Good morning. Happy Tuesday. It’s a grey day here, kind of sunny, kind of cloudy but only 77 degrees so far. I went to take my trash out to the cans, ended up stopping to pull a few weeds, but it was comfortable out there because the humidity haas dropped considerably. According to my Accuweather app it is supposed to rain on and off today, —- I reckon we will see. 

My friend and parishioner passed from this life last evening around 8:00 pm. I have spent several hours with the family during the past few days as we listened for him to stop breathing. I was with him yesterday afternoon until around 5:30. He was a tough old bird for sure, and didn’t give it up easily especially considering he has been looking forward to this for five and a half years. The family is going to make the funeral arrangements at 1:00 pm today. I suspect the funeral will be Friday, or maybe Saturday at the latest. Both days are supposed to be good weather days which would be wonderful. Bob would have enjoyed a nice sunny day. 

I’ve been trying to work ahead on all of the stuff I have to do. I finished the sermon for the 21st of August last night around midnight. I also have to get ready to teach confirmation class this year. I’ll have two students. I ordered their books yesterday but still need to go to The Vineyard Bible Book store and pick out their Bibles. One would think that aa Bible is a Bible is a Bible; but tis not the case. I like the New International Version because it is easier to read\. I do not like the King James Version. I get wrapped around all of the the “Thee’s and Thou’s” and struggle to concentrate on what I’m reading. Many people like that version though. My seminary professors claimed that the best version was the old Revised Standard Version. I just know that when we have a Bible study we hear a lot of “Well, my Bible says this or that”. So I pick up the NIV Bible for them and I also give them a set of “cheater-tabs” to put \in their Bible. Those are tabs to mark each book of the Bible for easy reference. It has always been a big deal that students learned the Book of the Bible in order. I never did and still couldn’t recite them. But, I make sure that my students have a basic knowledge of which testament to look in; Old or New, and then they can find their tab and get busy. So today, I think I will work on my class syllabus and work on some material for my “new comers” class. 

But first, —- there is a piece of peach pie sitting over there on the counter calling my name. And my friends —- peach pie is not to be ignored!

Peace. 

 What a beautiful morning! The sun is shining and not but a few clouds in the sky. It’s 82 degrees ut feels like 98 because of the humidity. I filled all of the bird feeders last evening so all of my Backyard Buffet guests are happy, —- maybe too happy. They have half emptied one of the favorite already. Did I tell you that I spent almost $200 on bird feed this week?? Scheesh!  What is this — the Aviary Welfare Department? 

I grump about it costing that much but the cost of Black Oil sunflower seed has actually doubled. It is now $34 for a 40# bag. It was $17.00. I read an article that it is because of the drought. It’s sometimes hard to remember that much of the country is in a severe drought when we have an abundance of rain and then places like eastern Kentucky get washed away in a flood because of all of the rain. It doesn’t seem fair, does it?

I’m going to have my lunch in a bit and then head to the nursing home to sit with my friend Bob. He returned to the facility yesterday afternoon under Hospice care. Odds are that he won’t know that I am there but that doesn’t matter. But then again, maybe he will. I had a fellow pastor tell me once that she had gone to see a parishioner once and that he had been asleep so she sat in a chair and just prayed “with him” while he slept. The next time she went to see him he asked her if she had been in on that day and she said she had, He told her that “he felt her presence and her prayers even as he slept”. As pastors, we are often tempted to just leave our card, and maybe say a quick prayer and leave. But, we don’t realize that for the sick and or even the dying, there is an open consciousness that can reach out to us and join us in spirit regardless of what the rest of the body may be doing. That maybe sounds “paranormal” or something but when we really stop to think about our prayer life and our belief in God —— it is “paranormal”. We are praying to an unseen deity, and a Holy Spirit and relying on that Deity and that Holy Spirit for help in all kinds of situations. It might not be “television paranormal” but it is a reality. How’s that for a thought to end my blog for today? 

Have a blessed weekend. Give God praise and share whatever blessing God sends your way. Peace. 

 It isn’t raining this morning, at least not yet. But we are in an unsettled weather pattern for the next several days. It rained pretty well last night or at least during the early morning hours. I got up for a necessity run around 0330 and it was pouring. I noting this morning that it knocked down the “Magic Lilies” or as we call them — Naked ladies. I hate to see that. They looked so nice standing out there all alone looking all pretty and pink. 

This has been a busy week for me. I spent the best part of two days out in the back yard cleaning up limbs from storm damage. I have one limb left to cut up. It isn’t terribly big but it will take a little effort. I filled eight of my 40 lb sacks with cut up limbs and debris. I always save my bird-seed bags just for doing that. They are string bags and will hold a lot of stuff if I do it right. I had already filled most of my trash can with debris and limbs from the wind and storm last week. Now, the city is offering to let people bring their debris out to a certain location and they will dispose of it. That’s what I’m going to do with these rest of this. I have a neighbor two doors down that has a huge pile of stuff because he lost a really big limb off of one of his trees. I’ll ask him if he wants to put it in the bed of my truck and go with me to haul it to the dump site. Gotta be a good neighbor you know. 

