January 31 – “Retirement Day 2022”

Yawn.  I got permission from Minnesota Gary to sleep in today.  Made it all the way to almost six.  Does that count as sleeping in?

 

Yesterday was quite the Big One.  I really didn’t know what to expect.  We were purposely kept out of the loop on planning.  We were even banned from helping set up for the event.  And there was a LOT of venue setup.  Lauren and her team did an amazing job transforming the worship center.  First thing I noticed?  Astros and baseball decorations everywhere.  On the tables.  On the walls.  On people’s bodies.  Yep.  Apparently, word got out for everyone to wear Astros gear.  Lots did.  (Since I didn’t get the memo, I wore my pineapple Hawaiian shirt).  Tables and chairs were set up banquet-style instead of the usual worship chairs.  The fellowship room was set up with tables, waiting for the arrival of the Koop’s Barbecue and sides provided by Seasiders.  There was even a photo booth and balloons everywhere. 

 

Word has it that we had another huge crowd.  Estimates I heard ranged from 116 to 133.  There were people there from at least five different stages of our life.  A guy from my first youth group at Langwood Baptist Church.  Several couples we knew from South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington.  A girl we first met at University Hills Baptist Church in Denver.  A couple from our days coaching basketball.  Several of the kids who grew up at Seaside and now have kids of their own (Lots of pictures there).  Not to mention the many other Seasiders, past and present.  We even had a couple who missed the service drop by the house later in the afternoon.  It was quite the array of memories just looking around. 

 

The service itself was crafted as an installation for the new pastor.  One segment was a charge to the church.  Next came a charge to the new pastor.  After that one I handed over to Kel the Moses staff I have used many times over the years as a prop for sermons, and along with it the reins as senior pastor.  Then he led a segment wherein I was designated as the church’s first Pastor Emeritus.  I understand that sort of changes my nickname from PK to PKE.  Guess I’ll be some version of PK from now on …

 

After worship we dug in to the barbecue.  And while everyone ate, a video played on a loop.  It had highlights of our time at Seaside, as well as some surprise inserts, including several photos taken from my old high school yearbook (I lost my copy in Hurricane Ike.  Sandy managed to scrounge up her copy and digitize me on top of the Ball High sign and again as Tigger in the senior class play).  The slides were occasionally punctuated by brief videos of different folks saying “Beep Boop.”  I imagine those of you who have gone to youth camp with us can identify that sound.  Lots of folks shared some really kind things about us and especially about their experience at Seaside.  Gotta love the church, folks.  One of God’s most ingenious inventions.  The most moving portions came when a gentleman read an editorial from the Galveston Daily News from years ago.  The editor had stumbled upon a Seaside worship service and was there to experience a beach baptism.  His words were so well put-together (the writer and the reader).  The guy reading had to stop a time or two to compose himself.  He assured us it was “just allergies.”  The article spoke of a young girl walking into the water with Pastor and Dad on either side.  And after the reading was complete, he looked over to his family and announced, “And that was my little girl, Ella.”  Very touching moment.  Chris and I remembered the original well, and will remember this time, too.  The sharing kept on going and going (Loved it when Lee showed off his Kansas City Chief’s hat designed in honor of QB Mahomes’ hair), until Kel finally literally used the Moses stick as a long hook to pull the last guy off the stage. 

 

Another unexpected part of the day were all the gifts we received.  When Mr. Bob arrived, he had a brand-new fishing pole in hand.  He presented it to me and said it was to be my new pointer for the Visual Verse.  I used it briefly before reverting to my old faithful.  I hope it has a much more specific use in its future.  We haven’t had time to open all of the gifts yet, but a few that we did see included a gift basket from Buc-ees, a Stitch stuffed creature, an Astros baseball card notebook with team cards from several years, including the 2017 World Series year (The card was a blowup of my face from my senior picture.  Frightening), an amazing fishing backpack that double as an ice chest, some little boxes of Legos that, when put together, form Astros players.  Again, there are many others we haven’t seen yet.  Thanks so much to everyone, for the expressions of love. 

