Not A Political Tongue In Cheek

Rendezvous opportunities approach here on the Great American Desert. Blurps have been arriving in my mailbox with increasing frequency the past few days. A joy to attend(although the nights can get a little chilly and damp)and a refreshing change of pace from the tech world we live in. The only technology in use at most of the gatherings of this sort that I attend was outdated by the end of the Civil War. Flintlocks and percussion caps are the firearms "order of the day," and they can be seen in use in contests that begin with the first light of dawn. Historically these "happenings" are loosely based(unless you're one of those #(*&%$purists who wants to make sure nobody is wearing cotton long johns and there's no modern day closures on your rigging)on periods of time determined long before I discovered my first. My favorite contest has to do with the axe and the hawk. There is nothing like the feel of a double blade axe in your hands on the 25 yard line. The hawk is a handy little tool that I carry most everywhere I go, but when it is at it's best it is flashing through the air with a force sufficient to cause melons to burst all over the laughing onlookers. We jeer one another, poke fun at the "newbies" and in general make everyone as miserable as we can while having a good time. All in all it's like something out of a story book, and another of the frontiersman type of things that occur out here on the plains. It's a great equalizer of men! Although being big and burly has some advantages when it comes to tossing stumps or hurling the big axe, it is not an advantage in the shooting and throwing(or spitting and chewing)! Whoosh! Talk about a level playing field, out in the woods you're so close to God's creation that you can literally taste it, and that makes for a wonderful opportunity to sit around the campfire and ponder the secrets of the universe. For NFL fans and guys who like to golf it probably doesn't sound too much like a sport they would enjoy, but it is one that brings a rare breed of individualists together for a short time. That short time provides the opportunity to find out where folks are in their faith journey. We get to encourage those who are trying to stay on the right path, and find many who aren't sure where the path is at. Wherever you find that path, though, you will know without a doubt if has been trod by disciples of Christ, it is the "right" road to be on. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Now I See A Purpose

The hour is early(morning)and my eyes are getting really difficult to manage. Times like this I'm glad there isn't a road in front of me staring back with visions of leaping hinds and tables filled by diners. Illusions like that happen to me when I'm driving(or riding)and sleep is a much needed commodity. Winter is on it's way to the Great American Desert my wife informed me this evening. There are projects we have to finish and "stuff" that needs to get done before the snow flies. I'll get out in the country and check out the geese soon to see what they have to say about winter this year. The landscape above is from a site called "Wild-Landscape" and it can be found at one of those www. places. I didn't take the time to really look around there this evening, but I bookmarked it so that I can find my way back. Doesn't that view of the ice chill you to the bones? It does me! Out in the western part of our state I have seen places where the wind has driven rain as it freezes and given me the same type of image. Somewhere in all my pics I've got one of a double waterfall frozen in mid drip. Suspended on long tentacles of ice stretching upwards a hundred feet or so. That's over in Minnesota at a very nice state park. Back to the thought, though. If anyone you know is looking for an excellent way to do the "programming" thing in their church, and they happen to be 1200 miles south of where I live, give me a call and we'll try to get together on some dates. I love the south in the winter! Southern Cal is a favorite, but then so are New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and especially Texas! That's my purpose in staying up just a little longer! Taking a little time for a plug. In a few weeks we'll be in Nashville, and that will be nice, but the really cold months are January and February, so if you know someone who knows someone who talks to God on a regular basis, put in a good word for Cheryl and Terryl(yeah, they rhyme, everybody says, "ain't that cute!)and let them know we'd be more than happy to book a whole string of engagements in the southern climes this winter. Wishing you all of the best in life, and blessings that are more than we deserve. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Roughing Things Out On A 'Puter

One of those nights when using new equipment, combined with performing new tasks has made sleep necessary. If for no other reason CD said I needed to get some rem. God bless, Preacher.

"Life ain't always pretty!"

