CHRISTIAN MEN'S RETREAT HODGEPODGE!

      First and foremost I want to wish Joyce, our beloved Queen of Queries, a wonderful birthday this week. Each week she comes up with a series of interesting questions that challenge both our thinking and our writing skills and sometimes exposes our lack in either one or both. So Happy Birthday your majesty! Now, the Hodgepodge!

1. I'm celebrating a birthday this week so a question relating to aging feels appropriate. Douglas MacArthur is quoted as saying, 'You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair." Would you agree? If not why not?

     I am a huge fan of General MacArthur. In my humble opinion he was the "Micahel Jordan" of warfare of his time. There were none better. Having said that, I have no idea what the general is talking about. Perhaps if I had more context I could fashion a coherent response. Therefore I neither agree nor disagree.

2. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily in your birthyear, just the same date/same month.
     On April 17, 1934, the home of my beloved Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, opened for the first time. The Red Sox hosted the Washington Senators...and lost. Since that date Fenway Park has become the oldest Major League stadium in the country. This year's Red Sox team has unfortunately carried on the tradition of that first day. I wonder how things would have been different over the years if they had won that first game. 

3. Describe a time or circumstance where you wanted to 'have your cake and eat it too.'
     I've got nothing! I really don't know.

4. What's something you do that makes you feel young? Something that makes you feel old?
     This question is so easy. Interestingly enough the answer to both parts of this question is the same...playing with my granddaughters.

5. When did you last do something that was 'a piece of cake'?
     Two weeks ago I had the privilege of delivering the sermon during our Sunday morning worship service. I preached a lesson from the Book of Ephesians. The Book of Epehesians is one of those books that essentially preaches itself. That was a piece of cake.
It went very well judging by the feedback I received after services.

6.  Beef, wine, and cheese all improve with age. What's something else you'd add to that list? (not necessarily food or beverage) 
     One thing that improves with age is marriage. I have been blessed to have found my soul mate. My beloved SWMBO has so enriched the quality of my life and it keeps getting better with each passing year. We still hold hands often. We love to sit together on the couch and cuddle while watching television. It has been so long since SWMBO had to open a door for herself that she may have forgotten how to do it. Marriage done right, the way it is intended to be done by it's inventor, improves with age.

7. If I were to have a giveaway when we hit Volume 200, what should I give away? By my calculations we'll hit Volume 200 on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, which means whoever wins would have whatever it is in time for Christmas.
     An all expenses paid trip to Hawaii comes to mind! Just kidding! A gift card to Barnes & Noble would seem to be an appropriate gift.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
     Every year around the third week in September men from the churches of Christ from around New England converge on Ganderbrook Christian Camp in Raymond, Maine, for the annual Men's Retreat. Each year a speaker is brought in to give a series of lessons on a given topic. Besides the excellent teaching, there is wonderful fellowship. I love speaking to men from around New England and beyond and hearing their "Jesus Stories." It is really encouraging to hear how God is working in the lives of His people. It's wonderful to hear stories of struggles overcome. It's fun to catch up with old friends about changes in their life, their family, and the church where they worship. It is one of the highlights of my year!

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY HODGEPODGE!

     Yesterday was the primary for the upcoming mid term congressional election. There were also primaries for candidates for statewide offices. SWMBO and I were proud to exercise our franchise together.  Also today is Wednesday and therefore it is the Hodgepodge. Joyce has come up with another series of questions to challenge us. Enjoy!

1. On Thursday we pause to remember a dark day in history-9/11. Will you mark it in some special way?

     I generally watch a retrospective on the attacks with any new information that has been learned since the attacks. I pray for the families of those who lost their lives in the attacks, particularly those brave police and firemen who ran towards those burning buildings against the tide of humanity that was running away. I sit in quiet contemplation on how we have changed as a country, as a people since the infamous day in September 2001.

2. Do you ever/still...listen to an actual radio? Watch a videotape (VCR)? Look up a number in a phonebook? Refer to a paper map while traveling? Set an alarm on an alarm clock as opposed to your phone?

     Yes, I still listen to a radio. I set my clock radio alarm that's on my night stand. I still rely on paper maps because sometimes when you're travelling you get into these locations that have no cell service. A paper map never goes down. I haven't watched a videotape in a long time but we still have a VCR and videotapes. I haven't used a phone book in awhile but I still keep one around, just in case.

3.  Is it ever a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don't know?

     It depends upon how you conduct yourself. If you are overbearing or condescending then things will get ugly fast. However, if you're able to present your point of view without being demeaning to the stranger it should be perfectly fine. Also, if you see that the stranger is getting annoyed you can always back off and change the subject to something less controversial.

