April 16 – “Happy Resurrection Day!”

I am writing this post the night before because we are getting up around 4:30 to get out to the sunrise service on the beach.  It was a bust day.  Started out by loading up the truck with the supplies we bought at Sam’s.  Then it was head over to pick up Cailyn.  She was coming with us to the Jamaica Beach Easter egg hunt.  There were lots of kids there, too.  So many that Cailyn decided right away that she didn’t really want to pick up eggs after all.  She did see and spend some time with a few friends she knew from school and church.  I think her favorite thing was the petting zoo piglets.  At least it was her Mom’s.  When we sent some pictures, April wanted her to bring home a piglet.  I sent a suggestion photo, to which Nathan replied, “That’s not much bacon.”  Guess the piglet is out of the question.

From the park we went up to the church to unload and do whatever preliminary setup we could get done.  Jim came to help, as did Lauren and a new volunteer fire fighter, Tristan.  He is attending Texas A&M on the Island, so we hope to be seeing more of him.  Between us we got the tables set up for the breakfast buffet, and moved the chairs down from the retreat center.  I even managed to vacuum and clean off the whiteboard.  I think we are all set for the service and the folks to come for breakfast afterwards.  Then comes the Easter egg hunt around 8:30.  And after that is the communion service at 10:00.  Full day ahead …

Luke 24:1-8 says, “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’  Then they remembered his words.”

Father, join with us on the beach in the morning.  Amen.  

April 15 – “A Good Day”

Ah, April 15^th.  The tax day that isn’t really tax day until the 18^th because it falls on the weekend.  Easter weekend.  We have already sent our info to our preparer and received the bad news and sent in our payment, so fortunately for us, this is just another day.  Pretty great day, though.  Easter is coming. 

Yesterday we hosted our family Easter egg day.  Kel’s brood (sans Kel, which means without Kel … I learned some Latin) was here, as were Nathan and April and Cailyn.  They dove right in … literally in Noa’s case.  She didn’t have time to fiddle with the specially made egg holders that come with the dye kits.  She didn’t even have time to slip an egg into the whisk tool that Chris had on the table.  Nope.  Not Noa.  Her little hands fit perfectly into the coffee mugs that held the dye, so that’s where they went.  Color didn’t really matter to her.  I think she tried every one we had.  My favorite image came around about green time.  Her hands looked just like Selena, the green wicked witch in Once Upon a Time.  Chris managed to salvage another egg for her strange Easter hobby.  She gets everyone to sign one egg with crayon, then colors it, then sets it into a bowl full of eggs from Easters past.  As long as they don’t break, all is good.  The insides eventually shrivel up and become dust.  I sat in the recliner and watched the action this year.  I was assigned Nickel (Ezra) duty.  He and I lolled about, watching everybody else do all the hard work.  Our kids do like eggs, though.  In fact Uncle Nathan finally suggested that we move on to lunch after Micah finished wolfing down his third egg. 

With a roast in the crock pot, all Chris had to do was heat up the veggies and rolls and we were good to go.  Great food.  Great family.  Hard to beat.  Unless, of course, there are some hidden eggs to be found.  Always a hit with the kids, they then headed out to the front yard to locate some candy (and money) filled plastic egg delights.  I heard Micah say he was hoping to garner five dollars or so.  He is saving up for something special he wants to buy.  13 year old Jachin was excited to get to be a part of the hunt, even though he was restricted to finding eggs at his waist height or above.  I joined Noa in her search.  Several of the rascally eggs were strewn about the ground, so she was able to find quite a few on her own.  Thank you to the older kiddos for racing right past them to the more challenging finds.  They all seemed to have a good time, and I’m sure they will make short work of their new stashes of candy.  You wouldn’t think parental units would do any restricting on that end, would you?

Titus 3:8 says, “This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”

Father, thank you for all the Good Friday means.  Your sacrifice is what makes it, and every day, a Good Day.  Amen.

April 14 – “Honor Guard Academy 2017”

The Honor Guard Academy has been taking place once again in Galveston this week.  Four Galveston fire fighters were enrolled.  I haven’t been able to go as often as I did last year, but Nathan has been one of the local department liaisons again.  He and Dustin Burnett from our Galveston Fire Department Honor Guard have arranged for venues, provided water for the classes, arranged for a rental car for the instructors, and even set up a closing party for the class.  Lots of work, but the results make for some well-trained and procedurally consistent honor guards across the region. 

