly considered part of the arts.  Especially poetry -- although one might consider most of my "poetry" as more of a rhyming prose than the elegant stuff of "real" poetry.  And I admit, most of it is average at best, but, occasionally, like the monkey at the typewriter, I'm bound to produce something of merit just out of sheer volume.

But, back to the "artistic" nature.  I've always seen art in the world around me.  To me, trees can be a tremendous representation of God's art.  Especially those that are twisted and bent by the elements.  Of course, flowers, mountain scenery, seashores and the like also come to mind when one thinks about art in nature.  But, I also see art in some oddball things.  Take for instance the photo below.

OK, you say, what is artistic about that?  (Disregard examples of modern art that you've seen hanging in galleries throughout the world.)  I don't know if I can answer that question.  But, when I look, I see art.  Others just see a piece of wood to which various layers of paint are still sticking after it has been scraped in preparation for a new coat.  Oh, well.  I guess it's kind of like the old saying that "one man's junk is another man's treasure."  It's all in the eye of the beholder.

Chris

Opening of "Texas"

One of my favorite places in the country is Palo Duro Canyon which is conveniently located about 20 minutes from where I live.  The photo above was taken from the overlook before driving down into the canyon this past Saturday for the season opening performance of Texas.  We went with a friend and his wife from Wellington, Texas, and one of his co-workers from Australia.  The performance, as usual, was outstanding.

We went early and enjoyed the steak dinner before the show (which, if you go, I highly recommend that you get tickets for the dinner as well as the show).  Our friend from Australia remarked that portions in the U.S. are unusually large.  In Australia, restaurants serve much smaller portions.

This year's program is filled with the art of Jack Sorenson of Amarillo.  You can view his web page here.  It just so happened that Jack was at the performance and signing autographs.  I was sitting next to him and his wife Jeanne.  They were very open and friendly and a joy to meet.

The play this year was very impressive and the talent outstanding.  It had been a couple of years since I saw the play and the changes to the script are excellent.  One scene gave me a little heartburn though.  The prairie fire.  I know it was well contained, but, with all the fires we've had this year and the extremely dry conditions of the area, I was more than a little nervous as the very realistic fire scene played.

People from all over the world view the play "Texas" each year in Palo Duro Canyon.  At each performance they give away a small gift to the person who traveled the farthest distance to be there.  In fact, Dave Yurik, the Director, announced that in the history of the performance, the prize has never been given to someone from within the United States.  We felt certain that our friend, who is from Brisbane, Australia, would win the prize.  He didn't.  It went instead to a couple from South Africa.

Y'all go see it!

Chris

A Scheme or Something Else?

Have you ever noticed that once you start into a repair project you almost always find something else needing repair?  Many times in this blog I've written about to-do lists, re-modeling, or things of that nature.  But, for some reason, this year I can't seem to whittle the list down -- it keeps getting longer instead.

I look back at the things that I have gotten done in these last few weeks/months and feel gratified that progress has been made -- many projects completed or well on their way (perhaps waiting on someone else to do their part -- like the carpet we ordered and are waiting on).  Yet, I look at my list of projects and it seems that for every one that I have completed, there have been 2 or 3 added.

There's got to be a life lesson in there somewhere.  I'm trying to figure out just what it is.  It's almost as if we are discouraged from trying to make things better because work begets work.  Hmmmm......maybe that's it.  The devil doesn't want us improving our lot in life so, when we do something positive, he hits us with discouragement.  Or, maybe it's something more mundane like the natural decay of everything with the passage of time.....and the aches in my muscles warn me that I'm not immune......

Just thinkin'......

Chris

Cargo Shorts

I'm not one to wear short pants
For me it's boots and jeans,
But sometimes in the summer months
It's just too hot it seems.

So I got some cargo shorts
With pockets everywhere;
They're fairly long and only worn
At home where I don't care

Who might see my pale white legs
That connect me to my feet
That sometimes sport some sandals
To make my outfit complete.

But, yesterday, it seemed the thing
As I worked out in the yard
To wear those shorts and sandals
While toiling oh, so hard

Beneath the beautiful sky so blue
With high thin clouds above
And of course the crazy wind
That I have grown to "love".

And I kept thinking through the day
These shorts ain't too bad!
They're so much cooler than the jeans
I'm known for since a lad.

But last night when I took a shower
My legs and feet did sting
That until the water hit my hide
Felt fine as anything.

And now I see them red as beets,
Not legs so much as feet,
In funny splotches patterned by
Those sandals and the heat.

And I remember why I don't
Wear shorts out in the sun.
The sunburn there upon my skin
Really isn't fun.....

Those Waskley Wabbitts!

The drought here has had a definite impact on the cottontails and jackrabbits around our place.  They have nothing to eat out in the pasture.  It still looks like the dead of winter and contains no moisture.  In fact, I have it so short that most of them have moved on to the neighbor's places because there is no cover for them on my small acreage of grass.

To the south of me though, is what was once CRP that has been taken out of the program and has been the home to 8 horses and a jack for the past couple of years.  It still has some grass -- in clumps -- where the jackrabbits and cottontails can hide.  They can't quite reach the water in the tank from which the horses drink though, so, they come to the one place where they can get moisture -- my lawn.

I have the green oasis in the midst of the unbroken sea of amber that surrounds me.  It is green because my sprinkler system (I am so thankful for an automatic underground system) keeps it that way.  But, each morning, it also forms a dew thanks to our cool nights.  So, the rabbits come on over for breakfast and a sip of water.

My lawn shows the damage.  Of course, I don't have to mow as frequently because of their foraging, but, they don't eat it evenly.  It seems they like certain areas better than others.

Those of you who know me know that I grew up where rabbits weren't necessarily looked upon as cute little bunnies but, as full-blown pests.  That attitude has stayed with me through the years.  I guess the words of my grandfather sum it all up when he once told me, "Five jackrabbits will eat as much grass as a cow.  I can't make any money feedin' jackrabbits."

So, I keep my sons' pellet gun by the back door.  I can't even seem to thin 'em out!  I guess what they say about the reproductive capabilities of rabbits must be true......

A Hint of Moisture

There was the smell of rain
On the air last night
And a touch of cooler weather

The promised moisture
Only came near
But, left us dry as ever

And today again
The wind does blow,
The sun is bright as ever

But, finally now
We've had a glimpse
Of perhaps some better weather

Another Day of Wind

For days on end
The unrelenting wind
Scours the parched land.

The temperatures soar
As the months wear on,
Yet barely mid-Spring.

The sound of sirens
Carries upon the gale
As another fire rages

Removing dead fuel;
Last year's grasses
That might have sustained

The few cattle remaining
On the moistureless land,
Once so verdant.

Tears glisten on a creased face
Whose years of labor
Are loaded on trailers.

Another pasture burns.
Another herd is gone.
Another rancher hunkers down.

Spring's Blessed Curses

Springtime is the time of year
When the earth is clothed anew
In a colorful arrangement
Topped off with skies so blue.

The birds begin to sing again
And trees burst forth in leaf,
Flowers spring from in the earth
With colors beyond belief.

The cool breeze blowing 'cross the land
Spreads pollen far and near
Creating life in blooming plants
And fruit to bring us cheer.

But springtime brings us other things
Like floods and hail and such
That we who live upon the earth
Don't care for all that much.

