6/5/2019

Sometimes the SIMH goes back so far, I wonder who will remember the song or the artist. This morning it was The Oak Ridge Boys—remember them? Originally founded in 1945 as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They’re still going, but obviously, not the same members. Their most popular era was the 70s and 80s when they hit both sides of the music genre with a country flair list of crossover to pop songs. This morning, “I’ll Be True To You” was rolling around in my head. They may be better known for “Y’all Come Back Saloon,” “Thank God For Kids,” and “Elvira!”

The other thoughts of the morning were about hay. That’s right, hay. You know, the stuff horses, cattle and goats eat—even rabbits eat it, et al. But what came to mind is the results of an article I read on LinkedIn, a social-work-related medium. A friend from my days in central Alabama who grew up on and around farming, posted an article about two young men who have invented an edible wrap for large bales of hay! To some of you, that may not be a big deal, but it is a great step forward and in the right direction for farmers if it is cost effective. 

“Puttin’ up hay” was never a job farmers loved, it was just the best way to make it through Winters. Hay was field stacked for decades, turning in the animals to munch, or taking away from the stack as was needed, perhaps fo hundreds of years. Baling the hay was actually invented in the late 19th century and was part of the “industrial revolution” which included the Reaper, Thrasher and other modern farm equipment. Those hay balers sat in one spot and loose hay was pitchforked up on a trailer, wagon, or sled and brought to it. After About 50 years or so, pull behind balers became more available because of automatic “baling wire fasteners” (or ties.) 

Baling wire was dangerous to the stock as sometimes all the wire would not be collected as it was cut off the bales and could get ingested, doing damage especially in horses and bovine stock. About the time I was exposed to farming (mid 50s) as cheap (and never very good) help, all the farmers were investing in a light weight baler which tied lighter, looser hay bails with baler twine, first made from hemp, then after the end of WW2, was a more common sisal twine. Still that twine could tie up the digestion of certain stock, especially smaller and younger stock.

Then along came the giant round bales we now see stacked in the fields. Originally the “spin” on the hay was the only binding used, but it wasted too much hay as it aged or would loosen as it was hauled. So, they bound the giant bales with a synthetic material which, itself, was efficient but trouble-some to dispose of properly. Now these two young farmers have invented something as edible to the livestock as the hay itself is. Man’s great sense of ingenuity revisited! over and over until they get it correct!

I admire what my young friend is doing in his area of agriculture and he and his wife with their two children and I applaud his notice of the edible bale wrap. Sometimes, we oldsters are glad to see the youngsters doing great things and the world can draw a breath of fresh air!

Incidentally, my first hire to a farmer for “puttin’ up hay” was moving wired bales from field to sled—I had to drag them, too heavy for me to pick up. So, the farmer “taught” me how to drive the tractor, which didn’t work, either. My wages were $4 per day, only worked one day, and that farmer never paid me…a couple of lessons learned: 1.) Never work for that guy again—and I didn’t. But, 2.) I wasn’t worth a flip to farmers if I wouldn’t learn or if I didn’t grow up enough to do what I was told. 

Farmers taught me more than I can relate, but in a short period of time (a few days or a couple of weeks) they taught a boy what he liked and didn’t like about labor; they taught gratefulness for food and drink, and they taught respect for your elders, the land, the crops and the animals. Oh! to bring back those lessons for young teenage boys today. Living here in NEAL, we do get to see some who are learning these things, part of the pleasure of living here.

There is no philosophical difference in the work ethic as years roll past. The only difference at 12-13 and at this old an age? Only the tasks at hand. The principles are the same.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

6/4/2019

“You, You, You, You can make my dreams come true…” as I woke up this morning, this song was the SIMH. In my memory of it, it seemed to me to be sung by a quartet in the 50s. But when I looked it up I found it was originally done by Mel Carter (listening, it was very familiar) and also by Sam Cooke and Sonny James. The part in my memory was, “We were made for each other, sure as the heavens above, we were made for each other, to have, to hold and to love!” Ah, the romance of the 50s!!!