Recently(very)we had a neighbor(when you live in a community of 20,000 folks we're all neighbors)drop his mental ball(I think they used to call this "losing you marbles). I don't know all of the specific parts and pieces of the sordid tale of terror, but I've heard enough from the people next door to visualize the destruction. It had to have something to do with relationships. I say this because in one way or another everything good or bad stems from a type of relationship issue. The guy(I'll call him Bob), Bob, drove his vehicle into his wife's car parked next door. Ramming it repeatedly until both were utterly and completely destroyed. That is not good! Some might say that this was only the upshot of something going really wrong in his life, but the signs of problems were there a long time before the fuse burned down. Bob went ahead after destroying the vehicles to tear his home apart from end to end, smashing windows and walls with equal abandon. Basically making it look like something in a war zone. Not everyone comes apart this way, some do it silently, others don't even realize they've come apart, they just go through the motions of day to day living in their personal hell on earth without realizing that life could be better, a whole lot better! I'm idealistic. People have been telling me that for so long that I now simply admit it and move ahead. After all, somebody has to fit this label, too, you know? Bob is at one end of the spectrum and as such represents the worst(maybe not the epitomy of worst, but close)of what happens to people when their picture of life is fractured. Bob probably was trying to pull all the pieces back together for a long time before going hell bent in the direction of destruction. Perhaps(the idealist enters in)if he had the tools that faith provides for our lives there could have been a drastically different result from his dilemma.
Where we now have a son living with friends and a wife that is alienated beyond belief there might have been healing and new visions sought, if there had been a faith perspective upon which to draw. If you or anyone you know ever has the experience of "falling apart" please know that there is one whose sole purpose in this life is to bind up wounds, heal the afflictions, and make clear that which has become dim. Christ reaches out to all who would invite Him in and presents us with the tools by which we can be made whole. Not just once, but continually if that is what is needed. We can't just attempt to do it alone(we can, but it works about as well as frozen paste does as a substitue for hot wood glue)although we try that direction far too often. During the 60's there were lots of sayings about "getting it together," and "finding ourselves," looking back I think we were on the right track, we just didn't have all the necessary equipment. Things aren't always going to be perfect, but you and I can have at our disposal the "right" wrench that will prevent things from getting worse. Our world is populated with psychs of all kinds, counselors galore, not to mention the social workers and other well-meaning people available to "help" you and me. The truth is, the very best help we can ever get is found in faith in a Savior with whom, "all things are possible" for those who choose to believe. If life isn't what you would like it to be(whose is?)maybe you'd give God a shot at helping. He is always there, and He has some really good folks working for Him right in your neighborhood. God bless, Preacher.

Every Day Is "NOT" Perfect!!!

The picture depicts an idyllic scene in which everything is bright and cheery. That's one way we can tell how things are going in our personal lives, the things we see and how we perceive them. My alternate E-Mail is: prchth@yahoo.com; Should you have questions and are actively seeking answers let me know. God only knows what can be accomplished through faith. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Passing The Time

Evenings grow chilly on the northern plains as I ponder the events and lives encountered this past week. One night in particular stands out in stark contrast to the world in which we live. The moon is nearing full so walking in the woods was easy once my eyes adjusted to the dark. Scents emanating from the surrounding trees and undergrowth soon pervaded my olfactory sense as I drank in deeply the night air. Small creatures could be heard scurrying about amidst the undergrowth as I made my way further into the timber. I don't suppose I was gone from the group for more than half an hour, but the time was undiscernable, other than being gauged by the slow rise of earth's evening monitor. The tendency for me to wander in thought further served my ability to forget time. Songs emanated from the distant studio whose lights could only but just be seen through the overhanging limbs still weighted with leaves soon to be shed. There are no trails through these trees, so I quickly lost any direction other than the light behind and the stars above. It was beautiful! Night's calm only broken by the distant sound of the drum as it was brought repeatedly to life with the rhythmic poundings of many people. Their voices chanting songs now centuries, or more, old. Soon my mental images conjurred up a fire surrounded by people much like myself. An urge to create just such a fire overcame me and I hurriedly returned, retiring to the far side of the home and driveways, to the firepit where I indulged my fantasy of flickering firelight. Soon there was a blaze established and others began to join the circle. Again, since I wear no watch when working on God's time, I have no idea how long we were there, but by the time the fire had begun to dwindle many thoughts were shared. Observations of out world and it's continuing difficulties, comments on the recent economic upheavals, and, of course, all of the accompanying accolades concerning the work we are doing. Our prayers go up and out at times such as this to those who are in need, and those who suffer. It seems no matter how good our lives are we seek constantly in prayer to uplift those who are not so fortunate. Today one of our circle sojourns across the prairie to bring solace and comfort to a family in regard to the recent loss of their mother, another is arriving in our 4th largest city to receive a national award, yet another prepares for an evening of sharing the "old songs" with brothers and sisters in Colorado. I prepare to provide inspirational uplifting to the Body of Christ here in Brookings at First Baptist through music and song. We will all return to the circle next week to share our experiences of this and other days that we are apart, and that is good. It has always been this way, will always be this way! For some the passing of time is a constant source of anxiety over all the human concerns of life, for others it is enough to know that we are doing all we can to relieve the cause of the anxieties. When you worship tomorrow take a moment to give thanks for the good in your life. Life in and of itself is cause for celebration. Celebrating life in Christ provides the strength to make the much needed difference in others lives, and after all, is that not why our Savior came? He came to make a difference in my life, and in yours! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Just to let everyone know, this is the official version of the Triumph pic posted on the HOG thing. The other was without spousal approval. God bless, Preacher.