April 27 – “Tickled … blue?”

Chris spent the morning in LaMarque.  She was watching Noa and Ezra while the rest of the LaMarque clan went to the movies.  Avengers: End Game.  She wouldn’t let them disclose any details, though.  I understand Josiah was about ready to explode wanting to talk about it.  Nope.  Not yet.

Meanwhile, I finally had a chance to go fishing.  It doesn’t really count, though.  I really wanted to go wade fishing at the beach, but it was still a little too rough … and cold.  There is that, too.  So instead I went to the old stand-by canal at Jamaica Beach. 

I ended up catching two keeper speckled trout.  I also caught some trash fish, but that turned into a blessing.  Well, not a blessing for me so much.  But it certainly benefited my friend who had sidled up next to me to observe my progress.  A great blue heron camped out beside my fishing spot, so I dutifully tossed him a few of the fish.  He was tickled pink … er … blue.

We ended up having a pretty grand fresh speckled trout supper last night.  Chris did her usual fabulous job of creating a delicacy.  But she did tell me we needed some more fish for a future fish fry.  Hey.  Her wish is my command.  I hope …

Matthew 5:4 says “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Father, thank you for the tasty fish you placed in the sea and for the beautiful birds you created to populate the skies … and the bulkheads.  That great blue heron was amazing.  Amen.

April 26 – “Visits”

We went to WalMart yesterday to get a birthday gift for Noa.  While there we grabbed a dvd as well.  One of the new superhero ones.  “Glass.”  It got me in the superhero mode, so we watched Aquaman when we got home.  We’ve had it for a few weeks now.  Just getting around to watching it.  And hey, we both really liked it.  Way to go, DC Comics.

Sam was the only one who came by for Home Group.  We had several out of town, and Brennan had a baseball game.  Corey was playing his violin at the Meals on Wheels banquet.  We watched the Astros and did some chatting.

Speaking of Meals on Wheels, I got an email from them assuring me they would contact the friend of Katie.  Oh, Katie who?

Another story.  The other day we heard the doorbell ring, and who should be standing there but Katie Hightower.  She is a Seasider from way back who now lives in Huntsville.  Katie is 95 years old and just as spry as ever.  As we caught up with her and her sister Bernie, she mentioned a friend they had just seen who is a few years older than Katie.  She has no family in the area, and Katie and her sister were worried that their friend wasn’t eating well.  I told them I would contact Meals on Wheels to see if they could help out.  And so the stories connect. 

Now I’m going fishing.  First time since the grandkids went with me back at Spring Break.  Not sure where, but that really doesn’t matter, does it?

John 10:11 says, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Father, be with that friend of Katie and Bernie’s.  Thank you for the assurance of contact by Meals on Wheels.  Amen.

April 25 – “A visit from … a Webelos”

As I noted yesterday, I made two trips to the church.  The reasons do not necessarily need to be rehashed.  Suffice it to say that the first time was to let the bug guy in to spray the building.  The second was to … umm … talk to the election officials who were manning the early voting booths. 

On my way home the first time I had one of those “unexplainable urges” to stop by fire station seven.  No particular reason.  However, I was in the wrong lane to make the turn and I didn’t really want to make a u-turn, so I went on home.  I was not home more than five minutes before I got word that I needed to return to the church.  And after that trip, again on my way home, I got that same sense of urgency to stop by the station.  Second time’s the charm, I guess.  I made my way over to the turn lane and soon pulled into the station.

The crew was outside talking with some city workers.  Apparently the city guys were done, and they started packing up to leave.  The fire fighters met me in the driveway, and we began chatting about their day and about where I had been on my latest mini-journeys and where some good places were to go hiking.  After a while, a man and his young son pulled up in a golf cart.  The gentleman introduced himself and said the boy was in scouting, and was working on his Webelos badge.  Sadly, he had missed his group’s trip to tour a fire station, a requirement for an “appreciating first responders” badge or something like that. 