And that pollen bringing life anew
Creates for some of us
A runny nose and itching eyes
That make us want to cuss.

And growing things create work,
To prevent spreading out of hand,
Like mowing yards and trimming trees
And hoeing weeds upon the land.

And in the home there is no rest
For cleaning there must be
In closets and places you would think
Should be completely dust free.

It is a blessing, yes indeed,
This Springing forth anew;
But, with the blessing comes the curse
Of a million things to do!

Remodeling Again

Why do we get dissatisfied
With the place where we reside
And decide we need to remodel
Some of the rooms inside?

I guess we just get tired
Of the same old thing everyday
So we think that it needs some changing
To look some other way.

It always involves lots of painting
And likely some kind of repair
So it turns into quite a project
And creates a mess everywhere.

Sometimes we hire help to do it
And sometimes we do it alone.
It always costs lots of money
But it's better to not take a loan.

It always takes much longer
Than the time we expected it to
And when figuring the cost of it
Take the best estimate times two!

But, when the change is completed
And everything back in its place
There comes a great satisfaction
And a great big smile on the face.

Yep, you've probably guessed it
We are making a change or two
And it seems to go on forever
But, one day it will look just like new!

Cell Phone School

I think it is amazing
How cellphone technology
Has become so complicated
For simple guys like me.

I use one in my business
Because of what it lets me do
Like answer e-mail on the go
And talk to people too.

But, I can also surf the web
And then pull up Google maps
To see where I am going
Or, where I've been perhaps.

I can even take some pictures
Of the things I do and see
And post them all to Facebook
Where friends guess where I might be.

There are lots of applications
I can get upon my cell
Like for making reservations
At a major chain hotel.

I get spreadsheets and reports
Every afternoon at three
That help me know what's going on
At the places I can't be.

There are icons on my phone
That are never even used
'Cause every time I go to them
I just get more confused.

I wonder what Ma Bell would think
To see what she has done
And how her simple invention
Now does everything under the sun.

I guess it's interesting,
And actually kind of cool,
They now teach you how to use the thing
At a special cell phone school!

Writing the Wind

My posts have been fewer than intended these past few weeks.  It is partly a matter of too much travel but, also because of the wind.  It seems the wind just won't stop in the Texas Panhandle this year.

Why is the wind preventing me from writing?  I guess because it is incessantly in my head and when I sit to write, all I can think to write about is the wind.  I don't want to write about the wind.  I want to write about something more cheery.

I guess I could write about my travel.  I have been traveling almost constantly since the first of the year.  I just looked back on my calendar to see where I'd been and it is crazy.  Here is a list of places I've been since the first of this year:

Belville, TX
Kakamega, Kenya (via London and Nairobi)
Nashville, TN
Pigeon Forge, TN
Denver, CO
Montgomery, AL
Columbus, NE
Hickory, NC
Nashville, TN (again)
Bowling Green, KY
Belleville, TX (again)
Lumberton, TX
Baton Rouge, LA
Bowling Green, KY (again)
San Antonio, TX
Garden City, KS
Kenansville, NC
Harrisonburg, VA (via Washington, DC)
Garden City, KS (again)

Probably some other stops along the way that are hidden in the blur.  And April isn't even over yet!

I guess the advantage of all that travel is that I don't have to endure the wind every day like I would at home.  The travel is just me out there riding on the wind I suppose.  Even writing about my travel turns into being about the wind.

From Bone-Dry to Beautiful via the Armpit

It is another day in which I will see a big chunk of the country from around 30,000 feet if there isn't much cloud cover.  The Amarillo area is a great place to live, but it seems that more and more it is a long way from where work takes me.  Fortunately it is central.

Today I'm headed east.  I dread the drive once I reach my destination airport because today I fly into Washington Reagan.  I do look forward to seeing the Virginia countryside though.  Last week in North Carolina the dogwoods were in full blossom.  I wonder if it will be the same in Virginia.....

I do know that it will be quite a contrast from the bone-dry, windswept, fire-blackened plains of West Texas.  It is time for the spring thunderstorms to start popping on the plains.  Usually by this time we will see them dancing along the horizon to the east of us late in the evenings.  I hope they are just late and that we are not experiencing a weather cycle such as the one that led to the Dust Bowl.

Who knows, I might even get to see rain while back east!

Office Time

Traveling as much as I do with work, I sometimes find it necessary to get in some office time while on the road.  If you talk to any "road warrior" you will find they do the same.  It might be something that has to be scheduled into an otherwise full week.

Many times, the best way to get that office time is to just work from the motel room in the mornings or evenings.  There are times though, when that is not enough.  That's when you book a flight time that gives you extra time in the morning or afternoon.  With high-speed Internet in most hotels, it is easy to just plug in the laptop and go to work.

The other alternative to a motel room is a coffee shop.  Many of them are set up with Internet access.  But, one of the best things to come along in recent years is FedEx Office.  (No, this is not a paid endorsement of them.)  They are in most cities and are great for copying, shipping, editing and creating documents.

Now, we are seeing WiFi on airplanes.  I'm not sure I like that.  Airplane time has usually been "down time" for me.  I prefer to read a book or something -- maybe even nap.  With WiFi I may have to work!

Sweat and Burn

I guess I'm getting older;
Things don't work like they used to.
So, I got a little program
That shows me what to do.

I play it on the t.v.
And this guy is jumping 'round
Doing all these calisthenics
To a really upbeat sound.

It's supposed to make me better;
Get my heart in shape and all
But, after a few minutes
I'm down to just a crawl.

My muscles just don't work like that --
The way that they're supposed to
So, I only do them part of the way
Like the guy says I should do.

But, after thirty minutes
He hasn't broke a sweat
While I'm dripping a big puddle
There on my workout mat.

I huff and puff around the floor
While he durn near sings a song
And bounces all around the place
Bringing everyone along.

I wonder if it's worth it,
This working up a sweat;
In time I should get better
But, I'm not about to bet.

Just how I got in this bad shape
Keeps pressing on my mind.
It must be all those tasty foods
That to me have been unkind.

So, I jump and punch and run about
And sweat a bucket more
While I tell my wife it would be nice
If she got some ice cream from the store....

Just Some Words

I ramble
I digress
I can't think!
What a mess.

Gotta focus
Much to do
Get organized!
So, what's new?

Get prepared
Lock it down
Finish up!
Lose the frown.

It ain't that hard
Just speak your mind
Open up!
Don't act so blind.

It's just a post
Just messing 'round
Type some words!
You're NOT profound!!

Some Days the Wind

A faint odor of dust lingers on the air
As I sit inside and work from my chair.
Around me drones the incessant roar
Of the howling wind outside my door.

It is days like this I wonder why
I live in this place windswept and dry
Where the sky can turn an ugly brown
From dirt that is blowing round and around

And driving the road is like a video game
Where tumbleweeds roll down the middle of same
Where fields try to move one grain at a time
Or, sometimes as rocks as big as a dime.

Yep, it's times like these that I'd like to go
To a place where it's green and the wind doesn't blow,
Where trees touch the sky and bright waters flow
And cattle graze in the valley below

But, then I remember the wind too shall pass
And the beautiful sky no place can surpass
With air that's so pure you can see for days
As I dream in the warmth of gentle sun rays;

Where humidity is never  too high or too low
And the quiet gentle breezes always blow
Across the endless sea of grass
Where once the scouring wind did pass.