Had a visitor last night, our partner Chuck came through on his way to meet the rest of his family on the East coast for a little R & R. He came in, we talked for about 3 hours, he slept for about 6 hours, left this morning at about 4:30. Nice visit, maybe on his way back we’ll get the same opportunity. It’s good to have conversations face to face for clearer understanding, I think. Video conferencing works, but not quite the same as live. We may have a busy Summer and Fall with new stores, etc. The interest in the Blue Jug stores has risen dramatically; in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and a scattered one or two elsewhere.

The more advanced the technology gets (for video conferences and video calls), the easier everything becomes. It’s very common now to do what we’ve seen promised for a long, long time, going back to the late 70s when “Ma Bell” was all one conglomerate and there was little to no competition for telephoning. Then, with that bust-up about 1980, came the privilege of free enterprise through choices, which prompted innovation, which prompted cell tower constructions and cell phone usage and cheaper rates for better and more portable service, which prompted more innovation by the advent of the www (internet), which brought about phones with cameras, which brought about easy to use video, allowed by broader bandwidths, which allows seamless video-ing between me and practically everyone I know!

What a time to be alive! If we could just walk out to the driveway and step into an easily airborne vehicle, unperturbed by wind or weather, arriving safely at our destination a few minutes later, we would be in that world we’ve been seeing artists’ renderings of for about 80 years. Soon, maybe soon. …You think I’m kidding?

For the past 10-12 years I have regretted not having the wherewithal to hire a driver to take us on trips, not depending on my energy level to manage what used to be easy trips by road travel. Well, guess what, if I live a few more years (and I might), I’ll probably gain access to a vehicle which will not require a driver! How long after that will it be before I can be air-riding to my destination as I mentioned in the last paragraph? I think not long.

[Notwithstanding I know that “Some Day Soon, my Savior will call out my name…” and “I’ll Fly Away…” anyway. This is not meant to have been an attempt at prophecy, but some believed the breaking up of the Bell Telephone monopoly would cause more harm than good. Seems quite the opposite to me.]

Thanks for reading, the Elder

6/2/2019

Morning, Hey! Just a couple of days after I started this blog page, a lady who is just about always tuned in to the Monday night online bible class, called to tell me her husband had gotten saved the previous Tuesday (which would have been Aug.21, 2018.) He had been ill for some time and had finally placed his eternal life in hands of the One who was able to save him. A couple of days ago, the lady called to tell me he had passed away. His body was just worn out from all the illnesses he’d been suffering. But, what a joy to know his salvation was secure in Christ. She is rejoicing for the peace he now knows. May the Lord strengthen Leslie’s resolve to move on in this life, knowing full well she will see him again, as is the Lord’s plan.

Happy June, everyone! It is a terrific month of the year. I’m sitting here listening to several birds sing and making a “joyful noise unto the Lord,” this morning. Of course, in the chorus of early morning birds singing there will be one mockingbird. It’s the best time to hear the mockingbird because the other birds cause him to throw out his entire repertoire of mockery—and some think the Creator didn’t have a sense of humor! Any moment now, the bass drummer of birds will kick in, we hear him just about every day. He’s a big ol’ woodpecker on an old hollow tree limb and he sounds like he has a mic and an amp, he’s so loud. Lovely natural setting. Birds have this innate morning instinct to announce daylight, don’t they?

Anyway, there was a SIMH as usual, but the birds drove it away. They were more interesting.

What interests you first thing in the morning? Do you, as Dolly sang, “Get outta bed, stumble to the kitchen…” and go on with life’s requirements? or do you take time to first pray, then study the bible or devotional material? do you watch morning news (how depressing is that?) Or do you examine the land around where you live to quickly see if everything is normal, like no dead animals on or near your place? If you live with trees close by, do you watch the squirrels scutter around? (Squirrels are not as noisy as birds, but they are very entertaining.) 

I remember way too many mornings before I turned 50, I would get out of bed at the very last minute, not have time for anything except barely getting ready for the day—missing all this “good morning to the world” stuff. Wasted too much time staying up late and therefore, not wanting to get up early. When nature taking its course caused me to begin to awaken early, I learned to embrace it! As you can tell, I love the mornings!

