November 6 - “Settin’ the Jesus hook”

Chris had a device clinic check on her cardiac implant yesterday. Appointment was for 9 a.m.  they called her back at 8:50. We were in the elevator heading to the car at 8:48. How often does that happen?

On the way home we stopped by the monument place to pay for the headstone for Sam and her brother Ronnie. Shouldn’t be long now before we can do the burial. 

A friend sent me a link to a cowboy devotional page. It was called Second Chance Cowhand’s Daily Devotional. The page she sent was called Roping in the Spirit. I know. What does the Galveston beach kid have to do with cowboys? Well, it seems the piece was written by a young man who sort of stumbled into one of our youth meetings way back when I was a bumbling youth pastor in Houston. Here’s a segment of his story.

“So for me the Good Lord utilized some pretty girls that were involved in a local Baptist Church. Their parents for all of the right reasons would not let them hang around me. So I thought I will go up to this Wednesday night youth hangout deal they went to and their parents couldn’t say anything about that because it was open to the public. What I didn’t know was they had a youth leader there his name was Kelly, when I walked in to that gym he saw a 10 pound bass. He set the Jesus hook into me. 

The point is if you are a Christian parent what are you doing to make sure your children are learning about Jesus?”

Great point, Sammy. Thanks for letting God use you. 

Psalms‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ says,  How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

Father, bless Sammy as he continues touching people in his unique way. Amen. 

November 5 -“Cinnamon Toast Kit Kat?”

Work day yesterday. We headed into Texas to check out some of the final items at the house up there so we can be ready for whenever the will is finally probated. Took us four hours (so, 8 total) to get to where we can call that one kind of ready for the big dumpster. Now we just need a go-ahead from the lawyer and the judge. 

After eating some lunch and getting cleaned up (believe me … we both needed both things!), we made our way to Randall’s to get some gas in the car and to pick up a few prescriptions for Chris. Their computer has been harassing me all weekend to come get them. All right. Already. 

After Randall’s we just had to stop in on Walmart. Hard to pass that old friend by without giving her a little nudge. Especially when we were out of grapes and oranges. Still had a few bananas, believe it or not. Chris found a few extra Fall-type items on clearance, and I may or may not have nabbed a Cinnamon Toast flavored large-sized Kit Kat bar. My new favorite at Halloween (along with candy corn, of course). And as a bonus … we each got a big hug from Pedrameh. Gotta love it. 

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ says, Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things.

Father, thank you for the chance to spend the day working hard with my best friend. Amen. 

November 4 - “Compañeros”

Five or six members of the Compañeros motorcycle gang passed us on the road to church. Looked like nice enough guys. Welcome to Lone Star Rally week. P. S. They didn’t come to church. 

But the members of the Christian Motorcycle Association who are staying in the retreat center were at church. In fact, one of them shared with the group about the work they do in reaching out to bikers from all over who have come to the rally. Great folks. Already making plans for next year. 

Last night we had one of the best discussions yet in our youth Experiencing God session. At least we did in the small group I have. If you ask one of them what we talked about, their reply will probably be, “Ouija boards and witches.”  That did come up, but let me hasten to add Galatians 5:22-23 provided a strong counter to the other. Great discussion, guys. I’m proud of you. 

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ says, See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

Father, bless the folks who work with the Christian motorcyclists to spread your word. Amen. 

November 3 - “Getting ready”

We snuck in our two miles again yesterday. Had to do some dodging of pesky raindrops, but we got all the way without a downpour. That downpour did make an appearance, though. Several times, in fact. We had thunderstorms all afternoon. Even had the power kick off for a few seconds. Just long enough to make us have to reset the clocks. But, hey! We had to do that anyway. It was “Fall back” day. 

Chris spent a lot of time working on her sewing cabinet and the new shelves. She’s getting there. Looks really good so far. I spent my morning working on the Bible study for home group next week and then on the sermon for when I preach on the 10th. Gotta get stuff ready. November has a lot going on already. 

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ says, Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.