Springing Into Eternity

Spring is upon us.  I saw a tree in full bloom yesterday -- looked like a cherry tree.  But, there was frost on things this morning too.  The buds are swelling and it is just a matter of days before green leaves will make their appearance -- likely to be frozen back.

Why is it that Spring sends ripples of restlessness through us?  Is it just the feeling that winter is finally coming to an end and we are anxious for warmer days?  Or, is there something deeper that resonates with the season of renewal?

I always look forward to Spring because I enjoy getting out and working in the yard.  I don't garden any more because I travel so much.  But, I can always find something to keep me busy.  It is my therapy.  It is relaxing to spend time in physical labor -- even if it is pulling weeds out of the flower bed.

I remember growing up, the neighbor across the road from us always had an immaculate yard.  It was his therapy.  He had a very stressful job but, he could come in from work and spend time working in his yard and the cares of the day vanished.  My yard is not immaculate.  It is a "country" yard.  It isn't trimmed to perfection.  But, it is a bright spot around the house that creates an oasis in the middle of the surrounding pasture.

I think we all, deep down, have some connection to the earth.  Perhaps it is the primordial DNA making itself known to us.  Even for those who live in concrete and glass, the green of the countryside exerts a pull that draws us to vacation where there is vegetation or water or mountains or something that is in stark contrast to the man made structures of our environs.  We are drawn to the earth.

Perhaps, Spring is just a reminder that our cares will someday be wiped away and we will spring anew in an eternity that is an even greater contrast to life here and now than Spring is to the passing Winter.  It is a hope that we can have only in Jesus, our Savior.  For He alone is the source of a renewed life.....just like Spring.

Musings and Amusements

Often I will have the desire to write but, not the inspiration.  One might think the two would go hand-in-hand but, not always.  The desire comes from knowledge.  It is knowing that I should write.  Inspiration is knowing what to write.  Oh, for a Muse......

In many mythologies the Muse(s) play(s) a role.  Almost all agree that there are three muses, but, classical interpretations place the number at nine.  Whatever the number, it is generally agreed that they are feminine and inspire works of art -- typically either music or written word. 

According to Wikipedia (I laugh at myself when I find that I'm citing such a source) the British Poet, Robert Graves, popularized the concept of the Muse-poet in modern times.

"No Muse-poet grows conscious of the Muse except by experience of a woman in whom the Goddess is to some degree resident; just as no Apollonian poet can perform his proper function unless he lives under a monarchy or a quasi-monarchy. A Muse-poet falls in love, absolutely, and his true love is for him the embodiment of the Muse... But the real, perpetually obsessed Muse-poet distinguishes between the Goddess as manifest in the supreme power, glory, wisdom, and love of woman, and the individual woman whom the Goddess may make her instrument...

I suppose I have never been a particularly romantic poet, so, there might be some question as to how this might apply.  I suspect the above reference applies only to the Muse Erato whose domain is love poetry.  My Muse, if indeed I have one, must certainly be Euterpe whose realm is lyric poetry.  But, I suppose the argument could be made that my lyric poetry is often not particularly lyrical but, instead more closely resembles free verse.

I've often thought that I would enjoy trying my hand at epic poetry.  If I did so it would be necessary I suppose, to call upon Calliope in whose realm that would fall.  I have written some history but, to my knowledge never called upon Clio.  I have written what might be considered sacred poetry, but, my inspiration has been Jesus, my Savior, not Polyhymnia the Muse of that realm.

The other Muses are in areas that don't interest me.  The are:  Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy, Terpsichore, the Muse of dance and song (OK, I've definitely been into the song bit), Thalia, the Muse of comedy and finally, Urania, the Muse of astronomy.

I guess I am writing this piece merely for my aMUSEment.  Obviously, it can't be set to MUSic.  I suppose it is merely a product of my MUSings on why I must write.....

Motivation

Sometimes a project comes along
That has long-term importance to me
But, I seem to get lost in the struggle
Where completion is not there to see.

I worry and fret when I shouldn't
'Cause the answer is right in my hands.
I should just knuckle down and do it
And not sweat what perfection demands.

But, instead I'm wrapped up in the details
And I seem too caught up in each one
When I really should plow on ahead
And get this big project done.

So, why do I keep putting off
This thing that I'm needing to do?
Is it that I'm just lazy?
I really don't think that is true.

It's just something that is not urgent
With no looming deadline attached.
It is the type of big project
For which I am not well-matched.

I guess I'm just making excuses
'Cause it's something I don't want to do
So, I leave it until a time later
And move on to something new.

Heavy Load

Sometimes the cares of this world overwhelm
And we just don't know which way to turn.
It might seem that we've been pushed out on a limb
Or from pan into fire to burn.

For those who have nothing much larger than life
To turn to when times are so tough
It might seem like there is no end to the strife
And the feeling is you've had enough!

I'm thankful that there is someone for me
Who listens to my every care.
He helps to carry the burdens you see
For it's Jesus who is always there.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." -- Matthew 11:28

Sometimes A Sunrise

Sometimes a Sunrise

Will light up the sky

As though the world were on fire.

Sometimes it bursts

With rays of the dawn

Leaping out from the dark horizon.

Sometimes a Sunrise

Presages a storm;

Vermilion splashed on the clouds.

Sometimes a Sunrise

Is just in my eye

And I can't really see where I'm going.....

Sunrise view from my back porch.

(The date stamp is correct, the time is not.)

Restless

Sometimes out there beyond my reach
Is something that escapes me.
It causes me to walk the floor
Wondering what I don't see.

It's like there's something I should do
But, don't know what it might be
And so, I go from here to there
Looking for the right key

To unlock the thing that's out there --
Maybe something I should do
And I would do it gladly --
This thing that really bugs me.

Instead I get so restless
Thinking I am missing something
That I bounce from here to yonder
And annoy those around me

While I never stop the searching
For this thing that I can't figure
That causes such disquiet
Way down deep inside me.

Traveling and Blogging

It seems the traveling season is peaking over the next few days -- then a short break.  I hope.  It is Omaha tonight and meetings here in Nebraska tomorrow.  Friday it's an early flight to Charlotte and a short drive to Hickory, NC, for the North Carolina Cattlemen's Convention.  Saturday afternoon I drive to Nashville and will spend a leisurely Sunday there.  Then on Monday it is the short drive to Bowling Green, KY, for the Mid-South Stocker Cattle Conference.  Tuesday night I return to Nashville and then fly home on Wednesday -- one week from today.

Packing for trips like this is a pain.  Fortunately, I don't have to include anything formal -- just jeans and shirts.  The cattle industry is good to us who prefer blue jeans to a suit -- or even to business casual.  I can wear jeans to nearly any event and be appropriately dressed.

I had the opportunity to work in an industry where a suit and tie were expected every day of the week.  In fact, I was working in that industry when the opportunity came along to do what I am doing today.  The company that I was with sold and the new owners expected us in the sales side of the business to wear a suit and tie every day.  I could have made a LOT of money if I had stayed in that business.  Money isn't everything though.  Along with the suit comes the people that you have to deal with in that business (notice that I haven't mentioned what industry it was).  I was happy to trade the big bucks and the suit for less bucks and blue jeans.  Especially when I considered the people.