 

After the festivities concluded and church was set back up for worship (we still had to be one of the last ones to leave.  We were giving the pastor a ride home), we went back to a houseful of grandkids plus one (Brennan, you are officially designated grandkid number eleven.  It’s easier to count that way).  They played long and hard, both inside and outside.  At one point Chris came inside and got me.  I followed her out, and we took pictures of two beautiful and really big hawks perched on a telephone pole and in a nearby tree.  We kept an eye on Freddy …

 

Thanks to all who had a part in our Big Retirement Day.  Seaside has been a dream come true for a minister for 26 plus years.

 

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

 

Father, thank you for entrusting me to be shepherd of such an amazing flock.  Now continue to watch over them with their new shepherd as they make their way through the coming waters.  Amen.

January 30 – “An early start”

OK.  I’ll acknowledge it right off the bat.  Today’s the big day.  Retirement 2022.  Details to come … tomorrow.

 

I woke up yesterday at 5 a.m., bright and early.  I knew it was pretty cold out there.  Aw, it was only 47.  “Only” 46.  But it felt like about 30 to me.  All right.  All right.  I admit it.  I’m just a cold wimp, if you haven’t figured it out by now.  Being that early did have its plus side, though.  It gave me a chance to do the final edits on the final sermon. 

 

And speaking of the final sermon, we got our weekend of retirement celebration started a little early yesterday.  Our good friends from the Arlington/Mansfield area, the Winkle’s and the Huntley’s, came down a day early and took us out to lunch.  Shrimp and Stuff … yes, please.  We had a great visit.  They gave us a Dr. Suess book – The Places You Will Go.  Great choice in its own right.  But to make it better, they added some edits to reflect specific trips we have already taken, as well as the nest one we have planned toward the West.  And then, as they were heading out the door to return to their hotel for the night, another good friend from the earliest of Seaside days, Ken Fryer, walked up.  He now lives in Austin.  Of course, he had to have a pizza from Mario’s – his all-time favorite.  It was really good catching up with him as well.  And He gave me a t-shirt from the catering business he works with.  Apparently, Cabo Bob’s in Austin, Texas, makes the best burritos in the world.  We’ll have to try them sometime.

 

And not to be outdone, later in the evening, Josh and Christi and all their kiddos arrived.  And good ol’ MaddieBelle was with them.  Freddy greeted them all at the door.  That was a comical sight to behold.  She walked right past MaddieBelle, doing her best to ignore the youngster’s efforts to play.  Freddy couldn’t be bothered with such childish canine antics.  She wanted to greet the new humans.  That was OK with AnnaGrace.  The two exchanged hugs and kisses before our presence was ever acknowledged.  You know, you just can’t beat the connection experience of a child and a dog.  It’s a wondrous thing to behold.  Not so much that dog to dog thing, though.  Freddy is simply not that great around large creatures that walk on four legs.  I can’t imagine what she would do around a cow.

 

Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

 

Father, thank you for the friends you have blessed us with who would go out of their way to arrive early.  Amen.

January 29 – “Supermarket Speed”

I got a lot of sermon work done early in the morning yesterday.  That was after a very early wake-up text at around 4 a.m.  No problem or anything.  Just a word of retirement encouragement from a friend who lives on the East Coast.  It was already 5 a.m. there. 

 

Chris’ cardiac rehab was canceled, so we headed off-Island for some errands.  First stop was Home Depot.  Yep.  Needed still more boxes for the stuff at church.  This time the boxes will hold the files from that final file cabinet.  Have to empty it out or we’ll never be able to pick it up and get it to the house. 

 

After a flying trip to a store in League City to pick up something Chris saw online (it’s a birthday gift, so no further clues will be forthcoming), we ended up at Randall’s.  Chris had a prescription to pick up there, but it wasn’t ready.  Actually, one was ready, but she didn’t need that one.  The one she really needs is the victim of a worldwide shortage.  But the doctor called in a smaller dosage of the same drug, and they were able to fill that one.  OK.  I know it sounds weird.  Her dose is 50 mg.  That size/dose is stuck on a ship somewhere between here and China.  But apparently, they have plenty of the 25 mg size.  No brainer, right?  The doc just changed the prescription to “Take two” instead of just one. 

 

We did have to wait for them to finish filling that one.  Ten or fifteen minutes.  But hey, that was no problem.  We just went into walk mode.  We did laps around the store pushing our cart with coffee K-cups and eggs.  Made it up and down ever aisle, with a return to our starting point.  We just kept on walking until Chris’ watch told us we had gone a mile.  Meanwhile, my watch told us the prescription was ready, so it worked out well both ways.  Picked up the Rx and got in our exercise.  Two birds … one stone.

