Agenda. or agendum if singular, means “what must get done” by whomever owns it. We could also call the list of things to talk about or list of chores, etc., by that same word. The reason to bring it up is this: everyone has one. Single-minded folk set out to do or say one thing, or go to one place. That’s not true of most of us. Most of us want several things to happen.

If we hold a board meeting (or “bored?” meeting) the organization or company for which we’re there has a set of items to be brought up for resolution, or at least to advance consideration. That’s a business agenda. (It has often been my experience that business meetings are easily diminished to the boring.) But there are agendas (modern plural) with which to be dealt. Hardly an organization or corporation anywhere who doesn’t build its agenda, and build upon it.

In recent years I have sat in on several meetings about how to improve or bolster the business atmosphere in our town. The meetings which seem profitable are meetings which follow closely to an agenda. Also noticeable in those meetings is the strength of the leader, the forthrightness yet discretion used continually to move from one item to another. These are positive traits no matter what the agenda.

Political agendas are irksome, even to those who are on the same side: for the agenda. I think that’s because of selfishness. If I get my item on the agenda, I have no patience with the other items. If my item doesn’t make the agenda, I don’t even want to be there. And, if an item opposing mine is on the agenda, I will probably leave (or go to sleep.)

Misplaced agenda: take supposed entertainment venues, add a “we must save the earth” agenda. Or a philosophy being woven into the dialogue of a stage play, movie or concert. These are misplaced agendas if the attraction that draws people has the agenda hidden. Totally unfair advantage is being taken by those putting forth the “agenda.” Disingenuous, at least.

So, what’s your agenda today? Or tomorrow. Or for the next 6 months. Or year. How far ahead do you like to plan?

I talked with a young man who is trying to extricate himself from the hold alcohol has on him. He can only think about one day at a time. Most all “programs” about addiction use that as a mantra. I’m pretty sure I’m not an expert in these sorts of things, but I don’t think that fits everyone.

Perhaps at the start one day at a time is good. But, I believe it should be changed in order to build a future. Let’s talk about it like diet, for instance. What will life be like for me if I’m still sober 2 weeks from now? What will life be like for me 10 pounds lighter? Then think life in 3 months. life 25 pounds lighter. Then, a year clean from my addiction, will I be growing in my worth to my loved ones? A year into my diet, will I be 50 pounds lighter and able to be more physically active and mentally more alert? Hmm. Maybe this thought ought to be put on someone’s agenda…

If we’re talking about the Lord in our lives, usually several people come to mind whom we would desire to have come to the knowledge of Him, His grace and His all sufficient work at Calvary, His suffering for our sins, and His simple gospel of salvation. In some cases this means making a second agenda, a priority list of who and when we are going to bring to them the hope of eternal life in Christ.

But wait, in this case, we could just teach ourselves to walk through the doors which the Lord will open before us, and our only agenda is to say what the Lord said in His word. With these thought in mind, perhaps we should prepare ourselves with His word, put on the whole armor of God as we can see each piece’s worth in Ephesians 6. As the Spirit leads, amen?

Is it an accident that before I rolled over and got out of bed about 5 this morning, that the SIMH was “Every Step You Take” —Sting & Police? Yes, it probably was.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Here’s an interesting note about awakening with a song in my head: If it is some certain artist I’m “hearing,” I might quickly move to other songs by the same artist. Today, for example, I was rolling through Hank Williams’ “How Can You Refuse Him Now?” and remembering how much Bro. E.C. Moore loved that song, when I was suddenly flooded with other songs and other friends who loved old Hank!

I have another longtime friend who can recite Hank Williams songs, including Hank as Luke the Drifter: “Men With Broken Hearts” comes to mind, as well as, “Be Careful of the Stones That You Throw.”

This friend and I were in a car one Monday morning and I said to him, “You should have been at our bible conference this weekend. A man sang a Hank Williams song.” And before I could tell my friend about it, he said, “How Can You Refuse Him Now?” I said yes! He started and quoted to me the entire song/poem.

This friend could also quote more Shakespeare than any person I’ve ever met or heard of. Perhaps it has been a part of his search for truth in a lying man’s world. He has related to me this quest which, of course, filled him with doubt and dismay. It is my deepest hope that he has come to see the truth relayed by the question, how can you refuse Jesus now?