The cattle industry has some of the best people in the world working in it.  I am fortunate to know many of them scattered across the country.  As I have stated in a previous blog post, there is no other industry where you could do hundreds of thousands of dollars of business over the telephone on trust alone.

Well, so much for the rambling thought tonight.  Stuck in a motel room in Omaha leaves one with little to do other than work or blog.  Hmmm....come to think of it, that's one of the reasons I took up blogging in the first place!

Fullness

Sometimes I just get in one of those pensive moods.  I dive into my head and think about things a little bit farther toward the deep end of the pool.  You know, where you can barely touch the bottom if you're standing on the tips of your toes.

Today, I posted the following on Facebook.

"If Jesus came to give us life -- and not only that, He wants us to experience it in all its fullness -- why do we settle for mediocrity??"

Yeah, it seems a little strange to quote yourself, but, in the interest of accuracy, I am quoting my "status" on Facebook from earlier today.

Do you ever wonder what He meant  by experiencing life in all its fullness?  I do.

I think sometimes that it was a reference to the purely Spiritual.  At other times, I think He was referring to experiencing a small piece of the Kingdom of God while still on this earth.  Then, at times, I wonder if He meant something else altogether.

I guess that's where I was today when I posted that.  OK, I guess that's still where I am.  I think He meant something that has been lost in the jumbled thinking of today.

Perhaps it is that same jumbled thinking that makes me wonder about the concept of the fullness of life.  Maybe I'm pulling a little science fiction/fantasy into my thinking.  Or, maybe science fiction/fantasy, in one of its many manifestations, is drawing from a reality that we are only sometimes vaguely aware.

The Matrix, for example.  Does it touch on a reality that we somehow sense?  I don't mean literally that there is a world of machines that controls the human race -- what we think, do, say -- but, does it touch on the Spiritual aspect of our being?  Is there a duality to our nature?  Is there a Spiritual realm to which we are attached and yet only occasionally vaguely aware?

What if we could learn to more deeply touch the Spiritual?  I don't mean seances or talking to ghosts or something like that.  I mean truly getting in touch with LIFE -- that aspect of living to which Jesus referred.  Life Everlasting.  Eternity.  Our Spiritual being.

We are so trapped and therefore blinded by our physical self that we fail to nurture the Spiritual aspect of our being.  Only when we begin to feed the Spiritual self do we grow in that area.  Just thinking....

But, there is more to us than just the physical and the Spiritual.  There is also the mental and the emotional.  We are made up of four aspects to our nature.  Rare is the individual who is truly rounded in all of those aspects -- the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  What if we truly nurtured and fed all of those aspects of our being?  Could that be the "fullness of LIFE" that we should be experiencing but, don't?

Hmmmm....too far into the deep end for me.  I'd better return to the shallower water.  I might find something important if I keep going.....

Into the Deep Water

Walk with me now
Into the deep water
Where only by faith we can go;

Where held in the warmth
Of supporting embrace
The strength of our God we will know.

Walk with me now
Into the deep water
Where love and forgiveness shall reign;

Where cleansing begins
To take out the stains
So only the light will remain.

Walk with me now
Into the deep water;
A place we are never alone.

Where hope lights the fire
Of life in our hearts
Reflecting the power of God's throne.

Walk with me now
Into the deep water
Where Jesus has traveled before

To draw us into
His presence so pure
And dwell with Him there evermore.

Safe Haven

When life's storms seem to overwhelm
As though we may have lost the helm
There is a place where we can sail
With love so deep it never fails;

A place of peace,
Of safety, blessed;
Where we can go
To find our rest.

When candle's fire is burning bright
And either end is shedding light;
As in our quest for happiness
We find our fire is growing less,

We've need for peace,
Of safety, blessed;
Where we can go
To find our rest.

Though some may look askance and say,
"This should not be, there is no way
That peace could come from such a place,"
They've never known abiding grace

Where we find peace
And safety, blessed;
Where we can go
To find our rest.

From such a place we leave recharged
To face the world, our faith enlarged.
Though part will linger in that place
We rise and feel upon our face

A lingering peace
From safety, blessed;
Though now we find
No longer rest.

For now we know the storms will come;
Our path is sure, from safety sprung.
And strength is ours though heavy laden
As on we charge from our Safe Haven.

Construction in Kenya

Challenges, innovation and creativity.  That's the best way to describe our construction project in Kenya.

We divided up into teams.  Our team had two projects: 1) The construction of offices to be used by a number of pastors in the area.  It will also include a small library.  2) A Bible Conference for the women leaders and pastors of a number of area churches.

I want to describe the construction project.

The plans that we had received from the pastor with whom we were working in Kenya, consisted of an outline sketch on a piece of notebook paper and a list of supplies with costs.  Much was left to the imagination.

Fortunately, our team included someone with construction experience that could head the project.  He had developed more detailed plans before we left, but, being versed in U.S. construction techniques wasn't necessarily the qualifier for Kenyan construction.  To begin with, 16" centers don't translate well when supporting metric width sheet metal. 

Fortunately, the Kenyan construction crew (some volunteers from the church there plus a few hired laborers) had mostly completed the slab.  The proportions used for the concrete were not what we would have mixed.  It was much too high in sand content, making it very soft.  It also was not dry.  In fact, they were still pouring when we arrived.

The first task was to purchase the material that we needed to build the structure.  Unlike a trip to Lowe's or Home Depot, shopping for building materials was an adventure in itself.

We began at the Timber Yard.  Yep, a sawmill.  We had a choice of Blue Gum or Cypress.  The Blue Gum was less expensive and preferred by the Kenyan crew.  So, that's what we went with.  It is extremely dense, tight-grained wood.  It was green.  It was purchased by the linear foot.  The lengths varied greatly.  The thicknesses also varied.  A 2 x 4 in the U.S. is of standard thickness and width and can be purchased in uniform lengths.  Not so the lumber from the Timber Yard!  Well, we had to adapt.

Then we went shopping for the sheet metal for roofing and siding the building.  The hardware store was the place to purchase all metal items such as the sheets of siding, the nails, hinges, windows, etc.  You went to a window similar to a teller window at the bank and ordered the items that you needed.

Next we arranged transportation for the items we had purchased.  Apparently the locals felt they could take advantage of the mazunga (white people) and sought to charge an exhorbitant amount for the use of a lorry (truck).  We negotiated for awhile and ended up walking away.  Fortunately, others saw our need and came to us to attempt to get our business.  We ended up hiring a couple of small pickup trucks and their drivers to transport the items.

Green wood warps.  Because the slab was still wet, we decided to build panels for each of the walls and then erect and fasten them together on the slab.  Oh, I left out that we had sent ahead instructions to plant j-bolts in the slab for anchoring the walls.  Didn't happen.  So, they were inserted after our arrival.  With the high sand content, we could basically just push them into the slab.  Not very stable.  But, back to the wood.  What a challenge.  Every board had to be cut for length.  Every board was warped -- sometimes in multiple directions.  Every board contnued to warp as it dried.  Remember, it was fresh cut wood.  Have you ever stopped to consider that a 90 degree cut on a warpped board is not going to sit flat on the board to which it is to be fastened?

Oh, and tools.  No electricity so Mark, our construction foreman, brought a battery powered saw and drill from the U.S. along with extra battery packs.  The dense wood killed the batteries in a matter of minutes.  The packs wouldn't re-charge thanks to the different current of the electrical circuits there.  So, hand tools were the order of the day.  Most of the tools of the Kenya crew had seen much use and were in need of replacement.  Our fearless leader purchased a new handsaw for our use, but, in Kenya, the teeth are not set.  they are in a straight line.  The also have not been sharpened.  Needless to say, sawing was time consuming and laborious.