Going to Chattanooga this morning. We have great fellowship with the folks at Grace bible church, and when they are willing to sit through me teaching one of the hours, their virtue of patience shows through beautifully. Hope I don’t bore them too much today. 

Well, if you didn’t get started on this new month yesterday, start today. Do yourself and those around you a big favor and plan the whole month. This is a rare June to have 5 Sundays, make a plan for today, and then 4 more full weeks to pack in a lot of living before it gets too sweltering hot and before Summer doldrums set it. C’mon! live like you like it!

Thanks for reading, the Elder.

5/29/2019

Whew, boy! I am on a diet! I don’t know exactly which or what or how this diet will figure out, but I know why!! For about the past 6 weeks, we’ve had trips, company, and several flimsy excuses for me to ignore the better eating habits and major on excess and bad choices, desserts, etc. It cannot go on. I have a mark made, a starting weight, and I’ll keep you posted. It would be nice to set the end goal (what I intend to lose), but I want to do some study first. I’ll try not to bore you with too much blah, blah, blah.

Speaking of study, I intend to put more effort into personal study, several areas to cover for a variety of reasons. A few months back, I made a list of “Facets of People’s Lives” to take a look at and study as a sort of bellwether for understanding my world. Each area of future studies, whether Scripture, business, social, or political, will be affected by these “facets.”

Prompted by first a solid disagreement (not an argument) with a preacher friend, then augmented by thoughts I’d like to write to my children and grandchildren soon, I think it is a good idea to do fresh study before responding to life’s challenges, don’t you?

We’ll see how this unfolds inside an expected busy Summer. 

We (Blue Jug Alkaline Water and Health Markets) are about to gain another store, the 9th, in the countryside town of Mineola, TX. A small town with population growth all around within a few miles of it, constituting enough households to warrant a store. We’re pretty optimistic about these folks and their chosen area. More later.

Today is the last day for our grandson’s visit. It has been such a pleasant visit having him with us and staying just a few miles from us. Barb and I were present in the birthing room when he came into this world, just a few days from being 26 years ago. Until he was 21, he lived very close to us, and for a short time, for the sake of his work, he lived with us. Now, he’s a New Yorker! Making his way in the world (living in NYC for most of the last 4 years, now in Middletown, NY.) He goes back today, resuming his work in the IT world. We’ll sure miss him.

I wonder how the world would look if there was no Bible—no word of God. There would only be the will and thoughts of man entangled with themselves. There would be no standard. So, there would be no “tether pole.” Remember the schoolyard game, Tether Ball? A straight pole, fixed into the ground or concrete, a rope fastened to a spinnable pivot at the top of the pole and a ball (about like a volleyball) fixed to the end of the rope at about waist high to a Jr. High child. One swung the ball around the pole and the other tried to hit the ball back around to the opponent who did the same thing. If they were equal in ability, they kept the ball in the back and forth semi-circle. If one were able to get the ball past his opponent and hit it again, the opponent had no choice but to step closer to the pole, for each turn around made the rope shorter.

The Bible, the word of God is the Tether Pole! Without this great standard of truth, the world would be as all opponents with no method of gradations for an understanding of justice, nor civil order. It would be chaos, like Scrabble pieces turned upside down and scrambled! So, that which comes from the tether pole, the truth attached without loosing, gets bombarded with “hits” from the opponents. When the opponents of the truth “outsize” the proponents of the truth, the only defense is to get closer to the truth! “Study to show thyself approved unto (the Author) God, a workman (one who moves closer to the Word in order to improve his position with Truth) that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (able to hit back with a lesser rope length) the word of truth.”—2 Tim.2:15 (parentheses mine)

The word of God, the King James Bible to the English speaking people of the world, has only one aim. That aim is not the building of a religion. Its aim is to create peace from the chaos of the opponent. The word will teach you who the opponent is, what his tactics are, how much stronger he is than you are, and how the strength to oppose him can be brought to you by the Author of the word himself. As the strength of the tether pole itself is not noticeable until the game has begun, so it is with the Word of God: the Author’s strength is made known (manifested) when His words are attacked. 