I did manage to join the group yesterday for the mock line of duty death funeral scenario held at the old cemetery on Broadway here in Galveston.  It’s a pretty elaborate training setup.  Our local union loaned out their fire truck to use to deliver the coffin, which was included in a supply training trailer loaned to us for the occasion by the Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force.  There was a bugle for playing taps, a ceremonial ax and rifle as well as flags for the color guard, and James Short, one of our Galveston fire fighters, agreed to be there to play his bagpipes.  Fabulous job, by the way, James.  I was recruited to play the part of … the chaplain performing the ceremony. 

We did have a light-hearted moment or two amidst the intensity of folding flags just so and keeping in step and remembering commands.  During the first run-through everyone was in place around the casket.  It was time for the graveside ceremony to begin.  The instructor turned to me and said, “Chaplain, it’s all yours.”  I waited silently for about a three count, just long enough for him to walk solemnly away from the casket, step down onto the pathway, and turn to face me again.  Then I said, “Amen,” and nodded back to him.  He was surprised, and it took him a second or two to realize that “the service” was over, but he recovered quickly.  He returned to the casket area and called the trainees to begin removing the flag, folding it, and making the presentation to the family.  Finally the instructor re-entered his funeral role and made his final mock announcement along the lines of, “The family thanks you for coming and there will be a reception over at the Elk’s Lodge.”  One the second run-through, he exited the staging area with, “It’s all yours, Padre.”  Well, since he changed his approach, I guess I had to change as well.  So this time I said, “Get right with God now.  It’ll make things a lot easier then.  Amen.”  Apparently this time it was more than he expected.  He actually laughed out loud before coming up to make his concluding remarks to the crowd about the reception.  I was going to interrupt him during his speech this time.  Had it all planned.  “The Elk’s Lodge was currently involved in a four alarm fire and there was a hostage situation at the high school next door.  All personnel were being called in immediately.  No exceptions.”  He was too quick for me, though.  Also, it was getting hot.  I knew the students were ready for a water break at least. 

Today is the graduation ceremony.  I’m going in for that as well.  I think I’m doing the invocation and benediction.  Honor Guard Academy.  Fire fighters and police officers, put it on your bucket list to attend and take the information back to your departments.  Well worth the effort.  And special kudos once again to Galveston Honor Guard liaisons Nathan Vaughan and Dustin Burnett.  Well done.

Titus 3:4-7 says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Father, walk with these men and women as they return to their departments and shifts.  Keep them and their brothers and sisters safe.  Amen.

April 13 – “Something wrong with your meter …”

So we had a power outage the other day.  There had already been several obvious surges over the course of the storm system that was blowing through the Island.  The lights had flickered three or four times, so we weren’t surprised when it did happen. 

We had just returned home from picking up Cailyn at school.  That was kind of fun in itself, by the way.  I had an umbrella, but she insisted that she didn’t need one.  It would only hamper her style.  Needless to say, by the time we arrived at the truck her shoes, and much of her body, were drenched.  But how can you expect to stay dry when you are busy leaping into and sloshing through puddles?  That’s just … silly.

The power went out within minutes after we got back to the house.  I went ahead and called it in to the power company, just to be sure they had a record of the outage.  Silly me.  Apparently the computer couldn’t understand my Island dialect.  It kept asking me if I needed more time to formulate my response.  All I had to do was read off some numbers.  But apparently that particular set of numbers just wasn’t among those deemed recognizable by the computer powers that be.  I was finally transferred to a human being.  Imagine that.

The lady who took my call was actually very nice.  It took her a few minutes, but whatever she was looking at on her computer finally let her know that there was, indeed, an area wide outage in our area.  It was scheduled to be repaired “no later than 1700 hours.  That’s military time, you know.  It means … um … let’s see … um … I think that would be something like … um … five o’clock.” 

I thanked her and started to hang up when she stopped me.  Well, I guess she didn’t actually stop me.  I could have hung up.  But she asked if I could hold on a second while she checked one other screen.  Foolishly, I agreed.  Sure enough, something on her second screen gave her this information: “Um … I’m sorry, sir, but this screen is telling me that there is something wrong with your meter.  It shows that it is off.  Now, there could be trouble on your end of the meter.  We’re going to have to send out a technician to check it out.  And if the problem is on your end it will cost $50.” 