Father, be with us at church today. Draw the folks you want to be there. Amen. 

November 2 - “The Stainless Steel Next”

Well, it would appear that we are now stainless steel refrigerator owners. Not that we actually have one or anything ridiculous like that. But we did cancel the order for the other one and now the stainless one is due to arrive on Thursday. Am I wrong to remain skeptical?

Since we were at Home Depot anyway, we decided to get some shelving materials. Chris has been wanting to better organize her own sewing and quilting. Now I wouldn’t begrudge her such an outstanding opportunity. How could I? 

It took some doing. We had to navigate our pretty full garage to get to the ladder. I had to shuffle around some patiently waiting boxes of Christmas decorations to get to the stud finder. Fortunately, I had a level in the easily accessible tool kit, and the power screw driver battery was fully charged. The shelving system was like no other we have attempted in the past. I can guarantee that it will take some doing to pull these off the wall. But they are up, and they look pretty good, too. We done good. Now Chris just has to fill ‘em up. 

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ says, But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Father, we are really trusting that this new fridge attempt works out. Any help from your end would be greatly appreciated. Amen. 

November 1 - “Aaaannnd again!”

Back at it this fine (read here hot and muggy) Halloween weekend. Two miles around the neighborhood, checking out decorations and “Howdy-in’” some neighbors. Everybody looked ready for the influx of youngsters. 

Weelllll … it has happened. Again. I got a text from Home Depot. “Your delivery has been rescheduled for November 18th.” Here we go again. I really don’t know what our next step will be. I don’t think we want to wait it out … again. That means canceling the order … again. And then finding another fridge that is guaranteed to be in stock … again. That’s never worked before, though. Oh well. 

Last night we hosted that aforementioned customary influx of kiddos. We had the cases of New Testaments from the Gideons as well as the bikers. Not to mention, of course … Candy. Oh, and pizza. Gotta have some pizza. We didn’t have as many folks handing out treats as usual, and the rain really put a damper on things in general, but it was still fun. And we actually ran out of New Testaments. 300.  

My two favorite anecdotes this year came first when a little guy got the Bible and ran to his mother. He jabbered something in Spanish that - best I could translate - was along the lines of “See the book I got! What does it say?”  The mom calmly and reverently explained, “Ah. Es El Nuevo Testamente - de Dios.”  The New Testament of God, indeed.  The second was an older kid, maybe seven or eight. He read the cover, then excitedly took the Bible over to his mom for her to carry. But before he handed it to her, he carefully kissed it. I like that respect for the Word of God. 

Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ says, When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him?

Father, please use those Bibles to touch some people’s lives. And please give us some guidance on the whole fridge situation. We’re just not sure what to do next. Amen. 

October 31 - “Some more old friends”

Work around the house was the order of the day. Chris is still sorting sewing and quilting supplies. I repaired a part of the old sewing machine that we brought over from the  Tradewinds house. It needs new belt, but we just may get that one to work again. My favorite saying lately … guardedly optimistic. 

In the afternoon we made our trip over to Walmart for groceries. Chris also was on the lookout for some fabric to make a doll-ish creation that AnnaGrace dreamed up in her head and drew a picture of. That one is gonna be very interesting.  

We saw some more old friends in the breakfast aisle. This week is the big Biker Rally in Galveston. For quite a few years now, Seaside has hosted a group of Christian bikers who hang out with the crowds and look for ways to share Jesus with them. And for the last few years they have brought us several hundred New Testaments with the biker logo on the front for the expressed purpose of us giving them away at Halloween. So … we saw a few of the guys who come every year and who have become good friends. Always great to meet up with someone at Walmart who doesn’t mind a big hug. 

And speaking of big hugs, our regular Walmart friend - that we made a few years back by sharing a fried turkey leg with - spied us heading toward the checkout counters. She reserved us a spot and another big hug, to boot. Ain’t hugs grand?

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ says, Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present  your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Father, keep the bikers safe this week. There’s a lot of them here, and sometimes those bikes are hard to see. Amen.