Electricity was found at a nearby orphanage.  They told us we could use their electricity.  So, for drilling the holes in the wall plates, the boards were carried across the field to the orphanage.  This was a great improvement over the brace and bit that was not quite complete!  I say it worked well.  It did until it was found that the holes on one of the completed panels didn't match the bolts in the concrete.  So, the panel (weighing many times what a similar panel of yellow pine would weigh) was carried across the field to be re-drilled.  Hmmmm....electricity is not reliable in Kenya.  The power supply is intermittent and unpredictable.  OK, the panel was carried back un-drilled.  A properly functioning brace-and-bit was sent for and eventually found.  The holes were drilled.

Did I mention that the lumber was crooked?  Holy Cow!  Squaring the building was quite the challenge.  But, eventually, it was satisfactorily accomplished.

Then, our time in the village ended and we had to head back to Limuru and Nairobi in preparation for our return home.  The Kenyan team was left with the materials needed to complete the construction -- or most of it anyway.  We hope to receive pictures soon of the completed building.  I did receive an e-mail indicating that the roof and siding had been completed.  I'm anxious to see what it looks like.

Hopefully the photos that I have included will give you some sense of what was built.  I know that nothing is adequate to fully convey the experience.

Kenyan Economic Development Zone

I have to thank my friend Dan for the title to this piece.  His Rice University education is an indicator that he has quite a bit going on between his ears.  His dry sense of humor slips past most folks.

In our recent trip to Kenya, travel across the country was a very exciting event.  We flew into Nairobi and were taken to the Brackenhurst Resort.  We spent the first night there.

On day two however, we drove west across the "White Highlands" and the "Great Rift Valley" to the "Western Highlands" near the Uganda border.  Our destination was the village/town/small city of Kakamega.

As we progressed west across the beautiful Kenyan countryside we were treated to what might be termed Grand Prix driving, Kenyan style.  The first concern is that everyone is driving on the wrong side of the road!  Having been a former British Colony, the traffic laws require that you drive on the left -- not on the right as we do in the U.S.

The wrong-sided driving wasn't too bad, but, there were potholes in the roads.  The further west we traveled, away from Nairobi, the more numerous and larger the potholes.  So, at 80 kph and higher speeds, we dodged potholes.  The drivers that we were meeting did the same.  It was a high-speed game of "chicken" with oncoming traffic weaving across lanes and around potholes while our driver did the same.

To complicate the matter, there was a high volume of pedestrian traffic on the sides of the highway (a term used loosely).  Oh, and there were bicycles and motorcycles and donkey carts and cattle and flocks of sheep and people crossing the road at random places.  Not to mention that much of the oncoming traffic was lorries (trucks for you Americans).

The travel was quite exciting.  The front seat -- "shotgun" -- was NOT the place to be.  I let those who had difficulty with the occasional car-sickness sit there.  Interestingly, the passenger riding shotgun to Kakamega chose NOT to ride in the same spot on the return.  Oh, did I mention that the "shotgun" rider sits on the wrong side of the vehicle.  I was forever trying to get in on the driver's side.

As if all of those things weren't enough, there were occasionally traffic policemen standing beside the road waving down the occasional vehicle.  It usually wasn't for traffic violations but, for the supplemental income that it provided to them.

But, of all things, there were frequent "Economic Development Zones."  Well, that wasn't what they called them.  They were speed bumps placed randomly and frequently along the road.  Since the traffic cops didn't have vehicles, it was probably the only way to slow traffic.  The interesting thing about the speed bumps was that at each of them, there were roadside vendors who swarmed the vehicle with various items to sell.  If you wanted a souvenir -- just roll down the window and see what was being offered.  Hungry? -- how about a banana or a bag of plums or perhaps roasted corn-on-the cob -- oh, wait, that's maize-on-the-cob.  What to us is corn is maize in most of the world.

So, after describing the journey across Kenya to Dan, he said, "It sounds like the speed bumps should be dubbed "Economic Development Zones!"  I think he's right.

Carrot anyone??

Enough Said

John 14:12-14

¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Getting Ready

We leave Saturday for a trip.  Not just any trip.  We are headed to Africa.

I've been to Africa before.  To Niger.  Think desert.  Poorest country on earth.  Extreme poverty.  Islam.

This time it is to Kenya.  Equator.  Jungle (at least part of it).  Over 7,000 ft. altitude.  Temperature range this time of year where we will be headed is 60-80 F.  Poverty, yes, but, not as extreme.  Large percentage of Christians.  Stable for the last few years.

Packing.  Leave Saturday and arrive late Sunday.  Building project during the week.  Church on Sunday morning before flying out late Sunday night.  Home late on Monday.

One checked bag (50 lb. limit) and a carry on.  Pack light.

How in the world do you pack for a place you've never been??!

Hopefully there will be a full report with pictures upon my return.  You may have to remind me....

Good Times

Good times make memories
For Father and Son
Shooting some pool or,
Just having fun.

It's not what your doing;
It's just hanging out.
'Cause the time your together
Is what it's about.

Forgetfulness

It seems occasionally I
Have flashes of inspiration.
Insights worthy of saving
For some future generation.

They frequently seem to happen
At times most inopportune,
Like two o'clock in the morning
When I should be snoring a tune.

You'd think after all of this time
I would have learned to prepare
And keep a pad and pencil
On my bedside table there.

But, no, I think I'll remember
Anything worthy of claim
But, when I wake in the morning
I can barely remember my name!

It's a Process

What I am
Is not what I was.
It is not what I will be.

Inside I'm still
What I've always been.
But, there's been change in me.

Why am I
Dissatisfied?
There must be something more.

Or, why would I
Keep seeking
What I haven't sought before?

Is something deep
Inside of me
Desiring the unknown?

It must have started
As a kernel
And with time became full grown.

I think that we
Are wired
To rise above our self;

To seek a thing
Much greater
That draws us to Himself.

Matthew 11:28-29

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

An Impulse for Resolution

As we approach the New Year, the thoughts of many turn to Resolutions.  Such resolutions often include things like losing weight, exercising more, saving money, or any of a million other things directed at "better" behavior.

What drives this impulse for Resolutions?  Is it a knowledge that we are less than our best?  Is it a result of fear that our unchanged behavior will result in unpleasant consequence?  Is it something deeper?  Is it an impulse ingrained deeply within that tells us we can rise above our current nature?

Beyond the drive for improving oneself, however, must be a force in opposition to that impulse.  Why else would we almost universally fail in our endeavors?

That isn't to say that there aren't victories.  But, it has been my observation that a victorious resolution is almost always accompanied by failure in a new and often unexpected area.

Is it merely human nature that gives us both the impulse to improve and yet causes us to face new and unexpected challenges?  I don't think so.  I think that we are so absorbed by "ourselves" that we fail to see a much bigger picture.  I think it is part of the cosmic battle between good and evil, right and wrong, growth and decay, God and Satan.

Could it be that God plants in our human nature a desire to be like Him?  If so, it is only expected that Satan would oppose that desire. 