 

Jachin and Micah came over to mow and edge our grass for us.  We really enjoyed the time we got to spend just chatting with them.  And as a bonus, they brought along Ezra to entertain us while the work happened.  He actually finished the last eight or ten puzzle pieces I had left on the table.  That kid has great special recognition.  Remember that section of those standardized tests we used to have to take?  I never did so well on those.  I was always more of a square peg/round hole kind of guy …

 

1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

 

Father, thank you for the help we received with the grass yesterday.  Please bless those boys for their efforts.  Amen.

January 28 – “Yep. Do-it-yourself-ers. Bad news”

Chris went on in to do some cardiac rehab yesterday.  Counting off those days.  I immediately headed over to Home Depot and grabbed four more boxes.  That was our estimate after we left the book packing job at church yesterday.  And the boom packing went smoothly enough.  I managed to get all of them into two boxes.  The issue came when I switched to the file cabinets.

 

Yep.  I had three of my personal file cabinets up there, holding everything from a massive series of Biblical Illustrator magazines to one complete file cabinet chock full of files that I began in college and haven’t looked through in, oh … twenty years, maybe?  The Seaside-related, more-recent ones I managed to fit into one or two drawers.  They get to stay behind.  The Biblical Illustrators filled one of my extra boxes.  The other box soon became home to the rest of the random files from through the years – stuff like planning notebooks from youth and children’s camps.  All was packed and ready to go … except for that big file cabinet from college/seminary days.  Much pondering went into what exactly to do with it.  Finally, I decided the best course of action would be to pick up three more boxes to hold the contents.  Then the cabinet itself would be more manageable for a move.  Maybe I can accomplish that while Chris is at rehab this morning.  That would finish up the move before Sunday morning.  Gotta say, though, I am not looking forward to picking up even one more box.  Maybe I can wait until Sunday when we have free grandkid labor around …

 

Kel arrived at the church just as I was leaving.  Between the two of us we got the boxes loaded into the truck.  We also made an attempt to fix the lock on the door at church.  A feeble attempt as it turned out.  We managed to make it a little worse, I think.  I connected with our contractor, though, and he actually made his way over right away.  When he asked which door it was, I told him, “It’s the one with the duct tape covering the hole where the lock used to be.”  Yep.  Do-it-yourself-ers.  Bad news.  It took some extra grunts and the proper tools, but his guy got the lock taken care of.  Thanks so much, John. 

 

Luke 6:45 says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

 

Father, please bless John for his quick response to our lock crisis.  Amen

January 27 – “That’s a lot of boxes”

So how long are those spray-on bed liners supposed to last?  I had the truck bed sprayed back two years ago when we had the rest of the truck painted.    I went out yesterday and noticed that it has begun to peel up in numerous places.  Is that to be expected, and we just need a re-do?  I pulled the receipt out and will probably run by there next week sometime just to see how they will respond. 

 

So why was I looking at the truck bed?  We had a lot more books on the shelves at church to get down.  And we had to find a place to put them all.  The garage had been rearranged.  Not finished with that project yet.  I still have some ideas about how to make it more functional, but for the time being, we needed a place to put about four feet of shelving. 

 

Once that was done, we headed over to Home Depot to pick up the shelf Chris located on their website.  It was made out of chrome or steel or something.  The tipping point was the specs.  We could fit four boxes on each shelf.  And each shelf was rated to hold 600 pounds.  That’s a lot of books.  When we got there, we went right to the shelving section.  Good thing, too.  They had one left of the one we wanted.  Took both of us, but we manhandled it into the basket.  Picked up twenty more boxes as well.  This whole retirement thing is getting expensive.

 

Back at the house we got the shelf put together.  Ingenious design.  No tools required.  And they weren’t kidding.  Some kind of locking system took hold, so all we had to do was slide each shelf on the four base posts.  Amazing.

 

Now, packing up twenty boxes of books?  Not so easy.  And it turned into 25 boxes (we found five smaller ones around the house).  That brings the total to 35 boxes of books, and we still have two shelves to empty at the church.  Plus, six or seven other boxes full of various paraphernalia I have accumulated over the years.  Oh, and one of the two paintings that have been given to me.  We actually knocked this one down from its precarious perch, so we kind of had to bring it.  We’ll have to bring the other one another time. 