After a little good-natured teasing about the boy’s Cleveland Browns jersey, the fire fighters proudly declared, “Well, we have a whole fire station right here.  Would you like to see it?”  The boy grinned widely and nodded his head.  His Dad was appreciative, and our guys proceeded to pull out the truck and show them all the gear.  Meanwhile, that little interruption opened up an opportunity – the reason I was urged by the Holy Spirit to come this way.  I was there when one of the guys asked to talk privately.  God has a unique way of orchestrating divine encounters … whether for a little boy working on a Webelos badge or for a harried chaplain on his second trip home.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord: ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Father, thank you for the willingness of our fire fighters to take the time to show a little boy around the station.  That’s pretty special stuff.  Amen.

April 24 – “The renegade”

I went up to the church yesterday to meet the bug guy.  Those evil roach-esque critters were spotted in the retreat center kitchen on Easter morning.  When I arrived he was already inside.  Not spraying, though.  Voting.  We host an early voting site for the west end of the Island.  Which meant he was not able to spray the worship center.  Oh, well, he said he was happy to come back another time. 

Before I left I texted Chris to ask if I needed to bring home anything that was left over from the Easter festivities.  There was a gallon of milk in the fridge that would go bad if not used, a plastic bag of fruit and eggs and other stuff on the counter, and even some sliced fruit in the fridge as well.  She texted back her answer, and then added, “Bring the extra Nerds candy from your desk.”

Proud of myself for being the wonderful husband that I am, I hurried home to perhaps help in the yard or work on a sermon or something productive like that.  However, when Chris saw that the bag after I emptied the Nerds still contained stuff, she queried, “Why did you bring this home?  I said NOT to bring the bag of stuff.”  And about that time my phone rang.  It was Amber, our scheduler from church.  Seems she had just received a phone call from the election officials.  Apparently a renegade pastor had absconded with … their lunch.  Needless to say, I headed back out to the car right away.

When I arrived and was exiting the car, I heard a horrible blaring, siren-esque sound behind me.  It was coming from a truck in the parking lot.  I whirled around just as the election judge was getting out of the vehicle, fumbling with his keys to get the accidentally activated siren turned off.  When he saw me, I threw my arms into the air and declared, “It was me.  I did it.  I am the lunch cat-burglar, the criminal mastermind of the Nerds-covered fruit theft.  I confess it all.” 

When the judge was able to once again control his laughter, we walked inside arm-in-arm.  I coughed up the evidence of my oopsity, my criminal deed.  The other workers were all very kind, and seemed to understand.  I was not hauled away by the Jamaica Beach police.  I even opened up my office and gave them free access to the leftover Easter candy in there.  We were friends once again, and a crisis was narrowly averted by swift action, keen negotiation strategy, and some tootsie rolls. 

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Father, please be with the election workers as they guide folks through that process again this year.  Amen.

April 23 – “It’s the season”

Yesterday was “set up to attack the roaches” day.  Seems some of the critters were already making a Spring appearance.  They were seen lolling around the kitchen in the retreat center at church.  Our pest control company actually called last week to set up an appointment, but we couldn’t connect on a time because of all the Easter preparations.  We have a time now.  This morning at 8 a.m. 

About ten minutes after we completed that call, the phone rang.  I saw on caller ID that it was the pest control company again.  Hmm.  I wondered if they had made a scheduling error and were calling to reschedule or something.  But no.  It was simply time for them to come to our house and spray here, too.  Bring it on.  That one is on the books for Wednesday afternoon.  Guess it's just the season.

We went to Jachin’s baseball game at Herman Park in the middle of Houston.  At 5:30.    Unfortunately there were three or four wrecks along the way to exacerbate the already heavy traffic.  We hit slowdowns of five, seven, and nine minutes (according to Google Sir’s estimation).  I’m pretty sure her calculations were a bit on the low side.  As it turned out we only missed part of the first inning.  Oh, and the good guys won. 

I forgot to mention that we got back to our walking yesterday as well.  Not that we haven’t been exercising.  All this fence-work and yard-work has been wearing me out, at least.  Gotta keep tuned up for that upcoming Alaska trip …

Psalms 47:1 says, “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”

Father, thank you for baseball games and neighborhood walks and even chances to meet up with the Bug Guy.  I’m really glad the little things count with you.  Amen.

April 22 – “Just ... Amazing”

Resurrection Sunday at Seaside continued a tradition of being pretty amazing. 