[Codicil (of sorts): the “lying man” in the above statement is Satan, the Devil, also known as “the god of this world.”]

Mine and Barb’s talk this morning took some interesting turns. From measuring a cabinet space, to the diabolical plan concerning children and old folks and vaccines, to restaurants we need to visit, to the reality of atomic warfare, and, therefore, ever-so-briefly into the body politic; past, present, and future. We do, indeed, cover it all!

And just so you know, we have settled everything. Moving the cabinet will work, let’s take away pharma’s privileged position of being exempt from suit—then let’s sue them at every loss of life error! Also, there is enough time to visit the good restaurants we keep discovering, bible truth shows us atomic warfare shall not annihilate this world, and lastly, politics is about the same past, present, future so let’s just stop it. See, that was easy.

The 38th (or 39th) Bible conference at Grace Bible Church in Chattanooga, TN is coming up next weekend. There will be some excellent bible teaching, from quiet speakers relaying wonderful truths from God’s word to more intense urgency from others. But, all according to the Word of God. I hope many of you are planning on being there. Starts Friday evening at 7pm Eastern. People from several states always visit providing fellowship sweet!

A scheduling glitch will cause some to miss this, and others of us will have to miss the conference held on next Saturday in Alexandria, AL. We pray for those speakers and all who attend there, as well.

It’s another beautiful day on the mountain! I wish those from around here could stop whining about the heat and simply enjoy what all is abundant here. I think I’ll go get out amongst them! There is a celebration going on in Fort Payne today: ’’Boom Days!”

Thanks for reading, the Elder

I’ve been up for a couple of hours with the SIMH without words, floating in and out—I can hum it all the way through, but it took till just now to remember who and what it was! How can one forget Clapton? It is “you look Wonderful Tonight”—by the one and only Eric Clapton. Strange stuff, this SIMH. And I’d say that comes in way down the list of my favorite’s by him.
No Tears in Heaven, followed by If I Could Change the World are my two favorites.

But enough about song/singer-isms

When certain events take place and remind me of things in the past, or a national phenomenon occurs and I remember “before,” I’m sometimes in awe of what I saw/heard/talked about and by the time that has past since these things occur.

Somewhere around 1965, I met a young man home from the military and working for a manufacturing plant in Danville, IL. He had been in Japan, and as was common then, brought home stereo equipment. etc., which could not yet be obtained reasonably in the USA. We were associated by church, but because I managed a store which sold cheaper radios/stereos we talked often about businesses and business ideas.

John once asked me if I thought a small store with just limited  grocery items, maybe a couple of gas pumps, sitting in a strategic location “on the way to and from work” would be a good idea for Danville. I responded by being as positive as I could be, but with some reservation. Then, about 5 years later, my then boss built a shopping center in Louisville, KY which had (of all things) a self-serve filling station. I said, “that’ll never work!” He laughed and said “it’s already working.”

Then, I heard about “7-11 Stores” —how strange is that? Open at 7, don’t close till 11. and you know they almost went bankrupt. It was about 5 more years before I was told by an “expert” that what saved them as a chain was gourmet coffee! Imagine, coffee saving an entire chain of stores!

Today, there are 66,000 7-11 stores. Wonder if John made any money off his idea.

And how many self-serve filling stations are there? All. Except in New Jersey, the only state left where you cannot fill your own gas tank.

What an amazing economy we live in? And just about as phenomenal a story as any is this: 38 million of us have home-based businesses. We are on entrepreneurial steroids!

The Lord said we should “study to be quiet” and “do your own business” and “work with you own hands”—and He said, “if any would not work, neither should he eat.” So, now we know how we came to be such avid business people. The Lord is in favor of it.

And, speaking of eating: there are 26,744 Subways (that’s a sandwich shop, in case you don’t know) in the U.S.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

It’s interesting, writing this blog: first thoughts came rapidly and I rushed to write them down lest I forget them. Now not so rapidly. I mentioned yesterday about life’s stories—I really would like to tell them all—many of which cannot and some should not ever be revealed (like, it’s bad enough to know the Lord knows them, right?) But, today what I write is about hope.

