Being a Berean, in a biblical sense, means you will listen to someone preach or teach using the bible, but then you will study the Scriptures to “see whether those things are so.” It isn’t easy, but it is vital to your “walk in the Spirit” for you to become a good Berean. The verse which will always examine this for you who are students of the word of God is 2 Tim.2:15–obey every facet of the verse: you’ll be amazed at how easy the bible is to understand.

In a few days, I’ll turn 76. Hard to believe. However, it gives me a greater leverage to stand for the things I want to see changed, to voice my opinion on issues ranging from bible doctrines, personal contacts, civic involvement, business advancement and neighborhood rights! In other words, I don’t care who opposes what in my life: I’ll just let my position be known—or not, at my own discretion.

I wrote to our state’s DOT some time back. I waited about 6 weeks for a reply. When it came, I noticed a further communication was implied. So, I waited another 6 weeks without hearing anything. Then, I wrote another letter. This time, the man called me the day he got that letter. He apologized for the time lapse and, evidently, someone from his department should have followed up the first letter. My complaint is not going to be fixed by them, so I assured him he would hear from me again soon. He was gracious. Remember, I don’t care who opposes me in this.

Since 1980, When Barb’s brother was very ill with cancer, I have been involved with some method of food supplementation: pills, powders, juices, gels, and of course, Alkaline Anti-Oxidant water. I do not believe I am extending my life one day. I do believe in trying to stay as healthy and feel as well as possible till the day I die. I have Scripture for that which says the Lord is in charge of that final day. (Eccl.8:8) If the Lord is in charge and there is “no discharge from that war,” then I want to get to that last day feeling as well as I can. That same book says, “why should a man die before his time?” For the sake of serving the Lord, I believe in doing the best things for my health. Sometimes I fail miserably (addicted to ice cream), and some days all goes well. May the Lord be thanked for His immeasurable grace through it all.

Thanks for reading, the Elder

Schooling. I remember it. Many times in my reminiscing school is vivid! I can remember every teacher I’ve ever had, and some events (though often trivial) from every year. Ours was a small town, grades 1 thru 12 school in one, three story building. It had a 2 story L addition added in 1939 which included a gymnasium and four new classrooms, offices and rest rooms. My first Fall of School was 1948, so that part looked new to me.

Two years later (3rd grade) we were included in lunch-time basketball. No shoes, just stocking feet, we played up and down the court like big boys. I remember making a left-handed hook shot. I heard some laughter, but I also heard some applause—basketball, it was, from then on!

(Oddly speaking of this on a day when the song of the day rolling through my mind was “You gotta be a Football Hero, to get along with the beautiful girls” — no, I’m not kidding.)

But, basketball wasn’t all I learned at Trafalgar. I learned everyone was not nice. One of my first grade experiences was watching a boy in my class attempt to push another boy into the side of a moving school bus! The boy barely escaped bad injury or possibly death. Later in life, the pusher died in prison, the one he pushed became a teacher and is alive and well to this day. …and I saw that in the first grade….

I learned some teachers were tough but always fair; and I learned some were easier, but not always fair. Dichotomies which still seem to apply, at least politically. But, politics is for another day.

Every teacher of mine stands out in a particular way. From old retired substitutes with their brief glimpses of history, to our math teacher taking time to help us relate to other parts of the country by his travel stories (many times getting him off subject on purpose to hear another travelogue because we didn’t have our math assignment done), to being lined up and chastened properly (ahem!) for fighting on the playground. Every memory is precious. Hope you have those, too.

Thanks for reading,

the Elder

When I left the bedroom a couple days ago my wife Barbara, was playing the piano. She was playing “A Balm in Gilead”—that’s a really old hymn. When she finished playing, she went to her computer and played me a video of a popular gospel singer singing “Give Me Jesus.” Beautiful way to get the old blood circulating!

But, it didn’t make me forget the song of the day in my head! “Hello! Is it me your Looking for?” by Lionel Richey—of whom I am not a fan. However with different music coming in to my hearing, I didn’t have the simh going on and on.

Some interesting things are happening with my daughter’s business—Blue Jug Alkaline Water: we’ve been the only alkaline water store East of Denham Springs, LA for several years. Looks more and more like there will be another here in NE Alabama soon, possibly two more. Whew!—at last, not alone in what we’re saying!

Bible study this past week has taken me to get a clearer understanding of the “fiery darts of the wicked.” Studying the activity of the adversary of Christ is intense and laborious. But, we all need to be “not ignorant of his devices”—right? Stay tuned for that, also.