Our new driveways onto the church property were tested at proven worthy. Thank you to Ed and Veteran Maintenance for the work you did on those as well as on the drive-through lane under the retreat center building.  We’ll get the rest of the material needed to finish that whole project as soon as we can.  Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention handling the leak in the retreat center bathroom.  It’s amazing how much work gets done behind the scenes.

The Jamaica Beach Police Department (under the direction of our very own Officer Cory), and our own sheriff officer Sarah, handled traffic at the sunrise service this year.  The no parking signs and the directing of parking onto the beach made the whole scenario way better this year than ever before. 

The Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department was out in force again this year as well.  They joined Mr. Bob with lights for our setup team, provided warming blankets for those coming out of the water after baptisms, and of course were standing by with their medical gear.  Thankfully that was not needed this year. 

The fire department estimated around one thousand attended the service this year.  We ran out of song books early.  Only had 500 of those.  We also ran out of the lapel pin gifts we gave away.  Only had 600 of those.  Guess we need to up our game next year. 

We gave a check to the fire department and police department as a thank you for being anchors in our community.  We also gave a check to our missionaries from Alaska who made the effort to be here for the service.  The Humphries Family is an anchor to families in crisis in their ministry.  Sensing a pattern here?  The theme of the service was about Jesus being our Anchor.

As the waves crashed on the shore, we got to see the sunrise in the East while the full moon was still clearly visible in the Western sky.  Pelicans in V-formation flew over during the singing, and seagulls abounded as well, all adding to the sense of all creation worshiping the Lord.  Beautiful.

We had ten baptisms at the sunrise service.  Then we ended up doing two more after the 10:00 service.  Mr. Bob said, “We had an even dozen.  I can’t say they were the dirty dozen, though, ‘cause they were all just washed clean!” 

A couple of hundred folks stopped by the church between services to join us for breakfast.  The food abounded, and God once again seemed to multiply it into more than enough for everyone. 

I’m not sure how many children came to the Easter egg hunt.  I do know we had two wagons full of hundreds of eggs for them to find.  They all seemed to get plenty of candy, and the two who won the grand prize Bibles were very excited to have them.  Chris and her team did their usual fabulous job. 

What more can I say?  God was here.  He does good work …

Psalms 22:31 says, “They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!”

Father, thank you for an amazing Easter.  You do, indeed, do great work.  Thank you for letting us be a part of a little bit of it.

April 21 – “Happy Resurrection Sunday!”

I went to a fund-raising event yesterday for the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department.  It was one of those barbecue cook-off contests.  Being as it was Easter weekend, they called it The Bunny Roast.  Clever name, don’t you think?  I don’t think anybody cooked up any “Weal Wascawy Wabbits,” though.  Corey and Jim and John played for the event.  I saw several of the fire fighters and some Seasiders.  Everybody was talking about the sunrise service. 

Well, everybody except the one guy I met.  He was already a bit tipsy (It was around three in the afternoon).  He told me he used to be in the Jamaica Beach fire department.  Now he is a carpenter.  Said that gave him something in common with Jesus.  In fact he declared himself to be an ordained minister of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.  Yep.  That’s apparently a real thing.  His slurred words explained that they believe “there is something out there beyond and greater than us, but I just don’t want to quantify it.  We all just need to love each other, do good to each other, and get along.  When we do that, we are, in fact god … together … all of us are god.”

I replied a few times, mainly to gently interject that we didn’t agree on everything he was saying.  But as I said, he was already drunk.  I have learned through past experience that it does no good to debate with someone in that state.  Generally speaking, they won’t even remember the conversation.  But, he knows I didn’t rebuke him harshly and consign him to hell on the spot.  Hey, God loves everyone.  And he can change anyone. 

OK.  It’s time to head out to the beach for … church!  Resurrection Day service on the beach in Jamaica Beach at 6:30.  Then breakfast at the church.  Then an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  Then the communion service at the church at 10.  Big day.  Jesus day.  Resurrection Day.

John 11:25-26 says, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?’”

Father, please join us at the services on the beach and at the church today.  Be with the folks driving in from Houston.  Bring your peace to us all.  Amen.