Some belief systems would have us accept that there must always be a balance between opposing forces.  I've never been one to accept the status quo.  I believe in victory.  I believe good will ultimately defeat evil.  I believe that right will overcome wrong.  I believe that each individual can grow as long as they are nourished properly.  I believe that life can overcome death.  Fortunately, the Author of Life has provided the way.

John 14:6

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me...."

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Preparing for a New Year

I looked into the future
And I DID NOT like it.
There was no kicking and screaming;
Merely a sedentism leading to decay;
The narcotic of success
Draining the energy for survival.

The chains of choice
Constrain the captive
Whose life lies entwined
With the sticky web's deception.
Truth's tarnished reputation
Enslaves unaware.

I choose a different path.
I choose the light.
I choose the burnished armor
And the whetted sword.
My Captain leads
THE WAY
Into a future changed.


Psalm 25:4-6 (New International Version, ©2010)

4 Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.

Dunny Saves Christmas!

Sammy Kershaw did the song "Up on the Housetop."  I have modified it for a Cowboy version of the song.

Out by the Barn

Out by the barn the horses pause

'Cause here comes good old Santa Claus

Draggin' his reins and makin' noise

But, no sight of sled all filled with toys!

Ho, Ho, Ho, how could he know?  Ho, Ho, Ho, how could he know?



Reindeer antlers go click, click, click

Now, Santa's afoot and lookin' sick.

It seems he was flyin' across the sky

Makin' his rounds and feelin' spry

When along comes a big ol' jumbo jet

It spooked ol' Comet, he's runnin' yet!

Ho Ho, Ho, how could he know?  Ho, Ho, Ho, how could he know?

Reindeer antlers go click, click, click

Now, Santa's afoot and lookin' sick.

So, he saddled ol' Dunny with a borrowed rig

Who was feelin' his oats and dancin' a jig.

Then he headed south, a sleigh to catch

Hopin' ol' Comet had met his match!

Ho, Ho, Ho, how could he know?  Ho, Ho, Ho, how could he know?

Reindeer antlers go click, click, click

No longer afoot, Santa's on the stick.

Over the hill with ears layed back

They spot that sleigh just layin' a track!

With Dunny a flyin' the loop he lay,

Dallied his rope and stopped that sleigh!

Ho, Ho, Ho, how could he know?  Ho, Ho, Ho, how could he know?

Reindeer antlers go click, click, click

Christmas is saved by Santa's rope trick.

The Perfect Christmas Gift

Shopping is not something that I do well.  Buying, yes.  Shopping, no.

If I know what I need and intend to buy it, I go do so.  I hate going and looking without knowing what it is that I am looking for.  You know, that perfect gift for someone who really doesn't give you any clues about what they want.

I'm never satisfied.  I find something and think, no, surely I can do better.  I agonize over it.  I second guess.  I procrastinate thinking that I will receive some revelation.  Arrrrghhh!

Why do I do this to myself???!!

But, when it comes to what I want for Christmas it's easy.  I just want some small something simple or, honestly, I'm happy with nothing at all as long as everyone else gets what they want.  But, if you have to get me something, a book is always good.  Or, a shirt.  Maybe some new guitar strings.  Or, best yet, something homemade.  Hmmmm.....that's about it.

But, the best gift is for family to be together.

Some of the best memories are going to Grandma and Grandpas's for Christmas.  We would play dominoes or Spades half the night.  Sometimes the guitars would come out and we would sing.  The house was always full and the smell of Grandma's cooking would fill the air.  The kids would run wild and Grandpa would get onto them.  But, best of all, was Grandpa, like a kid, anxious for the Christmas Eve gift exchange.  The kids would hand out the packages and Grandma would always apologize that it "wasn't much" but, it was always good.

Everyone is scattered across the country now.  Some aren't around anymore.  The younger ones now have families of their own.  It is harder and harder to stay connected in spite of the "connectivity" of this technology filled world.  Maybe it's time to focus on real connections again.

God in His infinite wisdom knew the importance of connections.  That's what Christmas is all about.  God connecting with His creation in a way that bridges the gap between us.  Keep your focus on that connection and the rest will be OK.  After all, this world is only a temporary stop on our way to something better.

How Do You Decorate Your Tree?

I enjoy seeing the different ways in which Christmas trees are decorated.  There are even contests held to see who does the best job of decorating their tree.  Some trees are extremely elaborate and most have distinct themes.

One version of the tradition of Christmas trees is connected with Martin Luther.  It seems that he was walking in the forest one starlit evening and looking up through the trees he noticed how the stars appeared to twinkle among the branches.  He sought to immitate that glorious sight by placing candles in a fir near his home.

There are other legends and stories surrounding Christmas trees.  Some go back to pagan practices long before Christ came to earth.  It seems that evergreen trees were worshipped by the Egyptians during winter solstice as a symbol of life's triumph over death.  Ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Saturnalia at the winter solstice.  It was in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture.  They used evergreen branches as decorations for the festival.

Christmas trees probably came to the United States along with the Hessian troops who fought in the American Revolution, or possibly as a tradition of early German immigrants into Pennsylvania and Ohio.  The practice was slow to spread and was even banned in parts of New England as late as 1851 by the Puritans.  The trees were thought to be a symbol of pagan rituals.

Whatever its origin, Christmas trees are now common.  How they are decorated is a matter of taste and personal expression.  For some it is show.  For others it is more personal.

Our tree is among the more personal.  Each year the number of decorations grows.  Some have adorned trees since our very first Christmas.  Others commemorate special events.  Many are handmade by our children.

Each year one or two new ornaments are added.  Sometimes they are removed.  When our daughter married and set up her own household she was given her ornaments -- those that commemorated special events in her life.  They now adorn her tree.  Some day my son will take his ornaments to his home.

I'm curious.  How do you decorate your tree?

It Might Be All It Takes.....

It is interesting to me how Christmas has such an impact on people in so many different ways.  For some, the world more-or-less stops between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.  The holiday is an extended period of little work and much play.  For others, nothing seems to change but possibly their frustration level with those in the first group.

There are those who, through a sense of joy, take on the Christmas season with gusto.  They purchase and wrap presents, they cook, they clean, they make special things, they are constantly buzzing with activity.  They are the ones in charge of the Christmas pageant at school.  They make the costumes.  They select, address and mail the Christmas cards.  They are activity personified.

There are others who feel a burden to do all of those things but, it comes from a sense of tradition and the expectations of others.  The tasks are the same but, the joy is somehow muted by a feeling of obligation.

Then there are others still who want the benefits, but, expect others to make everything happen.  Husbands are frequently accused of this particular attitude.  We usually are lousy shoppers.  We are nearly worthless in the kitchen.  We expect someone else to wrap the presents -- except possibly that one that we feel obliged to wrap ourselves.

There are those whose jobs don't stop for Christmas.  They work in grocery and department stores, gasoline stations and restaurants.  They are out feeding cattle and milking the cows.  They are doctors and nurses, policemen and firemen.  They are the ones who keep the lights on and the other services working.  They are the people who are on call in whatever industry, making sure that the world runs smoothly in spite of the holiday.  They are expected to do their job while others go blindly about their celebrations with no thought for them.

Christmas is about service to others.  Think about it.  Why did Jesus come to earth?  He came to pay the bill for our selfishness.  He was the ultimate gift.