I’ve also spent a good deal of time doing visitation with one of my parishioner families. Today they will be moving him from the the hospital back to the facility he was in but in the hospice portion.  I hate this for the family and I pray though that he doesn’t linger too much longer. So often people do that and I can never understand God’s purpose in that. If there is a blessing, at least he isn’t in any pain and sleeps 97% of the day. He will most likely pass peacefully in his sleep. I think that is what most of us pray for, for ourselves. I have begun working on his funeral. He’s just a really nice guy who would do anything to help anybody. But, his wife passed five and a half years ago and he’s been mourning her ever since and looking forward to making this journey to meet her. Given his condition, I wouldn’t want to deny him that and rejoice with him. 

Ms. Kate has some shopping to do today so I reckon we are on our way to the Dollar Tree to pick up stuff for her card making. I don’t mind as long as there will be breakfast involved at some point. I could handle a pancake or two this morning. And —- we have to stop at a grocery store and pick up some Pillsbury Pie crusts. We bought a bunch of peaches to make pies yesterday and we need (she needs) to get started on that. 

Have a wonderful day. Stay safe and \take time to give God praise today. Peace. 

 I’m very glad that we got our running around done yesterday and I got my hospital visitation done yesterday. Last evening it started to rain and thunderstorm with severe storms and wind. The severe part is over  for now but it is still thundering and we have a light rain going. There is massive storm damage all over the city and the area with trees down and flooding in some areas. I don’t know that I have ever witnessed a thunderstorm of this duration. Our power went out once but it didn’t last long. Besides, we have a “whole house generator” that kick on in less than thirty seconds when the power goes out. Yes, we’ve been through several Typhoons and a hurricane or two but those are designed for long duration and all of that\; but a thunderstorm here generally might last a couple of hours. This one has been going 12 hours so far and isn’t over yet. My back yard is a mess with limbs down and I’m quite fortunate. There are places where large trees came down. 

The worst part is that this storm is going to continue, and has continued down through eastern Kentucky where last weekend they were hit with a huge storm and flooding that has wiped away a large portion of the town and so far I think 25 people have been found dead. So, I’m not complaining one little bit. In fact I am giving God thanks that it hasn’t been worse this time. I can deal with my damage and Jim is going to come over and help Saturday with my clean-up. I would love not have asked him if he didn’t have my little saw. I need to put the chain back on the new one one more time and see if it will stay. 

I went to see my friend yesterday and sat with him. I did get to talk to him and got a response from him. They have put him on “comfort-care” status. I’m going to miss him; but will see him on The Other Side one of these days when it is my turn to step through the vail. None of us get out alive and I’ve told you before that it doesn’t bother me one bit. 

I think I need to use today to put a lesson plan together for my upcoming confirmation class. That is going to begin the first Sunday after Labor Day so it is only a month off. I’ll only have one student and I don’t know how that is going to work. I like to have multiple students so they can play off of one another. BUt it is just going to be me and a 14 year old boy. What do 14 year old boys even talk about —- when they do talk??? I reckon I’ll find out. 

I’m very happy to report that my daughter Lisa is retuning to work. It won’t be easy because she still has her wound vac and her ostomy bag but she’s strong and can handle it. She started doing “telework” yesterday but is going to try “in-person today. I pray it goes well for her. 

That’s it for this rainy Tuesday. Have a great day. Peace be with you. 

 Welcome to the new week, welcome to the new month. August: Can you believe it? I find it hard to believe. I don’t what month “it seems” like it is but to be in the eighth month of the year is ridiculous. And —- for many kids across this country, today is the first day of school. I’m seeing “back to school” pictures all over Facebook. What happened to the days when school started the first day after Labor Day? Why are we robbing kids of that extra month off? It sure isn’t like I see any evidence that they are getting any smarter by starting earlier and they still are going up into June. But, —- and here’s my rant; all of the after-school activities will start immediately and parents will either insist or allow that their kids be involved in everything, so it will be pick kids up from school and run them to this and that and maybe they will get home in time for supper and then do homework and finally crash for the night. Parents and kids are forcing themselves into exhaustion. I guess if everybody stays busy all the time, they don’t have to suffer through that awful quiet time of actually talking to one another and being involved in one another’s life. Just grab your Phone and text one another. Yes, — I know. That was snarky of me and hopefully not as true as it seems. 

I need to take Ms. Kate to the doctor’s office first thing this morning for some blood work and then maybe we’ll go to breakfast. After that I need to go to the hospital for a visitation. I have a parishioner that seems to be at End of Life. He’s in the hospital with pneumonia and several other serious health issues. He’s a really great guy and a very good friend. But, EOL is a reality for all of us at some point and I truly hate to see him like this. But —- I could be wrong, God does miracles all the time and that is what it would take for him at this point. In the meantime, I pray for his comfort and for comfort for his family. None of us want to lose a loved one but quality of life is also important and when we get to the point that we don’t do more than draw in air to our body, God’s final gift of peace is \the most desirable  in the realm of options.

Hot and muggy are the words for today. Right on schedule with the month of August. I’m momentarily caught  up with my writing so I have time to maybe get outside and do some flower-bed work. I really wish I knew where to find someone to clean these flower beds up but I guess I’ll try to do it all myself. Slow and steady has to be the watchword. 

Time to shower and get ready to start the day. Have a blessed week, have a blessed new month. Make the most of it and do something good for somebody. Peace.