 

We loaded up all those boxes into the infamous peeling truck bed and brought them to their new (hopefully temporary) home in the garage.  Gotta say … I was really sore after that workout.  Still am.  My new watch expressed its admiration, though.  It told me I did really well on my workout, and had burned a record number of calories.  Thanks for the encouragement, my little wrist-bound friend.

 

1 John 2:15-16 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of eth eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world.”

 

Father, thank you for inspiring Chris to be the incredible helpmate she is.  She’s amazing.  Amen.

January 26 – “It’s getting real”

I once again dove into the sermon prep work while Chris made her way to cardiac rehab.  Check off one more day of that rehab.  She should be finished with her 36 sessions sometime in March.  Just in time for our anticipated trip west.  Hang in there.

 

After the exercise, she came home briefly, then headed over to get her a haircut.  That’s always a high point of the day for me.  Well, I mean when I can get a haircut, not when she gets one.  Other than the fact that she is pleased.  And everybody knows … when Momma is happy, everybody is happy.

 

While she relaxed in the barber chair (excuse me.  In the stylist’s chair), I worked on getting our income tax data in order to send out to our accountant.  Numbers.  Numbers.  Numbers.  It’s dizzying.  I think I have almost everything.  Waiting for one more report from the bank. 

 

Our afternoon was spent in manual labor.  We went up to the church and packed up no less than twelve boxes of my books to bring home.  Of course, that made just a small dent in the vast array of tomes on the shelf.  Now we have a different problem.  I estimate that there will be in the neighborhood of 20 more boxes of books.  We have to find a place for them while we are searching for a solution to our bookcase shortage inside the house.  Right now, the best plan seems to be one Chris came up with.  We are heading to Home Depot to get one of those metal storage shelves.  We’ll set it up in the garage and pile the book boxes on it.  Not sure they will all fit, and really not sure where to pile boxes next if they don’t.  But, hey … it’s getting real, folks.

 

1 Timothy 6:12 says, “Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

 

Father, please continue walking with us in our retirement journey, especially this week.  Lots to do.  Amen.

January 25 – “Three stops …”

Yesterday turned into errand day.  Well, after I did some preliminary work on the sermon for Sunday.  Still have some finishing touches on that before I can start just going over it a time or three.  We are creating a combination installation/retirement service for before the actual retirement craziness begins.  It’s been kind of fun coming up with a new approach to the whole situation, yet still making it a teaching/worship scenario. 

 

Our first stop was Home Depot.  Chris checked online, and they had good sized boxes for packing books.  I suppose it is finally time for me to get the horde of books that are mine out of the office at church.  I had to clear off a table in the garage to stack a tiny portion of them on.  I checked in the attic to see if there was any room for some things now living in the garage to move up there to make more room downstairs for books.  There is room for a few boxes, but the ones I wanted to move up there must weigh a ton … each.  Guess that won’t be happening.  Not sure where the other books will end up, then.  Chris is back to doing heavy research on bookcases.  Trying to decide if it will be better (read here “cheaper”) to just buy some already made, or ask Nathan to make some. 

 

So on to our next stop.  Where else?  WalMart, of course.  We needed a few groceries.  Bananas, of course.  Other fruit.  Case of water for the church.  Most importantly, however … toilet paper.  Gotta have that stuff around. 

 

Finally, we headed over to Randall’s.  Chris had a prescription to pick up.  It was the most expensive one she takes.  And we are in the reboot of our deductible phase of insurance.  That meant a $400-plus hit for this one prescription.  Ouch.  Had to make some adjustments for that one.  That’s just gonna get tougher once the retirement income sets in.  The one good thing?  We needed gas in the car, so we stopped at the Randall’s pumps.  Forty cents a gallon discount because of our recent massive purchase.  Sigh.  Joy in the smallest of things, right?

 

Colossians 3:1 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

 

Father, thank you that the medicine does exist that helps Chris.  We trust that you will provide a way for her to get what she needs.  Amen.

 

January 24 – “out-Tom Brady-ing Tom Brady”

We had a pretty good crowd in church yesterday, numbers-wise.  Around 50+.  That’s the number, not the age.  And it was a great group of people, otherwise.  Lots of feedback and interaction during the teaching. Then a small crowd stuck around afterwards to listen to Jim and the band play some more music.  Even had a few folks up and dancing.