Incidentally, today’s SIMH is “An Innocent Man” by Billy Joel, which bears the words, “Some people see through the eyes of the old, Before they ever get a look at the young.” I get the point of the line, but it fails to consider that the “old” have seen the same things the young are seeing and understand much further the ramifications of what’s being seen, or felt, and know the harm or the hurt of the failed attempts or the missed opportunities.

Three of the best Bible lessons I ever heard taught address some of this: “Under the Circumstances”-E.C.Moore; “Lost Opportunities”-also Bro. Moore, and “The God of a Second Chance”—done about 35 years ago by Bro. Art Watkins. These were momentous learning situations for me. The two by Bro. Moore were done in a home bible class in Fairhope, AL. The one by Bro. Watkins was at a bible conference from which he had been absent for a couple of years and our family was at a low ebb.

These two men weren’t something special themselves, but the messages were. According to bible study (not just the existence of a bible in your home) these 3 subjects run through the pages from cover to cover. I’m very sorry I don’t have the transcripts of the messages to parcel out on a daily basis.

They were filled with hope. Hope that was based on still being alive after the Circumstances had gotten one down, the Opportunites had passed, and yet to know the God and Father of  our Lord Jesus Christ has not abandoned us. If we have a Savior in Christ, we ALWAYS have a Savior in Christ. 

First, of course comes the knowledge that we have a Savior. That’s as simple as can be: Believe Christ died for your sins, was buried, but God raised Him from the dead for your justification. If you allow trust in that, you’ve got a Savior. No other rules, no activity in which to engage, nothing to join—if you belong to the Lord, what else do you need? Only (and second) His words. Hope springs eternal! and eternally!

Then comes that form of personal examination to see what you really think of where you’ve been, what you’ve done, and how you reacted. The bible has some almost bullet-like sayings on this. The first is about knowing who you are: “prove your own selves.” (Paul to the church.) The second is accusatory: “thou art the man” (Nathan to David.) and the next is yet: “I go the way of all flesh.” (more than once.) We are just flesh. We will make errors. We will have to fix some of them. And in the end, we will never get done. Only those who live long with few regrets or regrets resolved can honestly say, “I’m done, I  want to go be with the Lord.”

So, we live on with the hope that today is another day to please the Lord and those we love most, filled with the expectations that we will rise above the “Circumstances,” not miss the “Opportunities,” and know full well, our God is giving us another “Chance.”

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Hurricane Florence is bearing down on the Carolinas with a fury and worry! We are receiving a young marine and his family as refugees. We’re looking forward to their visit. His wife is the daughter and granddaughter of  longtime friends in Texas. It will be a treat to get to know them up close and personal. They have a toddler and one on the way, I think. Camp LeJeune (where he is stationed) is right on the nose of the hurricane path. The Romines made it to somewhere in GA last night and will be with us later today.

Old Buddy (whose in the picture at the top) is getting weaker. He doesn’t seem to be in pain and still is very alert, but we can see his decline. He’s just a couple months away from being 13 years old. And, for a rescue dog, he’s had a good life with us. How we came to get Buddy is quite something. Barb had never particularly wanted a dog at all. But, she started mentioning every now and then that a large dog on our place in Texas might be a good thing.

A coffee house friend told me about rescuing a really great dog out of a ditch that ran through some property he was developing. He said he got the dog out of the ditch, gave him some water, then got in his truck and drove home (just a couple of blocks.) When he got out of his truck, here came that dog. Well, he had no place to put him, so he asked his neighbor could she keep him for a day or so to see if my friend could find the owner. He couldn’t find the owner. He told me about this and asked if I knew anyone who might want a nice young big dog. When I told Barb, I asked if she would like to go look at the dog and, to my surprise, she said yes.

We went to the neighbor’s house with my friend. The neighbors were very gracious people and we talked a few minutes before she said let me bring “Sandy” (her name for the dog) in. She went to the back door and opened it and here came Buddy. He walked past her husband, me, my friend, went right to where Barbara sat and put his head on her knee! —-I am not kidding. She said, “Are you my buddy?” and we had a dog. They have loved each other for 13 years. (He tolerates me rather well, too.)

We had to rename him because we had friends (both male and female) named Sandy who would not have thought there was any humor in us having given our dog their name. So, since he was obviously Barbara’s “buddy”, Buddy it was. We found out a little later that is is the 4th most common name for dogs. Harumph!