As you go about your Christmas activities, pay attention to those around you.  Be a gift to them.  Give yourself that they also might experience the joy of Christmas.  It might be that all it takes is a hug and thank you.

Carols Behind Bars

Yesterday, I went with my friend Bob to do Prison Ministry.  I have a lot of respect for Bob.  He's a rancher and works hard.  He is very involved in the community.  He does a lot of things behind the scenes of which people aren't normally aware.  He also does Prison Ministry.

Last Sunday, Bob asked me if I would bring my guitar and go with him for Prison Ministry the following week.  He wanted to do some Christmas Carols for his group.  I went.

I had been to Prison Ministry with Bob before, but, not to sing.  He had previously tried to recruit me to be a part of the Prison Ministry group to which he belongs.  I didn't feel that it was something God was calling me to do.  So, I had not been back.

That first visit, several years ago, was very rewarding.  The inmates who came to the brief Bible study were very appreciative.  They also shared their prayer requests.  Some of them were heart-wrenching.

This time the format was a little different.  We started off with me playing the guitar and leading them in singing "Jingle Bells."  Interesting.  Some of these guys were pretty hard cases.  Some were in on drug or alcohol related issues.  I don't really know and it's not something that you can ask.  But, to see this dozen plus guys in their stripes and tattoos singing "Jingle Bells" was something.  They were a little tentative, but, almost all of them joined in.

Bob led them in a lesson about the Christmas story as related both in Luke and Matthew.  He didn't pull any punches with them.  He pointed out that Mary's "crime" of being pregnant out of wedlock made her an outcast.  It also was something that was punishable by death in her culture.  But, Joseph stepped up and handled it like a man.  He did the right thing.  He encouraged them to be man enough to "do the right thing."  He told them that they could bring cheer to their families at home by how they handled being locked up behind bars.  He also encouraged them that when they got out, they could change.

Bob does a great job telling these guys like it is.  They seem to respond well to him.  You could see them visibly relax and open up to the message.  Oh, there were a couple that weren't as open, but, you could tell they were listening attentively.

One individual in particular caught my attention.  He sat at the back of the group -- as far away as he could.  He seemed to have a scowl on his face and he kept his arms crossed in a guarded position.  He didn't smile.  He just stared intently at the floor.

When Bob finished the lesson he had me lead them in "Away in a Manger."  Think about the words to the song.  It's about a baby -- "the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay."  Those big old rough guys sang.  They sang from their heart.  There were a few embarassed grins around the table but, they sang.  All but one -- the one who sat at the back of the room.

We then sang "Joy to the World."  They sang even louder.  There in that prison -- Paul and Silas come to mind -- they sang.

Some of the prisoners who had not joined the group for Bible study were in the "commons" area adjacent to the room in which we met.  You could see some of them looking through the glass at this group of guys singing Christmas carols.  Some of them were puzzled.  Some looked as though they wished they had joined in.  Some turned away.

Then Bob prayed.  He prayed that they would find peace this Christmas season.  He prayed for their families.  He prayed that they would know Jesus as their Savior.  Finally, we sang "Silent Night."

"Silent night, Holy night,
All is calm, all is bright.
'Round yon virgin mother and child;
Holy infant so tender and mild;
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace."

There was a lot of emotion on the faces of those guys -- even a few glistening eyes -- and not just the inmates.  It was a very special moment.

All but one of them came up to me afterward and expressed their appreciation for the music.  All but one of them had a smile on his face.  All but one of them had experienced a brief moment beyond the bars.

But, you're wrong.  It wasn't the one who sat at the back with his arms folded, staring at the floor, that missed the joy of the moment.  He was the first one up.  He came to me and hugged me with tears in his eyes.  It kinda made mine glisten a bit.  No, it was one that I hadn't been able to see from where I sat.  Bob mentioned him as we walked out.  He said that he thought he was a new arrival -- still a little strung out on something.  He probably missed the whole thing.  Maybe his buddies in that room will get him headed in the right direction.

Jesus can reach right through the bars of that prison.  He can also reach through the bars of a hardened heart.  He's knocking at the door even now.

Revelation 3:19-20 (New International Version, ©2010)


19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Are You Ready For Some Christmas??!!

Monday night football has become such a part of our culture that when the question was asked earlier, "Are you ready for Christmas?", I couldn't help but hear Hank Jr. singing the theme song to Monday Night football!  Seriously though, how many times do you get asked, "Are you ready for Christmas?"

I suppose it is just an idle way to start (or make) conversation when we have nothing particular on our mind.  But, what if we responded differently?  What if our response was, "Of course I'm ready for Christmas!  Aren't you?"

Christmas is a season of joy! (Hint: It's not about the gifts.)
Christmas is a time of celebration! (Hint: It's not about office parties.)
Christmas is a time to be thankful! (Hint again:  It's still not about the gifts.)

Christmas celebrates the middle of the beginning.

Hmmm....

Just think about it.  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Jesus is the author of creation.
Yet, he didn't join us here on earth until much later.
But, His coming to earth was only a part of the story.  He had to live, to teach, to die a human death, and then to overcome that death in order to fulfill his purpose for coming to earth.

Wow!  The God of the Universe came as a baby to save us from ourselves!

Christmas should be celebrated in our hearts and in our lives no matter our circumstances.  Whether we have completed the "obligatory" shopping is irrelevant to our preparedness for Christmas.  After all, it's not about us!

I can't wait to see the end of the story!  Are you ready for some Christmas?

High Finance

Pluses
Minuses
Transpositions

Quickbooks
Checkbooks
Dirty looks

EFT
Paper
Image

Statement
Ledger
Computer

Totaled
Balanced
Reconciled

Conundrum

I puzzle, I wonder,
I don't understand
How some things can happen
Completely unplanned.

I stay in the lines,
I follow the rules
Though sometimes I wonder
If they're made by fools.

I stop and I think,
I stick to the plan,
I look for the pitfalls
And avoid where I can.

But sometimes things happen
Quite out of control
That cause controversy
And disquiet the soul.

And just like the moth
Drawn into the flame
The flickering phantoms
Are so hard to name

That I don't try to do so
And go with the flow
For otherwise how
Will I ever know?

Thanksgiving Wishes

May your focus be outward
To all the good things in your life.
May the love of God
Fill you with a sense of awe.
May your table be full,
And your family be well.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Priorities

Saturday -- the Sabbath -- spent worshipping college football.
Sunday -- Son Day -- will there be worship?

Fully devoted followers of -------???

I wonder how many starving children could be fed with the money spent on athletic tickets and the advertising on televised athletic events?

"...feed my sheep."

"My Own Little World" -- Matthew West

The Herd Responds

Driven by instinct, the herd moves as one, away from the perceived danger.  It is not a reaction born of reason, merely an action conditioned through the millenia and deeply ingrained into the genetic cloth of their being.

Complacency quickly returns.  A moment of response followed by lethargic routine.

The predators regroup.  Their seeming disgust at failure a cloak disguising the cunning plan.  After all, it was only the first phase.

Yep, we just had an election.

A Relevant Reminder

Relevance is something we all seek but, very few find.  We all want to make a difference -- to be noticed -- recognized.  Most seek it in their accomplishments.  It's like the little kid on the bicycle saying, "Look at me!"

What makes one relevant?  It truly is making a difference.  The trouble is, most seek to make a difference by what they do.  The truly relevant make a difference in those around them.  They pour their lives into others.