 

Kel’s family came over for lunch.  Tacos was the fare of the day.  Also queso.  There was probably some other stuff, but that’s what I had.  The NFL playoff football games were going on TV.  The boys were all rooting against Tom Brady’s team.  Not sure they even knew or cared who the opposition was.  They were not disappointed, either.  It was an exciting finish.  Tom hit a long touchdown pass with 27 seconds left to tie the game.  But the other quarterback was not to be denied.  He hit on a first down pass that got out of bounds to stop the clock with 20 seconds.  Then he hit another long one to get them to well within easy field goal range, but they had to race the clock to throw a quick intentional incomplete to stop the clock again – no timeouts left – with just three or four seconds left.  The kicker won the game with a field goal.  So that other quarterback out-Tom Brady-ed Tom Brady.  Nice.

 

Meanwhile we played a new game they brought over.  It was called Grounded for Life.  The premise is simple.  Everyone has ten cards with random, weird phrases on them.  One at a time someone draws from another pile that presents a fill-in-the-blank scenario.  Everyone else then passes a card over to that person with one of their strange answers to the blank.  Whichever one makes the original person laugh the hardest wins the round.  Some of the answers actually work out to be quite appropriate.  Others – not so much.  I’m sure it would be considered an educational game.  After all, Josiah learned what a “Dad bod” is.  One of my favorite options was “someone else’s buggers stuck under the table.”  Nice.  Jachin was the ultimate victor in that game.  Guess he’s officially ready for college …

 

Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

 

Father, thank you for all the folks at church.   I love ‘em.  I know you do, too.  Grant them your blessing.  Amen.

January 23 – “Big Birthday Bash”

Big birthday bash yesterday.  Cailyn turned thirteen years old.  Teenager.  Thirteen going on eighteen, for sure.  I was quite impressed with the guest list.  It included family, of course.  Kel and Christina and the youngest of their brood were there.  April’s Mom and her family were there, and her Dad and his family drove up from the Corpus Christi area to be a part.  Her aunt (the horse lady – well, the lady who lets Cailyn ride her horses) came down from her ranch.  A hefty contingent of Cailyn’s junior high basketball team came, along with a friend or two from her days in Galveston.  One of those friends was the guy who used to be her softball coach.  Their good friends and neighbors from when they lived in Galveston, the Luja’s, were there.  There were several other guys from the Galveston fire department, too.  Even one of the guys from where Nathan now works brought his two sons.  April’s long-time best friend was there.  A couple of the people I didn’t know at all, including the guy who spent his time cooking all the meat for the fajitas.  I enjoyed being there for a reunion of sorts.  Three guys who all played basketball on one of the teams I coached came together for the first time in years.  Nathan, Philip and Michael got to touch base and do a little reminiscing.  I gotta say that it is pretty impressive to have representatives from so many eras of life all come together.  Speaks well of Nathan and April, for sure.

 

Speaking of impressive …

Well, I don’t know whether to be impressed or appalled.  There were kids running around everywhere, but at several points I noticed that they were also taking dips into the hot tub.  Not a negative thing in itself.  But it was 39 degrees out there.  And they would climb in and out of the tub, then race back to the blow-up bouncy house, all in wet bathing suits.  Not me.  Nope.  Uh-uh.  Way too cold. 

 

Chris had another one of those weird spells of hers.  We were just standing around talking when she suddenly felt sick.  Nauseated.  Dizzy.  Hot.  She reached out for my arm and said she needed to sit down, and quick.  She looked pretty pale, but it passed almost as fast as it came on.  Guess she’ll write that one down in her log and tell the cardiologist when next we meet. 

 

Psalms 30:5 says, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

 

Father, thank you for our Cailyn.  She has been a real blessing from you to us all.  Amen.

January 22 – “Yes to experiences”

Pretty common start to my day.  Quiet time.  Read the newspaper.  Study the sermon for Sunday.  Wait for Chris to wake up.  I did spend some time getting income tax stuff together.  Just got started, mind you.  That prep takes several long hours before OI can send it in. 