Life yields many stories. Sometimes things are not worth telling, some things are too personal and private to tell, and some hold all the love we can muster, and will just keep on regenerating sweet memories. The longer we live, the more we know how to discern which stories fit where and whether or not to tell some of them. I hope Buddy’s story is 1/10 as sweet to you as it is to Barb and me.

Thanks for reading

It’s a sobering day. It matters not what your political history has taught you about 9/11/01. It matters about the solemnity and grief it all caused. When we visited the “ground zero” four months later, there was very little to notice except the grief. It was a monumental emotional visit. On that morning, Sarah was at our house, I had gone to the coffee shop and was told as I left that “a plane crashed into the twin towers.” I thought it was just a small plane, perhaps lost in fog or something. When I got home, Sarah was watching it all on TV. As I joined her, the second plane hit, then they fell. Street cameras showed the worst true panic I’d ever seen. Yet, many did not panic, just went about saving as many lives as they could. Seventeen years later, it still defines us as a people.And I don’t ever want to again witness as much grief as I did in 2001. Nuf said.

An hurricane is taking a bead on the Carolinas, Florence is her name. She is big, fast, strong, and she has no conscience. The one thing people have to do is leave. The only thing stronger than the wind and the water is the lightening. It has built itself and it is going to see its end only after hitting land somewhere. You can pray (please do), but it is still coming. So pray for guidance and provision to get out of its path. A report just said more than a million people should evacuate—yes, they should.

In 1979, a category 4/ some places 5, fellow named Frederick hit Mobile, less that a year after we moved there. We lived about 20 miles from the coastline of Dauphin Island and the house we lived in was very substantial. Our house survived with minimal damage and so did we. Many people were not as fortunate as we were, but even though we were safe in our house, when we went out the next morning, the whole area around us for miles looked like the aftermath of war. I had two businesses one of which had the entire front blown away. The other less damage, but both without power for days which cut them down. Hundreds of businesses and manufacturing facilities were completely destroyed. Bridges and highways and the commercial buildings downtown were heavily damaged.

Afterward for weeks, I would finish preaching in Montgomery on Sunday evening about dark and drive back to Mobile. Crossing the causeway with no city lights, faintly seeing the skyline of the city looming ahead in the dark was the most eerie experience I’ve ever had. Downright depressing.

I never want to go through another hurricane. Even with the most warning of any natural disaster, they are still devastating. 

So, get out if you are in its path, get out. Now! And if you’re not, but know someone who is, tell them to get to you, if where you are is reachable in a day or so.

Well, on that cheery note, let’s get back to seeing things in a different light. Mondays continue to surprise me. It rained most of the morning, yesterday, and hardly anyone came in the Blue Jug. After I went home, however, the store had a very normal, even better than normal day! See, I told you it was going to be a great week!

SIMH today is “Lay Down Beside Me”—Allison Krauss/John Waite. I really enjoy Allison Krauss’s music. Watching her on videos, it always looks so effortless when it never is. Making music of the quality to sell is very hard work and usually takes a lot of people, each looking for some specific area of concern. That constitutes a lot of “bosses”  all in one place at once. So, I admire the artistry of it. Allison and her “bosses” are one of the best groups ever.

Last night’s bible class is up on Brother Jerry Lockhart, You Tube Channel. It’s about being complete in Christ in spite of being in the flesh. Maybe something on there will be helpful.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Lots of mornings start this way; get up really early, decide it’s too early, go back to bed for another hour or two. “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” was in my head the first time I awoke. But, the second time it was a pop song that now can’t be recalled! Does that ever happen to you? (Doesn’t change the world, just weird.)

Well, I think this is going to be a great week. A lot of store planning work, some timing issues to work out, and looking forward to a great bible study tonight! (go to: zoom.us/j/2103785748 to join us at 7 Central time) Now the above statement is as close to a planned week as I can get till someone forces me to include them in it!

September is a great month for planning, though, don’t you think? Originally, schools started their year in September because of farm work. Before automation and machinery, much farm work was done by hand and children worked the crops from planting to maturity. Reaping was actually simpler work, though the most important. Since the ‘60s, not so much. But, we’ve acclimated ourselves to the “school year” tilt, and therefore we plan accordingly.