Those who stand close to the Word (the pole) are its defenders. Where do you stand? Is the word of God your vital standard, your “tether pole” in the world of chaos? It is for me. Do I always handle the circling ball properly? No, but if I get closer to the pole, the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation, I’m surer, I’m abler, and IT, the truth of God will always win.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

5/27/2019

“Here We Go Again, She’s back in town again, ….One More Time”—originally written by Don Lanier and Red Steagall in 1967 and recorded first by Ray Charles. That’s the SIMH this beautiful Memorial Day on the mountain. The song was more Country than anything else, but its start was in Blues. Ray Charles, followed by Nancy Sinatra in 1969; Johnny Duncan in 1972, then Roy Clark in 1982. Later George Strait and even later and ironically, by the writer, Red Steagall. Ray Charles and Norah Jones recorded the most notable cover version just before he died. Beautiful. But many other people have recorded it, though not as singles. Norah and Willie Nelson also sang this and were accompanied by Wynton Marsalis in a tribute album honoring Ray Charles in 2011

The version I’m singing in my head is by a group who will be returning to the mountain in about a month—The Lazy Birds. They are a small group of musicians from Asheville, NC who will be again having a backyard concert at my son’s house. If you’ll be near here the weekend of June 21, contact me for details. I wrote about their last visit, a very enjoyable evening of music, several months back in this blog. 

Beef Wellington…ever had that for dinner? One of our partners in the Blue Jug stores is an exceptionally talented chef (he would call himself an amateur cook.) But last night, Jason fixed 9 of us in our family Beef Wellington for dinner, Wow! What a dinner! It’s a pretty good roast of beef, seared and placed inside a very light pastry, with marinade I can’t possibly explain, baked slowly to medium rare perfection! He served it with green beans and sweet roasted carrots with one of his exceptional breads—mmmmm! 

Beef Wellington has an interesting history. On the one side, it is believed to be in honor of the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon (1815). But, another historical claim is that it was first prepared for a fancy reception in Wellington, New Zealand. But, last night it was a terrific meal on the deck of a small home on a hill in Fort Payne, AL. …Thanks, Jason.

When I was going to good ol’ THS, back in the ‘50s, two things marked the beginning of Summertime. We generally got out of school in those days early in May, the 5th is the earliest I remember. After about the 7th grade, it was work for two-three weeks, usually planting tomatoes in fields (our town had a tomato packing house—a canning factory, whose brand still exists as Red Gold Tomatoes, from Kenneth N. Rider Co.) But then would come Memorial day—the Indianapolis 500, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Everyone had their radio tuned to WIBC and the marvelous manner of covering this race from “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines,” to the Victory Lane ceremony and the winner drinking a glass of milk with roses draped all around him and his car. Radio made us see this just as clearly as if we’d been there!

WIBC would engaged all the sports people from all 6 Indianapolis AM radio stations—quite a coup, in those days of “on air” competition. Practically everyone would listen to the start and the first 5-10 laps due to some years when there had been tragic accidents in the early jockeying for position. Then, the drone of engines would get a bit monotonous and we’d wander away from the radio, returning as the exciting finish was approaching! 200– 2 1/2 mile laps! Many of us thought TV would take over the coverage and years later, it did. But, the magic of hearing it and the speed of the announcers talking about their “corner” of the race, etc., just wasn’t duplicatable with video. ABC has recently done such a good job with the graphics and info “bubbles” on the cars and drivers and it is much more than an attempt to entertain like it had been. Still a great spectacle!

Today, school calendars foul up the Summer routine I had, but I think I’m in a vast minority to say the school year should be shorter. I liked out before Memorial day, back in after Labor Day, myself. But, then, I also like teaching the textbooks instead of teaching how to pass a test! I must be old fashioned. And just think, there are some who say the children should go to school year round with several shorter breaks—that would rip to shreds a whole bunch of Summer activities, not to mention 100s of 1000s of jobs and Summer only businesses across the nation. Terrible idea. Generally, those who want that sort of education process many times have the idea that the government are in charge of our children, not!—-TO THE PARENTS OF TODAY: These are YOUR children! Guard their education with your standards, and gain your standards by the Word of God.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

5/25/2019

Uncannily, you might find this odd: It is 8am on a beautiful Saturday morning atop beautiful Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, AL. I am sitting in the living room writing this blog,…now here’s the uncanny part: my wife is outside watering her plants, flowering beds, trees and multiple other things! In the usual manner, she would prefer doing the watering stuff rather than ask me to do it. And yes, it is primarily because she is much better at it than I. 