 

We did have an errand or two to run.  First stop was WalMart.  Nathan asked us to bring him whatever propane tanks we had (we had four) so they can use them at Cailyn’s birthday party this afternoon.  Outdoor heaters.  All the rage.  Especially when it’s 38 degrees outside right now.  We decided to go ahead and get them filled to save him some time.  Hence the stop at WalMart.  They have a self-serve dispenser outside their store.  Simple.  Just enter your credit card information and the door opens.  Pop in your empty and close the door.  Push another button and a full cannister magically appears.  Except when it doesn’t.  Oh, it ate the trade-in all right.  But there was no subsequent appearance of a full one.  The machine did spit out a receipt indicating the procedure had been terminated.  But those empties are critical.  They knock off 30 bucks from the price of the gas.  Of course, they were no help whatever inside the store.  “That’s the vendor’s responsibility.  You have to call them.”  Wonderful. 

 

We headed on to our next stop, Randall’s, to pick up some prescriptions for Chris.  Well, to order some prescriptions, anyway.  One was not a problem.  They placed the order and will let us know when it arrives.  The other, we were told, is experiencing a nationwide shortage.  Not sure when or if that will arrive.  It is one of the blood pressure medicines that is keeping hers under control pretty well right now.  Wonderful. 

 

Meanwhile, I called the number on the propane ticket.  They gave me a special code to type in back at WalMart that will open the machine.  But, what should I spy as we walk into Randalls?  You guessed it.  Another outdoor propane tank cabinet.  But this one was old school.  The instructions read, “Leave your cannister by the cabinet, pay at the clerk inside, and a store employee will open it for you.”  Now that’s how to do business.  I paid at the service desk and sure enough, a store employee met me at the cabinet with his key.  He even loaded them onto a shopping buggy. 

 

Later in the afternoon we took the tanks up to Nathan.  It promises to be a cold party today.  Outside party.  Cold.  Bounce house.  Cold.  Grilling.  Cold.  Did I mention that it will be cold?

 

We also volunteered to take Cailyn over to the high school for the varsity girls’ basketball game.  I have decided to say “Yes” to as many experience-oriented possibilities as I can.  Her seventh grade team was welcoming the varsity players onto the court to start the game.  Then at halftime they got to engage in a knock-out shoot-off against the freshman team.  Cailyn made it through a round or two before she got retired.  Looked like they were all having a great time, though.  The actual basketball game was a fun one to watch.  Kind of a back and forth affair, with Santa Fe playing catch-up most of the night.  In the end they fell short, though.  One of the Galveston fire fighters was the girls’ coach.  He did a pretty good job with them.  Made me miss coaching - a little bit.  Cailyn went home with one of the girls on her team.  The one whose Dad played on one of my teams when I coached Nathan.  We’ll see them all at the party this afternoon.  That would be the COLD party …

 

1 Peter 3:13 says, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?”

 

Father, thank you for this cold.  It indirectly led to a chance to experience a varsity girls basketball game for the first time in a very long time.  Brought back memories for sure.  Amen.

January 21 – “Pre-skirmishes with Delilah”

Chris had cardiac rehab again.  Just 25 more sessions to go … woohoo.

 

But no outside walking for this old boy.  Nope.  I stayed indoors and stayed warm.  It is once again crazy cold here in Paradise.  40 degrees and raining when I woke up yesterday.  That is not a weather outlook that demands in-person investigation.  At least not for this Islander. 

 

So what to do on the inside, then?  Well, of course I ran through all my necessary prep stuff for church-related matters.  On Thursdays that meant preparing for home group.  We are revisiting Samson … before his skirmishes with Delilah.  That dude had a weird head space, for sure. 

 

We finally finished the Hobbit movies.  So that means moving on to the Fellowship of the Rings series.  We found them all on the HBO Max app on our TV.  We are getting that channel free with the last phone we had to buy.  Hope we finish the movies before the subscription runs out.  Not sure where we’ll go from there.  Maybe Superman?  Batman?  Spiderman?  Chronicles of Narnia?  Hunger Games?  Allegiant?  Mightyt Mouse?

 

At least we have another puzzle to work on in the down times when I’m not doing work or watching movies.  Still on the German town street.  Gotta switch countries next time.  Where shall we go?  France?  Italy?  New Jersey?

 

Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

 

Father, thank you again for the great folks we have in our home group.  Help them keep on being excited about learning your word and loving each other.  Amen. 

