There isn’t a cloud in the sky; all I see is infinite blue and sunshine, and that makes me happy, although the thermometer says 31. Brrrrr. 

Today is Inauguration Day for President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. President Trump has already landed in Florida to return to civilian status. Personally I want to thank him for all he tried to do for this nation. The Democrats fought him every step of the way because he was not one of them and could not be corrupted. He promised to “drain the swamp” but the alligators ate his ass. Did I like him as a person? I never met him but he did some things that I would not have done. I do believe that his motives were honorable and he was true to his mantra; “Make American Great Again.” I believe he is  a man with a “frontier American” spirit, and I believe that too much of our society no longer has an appreciation for that kind of thinking. I pray for him and his family who have suffered so much hatred for the past four years and yet have stood their ground and continued to work for the people. 

Now we have a new president; a man who is a professional politician. He has been in government for 47 years with zero record of accomplishment except to become a multimillionaire on a government salary. His Vice President was picked because she is bi-racial and a female. Her only claim to fame is that she became Attorney General of California through a sex scandal and then was elected a senator. 

But, they are now the President and Vice President of this nation. I will not protest the nor riot against them. I will shudder and grimace at many of their changes they say they are going to make because I personally believe they are immoral people. So far President Biden has announced a number of his cabinet picks and agency heads and it would appear that he has a list “kinds” of people that he wants to put into positions and is staying far away from anybody that is a “white, Christian male, with old American values.” President Ronald Reagan and John Wayne thinking has no place in the new administration. It is , of course, all in the name of “including all Americans”. Even his dog is a rescue because he is so against oppression. (BTW, I love rescue dogs.) 

But as I said, they are the new administration that has been placed into office to led this country. I will not hate them; I will pray for them. I will pray that this country can come together and unite once again and get one with leading the world. I pray that God will calm the anger that is a dark cloud hanging over the country. I pray that neighbors will one another as neighbors to rely on and not people to avoid because of skin colors or politics. I pray for peace in the world and I pray that we can lift one another up rather than constantly looking for ways to tear one another down. 

And I pray for you. Have a blessed day. Peace. 

 A pot of warm coffee, cardinals at the feeders, sunshine and blue skies over head. What a great way to start the morning. I’m almost glad that Medicare was concerned about my coverage and called me at 0700 to check on it. A parishioner and friend sent me a great prayer and devotional this morning and now I have Alan Jackson’s “Precious Memories” album playing on the Bose as I sit here enjoying the morning. It’s pretty darn peaceful. 

I’m tempted to get on the bike to nowhere and do a ride. I did 7.5 miles yesterday but it was a struggle ti get it in. I had seven phone calls in the middle of my ride. Then, when I was done with my ride, ——- not another call all day. It was a bit frustrating, but they were all calls “about work” so it’s all good. I probably call people and interrupt their thought processes and activity too. It would not have bothered me if I hadn’t had to stop and get off of the bike each time. 

Wow!, I’m looking at my “porch plants” and a couple of them are in need of water. I didn’t bring as many in this year. I have my orange tree, the Biltmore Ballgown tree, two pots of geraniums, and a purple shamrock that I brought in. Then we have a rather large “Peace Plant” and a Pony-tail Palm tree in here that stays in here year around. We really need to trim that Pony-tail Palm back. I think we gave that palm to my mother-in-law thirty years ago. It is a totally forgiving thing. We forget to water it once in a while and it dries back but always come back out when we water it. It probably the most maintenance free plant we have. Although most of these plants are maintenance free. We’ve had these two pots of geraniums for a decade, and they constantly bloom. 

Today the folks come to give me an estimate for changing out my fireplace and then this evening we go get our first COVID Vaccine. I’ll be glad to have that done. Tomorrow I go to run my bulletins  and then Thursday I have the funeral. The forecast for Thursday is for sunshine and fifty degrees which will be wonderful for the funeral graveside service. Sunshine eases the mind and soul. 

Tomorrow is the Presidential Inauguration and they are expecting all kinds of civil unrest. I pray that does not come about. We don’t need it and and it accomplishes nothing except more hate.  

Tie to go toast bagel and pour another cup of coffee. Have a blessed day. Peace. 

 Good morning and happy Brrrrrrr-Monday. It’s 34 degrees and there is a dusting of snow out there on the ground. The sky is overcast and that most likely means that even what little snow we do have, will not melt quickly today. But, I’m not going to be out in it anyway so who cares. 

How was your weekend? Our was the usual. Although, — I guess it wasn’t really “usual”. I did lose my parishioner on Friday evening. Bless his heart, I had been up to his house just a couple of hours prior and did an “end of life” worship and prayer with him. I got home and his wife called me about two hours later and said that he had passed. It was time. I’m glad God has relieved him of his suffering and I’m glad for his wife that she can now exhale and relax somewhat. We will do the funeral on Thursday afternoon. The COVID restrictions are still in effect so I don’t know what really to expect. The funeral home can only have 25 people at a time in it and visitation is what they are calling “walk-through”, which means, go by the casket and pay respects to the family and exit. That’s hard on everybody. People want to stand and talk and express their feelings and they really can’t. But the times are what they are. I’ll do the service at the funeral home and then do a graveside service too. I think more people can be at the graveside if they want because it is out side and people are safer as long as they wear their masks and social distance. (I’ll so glad when this pandemic is beaten.)