She planted the bulk of all that is there (and there is now a lot of stuff in the backyard) and she uses me when she perceives she needs me. I don’t object when she asks, and I step in when she doesn’t feel like it or is gone. It’s the way we get along best and the way she gets “her” yard to be the way she wants it. I agree. Only occasionally do I insert original thought to the yard, and mostly she sees my logic, even if she disagrees. Allowing the work is going to be primarily her work, I never insist on “my way.”

Later this Summer—5,6 weeks down the road, I’ll post some pictures and you’ll be privileged to see why I prefer to leave this in her capable hands and help when she wants it.

……as I wait patiently for her to come in here and fix me some  breakfast!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a paragraph about the Blue Jug stores being in a “slow spot” of new store development. That changed in a hurry. In the past few days, multiple inquiries and expectations have arisen for more new stores and we’re getting the initial store owner information out to them and scheduling some follow-up conferences. Wow! This can be an exciting adventure. I love doing this for several reasons!

The reasons start with a clear understanding of what is at the root of the need for what we do. Why do we or anyone need to alter the available water anywhere? The same reason factories had to change what comes out of their smokestacks; the same reasons catalytic converters were put on cars, and the same reasons labels on processed foods have to tell the truth about contents. Ralph Nader built an entire industry around telling the country what was wrong with big cars, polluted air, and landfills. 

We simply try to make the public aware of the threats of the so-called “water system public water.” We don’t argue with the systems’ need to protect the water in the pipes and tanks against bacterias and other pollutants, because there has not yet been a way devised as low cost and efficient as the one in use in almost all cities and even for most countryside living. And we thank them for what they do to keep water from having to be boiled before drinking.

However, in light of what systems are mandated by governmental authorities to filter out, then add back into the water, it is important to understand why we should not drink “tap” water the way it comes into our homes!  From the tap comes water which was gathered and treated by first, a filtering process which can best be described as indiscriminate. Without thoughts to what is good in the water, filtering removes particulates deemed to be undesirable, but that takes many things out which could be useful—there is no separation possibility between good or bad by a filter. The process then leaves the water vulnerable to the gathering of harmful bacteria and other disease causing materials. So, a standard derived by the Food and Drug Administration demands chemicals be added to kill the harmful stuff, namely chlorine. Then, beginning about 40 years or so ago, the FDA approved systems were confronted by lobbyists to add another chemical, stating its “health benefits for children” (always a good ploy to get something passed onto the public.) That was the insertion of fluoride as an added benefit to chlorine. Fluoride can be proven to aid certain needs for strengthening our teeth. But, the fluoride being put into the water in most (not all) systems is neither natural nor is drinking it in water the proper use of it for benefitting anyone! 

About 10 years ago, a noticeable deficiency in the use of chlorine left most systems believing they needed to strengthen its affect, but the regulation could not allow more to be added. So, the idea to add a compound chemical aided their cause, hence chloramine is being added into most water systems. Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. Sound like a good additive to you? Chlorine, fluoride, chloramine and more volatile organic compounds which these things form in water are all toxic to the human body. Somehow, the tap water doesn’t sound so safe, does it?

Removing those chemicals, as well as other pollutants (lead, etc.) is what we do. That takes the water down to nothing but H2O. And H2O is acidic, of no value and referred to as “dead water” by the Japanese. We do make it that clean, but we don’t leave it in that state, we add back in the good stuff. 

Many brilliant minds have determined the most important minerals for making the water to be the best it can be for human consumption—in our “new” industry, we add these minerals back into the absolutely clean water and produce “Water the Way it’s Meant To Be!”

More to come.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

5/19/2019

The SIMH has been missing. Not missing in my head, just missing being written about. Today it is “Into the Heart of Jesus—deeper and deeper I go, seeking to know why he loved me so,” a beautiful song by Oswald Smith in 1915. This song was a favorite of the pastor’s wife in the first church we joined right after I was saved in 1964. She (Virginia) was our choir director and was so very fond of this beautiful song. If she is still living today, she would be about 93-94. I’d bet she can still remember the words to this song if she’s alive. Thanks, Oswald and Virginia for the influence on a newly saved man who was so naive about so many things. The love of Jesus sustains me still.

When we place ourselves in certain situations involving possible risks to life and limb, etc., does this mean we shouldn’t ask for prayer for these occasions? I don’t know. I don’t mean to diminish the effect of prayer on, to, for, or about anything or anyone, but sometimes I think, “what if I just don’t pray—is something bad going to happen? Will the bad thing, then, be considered my fault?” Is that a sin of “omission,” which could have been avoided? How shall our Lord, who said “time and chance happeneth to us all,” how shall He account this sort of thing? With the difficulty in having the answers to this questions, I see no alternative but to pray in the manner of Phi.4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Summation: worry about nothing, ask God for anything, thank God for everything! Doesn’t that sound easy?

I’m sometimes appalled by what I see or hear in public in regard to 1.) what people wear in public, and 2.) for their disregard to what other people hear coming from their mouths. About what they wear in the view of 99.9 % of strangers and only .1% people they know, it seems a complete and utter failure of understanding the presentation of themselves. Each of us has a responsibility to look (at the least) presentable. Yes, there are a lot of jokes about what one might see people wearing in Walmart, but unfortunately it bleeds over into general public dress. 

Two days ago, I saw a 20-something male good-looking young man wearing a dirty T-shirt and a pair of some kind of short pants, with, thankfully some sort of shorts on under the pants. The elastic waistband of the short pants was just above his knees….What?! What was he trying to say about who he was? Can this be acceptable to 99.9% of the people who walk up to or along side of this young man? Or seeing a woman, a bit to a lot overweight wear her pajamas and flip-flops and apparently nothing else into a public place with her two little girls 3-5 years old with her! What would that say to those girls? Is there no regard to what is being taught?

Secondly, how the general public talks? As I write this, I’m sitting in a Starbucks and I have to listen to one mother explain to another mother wha is wrong with the kindergarten system (at what school, no one knows), but her voice is so loud and insistent that I nor the other 8-10 people can avoid knowing more than we need to know about her and her friend’s problems with people not here nor in the discussion. Besides that, I once was forced to listen to the early morning banter between two male wait-staff in a restaurant, gloating about their Saturday night prowess! Someone should have taught them “discretion is the better part of valor.” Why would this be acceptable for the public? 

…And these two examples are just a tip of the iceberg as to what’s wrong with American society—please notice I didn’t even have to get to weightier subjects to rant. I could have talked about the evil of abortion (have you seen the 9 year old confront his city counsel?), or ridiculous mandatory vaccine laws being written, or the fantom threat of all the world being destroyed in 12 years by our wastrel attitudes, or the refusal to examine the border crisis for what it is. But all I talked about was appearances and vocabulary. 

Thanks for reading, the Elder

5/15/2019

It is cool here for the middle of May. Spring is playing some funny days game with us. After considerable rain in March & April, it is at last, sunny and bright but not very warm. One day of hot last week, then back to chilly—low forties in the morning, barely 70 in the afternoons. I like it, but it is not the norm. When weather isn’t doing what we expect, we get suspect, don’t we? I think I’ll let that slide over into the what-difference-does-it-make category and accept it: even enjoy it.

Yesterday, Barb and I took our son back to his travel connection for his journey home. What an enjoyable week we had with all 3 of our children around us (the other two live close by) and the get togethers were uproariously fun! I hope other families have as much fun as we do. Some conversations are serious, but there is much comedy material being slung around most of the time. I think I can safely speak for everyone when I say it was a great week. 

However, we did miss the rest of his family and four of our grandchildren. Perhaps this Fall we’ll get to be with more, if not all of them. 

Working on a more sophisticated start-to-finish “flow chart” for getting new Blue Jug stores open. The further we go, the more we see how to handle and even shorten the process. I recently listed 17 specific, time consuming tasks which must be performed for every store, though some cities/counties/states have differing requirements. In the end, almost all accomplish the same rules, but the route to take, the authorities involved and/or the number of inspections and their timing can be different. 

We’re at a slow spot in new store development so it is a good time to evaluate our own work and observe the sophistication we find in the owners of the ones already open—we have some really good store owners. Our association doesn’t make many demands on our individual stores (that’s a good thing) and they are very forthcoming to discuss with us what is unique to them and their particular situation. We look forward to the rest of this year in anticipation and expectation of more stores being opened in, hopefully, a more efficient way.

On the bible study front, I am once again going back to the grace believing church in Alexandria, AL twice a month. I enjoy it very much and I hope the folks there at Grace Bible Church receive some good from it. I’m still doing the Monday night online class and broadcasting it on YouTube after uploading it on my channel, Brother Jerry Lockhart. (If you’re over 60, doesn’t that sound weird? even silly? “online” “broadcasting” “my channel” “uploading”—what world are we in???) I’m also open for more opportunities to teach, if you know of who or where I might be helpful.

You might remember last year we were involved in several bible conferences, almost one per month. This year, because of one thing or another, some conferences were taken off the schedule and so far, I’ve only been to 3 conferences and only spoken in 2. the next one coming up is in September, followed by one in October. that’s all I know of that I’m going to be involved in. Short schedule this year.

Interesting how many people see the same truths in Scripture as do many others, but the basics of bible study are not the same in each person’s mind. If I list the 10 most basic doctrines, and you listed the 10 most basic doctrines, would our lists be alike? I trow not (trow: another great old English bible word no longer in use much, unless read in the bible—modern language ruins so much good stuff!) Teaching the basics then, would not be the same for us. For instance, I teach what I think is a basic and show much Scripture for verification, that there are 3 eternal inheritances found in Scripture. Easy to see, easy to prove. But, not at the ready in people’s minds for verse application. So, it must not be called a basic by very many teachers. But if they study it out, it will be. It will be. Too hard to deny. It is a fun study and the only difference in seeing 3 versus 2 eternal inheritances is to simply look at the book of Matthew for what it is: an explanation of the kingdom of Heaven. That makes  the kingdom Heaven not to be either of the other two; neither the land to Israel nor the church, the body of Christ! Doesn’t that sound basic to you?

Thanks for reading, the Elder

5/11/2019

This month is filling up with unexpected events as well as already scheduled events. The unexpected ones, thus far have been along the sorrowful and tragic side. Barb had a dear cousin to pass away in Kentucky. She suffered for quite awhile and so, on the one hand she’s at perfect peace now and no longer suffering in her very sick body as before. On the other hand, as is most always the case, she left her grieving husband and children with only memories of her. Hopefully, the good ones.

The other unexpected loss is a grand-nephew of mine, grandson of my oldest brother. He was only 42, way too young to go into eternity. He was a warmhearted individual, played and sang country and gospel music well. His grandmother and mother are mourning his loss, as well as the rest of us in his family will miss him greatly. It’s very hard to lose an offspring or a grandchild. We’re praying for them.

As to the scheduled events, we’re so happy to have our son, Brian visiting with us for a week. He lives a ways away and we usually get to see him once a year. This year we’re looking forward to a second time, maybe even 3 times! He’s here without his lovely wife and we miss her—next visit, perhaps the whole family!

Last night at our other son’s home we enjoyed his “home concert” featuring a soloist/guitarist pretty well known in Alabama. He had several really well written songs about growing up here and things that happened in his life. He’s younger than me, but he remembered in music many of the things I remember about growing up in the 50s/60s.

Next weekend a dual happening, Barb will be going to her Alumni Banquet in Indiana—just up the road about 6-7 miles from mine. She’s looking forward to that and visiting with old friends and schoolmates. 

At the same time here in Alabama, in Mentone, the annual Rhododendron Festival is being held (Saturday and Sunday) and I’ll be helping Sarah and Jason display some new things from Blue Jug. I’ll only be there on Saturday, though. they’ll just have to muddle through without me on Sunday—it’ll be tough on them, don’t ya know.