 

January 20 – “Don’t call us, we’ll call you”

I made it through two miles around the neighborhood with Chris.  She was off from rehab until this morning.  I am nursing a bit of a sore foot right now.  Yes, I said foot, not ankle.  I think I may have rolled it over somehow.  It that possible with a foot?  Or more likely, it’s some kind of arthritis flare-up.  I did alter my gait somewhat on the walk.  This smart watch Chris got me is way too smart for my own good.  It shows when I limp.  Can’t hide it any more when Chris isn’t looking …

 

We too some time yesterday to do more trip planning for our Western jaunt.  Seems we have to get to the Arches National Park before a certain date, because they are changing all the entrance requirements for the summer season.  Other than that, we can actually take our time and enjoy the state of Utah.  My personal goals?  Set eyes on the Mormon Temple and touch the waters of the Great Salt Lake.  All else will be gravy. 

 

I went with Chris to her doctor’s appointment.  This one was with her electro-cardiologist.  It’s a new guy.  The other doc departed the scene.  I liked this fellow.  He has a kindness about him that is endearing.  He also pulled his mask down to talk to us, so we could see his face.  Always a plus for me, since I depend a lot of reading lips.  He has a nice smile, too.  Other than meeting this guy, the appointment was another step in determining if she needs a pacemaker.  Well … all is well.  The loop recorder implant is doing its job, and no events have occurred that indicate danger, even when she has one of her “spells” of dizziness or shortness of breath.  It was one of those “don’t call us, we’ll call you” things.  Of course, that means the symptoms she is having are caused by something else.  Great …

 

Oh, and we got word that Josh finished his oral exams for his doctor of ministry degree.  All that remains is writing the dissertation. 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

 

Father, please be with Josh as he works to complete this degree.  He has been working toward it for a long time.  Amen.

January 19 – “Seaside sweep”

I was up early and went over sermon prep for the next two weeks.  When Chris arose, it was back to the old grind for her.  She had cardiac rehab at 8 a.m.  She only has 26 more sessions to complete her journey through this time.  Hang in there, Chris.

 

Meanwhile, Kel and I attended the executive board meeting of the Galveston Baptist Association.  It is primarily pastors from the local area, with some lay folks representing their churches as well.  This particular meeting was a Seaside sweep, of sorts.  Well, at least a mention or two.

 

The executive director recognized several new pastors to the association, including Kel, of course.  Looks like we are getting some new, younger blood around here.  That’s a really good thing.  Kel is excited about the chance to network with some of them.

 

The director then asked me to join him at the front of the gathering.  He introduced me and made reference to my “unique” style of teaching, using pictures.  Sigh.  What a legacy.  He then honored me for 26+ years as a pastor in the association.  I was presented with a plaque and a very cool little statue of a boat with a scripture on the sail.  Check out the scripture below.  He also said I could say something if I wanted to.  I told the folks that I would give them a real treat … no speech.  They seemed quite appreciative.

 

In the afternoon we went over to WalMart to grab some groceries.  Had to refill my bananas stash, you know.  Finally we were able to settle down and watch a little Baylor basketball.  They managed to return from their two-game funk and pick up a victory. 

 

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord.  ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

 

Father, thank you for the recognition Kel got yesterday.  Give him plenty of encouragement as he begins his own Seaside journey.  Amen.

January 18 – “Wolf Moon”

It sure was good to have a nice, semi-boring day yesterday.  Of course that means there is not much to write about, but a good trade-off nevertheless.

 

I started the day working on the sermon for Sunday.  I am back in the saddle for two more Sundays.  These last two were a little difficult to come by.  For one thing, I had to decide what final words did I want to leave the church with after 26 and a half years.  That thought loomed kind of heavy on my heart.  The last sermon will be a bit easier to concoct.  I’ll be doing a charge to the church, then a charge to the incoming pastor.  Then I just have to turn it over to him to finish me off, so to speak. 

 

We began work on a new puzzle.  Nothing special, really.  Just another one we happen to have in stock from … somewhere.  It’s a street scene from somewhere in Germany, I think.  Something about a Biergarten?

