April & Getting Married

Pictures do not always come out the way we expect them to. This one below falls into that category of unexpected surprises we find in our envelopes from the developer. Digital photography has eliminated some of our wait, but the results can still be filled with those
photos that quite literally shout, "How did I get this?" I enjoyed this one a lot. While fiddling with it in the program I am presently using I could add enough light to see the people, but chose to leave it this way for another purpose. The wedding was sweet, about 25 people and my wife and I.
This was not a "formal" wedding, but it was a good one! Two weeks ago we attended the 50th anniversary of two very special friends. I had heard the story before of how they got married(I had heard it before maybe ten years ago at their 40th but listened intently)as June described the circumstances. She was 15 and with child, Bearnie was 20 and entering the airforce. I shared my thoughts with June concerning how things have changed the past 50 years. She might have been urged to get an abortion, he may have been charged with a horendous crime and gone to jail for years in our world of today. She agreed and we went about celebrating with 60 or so friends and family. There were some at yesterday's event that chose not to attend the reception because they did not agree with the couple getting married, as if they could predict the bleak, black future that would unfold if they were wed. Marriage doesn't always work, fact. But there is no way of being certain that it won't until it has been given an opportunity. Perhaps June and Bearnie are the total exceptions to all of the standards we set today. I would like to think not. Some would say I am not realistic. I'll admit that part, but I really do believe that if
our changing, evolving world is going to be "better" in the years to come that we must do something to actively promote the "good" in it now. Fifty years and weddings have changed. Somewhere in our country yesterday a person named Bob married a person by the name of Larry. A Janet married a Denise and some people were upset about these kids I did the service for(actually, in my mind, I did the service because that is what I believe God would have me do)getting hitched so young. In all good conscience I cannot do the joining together in Holy Matrimony two persons of the same sex, but 15, female and with child and 20, wanting to do the "right" thing. No problem! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

April in the Sanctuary 

Letter To A Friend 

Friday the Fifteenth

Rising from slumber in the early hours of the morning has always been a favorite of mine. Never really had to for any other reason than the peace that I find before the rest of the world is up and rushing about. Cheryl arrived home from work shortly after 7 am and actually entertained thoughts of sharing breakfast with me. I was preparing one of those healthy ones, 5 strips of not quite crisp bacon(don't you just love that smell in the morning), two eggs fried in the bacon grease, sunnyside up(basted) and four pieces of toast(two fried in the bacon grease, mmmmmmm). There are lots of people out there who will shudder at the thought of ingesting this combination of foods, but for me they are the farm revisited. Did I forget to mention the hot black coffee that I linger over while things are in the fry pan, or the 100% butter that I slather on my unfried toast? I gave up drinking a lot of milk about 15 years ago when I could no longer procure it from the farm. It really is best when it is unhomogenized, unpasteurized, undiluted, unenriched and unfortified with any essential vitamins. That was how it was when I was growing up. Add to the assortment of culinary delights a short stack, maple syrup and sausages and you really have one of those "farm" breakfasts that grandma enjoyed for 93 years and grandpa for 89 years. If this makes you wonder why doctors are so set against this eating style today it is because it is not healthy! Makes you wonder if it was unhealthy why people from my grandparents generation have become the longest lived in America. I personally think that the life style of most people is far to sedentary. Myself included! I simply don't excercise. I did once, it wore me out. But I don't think it's the lack of excercise that does us in at an early age. Locally we just lost a 47 year old physically fit teacher that was much loved by everyone that knew him. I pray for his wife and children and all of those he left behind so suddenly due to a heart that blew up. People, if you're reading this tell me if I'm wrong! It is stress. That is what I believe is killing all of us on a daily basis. Gut wrenching, lay awake at night, worry burdened, workaholic, modern world, pressure cooker driven lives. Yes, there are a lot of 'things' that bring about one's early demise from this physical plane. If you follow all the life threatening diseases one can contract as they bounce up and down in national priority, they may not amount to a hill of beans in comparison to what stress is doing to people. Each one of us knows that person who drinks too much, smokes too much, overmedicates with prescription drugs, takes God only knows how many antacid tablets a day, and we haven't even touched on what stress is doing to people under the age of twenty one. Okay, I have to stop. This one could go all night. If you read this and you'd like to do something 'good' for 'you,' start dumping the stress. Every person knows what they need to do. Whatever it takes, whatever, dump the stress. God bless you, Preacher.

When Truth Is Heard THe Heart Hears 

How Long Does It Take?

That question keeps popping up from Cheryl and family members, but not nearly as often as from friends. One of my nearest and dearest is so excited there seems to be no way to quell the number of questions related to my latest literary attempt. Have you ever had children in the backseat of the car on a journey start asking that "Are we there yet?" question, or repeatedly wanting to know, "How far is it?" or "How many miles do we have to go?" This final enquiry became a favorite of mine with our last set of twins. My response, "All of them!" I did an update on my own timeline thing today. I'm about through with chapter 39, and do not anticipate going much over 50, 55 tops and that includes the inevitable epilogue. That is the very best estimate I can offer at this point in time. My daughter, Marla, is going to a 'scrapbook' party on Saturday and would like for Cheryl to go with. I think I knew what she was referring to, but I had to check it out. A scrapbook is much like a joint bank account. When I was growing up my mother maintained one for me. I appreciate it a lot more now than I did when I was..... younger. Whoosh! I nearly told you that I'm 55. Yes, the same as the double nickel speed limit, it went up, too. I guess I had better return to the tapping on my 'puter for the project. God bless. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Our Wedding Day #2