On next Sunday, I’ll be in Chattanooga for a special treat: Bro. Brian Sipes will be preaching there on Sunday morning. It’ll be great to visit with he and June and also to hear him preach in person. 

Tomorrow and the last Sunday of the month I will be preaching at the Grace Bible Church in Alexandria, AL. Also, on the last Sunday of May is the Mize Reunion in Kentucky where Barb loves to attend. This year she will probably not go to that due to all the rest of the month’s travel activities.

I know you probably didn’t want (and definitely didn’t need) to know our complete itineraries, but I just wanted to show that 76 year olds do not sit around waiting for the last breath. We have things to do, ya know?

As a matter of fact, I feel busier now than I would have thought possible. It is heartening to know some people still tune in to the Monday night Bible lesson online (zoom.us/j/2103785748 on Monday night, 7pm Central) and others subscribe to the YouTube channel, Brother Jerry Lockhart, to pickup that bible lesson each week.

And to you who read what I write here, I thank you for reading, the Elder

5/9/2019

One more look at the Alumni Banquet I wrote about attending last Saturday night. Two or three things are note-worthy for me, if not for anyone else. I had never been asked to sing or lead people in singing the National Anthem until the opening of the meeting Saturday. (I don’t mean to brag, but I nailed it!) That was more enjoyable than I would have thought. 

Secondly, they asked me to do the “Roll Call” of the crowd, finding out what year was their graduating year. We started with 1946, the year my sister, Margaret graduated. She is 91, so the oldest person attending. But, for fun I asked if anyone from the graduating class of ’39, ’40, or ’41 was there—no one was. I wanted to confirm something once told to me by a 1949 graduate; he said his brother was scorer of the first basket made in Trafalgar’s “New” gym in 1939. But, alas, I couldn’t get that confirmed or denied.

So, if any of you reading this are from Trafalgar, here is the whole story: Bill Ray, who was the 1949 graduate once told me his older brother Shorty, a teacher of mine in 1958-60, was the first person to score in the new gym in 1939. Bill passed away within this past year. I was privileged to sit at the banquet with his widow, Wilma. She did not confirm nor deny what he had said.

Hers was also a”fixture” family in Trafalgar. Her father, Bob Bowers, after a different career, worked until late in life as the janitor of the Trafalgar School (all 12 grades.) Bob was a friend to everybody, but especially to us high schoolers. He would get us out of a “boring” study hall period and “let” us work for him, loading the coal stoker, sweeping up areas where he was behind, mopping the gym and cafeteria floors—all that good stuff we liked better than study hall. I once worked with Bob in the Summer when he re-finished the gym floor. He never let me paint the stripes. I wonder why. Just asking him if I could got him to laugh. and when he laughed, nearly half the town could hear him!

In the Spring & Summer, Bob also mowed much grass, including a couple of old and nearly forgotten cemeteries. He didn’t like my technique of cemetery mowing. He said, “you mow the baseball outfield, you won’t cause much trouble there!” and then laughed!

One other note on Saturday night: I brag a lot about the 1957 & 58 basketball teams and their championships at the Johnson County Tournaments. This last Saturday night, without a planning of it, 6 of the Varsity from 1958 were there: Jack Hicks, Kenny Minett, Gary Chandler, Daryl Marker, Dave McNeely and my brother Jack Lockhart. Not only that, one of the rival schools at that time (Nineveh) had a super star of their own and he married a classmate of mine—he was there also! Johnny Allen was a true rival, a great competitor and scorer. We joked about my brother Jack had to always immolate Johnny Allen in the practices before we played them.(Jack was 5’6” and Johnny was about 6’1”) I told Johnny I heard his name more on the floor those weeks than anyone else’s. 

As you can tell, the conversations at the alumni banquet is, at least to me, a very enjoyable evening. If I’m healthy, the first weekend of May each year, I plan on being there.

With our son from NY visiting for the next week, it will be a joyous time for Barb and me—all 3 of our children around close to us! We will enjoy every minute of it! (Though saddened by the loss of my brother, Kenneth’s grandson at a much too early age. Praying for his mother Terri and his grandmother Shirley, and all the family: for peace and serenity in a troubling time.)

Thanks for reading, the Elder