 

We spent some time after lunch planning our upcoming trip to Utah.  We’re looking at sometime in March or April.  Lots of National Parks out that direction.  I understand it’s pretty there, too.  I want to take a detour up to Salt Lake City.  Gotta say I’ve seen the big Lake and maybe even the Mormon temple.  We also connected with our travel agent on our Hawaii trip in 2023.  Chris found what appeared to be a better deal than the one we signed up for.  The agent checked it out for us, and sure enough, it was better.  Saved us $9.84.  Gotta love it.  Every penny counts.  Hey.  That’s almost a stuffed animal … 

 

Last night I went outside to see the Wolf Moon.  Why “Wolf” and not some other critter?  Guess it’s because wolves traditionally howl at the full moon?  Werewolves change over during a full moon?  It was a really pretty full moon.  Seen plenty of those.  The only thing that makes it special is that it is the first full moon of the new year.  Wolf Moon … Check.

 

Matthew 28:19 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Father, thank you for chances to rest a bit here and there.  I sure do appreciate your model in that realm.  Amen.

January 17 – “Blessed Assurance to the Beatles"

And I just thought it was cold and blustery.  I woke up yesterday to 36 degrees with a wind chill of 27.  It wasn’t quite that bad when Chris got up.  Warmed all the way up to almost 40.  It was … miserable.  We even broke out the heavy sweaters and coats to find something to wear to church. 

 

Apparently, it was too cold to do anything else on the Island.  We had a pretty good crowd.  By Chris’ count, 60 chilled souls braved the weather to join us at Seaside.  Kel finished up his series on Ecclesiastes.  I have the next two sermons, my last as senior pastor.  Of course, I suppose I will always be the “senior” pastor as long as Kel filling that role.  You know … Kelley senior, Kelley junior and all? 

 

After church a really good crowd stuck around to help take down the Christmas decorations.  Didn’t take long at all.  Of course the prospect of a Third Sunday Dinner on the Grounds may have had something to do with that.  Great food.  Greater fellowship.  And speaking of fellowship. It was fun having the praise team do some practicing while we worked.  We heard everything from Blessed Assurance to the Beatles.  Even had our famous adventuring couple, Jim and Kathy, dancing the two-step.  Nice job, guys. 

 

When everything settled down and folks were leaving Chris and I chatted with a sweet couple who I met and married many years ago.  They have stuck it out through thick and thin.  They shared with us that they have been blessed by God recently and wanted to share that blessing with the church.  Just keep on following Jesus, you two, and the blessings won’t stop.  They may take on many forms, but they won’t stop.

 

1 Peter 5:10 says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

 

Father, thank you for blessings like we experienced yesterday.  Bless the folks at Seaside who saw working as a joy and a chance to enjoy time together.  Bless that couple as they keep following you.  Amen.

January 16 – “It was a cold and blustery day …”

It was a cold and blustery day …

Sounds like something Snoopy would write, doesn’t it?  Except this time it is no beginning sentence for a novel.  This time it’s a fact.  And I’m not talking about the conditions in Buffalo for the NFL playoff game.  I’m talking about our little tropical island paradise.  It was cold.  And the wind was blowing like crazy, making it feel so much colder. 

 

Noa and Ezra came over to spend the night with us.  Their three older brothers were at a youth retreat with a partner church of ours up on the mainland.  We took the younger ones, and voila.  Kel and Christina have a night with just themselves, their dog, their pet rodents, and Josiah’s fish.  Hey, we wouldn’t want them to get lonely without the kids, now, would we? 

 

Ezra in particular was a great help with the jigsaw puzzle I have been working on.  In fact, with the help of the two youngsters, we finished it.  It is another unique one.  20 or 30 donuts with all kinds of icing and sprinkles.  Best part?  Very colorful.  Worst part?  There only two cuts.  That’s right.  Every piece was cut in one of two ways.  That meant they all “fit” into one another really well.  Just not the right one.  Fortunately, it came with a sort of cheat on the back.  A pattern was printed on the back.  Match up the pattern, then turn it over.  It was confusing, maddening at times.  But we got it done.

 

Last night we went over to Nathan and April’s for supper.  The occasion?  To celebrate Cailyn’s birthday.  Thirteenth birthday, no less.  That’s a big one, to be sure.  She’s a teenager … officially.  And Nathan said she woke up a totally different girl.  Very … teenager-ish.  Have fun, my young padawan.  Only don’t ask me for help.  I never did girls …

 

Psalms 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

 

Father, thank you for Cailyn and the thirteen years we have had her around.  She broke the Vaughan mold of having just boys.  Now she’s setting the bar for her two girl cousins.  Keep her close to you.  Amen.