4. What's a dish you haven't eaten all summer, but come September find yourself craving? Have you made it yet this month?

     For me it's corn on the cob. I hope to get some before September goes into the history book.

5. What's something you know nothing about?

     I know a little about a lot of things. I know a lot about a few things. I know nothing about everything else. To be specific, I know nothing about particle physics.

6. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like classical music? If so, what's your favorite piece?

     I do like classical music. I do not have a favorite piece. When I listen to classical music I  hear a piece that I like but I don't know the identity of the piece.

7. What's the oldest thing you own?

     Several years ago I reconnected with an older female cousin. She was the daughter of my mothers sister. We saw each other fairly often growing up but we lost track of each other when we grew up. She gave me some photographs of relatives who lived two plus generations ago who she did not know and referred to them as "the Ancients." I don't know any of these people either but the photographs are really old...much older than I am. The people in the photographs are related to us somehow but we just don't know how. That has to be the oldest thing I own.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
     You know, despite our problems this is the greatest country on the planet. I am truly impressed with the wisdom, foresight and intelligence of our founding fathers. I am saddened by the cavalier attitude and the way many of my fellow citizens fail to participate in the system. We are a government of the people, by the people and for the people. However, many of the people don't care enough to participate.
     I have already mentioned that yesterday was primary election day in New Hampshire. The voter turn out was low, something on the order of twenty percent of the registered voters came out to vote. 
     Our government derives their just power to govern by the consent of the people governed. If only twenty percent is giving consent on behalf of the remaining 80 percent who could not care less, that's a problem and we get the government that we deserve and not the government that we need.
     This Nation only works if the people do their part. The people are not doing their part. May God help us!

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A WANDERING MIND!

     Here are some random thoughts on the passing scene. I hope that you find them thought provoking and entertaining.

MID-TERM ELECTIONS: Here in the Granite State the mid-term elections are in full swing. The local television station has been sponsoring and broadcasting debates between the candidates for the various offices. I think it's important that the candidates have a chance to defend their positions on various issues of the day. We will be electing two congressmen, a governor, state senators and state representatives.

     Sadly, the one constant in these debates that I have seen thus far is the attempt of the candidates to not answer the questions posed to them with any specificity. I wish just once a candidate would boldly and unequivocally answer truthfully and specifically what they will do if they are elected. They seem more intent on not offending anyone than in informing anyone. 

     There has got to be a better way to select our representatives.

MANAGING TERRORISTS: Unless you have been living in a cave, there is a group of jihadists who have declared war on the United States. You may recall that several years ago a then unknown group of jihadists call Al Quaeda declared war on the United States. We dismissed them as not being a credible threat to us. These people orchestrated the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

     Well, President Obama has said that he was trying to organize a coalition of nations in the region to deal with the current threat that he once referred to be a "Jayvee Team." They are called ISIS and have massacred Iraqi and Syrian troops who had the audacity to challenge them. These jihadists recently beheaded a couple of journalists to send a message to the American people. The president is putting together a team of his own which he hopes will degrade ISIS to the point where they are manageable. Mr. President, with all due respect, YOU CANNOT MANAGE FANATICS!

     Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden has said with great emotion that the United States would follow these jihadists to the gates of hell. He apparently didn't get the president's memo.

     A commentator asked how can we believe that they will chase these evil thugs to the gates of hell when they won't even go after them across the Iraqi border into Syria where they are headquartered and from where they stage their attacks in Iraq? Good Question!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL: The National Football League kicked off their 2014/2015 season last night. The defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks pounded the Green Bay Packers in the season opener. What I find amusing is some of the talking heads on the sport talk shows are already predicting winners and losers. One game has been played and yet these prognosticators are predicting winners and losers. 

     Well, despite the fact that I have no expertise in these matters I predict that my beloved New England Patriots will be the 2014/2015 Super Bowl Champion. Remember, you heard it here first.

STEAMY BACK TO SCHOOL HODGEPODGE!

     Well Labor Day has come and gone and that means that so has the Summer of 2014. However, apparently the Granite State did not get that memo because it was close to 90 degrees today with humidity in the mid to high 60% range. That's hot and sticky...very hot and very sticky. SWMBO is having a ball. She loves this type of weather and does not even have the common courtesy to "glow" just a little bit. Me, I'm "glowing" like a pig!
     Oh well, let's try and cool off by answering this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge questions. Thank you Joyce for this week's posers.

1.  What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to actually doing?

     I would have liked to rent a cabin alongside a cool fresh mountain lake and spend a few days enjoying the beauty of lake living... Maybe next year.

2. Share a favorite memory of your own back -to-school days as a child.

     Favorite back-to-school memory? Really? You've got to be kidding! I hated to see the summer end. I always had lots of fun with my friends playing baseball, going fishing and playing all kinds of games throughout the summer. I lived just over a block from the Merrimack River where I had tons of adventures either by myself or with my group of friends. Favorite back-to-school memory? Sorry, not no way not now how!

3.  What's one chore or daily task you prefer doing 'old-school' ?

     There are no chores I liked doing...period! What part of "chores" do you not understand? If chores were enjoyable they wouldn't be called CHORES Just saying!

4.  Share something you've learned in life through the 'school of hard knocks'.

     Way back in 1971 I had a 1965 Chevrolet Bel Air with a small V-8 engine. Back in those days the distributor (That part of the engine that sent a spark to the cylinders to cause the gas to combust. Hence the name internal combustion engine.) had points which open and closed as the engine ran. Those points had to be gapped. Also there was a coil that sent about 15,000 volts through the gap to the cylinders. When you check the gap of the points it was important to make sure that the ignition with was in the "OFF" position. On one occasion the ignition switch was in the "ON' position. I proceeded to check the gap with a metal gauge designed for that purpose. I completed the circuit and received an electrical shock from the coil that caused my arm to go numb for about an hour. LESSON LEARNED! 
  

5.  As a child, did you mostly bring or buy your lunch for school? What was your favorite thing to find in your lunchbox?

     I usually brought my lunch and sometimes was given money to buy a carton of milk. I loved finding Hostess devil's food cup cakes with cream filling in my lunch bag. They made my day.

6. Football season is upon us which has me wondering... how big of a sports fan are you (not just football) ? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being 'I scream at the players through my television screen' and 1 being 'is knitting a sport?' where do you fall in fandom? 

     I like football. I'm about a 7 N.E. Patriots football fan which means I sometimes yell at the TV. I also watch Boston Bruins ice hockey. I'm about a 9 hockey fan. Which means I yell at the TV and sometimes at SWMBO. Finally, I am a baseball fan. I'm about a 5 or 6 Boston Red Sox fan which means I sometimes read a book or surf the Internet during games.

7. Share a favorite quote you think might inspire students of all ages at the start of a new school year.
     "A man learns to skate by staggering about making a fool of himself: indeed, he progresses in all things by making a fool of himself." Bernard Shaw In addition to the quote I would encourage the student to try new things knowing that everybody struggles at first but the effort to learn is worth the risk of making a fool of yourself.

8. Insert your own Random Thought here.
     Are you a Bible reader? Do you regularly open that wonderful and miracle Book and expose yourself to the wisdom, the comfort, the warnings to be found therein. I am amazed at the number of times that God tells us in the Bible to "fear not!" He says that we need not fear because we are His and there is no reason to fear. 
     "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases. HIS mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is HIS faithfulness. The LORD is my portion says my soul, therefore I will hope in HIM" (Lamentations 3:22-24) The Prophet Jeremiah prophesied some terrible things that were going to befall the Jewish people. And yet he proclaimed this truth found in Chapter 3, verses 22-24 of his Book of Lamentations. God's love for us NEVER stops. HIS mercies NEVER comes to and end. They are NEW every morning. 
     So when the Bible says to "Fear Not" you can believe it because it is true! May God bless you this week!

LABOR DAY NOT WORKING HODGEPODGE!

      Welcome back Joyce and thanks for another set of thought provoking questions. I don't know where you come up with all these posers. Anyways here are my thoughtful responses.

1. As August draws to a close, share what's been your favorite weekend of the entire summer?

     There have been a coupe of weekends where the chores were done and we didn't have anywhere we needed to be so we went out to dinner. On Monday SWMBO and I reflected on the weekend and realized that we had a really nice weekend.  Moral of the story...you will have good times often without noticing them. PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!

2. Labor Day is marked in the US of A on Monday, September 1st.  What paying job have you held that you've loved the most? Liked the least?

     I was a police shift supervisor working 5:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m., Wednesday thru Saturday. I had three days off each week. That was my favorite assignment. The worse job I have ever had was as a busboy/dishwasher in a restaurant. The job drew a huge vacuum and my boss was a jerk. 

3. Does the new school year start before or after Labor Day where you live? When do you think it should begin? There is much discussion now about older students having later start times to their school day...your thoughts?

     Some parochial and charter schools begin before Labor Day. Some towns begin the school year before Labor Day. Others begin after Labor Day. I would prefer that school begin after Labor Day. As far a starting time goes I don't have an opinion. I leave it to the Educrats!