Spring, on the other hand brought new hope, new growing year and also, Summer plans. So, the school year has to be brought to a close to get all that stuff done. And then back we come to September for new planning and scheduled growth in all areas of life.

When the Lord “named” the seasons, He called them Springtime and harvest, Summer and Winter. Harvest became Autumn, then Fall. Not sure why Autumn gave way to Fall—leaves falling, nah, sounds too trite. Must be some other reason.

Took Barb to that “best little farmer’s market” Saturday. It’s a bit  smaller. Growing season is about over, I suppose. The wood carver wasn’t there. But the really good pastry lady was! Granny D’s—a great treat on a beautiful Saturday morning in Mentone, AL! You should visit Mentone if you haven’t. They have a great Fall weekend happening every year called “Colorfest”, happens this year the 3rd weekend in October. And hey! you could get to see us, we live close by. What a treat that would be for ya!  Let us know if you decide to come over for Colorfest, we’ll make some plans.

Is that too personal for a blog? ….I don’t think so.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

From several conversations and reading from some publications lately I’ve been reminded of how the world in general sees gods (note: the little g-o-d-s.) Various civilizations of peoples used most everything natural or difficult to invent something they called a god or gods. This likely stems from the legends and pseudo-history, even “sacred” writings which tell of many and varied gods and goddesses, giants and super beings.

I’m not saying these beings are a falsehood. In fact, I find them all to have been very likely. Excerpting the book of Enoch (of whatever origin) shows many gods and goddesses in, around, and on Mt. Hermon, a mountain in the bible shown to be the home of the giants that were once on the earth. As one who believes the King James Bible(which says there are “gods many”) to be the word of God in our language, I believe the “god of this world” is very capable of providing all this and more in his attempt at destroying what the God of the Bible has put into place.

His name is Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, etc., and he was an anointed cherub before “iniquity” was discovered in him and he was summarily dismissed from the plan of God.

My KJB plainly shows the singular purpose of God Almighty is to destroy this adversary’s works. The beginning of the righteous plan of God is the 6 day creation of the earth, followed closely by giving the created man and wife the freewill to associate as they would. Knowing the devil’s desire to usurp His creator, the Lord God quickly showed unto man His overall plan of redemption, effectively daring Satan to try to destroy that same plan.

The adversary has been toying with and destroying the people of this earth for nearly 6,000 years about as easily as a big ol’ dog with a rag doll. But, 1,985 years ago, The Lord God showed the old dragon something incredible: He showed the world (including the god of this world) His glory. John 11 plainly shows that God’s glory rests in the resurrection from the dead. It seemed to go right over Satan’s head. Yet, just a short time after that, Satan put Jesus of Nazareth to His death on the cross. 3 days later, God the Father raised Him from the dead! Then, miraculously raised Him up from the earth and seated Him at HIs  own right hand. Called him His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And one day soon, everyone and everything, including the old serpent Satan, will bow his head, bend his knee and confess that Jesus Christ IS Lord to the glory of the Father.

And all the little gods and goddesses, even the giants, will be forced to agree. Some Day Soon.

So today, as I woke up with a rush of thoughts, the SIMH was a simple one: “Send the Light”—the blessed gospel light, let it shine from shore to shore, Send the Light, the blessed gospel light, let it shine for ever more!

When you trust the work Christ did for you — He died for your sins, was buried, and God raised Him from the dead for your justification — your simple trust in Him saves you eternally.

And that plan kept as a mystery till given to Paul, is how we “send the light” of God’s love and redemption. Trust Him today.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

It feels like a lazy Saturday morning. The air is cool, the wind is calm, we both feel good, even Buddy seems good, and the SIMH is more than one. That’s about as laid back as I can get, I reckon. Some days the SIMH is crystal clear, other days something I hear triggers the memory, like the chime our hall clock, or a message tone from my phone. Today, one of the sounds changed the song that was rolling around upon awakening and now, 20 minutes late, I can’t remember the first one!

But the song which came to mind is an old Separate Baptist choir song which had an alto lead for the chorus. My sister Margaret has a strong alto voice (she turned 90 this past February.) The song went, “I’ll Meet You in the Morning” — I think that was the title — “with a how do you do, and we’ll sit down by the river, and with rapture old acquaintance renew! You’ll know me in the morning, by the smile that I wear, yes, I’ll meet you in the morning, in that city that is built foursquare!” Not exactly Scripturally provable, but poetic license aside, I loved to here Margaret sing with the choir behind her.