Our service went well yesterday and the broadcast/taping went off without a hitch. Jacob is going to “pull the trigger”on the purchase of the new camera this week. I’ll be really glad when it is in. My vision of it all is that he can just sit and do everything from his laptop as far as zoom, pan, tilt. I may be over simplifying it all because in reality, I only know what I want to be able to do. I’m sometimes guilty of “we’re going to” when I don’t understand “what we can do.” 

Tomorrow evening Ms. Kate and I go to get our first COVID shot. I’m hoping we have no reactions to it. We get the flu shot every year and it never bothers us, so maybe this will be the same. I’m glad we can get ours. I hear and see so many stories on the news about people standing line hours long lines only to be turned away. I also hear other people say that they went, it took no time, and they had no after affect. So, who knows what to expect. I know we have appointment times and just hope that it all works out well. 

I think that is it for today. Welcome to a new week of opportunities to do something good for some body. I would ask you to smile at strangers but I’d rather they didn’t see your smile because of your mask. So, just say “hey” to a stranger. You might just be the best thing that has happened tp them today. Peace. 

 Good morning on this cool a little breezy, Friday morning. We have a mixed bag of weather coming in today. When I got up the sun was bright and it looked really nice outside. Now the sky is pretty much overcast and later today we are supposed to maybe be getting some snow or snow showers or who knows, maybe just some rain. Ya’ gotta love southern Indiana weather. 

There isn’t much on my plate today that I know of. Of course, I could always find something to do work-wise. But yesterday I finished up my sermon and service for the 24th, put together the service for the 31st and also the service for February 7th. Today I need to review the funeral service tat I have prepared for my parishioner. Bless his heart, he is still hanging in there but only barely. I talked to his wife yesterday and he is now moved into his hospice hospital bed and barely acknowledges her, although when she gives him water or some applesauce, he might tell her how good it tasted to him. She is absolutely worn out. She hardly sleeps because she is awakened every time he moves. It is so sad when people reach this stage of the dying process. The family gets worn out and is so ready for the person to go ahead and breathe their last and then they feel horribly guilty because they feel that way. So generally, people just sit around and wait for the patient to breathe their last. I have been to so many hospital and nursing home rooms where people were crowded in. Their intentions and love is so noble and yet they look like vultures waiting for carrion. I know, that sounds like a terrible description but it is factual. And so often, the dying person seems to be just waiting on everybody to leave the room so they can pass in solitude and peace. Ms. Kate and I sat all night with my dad and he assed about ten minutes after we left his hospital room. Dying is a very interesting phenomenon. —— Wow! That went morbid quickly didn’t it?? Anyway, I need to review and maybe tailor that service. I’ve asked both my parishioner and his wife if there is anything in particular that they want read  and all they have said is, “no, just whatever is appropriate.” That throws the door wide open but answers nothing. 

Ms. Kate and I are planing a vacation for a week down in Biloxi, MS at the end of the month. We have two different resorts that we like down there. We won’t do much except sit in our hotel room, read, do our computer games, stare at the Gulf of Mexico and go to some favorite restaurants, assuming they are still there. Between the closures for the pandemic and two hurricanes hitting the area last fall, we don’t really know what is open and what isn’t. But —- we lost three weeks of vacation last year JD we don’t want to lose it again this year. The only thing that could change our plans is if my parishioner is still hanging on to life. That really makes a difference. If we have to delay because of the funeral we can cancel plans up until 24 hours before check-in. We’ll have to see what God has in store for the next couple of weeks. Wish us luck. 

Well folks, it is Friday so I hope you have a good weekend. I hope you can take a couple of days and just relax. Make sure you take the time to stop and give praise to God above for getting you through yet another week. Be kind to your fellow persons and share God’s love. Peace.

 The sound of the clanging and banging and motor running our on the street told me the garbage dudes are here and that means it is Thursday morning. And sure enough, when I looked out to the street, the can was empty and waiting for me to bring it back up to the house. The good news is that it is a bright and sun day to go out there to get it. It’s currently 39 but it is going up to 52 today which is “wahooo” weather. LOL

I haven’t got a lot of stuff this morning to talk about. Well, the US House of Representatives did impeach president Trump —— again. But that’s not even news anymore. The Democrat party’s hate for our president has no limit. He has six days until the inauguration of the new president and they intend to make every day as miserable for him as they have for the last four years. What a shame and how embarrassing for this country. But that is what happens when the people elect a guy that is not a career politician, is not interested in “playing the political corruption game” and calls them all out for what they are. His mantra was that he was going to “drain the swamp’. Unfortunately, the alligators have been biting at his ass every single day and have finally driven him out of the swamp. I look at all of the new appointee’s that the President Elect is appointing and it is the same tired old corrupt people that have been there for years and done nothing except make themselves very rich. 