OK.  Is it just me?  Did I miss something?  Was there some other information that I just didn’t hear?  Was I interpreting what I had heard correctly?  Correct me if I’m wrong.  She had just told me that there was an area wide power outage.  No power was reaching the houses in our neighborhood.  Wouldn’t that, by definition, mean that the meter that records power usage as it enters the house would not be receiving any power, either?  I told her to feel free to send out a technician if she felt that she must, but I didn’t see how something on our side of the meter could cause the meter itself to lose power. 

We were in the dark for about another hour.  Cailyn treated us to an afternoon’s worth of powerless card games by flashlight.  We didn’t actually need the flashlight.  It was still daylight outside, but the flashlight did make the adventure a lot more fun.  Reminded me of some of the hurricane adventures we enjoyed as kids.  The power finally came back on, though.  Oh, and we never saw hide nor hair of a repair technician.

Titus 3:1-2 says, “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

Father, thank you that your power never goes off.  We always have access to it.  Amen.

April 12 – “Interesting encounter”

Chris and I had another of our “interesting encounters” yesterday.  This one came as we were sitting together in the office.  Chris was reading the newspaper.  Yes, we still read the newspaper.  Of course its value has somewhat deteriorated from information to entertainment, but we remain loyal to the concept, nonetheless.  I was working at the computer. 

Suddenly we heard the tell-tale thud that ordinarily results in the discovery of an errant avian who had tried unsuccessfully to take a shortcut from the back yard to the front through our glass back doors.  Our closed glass back doors.  It happens more than you might imagine.  Chris got up to investigate, to see if there was anything she could do.  Ever the diligent nurse, you know.  And within seconds I heard, “Kelley, where’s Freddy?  Get her.  I got her.  Oh.  Oh.  It’s … Come here.  Come in here.”  Now how can anyone concentrate after an appeal like that?  I quickly left my post and made my way into the den, where Chris stood sort of hunching over, grasping tightly to a confused Freddy.  She pointed just as I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.  A bird had indeed struck the back door, but this one was now inside the house. 

Leaping into action, I raced over and opened the back door to give it an escape route.  On my way I queried, “How did it get in?  Did you remember to close all the windows when you washed them?”  Yes, Chris does do windows.  They look fabulous, by the way.  Of course she had remembered, so that avenue of entry was rapidly tossed aside.  My next thought, as I followed the little sparrow into the office, was perhaps it had flapped its wings at such an incredibly fast rate that the vibrations had enabled him to actually pass through the molecules of the glass door unharmed.  The noise we heard was simply the result of a lack of concentration during his attempt to make the return trip.  Hey, it works for The Flash.  I actually used to have the comic book where he taught Superman how to do that.  I never mentioned that possibility out loud, though.  Some secrets are better left unrevealed.  The only other possibility was that he had somehow made his way through the flap on the dog’s door.  Not unheard of, I suppose.  But I still lean toward the super speed explanation myself. 

By that time our visitor had decided to take a break, and I knew right then that all would be well.  See, he was an Astros fan.  He landed on one of my Astros hats and rested while I made my way to prop open the front door.  I saluted him as I cleared his escape route, and he nodded almost imperceptibly at me as he flew directly out the door.  Hey, us Astros fans of all shapes and sizes … and species … have to stick together.  Oh, and Freddy?  She still has no idea what was going on.  She did enjoy cuddling with Mommy, though.

Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

Father, thank you for all of your creatures, fast and slow.  Amen.

April 11 – “List-maker Life”

Easter week is officially in full swing.  Monday was dedicated to the computer for the most part.  I had to get rolling on the two worship services coming up on Sunday.  That meant two teachings (Can’t use the same one.  Some people go to both services.  Wouldn’t want anybody who has already been awake since 4:30 a.m. to get too bored).  Before I could start on those, though, I had to get my weekly to-do list organized. 

Now that’s something about me that you may not know.  I am an incessant list-maker.  That’s how I start my Mondays every week.  In fact I even have a file saved on the computer so I can just print out the weekly stuff and add things that come up at the bottom.  Oh, I’ve tried putting it all on my phone’s Notes App, but there’s a problem.  I have to open the phone.  Then scroll to the right app.  Then open the app.  Then locate the right page of notes.  There’s just something to be said in favor of good ol’ dead tree paper notes.  I do recycle, though.  I save and use the backs of old sermon notes.  I know, I know.  I still use paper there, too.  I don’t have a fancy iPad, though.  Maybe some day I’ll enter the 20^th century.  Oh, wait.  Or would that be the 21^st century?  See how far behind I actually am?  So I guess in the meantime I will remain slow and happy and hang onto my paper lists. 