Interesting asides: how come people don’t believe in Jesus? I don’t mean the historic Jesus, I mean the biblical Jesus: that He died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again for our justification. (That’s the gospel, but what I mean is why do people not want to believe that? It is such relief to know the requirement of God is now satisfied. Since the statements are so clear about that, why is there such resistance to it?) This is a great mystery. People all around the religious community wish to be their own savior. Trusting Christ is not simple to them, I guess. Maybe today, maybe today, the unbelievers change today.

Oh, hey! At bible class last night, one of the ladies told us her husband has gotten saved! Happened last Tuesday. He is impaired somewhat by strokes, but he was able to tell her he had received Christ! What a blessing! It has weighed heavily on her for quite some time and now a blessed peace.   

A certain hope is better than a “hope so,” right?

Thanks for reading.

the Elder

It’s another beautiful day in NE AL (NorthEast Alabama) up on Lookout Mountain. Oh, yes, Lookout is in Chattanooga, but it happens to be rather long, stretching nearly to Gadsden. At least that’s what the highway signs say.

By the way, today’s song in my head (or in FB speak: simh) is “Words” by Andy Gibb. A beautiful song by a very talented but troubled young man who went away much too young. While I was still in bed this morning, my mind was singing parts of this.

Summertime here on the mountain means grass is very prolific-especially the wet Summers. This year it is very hard to keep the yard trimmed. We have a huge yard to mow, especially without a riding mower of some kind. Our landscape artist (my wife) has done wonders for how the 13 acres looks—oh, it just seems like its that big—1.3 acres. She has turned a blank backyard (had one lone tree on the whole place when we moved here) into clusters of decor with winding paths and several sitting areas, fire pit, little bridge over a mostly empty water runoff swag, a trellis with something which blooms covering it, and flowers, and trees, etc! We have blueberries, young apple trees, and quick growing trees like maple, tulip poplar and Leland Cyprus. Whew!

When we left Texas a good friend gave us a swing frame, so we built a “ground patio” (that’s a deck wood floor that sits on the ground) under our one tree. When we’re not working or mowing, sometimes we sit there and enjoy the breeze, the growing landscape—even good neighbors who come over to chat. We’ve named the swing after our friend, but we haven’t told him for fear he would think too highly of himself. We miss our Texas friends.

My day today is going to be busy—this morning I’m in my daughter’s Blue Jug Alkaline Water & Health Market, afternoon may involve more mowing, more bible study—oh, wait! the Cubs are probably on TV! Never mind the work, the Cubs are on!

Keep you priorities correct, right?

thanks for reading, The Elder

I don’t understand. That’s my problem. I’m old enough to understand, but I don’t. You might wonder what it is I don’t understand or you may not give a flip what I don’t understand.

But, I thought I’d write about it anyway. This is not an attempt to gain your sympathy or to win you over as a friend, and it is definitely not to try to sell you anything. It’s just a blog about life. I’ve been in life a long time now and there are some things worth writing about.

It may seem like prittle-prattle (stupid spell check and stupid dictionary are both trying to tell me there is no such thing as prittle-prattle—Ha! I just wrote about it, didn’t I? Heard it all my life, haven’t I?) but maybe there’s something worthwhile every now and then.

Gonna write something every day if I can. There’ll be the song of the day: that’s a hoot! Every morning when I arise, I have a song going around in my head that I cannot shake off. And when I try to replace it, the replacement song wants to linger, also. Is that a sign of insanity?

This all started about 5 or 6 years ago when sometime in October when a  day started by my mind hearing Elvis Presley’s version of “Here comes Santa Claus” (if you know me, you know how funny that is.) My family laughed till they cried when I told them…..”uh-here comes Santa Claus, uh-here comes Santa Claus, uh-right down Santa Claus Lane, jingaling…..”  and it wouldn’t go away for what seemed like 5 hours! (actually till I started talking, probably a few minutes.)

So, most mornings I have a “song of the day.” today’s was an old church “chorus” we used to sing, I thing the name was “If your Heart is Right”—or KEEPS right, something like that. “ there’s a song of gladness if your heart is right, lalalala, lalalala, …” OOPs, today’s song is gone.

So, if you log on, stuff will appear by the date on the blog and you’re welcome to read or comment or both, or neither. Thanks for reading this far.

the Elder

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton