December 5 – “Where are we?”

Happy birthday today to our oldest grandson, Jachin.  He’s turning 12 years old.  Ah, the teen years are virtually upon his Mom and Dad now.  Enjoy.

I received an interesting recorded message on my phone yesterday.  It was from Comcast verifying the installation we have scheduled at the church on Monday.  At least I think it’s at the church.  The recording cited our address as: “16534 Termini San Luis Pass Road 3005.”  Okay, all was fine up to that point.  The road the church is on goes by all of those names.  But then it continued with what I expected would be the state and maybe the zip code.  How’s this for the unexpected?  “Federated States of Micronesia.”  Um.  We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”  Maybe we don’t have an installation scheduled after all.

Speaking of phone calls, I suddenly received two FaceBook messages last night dated from August and September.  Intrigued, I read through them.  They were from the guy who bought my Uncle Jerry’s house.  The first one indicated that his landscapers found some concrete with tiny footprints in it.  He wanted to know if anyone in the family wanted them.  The second, a month later, said since he hadn’t heard anything he would just dispose of them.  His FaceBook info that accompanied the message said he was the fire chief at the Bedford Fire Department, so I replied with a thank you and let him know I doubled as Jerry’s nephew and FD chaplain here in Galveston.  Always good to find another in the fire service family.

And speaking of the fire service family, I met the crew of engine one over at the church that burned the other day.  They delivered five or six huge bags of toys to the church to replace the donations they had been collecting for the Galveston Urban Ministries.  Now the church can still be involved in the joy of giving, even in the midst of tragedy.  While there we met the sister of the lady who lives across the street from the church who was apparently one of the ones who called it in.  She told us that the Galveston Fire Department crews were there on site and actively fighting the fire within 4 to 6 minutes after the call.  She was quite impressed.  So am I.  So am I.

James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Father, thank you for the connection with the Bedford fire chief.  Keep his crews safe and healthy.  And thank you again for the real heart shown by our GFD guys.  Amen.

December 4 – “Heart”

It is difficult at best to find out what you can do for someone in a tragedy.  It is even harder when the “someone” is a church.  And not one of those huge mega-churches with never-ending budgets and political aspirations.  No.  This one was a small congregation of 30 or 40 folks doing their best to worship God and love people.  A few nights ago the Westminster Presbyterian Church here on the Island was struck by an arsonist.  The damage to the sanctuary was extensive.  It was a brick structure, but the interior will have to be completely gutted.  I’m pretty sure they have insurance for the building, and the suspected arsonist is already in custody, but the feelings of being invaded and violated remain.

The Galveston Ministerial Alliance, of which the church’s pastor is a member, banded together and went to the site of the fire the next morning to offer prayer and spiritual support any way they could.  And I just had an interesting phone call.  Seems the fire fighters who worked that fire (Nathan was among them) heard that the church had been collecting food and toys.  Now understand, it’s not enough that these are the guys who worked hard in the middle of the night to put out the fire.  Now they were asking me if I could find out what organization the food and toys were meant for.  They want to help replace some of the items so the church can still be a part of the Christmas giving they had committed to.  You have to admit, there was some seriously creative insight in that query.  Sure, insurance will cover the basics.  But it is highly unlikely that an insurance company would cover toys and food collected for the express purpose of giving away.  And even if they did, there is no way it would be replaced in time to be distributed during this Christmas season.  Now, I’m not sure if the fire fighters will be able to put anything together in so short a time, but I most assuredly applaud their creativity and insight … and most especially their heart. 

Psalms 125:4 says, “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.”

Father, bless the firefighters in their dream of helping above and beyond their call of duty.  And provide for the church just what they need, when they need it.  Amen.

December 3 – “A most impossible task”

We had to drive into Texas yesterday.  I had a rheumatology appointment.  All looked pretty good for a change.  In fact we spent most of the time talking about what to do if my new insurance doesn’t include him in its plan.  He entered the room apologizing for being a few minutes late and went right into a tirade about how it was President Obama’s fault.  He assured me that I “wouldn’t be abandoned.”  He would still see me, and “there are ways around this mess.”  I don’t have to return for six months.  I did still have to stop in at the lab for some blood work.

At the lab I was washing my hands after the prescribed urine sample gathering and noticed the container of “hand sanitizer deodorizer antiseptic germicide hand cleanser.”  Someone had written on it in big black magic marker letters, “SOAP.”  Thank you.  That was quite helpful.

We followed up with our usual lunch at Luby’s.  Against my better judgment I had their fried codfish.  Sometimes you just get a craving for fish that can’t be satisfied.  Chris had liver and onions.  Not enough gravy.  Don’t worry.  I’ll get some of that leftover liver later today for lunch.  Perhaps a liver and mayo sandwich.

On the way back into Galveston we stopped at the quilt shop in Dickinson.  Chris is making a Dr. Seuss themed quilt for the Bethlehem Street Market silent auction at Seaside.  I know.  Not the most exciting visit from my perspective.  It’s not like I could help choose colors or anything.  She was trying to find a very specific shade of red.  The sales lady chided her a bit because apparently that is a “most impossible task.”   My first clue came when the lady said, “Why are you doing this to yourself?”  Hmm.  They all looked the same to me.  Fortunately I got a phone call and was “forced” to go outside so I could talk and not disturb the fabric remnant section.  Thanks for calling, Cory.  Actually, I don’t mind going to places like that with Chris.  She is quite patient with my wanderings and often inappropriate comments.  Besides, I love that woman.

James 5:14 says, “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

Father, thank you for the brisk weather you graced us with this morning.  Way down into the 40’s.  Where’s my ski jacket?  Amen.

December 2 – “Lights”

We had to make a quick detour on our way to WalMart the other night.  Seems Chris got word that Nathan had put up some impressive Christmas lights.  She just had to see them, and hey, I’m no Scrooge.  We did get a bit of a surprise when we drove up, though.  We saw movement in the yard, and then a ladder.  Sure enough, there he was, adding even more lights to the trees in his front yard.  I thought from what Chris had told me that he was finished.  There were lights along the roof of the house.  Santa and his reindeer were flopping around in the wind up on the roof.  He put up one of those blow-up things that lights up as well.  He even had some kind of light bulb on the ground pointed at the house that rotated around and around to provide a light show extravaganza.  Gotta say I was duly impressed.  Nathan’s take on the whole thing?  “It’s all just for April, you understand.”  Of course it is.  Oh, and speaking of impressed, he showed me his new ladder.  Goes up to ten feet or so as an A-frame, but it can also transform until it can reach twenty feet.  High enough to get to the roofline of his second story.  Now that’s a tool.  Aar.  Aar.  Aar.

And of course all that inspiration put the pressure on me to get our own outside lights put up.  We don’t attempt anywhere near the extent of display that Nathan did, but we do like to have a little bit of flair.  That means hanging icicle lights around the eaves.  And then we always put out our little, unassuming, lit up from within, Precious Moments-looking figurines of Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus.  I had a few false starts this year.  Hung the extension cord backwards for one.  Had to pull it down and start over.  Then the first two strands of lights kept blowing the circuit.  I finally just switched them out with the new ones we bought at the after-Christmas sales last year.  They worked like a charm.  Now I think all we have left to do is return all these decorations boxes to the attic until after Christmas … when we start the whole process over again, in reverse.  Ain’t Christmas grand? 

James 5:13 says, “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.”

Father, I do love the whole season that is our attempt to celebrate your coming down here to live with us.  In the midst of the festivities … and the preparations … help us to remember that it is, after all, all about you.  Amen.

December 1 – “The secret’s out”

I really do love the Christmas season.  People’s moods seem a bit brighter.  Well, except for the two cashiers we had at WalMart last night.  One was our actual cashier.  The other came over to help bag our groceries.  Yep.  Can you believe it?  Two cashiers.  It was a slow night.  Thing was, neither of them had a smile on her face.  They went through the motions methodically, like a couple of machines.  In fact, when the second one came over to help, she had to explain to the first one to push the bag conveyer in her direction so she could in turn put the bags in the cart.  And after she said it, it took two more turns before it actually registered in the mechanical mind of the first lady.  Then after placing a few bags for us, she returned to her own lane to check out someone else.  It was a fascinating observation into holiday stupors.  I did my best to cheer them up of course.  Well, I guess it wasn’t really my best.  Chris was with me so I couldn’t do some of the really fun stuff that came into my mind.  But I did smile and say thank you.  And on our way out I went out of my way to approach the other one and thank her as well.  She was quite taken aback, but it did bring just the faintest hint of a smile as she responded with an almost imperceptible “Thanks.”

Now that was very different from one we had a few nights before.  As my turn came to check out, she realized that I was making a tax exempt purchase for Seaside.  Her entire countenance changed.  She suddenly brightened up and said, “I knew it.  I knew it.  I just have a knack for these things.”  I thought she had discovered some deep dark secret from my past lurking on the dark web.  What was she talking about?  “I just knew you were a believer.  I am too.  Can’t live without Him, you know?”  I surmised from that interlude that she had guessed I was a Christian.  She continued, “Are you the pastor?”  I confirmed that suspicion as well, and she just about hit the roof in excitement.  “I thought so.  I knew it was true.  I just knew it.”  By then I was getting into the swing of things, so I added that I was also the chaplain of the fire department.  That was more than she could handle.  She started “God-blessing” me and my groceries and the cash register and the lady behind me, who by now was thoroughly engrossed and enjoying the show.  It’s always great to find another cohort in the Lord.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Father, thank you for the thrill that comes in finding co-workers for you in all walks of life.  Amen.

November 30 – “Mr. T(ea)”

We had a great day of fellowship yesterday.  After worship we headed over to McAlister’s Deli for lunch.  Before we even made it inside, some old friends (and old Seasiders) saw us in the parking lot.  Paul is now a pastor in Galveston and doing really well.  Carolyn looked great as usual, and Chloe has been serving as the youth pastor at their church.  Once we got inside we hooked up with Bryan and Jennifer and Sam (more Seasiders).  Now McAlister’s had a giant advertising board set up right in the walk way.  It was a human-sized glass of their famous sweet tea.  Jennifer is in a wheelchair, so I had to be the genteel gentleman and move the sign.  As I lifted the cardboard hulk to move it aside, I realized that there was a hole in it.  Just the right size for someone’s head.  Well, for my head.  So I obliged Madison Avenue and did what every single person who had walked through the Deli since that sign was posted wanted desperately to do, I  stuck my head in it as I waited for Jennifer to pass by.  There I was, the new poster head for McAlister’s sweet tea.  So of course the obligatory FaceBook post began.  The caption Bryan added was short.  Something about Mr. T(ea).  Cute, huh?

We had a small but hearty crown last night to hang the greens at church.  For us that meant grabbing a slice of pizza (thank you Dayna) and joining Kiara, Lauren and Cathy in decorating the tree and hanging the lights and garland around the room.  Oh, and there was also pecan pie and cookies to assuage anyone’s sweet tooth.  Everything looks festive and Christmassy again, so come by and check it out.    

James 5:9 says, “Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”

Father, thank you for good times with friends.  To eat.  To work.  To be together.  Amen.

November 29 – “From the Sports Desk”

The Turkey Bowl this year consisted of six semi-adults and a host of children of all ages moving in and out.  Once again it was a lot of fun, and it certainly had its share of not-ready-for-prime-time moments.  Nathan had to work, so he wasn’t around to amaze us with his legendary athletic prowess.  Uncle Josh of the Iron Hands was there, though.  Some may think that is a jab at his ability to miss passes, but it this case, that it not at all the case.  Jachin tossed him a stickerbur-laden pass, and he caught it without blinking an eye.  Never even noticed the evil agents of the devil lying in wait to stab at any given opportunity.  And then there was Uncle Kel of the Gaping Gash.  Yep, he received a massive, gaping gash on his hand, but managed to work through it and continue the game anyway.  What guts.  What grit.  What a tiny little knick.  A friend of Kel’s also showed up this year, and he was our nod to The Flash.  The guy was way too fast for our style of football.  Several time he sped past the ball carrier and didn’t even bother to pull his flag.  He just snatched the ball from his hands and the next thing we saw was him jogging back toward the rest of us after his touchdown.  Cory was back.  He kept us in awe with his Romo-like throwing arm, consistently pinning the opponent back on his own one inch line. 

Of course we did have one play worthy of Sports Center’s top ten of the decade.  In one of those inevitable street-ball trick plays, I snared a pass in the bed of the truck.  Now the marker for a touchdown was the front of said truck.  I was quickly surrounded by defenders.  So I did what every ball carrier I saw on TV the day before did when they could smell the goal line.  I held the  ball in front of me and leapt with all my might over the cab - a desperation, completely horizontal stretch toward the goal line.  All eyes were on the tip of the ball.  Would he make it?  When the dust cleared it became abundantly clear.  I gotta get a shorter truck.  Josh casually walked over and relieved me of my flags.  Curses.  Missed it by that much.  Chris told me I would get no sympathy from her, so right now I’m trolling for a little bit from anywhere else.  All compassion welcome, just don’t pat too hard.  

After the big game we adjourned indoors for some Blue Bell ice cream a slice of pumpkin pie.  Well, Cory was the only one who had pie.  He’s a bit of a purist. 

James 5:7-8 says, “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.”

Father, thank you for football games filled with laughter and creativity and fun rather than out of control arguments and intense competition.  Amen.