I just looked around on my desk.  There is my weekly to do list, the one I print off every Monday.  Then there is a list entitled “Sunday List.”  That’s the one so I won’t forget anything when we have to leave the house around 4:30 a.m. or so to get to the Sunrise Service.  At that hour one might forget something.  Then there is one that just says “milk crates.”  Nathan called yesterday and asked if the Honor Guard Academy could borrow some milk crates that we have here at the house.  Oh, and there is one other list here.  It is more of a phone message type hodgepodge of stuff.  People in the hospital.  Various events at the Honor Guard Academy that I would like to go see.  Those kinds of things.  I do need to add a shopping list somewhere in there.  We are almost out of fruit and we’re getting low on dog food.  Sigh.  The life of a list maker is never ending.

Titus 2:6-8 says, “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

Father, thank you for the chance to be involved in so many things that I have to have a list to stay organized.  Sure makes life fun.  Amen.

April 10 – “Praisin’ is fun”

Well … Palm Sunday.  That’s one of my favorite days of the church year.  That’s because it is all about praise, and praise can have so many different looks.  This year we started out by giving everyone who arrived a palm frond to represent their praise.  They were all different sizes and shapes and conditions.  Application? 

• Some long, some short – The ways we praise can look very different - But they’re all from the same tree! - as long as we’re praising the same Jesus!
• Some frayed at the end – Sometimes we come to praise and worship with a frayed attitude.  And your attitude is often the reason you “don’t get anything out of it”
• Some look dead – There are times when you come to worship and just feel … nothing.  The reasons might be varied, but the result is the same.  You just can’t wait to get home.  Your praise is dead.
• A lot more are in the box than are in people’s hands – Sometimes we come to church and never get around to picking up the praise frond.  Oh, we listen.  We smile.  We may even be quite cordial.  But we never get around to actually praising Jesus!

The day started out with a very solemn song, Pilate’s Song from Jesus Christ Superstar.  All the lights were dimmed as Jim sang it, and he had really captured everyone’s attention.  Just as he finished, I was standing in the back of the room with a megaphone.  I shouted through it, “Hosannah!” several times as I made my way to the front.  Chris said the entire section nearest to me nearly jumped out of their seats.  I would call that effective, I guess. 

As we worked through the passage in Luke 19:28-47, we came across mention of the towns Bethphage and Bethany, meaning House of Figs and House of Dates, respectively.  At this point we passed around plates full of Fig Newtons and dates for everyone to try.  There were a few turned up noses, but there were more than a few who were pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of the dates in particular.

Later on I managed to get one guy to agree to walk on my coat.  I think he might have enjoyed it a little too much, though.  He was willing to dance on it fi I wanted him to.  And no, I did not compare him to the donkey in the story that walked across the coats of the people.  He was more in the category of a king who was receiving homage. 

The commitment time was a four parter.  First, everyone brought his palm frond to the cross in the front of the room and placed it on the ground.  Then they picked up a cross made from a palm frond instead.  A little symbolism for Luke 9:23, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 

Next they had to trade the cross they had with someone else … as many times as they wanted to, introducing themselves or just saying, “Hosannah.”  Once that was accomplished we debriefed about the palm crosses. 

• Some are double-thick.  Some are long and skinny.  None look exactly the same.  Neither is the cross you carry - your individual sacrifice to God – exactly the same as the one I carry.  But they are both crosses.  It’s the same Jesus!
• What did you think about having to give up/trade off the one you picked out?  You can’t always pick the way you will serve Jesus.  That is determined by what those around you need.

The last charge was more like homework.  As a symbol of their understanding that praise is powerful … as a means for them to remember that if they don’t offer praise because of their relationship with Jesus, then the rocks and stones will … they were encouraged to find or create their own Palm Sunday symbol.  Color a picture with kids or grandkids.  Pick up a rock.  Put a handful of sand in a baggies.  Set aside a seashell. 

And remember, any of those things could suddenly break out in praise to Jesus … if you don’t. 

Psalms 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.”

Father, thank you for fun praise days like Palm Sunday.  Please visit our Easter Sunrise and later the communion service next week.  Amen.