4. What's something you've worked at recently that could be deemed a 'labor of love'?

     Recently SWMBO told me that I was cooking supper. I asked her what she wanted for supper. She said that she did not care as she was not cooking it. So I diced a Kielbasa and sautéed it with onions, green and red peppers and vidalia onion BBQ sauce and served it with a side of macaroni and cheese. We both enjoyed it. That was a labor of love. The best part is that I cleaned up the kitchen and dishes afterwards so SWMBO didn't have to.

5.Which of the following work idioms can you most relate to right now...'A woman's work is never done.', 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' 'Many hands make light work.'

      Definitely "A woman's work is never done!" The proper training of a husband takes a lifetime and that job is never done. I have always suspected that that's why SWMBO learned how to train dogs because she has much better success with them than she does with her husband who has a mind of his own. 

6. Crab or lobster or thanks, but no thanks? Favorite way to have your choice prepared?

     Thanks but no thanks! I have a food allergy to seafood. 

7. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, 'Three rules of work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.' Which of the three do you consider to be the most important? Share one of your own 'rules of work'.

     I'll go with "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." The entire history of man has been the pursuit of trying to make difficult things easier and more efficient to do. Case in point the farm tractor, the washing machine and dryer, central heating and central air-conditioning, the automobile, etc.
     Also Super Glue, WD-40, Post It Notes and a whole panoply of things that we use today were created out of trying to create something else. These are the quintessential examples of Einstein's third rule in my humble opinion.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     Are Christians persecuted in the United States today? Some would answer that question with an unqualified "Yes!" They go on to explain that the courts are hostile to religion given the decisions that bar the display of the Ten Commandments on public property. They might recount an anecdote where a teacher refused to allow a Christian student to write an essay on a Biblical topic or story. Another may recount an experience where they were required to work on Sundays thereby preventing them from going to church and practicing their religion.
     In my humble opinion the Christians ARE NOT persecuted in America. Consider the Sudan. A group of Christians worshipping in their building are interrupted by soldiers firing their rifles into the building killing as many worshippers as possible or soldiers throw a couple of hand-grenades into the assembly also killing as many worshippers as possible. In Nigeria 200 plus Christian girls were kidnapped by Muslim extremists and are being forced to either convert to Islam or be sold into slavery. 
     Consider China...Christians are routinely imprisoned for years for simply preaching the name of Jesus. In North Korea a Christian is put into prison for simply possessing one page of the Holy Bible.
     So if you ask me if Christians are persecuted in America I have to say "No." However, if Christians do not participate in society by speaking out for the cause of Christ, or standing up for their civil rights and for the cause of Christ, or performing their civic duty by voting for God fearing candidates, then things could degenerate to the point where real persecution occurs in this so called Land of the Free. 
     What do YOU think?

THE IDES OF AUGUST HODGEPODGE!

1. The best part of waking up is____________________________________.

     Folgers in your cup! All kidding aside the best part of waking up is that you get another clean sheet of paper to fill in and add to the book that is your life.

2.  Given a choice, which animal interaction would you most like to experience (or for those non-adventurers...which would you dislike the least?)- Swim with the dolphins at one of several locations in the Florida Keys, a lion encounter ten minutes from Victoria Falls (Africa), or a day at a remote base camp high in the Big Sur wilderness via the Ventana Wildlife Society helping track California condors?

     I am going with swimming with the Dolphins. 

3. What is something you fear about 'old age'? What is something you look forward to?

    I fear not being clear of mind and/or vision. I look to growing old gracefully with my beloved SWMBO and enjoying our grandchildren.
   
4. Hot sauce...are you a fan? If you answered yes, what's something you make/eat that must have hot sauce? On a scale of 1-10 how hot is too hot?

     I am not a fan of hot sauce per se. I do like some hot dishes such as chili and some salsas.
Anything hotter than six or seven is too hot.
  

5. It's been said that children learn what they live. What do you think children learn at your house?

     I think they learned the importance of loving and obeying God every day. I think they learned to treat people with respect and kindness. I think they learned that marriage is a tremendous blessing. I also taught them the importance of laughing every day.

6. What's your favorite movie with a number in it's title?

     I have several - Thirteen Days in October (Cuban Missile Crisis); Zero Dark Thirty; Stalag 17; The Dirty Dozen; Gone in Sixty Seconds, to name a few.