My first memory of a “choir” singing was at Lick Spring church, just South of Trafalgar, IN, somewhere around 1948-49. The church probably didn’t have 60 people or so, but the choir had about 15-18, several of them young adults. And, they had Herb Proctor, who could knock the keys off the ol’ piano! Herb’s family were all musicians & singers. The oldest members of the choir included my parents and Paul Hogue (his wife Pearl is still alive at about 104, I think. We saw her at Margaret’s 90th party—pretty cool, a 90 year old had her 104 year old friend as guest at her party. Bet that don’t happen much.)

Music has always been a big part of my family’s lives. the one’s of us who don’t sing much, however, can carry a tune. But, we have several who play multiple instruments and some extra good voices. Barb and I used to sing a lot at church, some at conferences many moons ago. We were famous as a trio with our friend John Sanford (well, we were really only famous to the one preacher who asked us to sing…come to think of it, he was the only one to ever ask us to sing!) Never mind about that “famous” part.

Our son who lives in upstate New York is very talented and it comes out more or less on an annual basis. Not frequently, but very enjoyable. His “man-cave” has a wall full of instruments he can play well. It’s one of those things I love to do, listen or watch my kids do what they can do best.

Our 3 children, no longer kids themselves, have always been a joy to us. In good times or somewhat rough times, they have never been a bother or trouble. Oh, yes, we’ve found out from time to time how imperfect they were, but even those things have never been troublesome. Once, when our daughter was in a bunk house with other girls her age, the two boys (grownup young men by then) stayed with Barb and I in a small trailer. They kept us up nearly all night laughing and telling stories of their teenage exploits which we knew nothing about! Once we got over the shock, most of it was really, really funny.

The Lord’s grace has prevailed and we are all very thankful to Him.

Thanks for reading, the Elder.

Ever notice the tiny bit of mental energy it takes to be mistaken, but how much anguishing energy it takes to correct it? I’m sure you have. The lingering knowledge of the mistake, be it a calculation error, a personal attack-type error, or doctrinal, or anything: that knowledge of the error can weigh a body down!

When we set out to atone or correct it, how we do fight the tendency to somehow justify ourselves (even just a little bit) by terms such as, “well, at the time I…” or “I didn’t know it was gonna cause…”  or worse “I don’t think it’s that bad…!” Where does it say we get to be exonerated from our own stupidity? No, we need to learn humility by the total admission of guilt. Self worth takes another hit, BAM! One of the hardest things to learn and retain in our knowledge is the cleansing effect of simply taking the blame. It is a greater form of  strengthening than any form of self-justification.

That’s how eternal life in Jesus Christ is given to us. We all know what we are and all the guilt we’ve swallowed or tucked away so as to not be so noticeable. We look like and feel like we’re not too bad. Like a friend once told me, in response to me telling him “Christ died for your sins,” he came back with, “Well, he didn’t need to do that.” That took me back (no one had ever said that to me) and I said, “Well, sure He did.” My friend said, “I could of done something about ‘em, couldn’t I?”

I said, “the bible says the wages of sin is death.” He said, “Oh.” and walked out the door. About two months later, he stepped into my office and told me and a man sitting with me, “I just wanted you two to know, that I’ve trusted Christ as my Saviour.”

Later conversation with him showed me he had just gotten so he couldn’t stand the inability to do anything to make it alright, and he gave up, and let the Lord save him. Praise the Lord for His matchless grace; He’s gracious to us and He makes it alright.

Interesting stat about my Cubbies (the Chicago Cubs is a baseball team in case someone isn’t familiar.) This year so far, they have won 44 games after being behind—come from behind wins! That’s half their wins! You’d have to say they want to win. Maybe there’s another World Champion here!!

Oh, has football started yet? Just kiddding! Everyone knows football is a Fall sport, right?

SIMH today is “To Love Somebody”  BeeGees. This may have been brought on by listening to some BeeGees hunting for something else about two weeks ago. (There’s no real reason songs pop up in my head every day, is there?)

Thanks for reading, the Elder