I was reminded of that today.

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/freddy-stockdale/2010-11-04/theres-reason-why-mr-mcclure-doesnt-remember-me

Belonging to the Facebook Community

Facebook:
Re-connect the dots
Of times past
With friends
Not forgotten
Just neglected

Community:
A belonging
In times past
With friends
Now neglected
Or forgotten

Belonging:
Desired
But missed
Because friends
Forget
In our neglect

Is the cyber-age the answer to a lost art?
I don't think so.

Shaken and Stirred

In my dream
I was alone in a crowd;
Laughed at and scorned.

In my dream
The building shook;
It rolled down the hill.

I stood looking up
And told of my ride;
I was not believed.

I walked away
Dazed;
Confused.

Was it just a dream?

This Dust of Fall

Fall has been slowly making its presence known for some weeks now.  Perhaps football is the earliest harbinger of this season, but, cooler nights and turning leaves are the more official notices that summer is gone.

I enjoy the changing weather of Fall.  No longer is the heat oppressive -- although in the Texas Panhandle, the heat is almost never oppressive.

In past years Fall meant hunting.  It seems that opportunities for hunting are few and far between for me anymore.  I still enjoy it, I just don't have much chance to participate.

There is one aspect of Fall that I dislike intensely -- the dust and "beeswings" from the local grain elevators.  It is inescapable.  It makes my eyes itch.

I suppose I shouldn't complain though, it is a sign of harvest.  Producing food and fiber is what keeps our local economy humming when much of the country continues to suffer from a dependency on "higher level" industries which currently are struggling.

So, bring on the dust of Fall.

Logical Creationism

If I decided to play God and build life, how would I logically start?

One thought is that I might start with a simple protein.  I could then replicate that protein with slight variations until I had a number of them that could be combined for a particular function -- much like modules in a computer software are developed.  By continuing the process of replication and alteration, I could begin to build more and more complex organisms.

In order to shortcut the process, it would be logical to build proteins that were capable of multiple functions depending on specific coded switches within them to determine how they would act.  Again, software is built similarly.  Over time, various modules could be "plugged" together to create a wide variety of organisms/biological machines that would display a huge variety of characteristics.

It would also be logical for simplicity sake to make the organisms self-sustaining through the ability to feed themselves and to reproduce.

If, at the end of a relatively long period of time, the knowledge to create these organisms was lost, it would be a matter of examining the wide variety of then living organisms to begin the process of analyzing them for clues of how they were made.  From the evidence available, it would appear that an evolutionary process occurred that involved tiny mutations at the most basic structural level (the protein) in order for such variety to arise.  A "Theory of Evolution" from an unknown source (primordial soup) of the original proteins would be a logical conclusion.  Although incorrect, such a theory would be "intuitively obvious" because of the minute differences in the makeup of various beings.  In fact, the genetic makeup of organisms as different as chimpanzees and humans would vary by only a tiny percentage.

Suppose the purpose of the creation process was ultimately to create a thinking being that would over time grow to a developmental level that would provide companionship for the original creator?  Suppose that to enter into such a relationship required the "leap" into a realm beyond the physical limitations of the created order?  Suppose that a "roadmap" was created to provide guidance to the created, self-replicating, thinking beings to find the "keys" to make that leap into the next realm which was in itself a "sifting" process?

Hmmm....like in most things, I won't get the patent on this one.  It seems to me that it has already been done.

If you are interested in what the current scientific thought on this might be, try the article linked here.

Leaping Beyond Knowledge

Occasionally, I will take on, or at least attempt, the debate of some topic or statement made by those who fall into an atheistic or agnostic category.  Such individuals are usually highly intelligent and highly educated.  Almost without exception they are highly self-focused.

Debating atheists/agnostics is difficult. They all have a set of canned arguments that generally end in some form of calling you ignorant/uneducated, etc. I try to stick to a reasoned, educated, informed argument but, there are many times that I run out of answers. There almost always comes a time though, of complete rejection by the person with whom I am "discussing" the topic with my position. I suspect such an abrupt end comes for one of two reasons; either 1) I hit close to home or 2) they become frustrated with my unwillingness to "cave" to their position. 

Again, most who are in the atheist or agnostic camp are highly educated. I don't see their belief system as a result of their education, I see it as a part of the same makeup that drives them to a higher level of education. Perhaps it is a drive to know and understand, or maybe just a rejection of that which can't be explained. It seems tied to a high level of intelligence. But, along with that intelligence comes a sense of reliance on self-understanding. A sense that if I can't touch it, feel it, understand it, it can't be real. It is a rejection of the concept of the unexplainable. It is the idea that if "I" only had more information, "I" could understand it/repeat it/whatever. It is the placing of "self" at the pinnacle. Yet, those same individuals are the first to believe that man evolved from a "primordial soup" into this "high" being of which they are among the elite highest.  And they are often the first to place mankind in general on the same level as animals or even inanimate objects.


(Aside:  It is tempting at this point to state that one of the distinguishing points between Liberals and Conservatives is a "humility" toward self, but, some of the most arrogant individuals I have ever met are Conservatives.  It just seems there are a greater number of arrogant Liberals.)

The placing of "self" above God is where it all started.  Satan thought he was just as smart as God and set himself up in opposition to Him.  In the Garden of Eden man thought, through the prompting of Satan, that he knew as well as God and chose to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree in opposition to God.  Hmmm....seems to me to be the same disease -- self in opposition to God.

To me, our very existence requires a Creator.  The Creator must lie outside the created.  That which is within the created cannot know the Creator except as the Creator reveals Himself to us.  Trying to understand the creation by looking from the inside out is like the blind men and the elephant.  One sees a rope, another a tree, another a wall, yet none see the totality with any sense of understanding because they only see a part of the whole.

I believe mankind has tremendous cumulative knowlege of the created order.  I also believe there is tremendous misunderstanding of that knowledge.  Wisdom is the proper understanding and application of knowledge. Do I claim wisdom for myself?  Only to the extent that I understand that my knowledge is incomplete and therefore imperfect.  I also realize that perfect knowledge lies beyond the scope of human understanding -- either individually or cumulatively.

Belief in a Creator requires a leap of faith.  It is a leap to something that defies explanation and is by definition greater than self or the cumulative knowledge of man.  It is a leap that seems especially difficult for some.

A New Website

I've set up a new website.  It is for sales/business consulting.  It's still pretty basic but, it's a start.  Check it out at C Bar M Enterprises!

Blog Struggle

I've really been struggling with blogging lately.  I began with lofty ideals as well as ideas -- but, it seems the heights have eluded me.  Perhaps it is my illusion of self-importance or, merely a misguided approach.

I've considered changing the direction of my Panhandle Poetry blog -- you know, something of an "extreme blog makeover" which would change the look and feel as well as the content.  But, as I examined what was contained within the present content I realized that there is no direction currently.  That brings up an excellent point.  When you don't know where you are going, how are you gonna get there?

So, lofty ideals aside, maybe I just need to choose a destination and then I will know in what direction I should travel!  Or, will I?

My favorite professor at A&M once told me, "There's a lot of truth in that old saying that there's more than one way to skin a cat."

I have found many times that the wisdom in those words knows few boundaries.

So, I will continue to struggle with blogging until revelation strikes.  Of course, if there are any remaining readers out there in Blog Land, I would relish your input and opinions!