7. Saturday (August 16th) is National Tell a Joke Day...share one here.

     What do you do with an elephant with three balls? 
      Answer - Walk him and pitch to the rhinoceros.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

     We learned on Monday that Robin Williams succumbed to depression and took his own life. Robin Williams was an immensely talented comedian and dramatic actor. By all accounts by those who either knew him or encountered him, Robin was a decent, generous, unpretentious man. He treated all with respect and went out of his way to encourage others. He was a fervent supporter of our troops and often went overseas to entertain them.
      Depression is such a horrible and insidious disease. It's kind of like a cancer of the soul. I wished that Robin had reached out to someone and let them know how much he was hurting. If you, like Robin, are hurting please reach out to someone, anyone! Suicide has been described as a long term solution to a short term problem. IT IS NOT THE ANSWER!
     May Robin rest in peace!

SUMMER 2014 HODGEPODGE!

          It is the end of July 2014 already. The older I get the more quickly time seems to go by. Well, it's Wednesday and it's time for another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce for another set of thought provoking questions.

1. "Summer is like childhood. It's full of warm memories and gone too soon."~Kellie Elmore  Agree or disagree? Share something you loved about the summers of your childhood.

     I totally agree. Summers were filled with pick up baseball games, family vacations, family swims in the local lake, exploring a nearby river and going on adventures with your group of friends. 
     One of my favorite things to do during the summers was after supper Dad would load us and a few of our friends in the car and he'd drive us to a nearby lake. We would swim for a couple of hours, often with Dad joining in on our water games. Fun times!

2. Are you a fan of auto racing-NASCAR, Indy, Stock, Grand Prix, etc? Ever been to a race in person? Any desire to do this?  Do you know a lot about cars? Do you notice particular makes and models when you're out and about?

     I am NOT a fan of any of the motor sports. I did work a police detail at a NASCAR Race a couple of times. I did get to witness the start of a race and a few laps. It was way too loud and got boring after a while. I don't know much about cars but I do notice the various makes and models as I drive hither and yon.

3. What's something you think is too serious to be joked about? Or do you think anything and everything is fair game?

     I don't think that anything is off limits from a joking point of view. However the context and time may be inappropriate. We often deal with serious or painful situations with humor. Appropriate humor often soothes pain and helps quicken healing. Like the book of Ecclesiastes teaches "There is a time for every purpose under heaven."

4. July 29th is National Lasagna Day. Are you a fan? Do you have a great recipe, and if so where did it come from? If given a choice would you choose a plate of lasagna or a plate of spaghetti?

     I love Lasagna! SWMBO makes the best Lasagna I have ever had. I don't know where she got her recipe but it is stupendous. If given a choice between Spaghetti and Lasagna I might go either way. I like them both.

5. What's a simple pleasure you'd miss if it were not a regular part of your life?

     I would miss going out to dinner at a restaurant with SWMBO. Eating out is one of our favorite things to do. We love having a meal without the fur babies present, focusing on each other for an hour or two. 

6. If you could be the CEO of any company, which would you choose?

     I have no idea! I'm really not the CEO type. I'm more of a "2nd Banana" type of person, a middle manager kind of thing.

7. August is just around the bend...bid farewell to July in exactly seven words.

     July, our time together was too brief!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

     Last week my Random Thought was on the theme that truth matters. Truth matters in all areas of life, none more so than our spiritual life. There is a truism that I find compelling "We are not bodies that has a soul, but rather we are souls that has a body." 
     Here are three truths that really matter. First, GOD EXISTS! There is overwhelming evidence that shows that God exists. Belief if the God of the Bible is reasonable and rational. I would commend the book "I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist" by Dr. Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. They make this point so much better than I can.
     Second, the Bible is true, that is, it is what it purports to be-the inspired Word of God. The Bible was written over a period of about 1500 years by 40 different authors from varying backgrounds. Bible prophecy has been 100% accurate and 100% fulfilled with the exception of prophecy concerning the end times and Jesus' second coming. However, those events will unfold as prophesied.
     Third, Jesus is the Messiah spoken about in the pages of the Bible. Jesus was crucified and rose on the third day. The historical fact is (1) that His tomb was empty. (2) The religious leaders conspired with the guards who were posted to secure the tomb to put forward the narrative that Jesus' body was stolen by His disciples. (Matt 28:11-15) People don't conspire to tell the truth about something. All the religious leaders had to do to prove Jesus did not rise is to produce the body. Also, (3) Jesus was seen by many people after His resurrection. At one time as many as 500 people saw him.
     So these are just three truths that matter. There are many, many more. Please take the time to check them out for yourself. You will find the truth if you honestly and sincerely look for it. It is well worth the effort. May God bless you in your search!