Ms. Kate and I are now scheduled for our COVID 19 vaccine shots. We called yesterday and got on the schedule for next Tuesday evening. This is shot #1. We’ll have to go for our follow-up shot probably three or four weeks later. I’m glad to be getting it. Just yesterday the state of Indiana opened up the eligibility for those of us that are 70 and over. There seems to be a nation-wide problem of distributing the vaccine. And now that it is available, people are hesitant to take it. Well, we’ve had COVID and don’t want it again. We’ll take the darn shots. 

I had a good ride on the recumbent bike yesterday; I did 8.3 miles. I wasn’t overly smart about doing it though. I did my ride with my house slippers on and they don’t have  hard sole. So, it was almost like riding in just my socks. Today the bottom of my feet are a bit sore. I’ve learned to not do that again and will put on shoes with a hard sole on them when I ride. But, what the heck. Onen is never to old to learn or to make silly mistakes. 

That’s it for today. Time for me to change keyboards and start working at my desk and get my sermon written. You go have yourself a blessed day and enjoy the sunshine. Peace. 

 Well, yesterday’s question was answered this morning. It is 29 degrees again this morning but the sun is shining brightly. I went and and cleaned the nasty birdbath and with the sun shining on me, it didn’t feel nearly as cold as it did yesterday. Yes, it is a beautiful morning and let’s start the day with thanks to the Lord God for it. 

I woosed out on my bike ride yesterday and only did six miles. I try to ride seven or even eight miles at a time, and want to keep doing that three days a week. But I just got tired and said “that’s enough for today”. I may ride today for awhile just to even it all out. 

Today is going to be a shopping day, unfortunately. I don’t know how big my grocery list is because Ms. Kate hasn’t given it to me yet. I do 99% of the grocery shopping now-a-days. Frankly, I’d much rather do it myself than go with her. I’m a “list guy”. Give me the list, I go get it and come back out. Ms. Kate is a “think about it shopper” and that is probably good if you are thinking and doing meal planning, but I don’t ever plan meals. My biggest planning is if I see something in the freezer that I think might be good and get it out a day ahead of time. I know we are going to go to Fresh Market because as I have told you before, Tuesday is “ground chuck” day there. Ms. Kate goes in there to get that. Then I guess we’ll go to the Walmart Neighborhood Market which is where I do most of my grocery shopping.  Their prices are pretty good  and they aren’t like a full box store Walmart. Groceries are about all they have. I pretty much know where everything is in there. I don’t think Ms. Kate has been in there more than twice. My “other store” is Schnucks. They are a mid-west grocery chain. Their prices are a little higher but they have fresh made fruit turnovers and donuts and I always stop by the bakery and get a few. Of course, Sam’s Club has turnovers too and sometimes I’ll go in there to pick up a box. During cherry season and peach season, there is a farm market not far from us that has fresh made turnovers and once in a while, I’ll swing by for a couple. 

I know you have been keeping up on what is happening nationally with our politics. It is some scary stuff. You know, part of the problem is that “we the people” really have no idea what is actually going on. This country has heard so much rhetoric and lies, and half truths that folks like me and you are left forming our opinions on and about things that we truly don’t know if we are being told the truth or not. I do know that the US House of Representatives is doing everything they can to oust President Trump before his last eight days in office are over. They are impeaching him for the second time during his presidency. They don’t want him to be able to ever be able to hold a political office again and the way they prevent that is to remove him from office. And unfortunately, the fact that we have over 300,000 people that have died from CORONA 19, and the fact that people are desperate to find a job and care for their family is all less important to them than their hate for President Trump. And why do they hate him so much????? Because he isn’t one of them and was never supposed to win the 2016 election over their hand picked candidate. It is a mess that could very easily end up in a civil war and we won’t really even know what we are fighting about. It is no different than it has ever been —- what one side calls insurrection and treason, the other side calls patriotism. Pray, pray, pray my friends. Pray for peace. Pray for calmer attitudes. Pray for our current president and pray for our in-coming president. 

With that, I will close. May God bring peace to your life. 

 

 I’m not sure which is colder, a day like today when it is 28 degrees and the air is damp, the sky is grey with overcast clouds and the land is bare without snow, or — snow covered ground with sunshine and still 28 degrees. I actually think the latter would at least seem warmer because the sun would be shining and the beauty of it all would “warm you up” or at least it would brighten your day. Yeh, today it just looks cold out there and when I went out it was “bone chilling” because the air is moist. But —- tomorrow promises to be better with sunshine and a high of 42. Yesterday the temperature difference between the high and the low was two degrees. And winter is not yet even officially one month gone until the 21st. But again —- I’m not shoveling anything so there is that to be grateful for today.

Church service attendance was slim yesterday. Between the COVID virus and the cold weather, I don’t blame people for not coming out. We did have a good attendance on Facebook virtual though. Lot’s of folks tuned in. Even Ms. Kate stayed home and watched it on the computer. She said it was too miserable to get out. I am so very glad we have this virtual capability. We’ve had a little camera trouble the past couple of weeks. Yesterday it kept going in and out of focus. We are still using Ms. Kate’s extra IPad and it has done well but yesterday it was a bit distracting to watch. The sound was good though. We are going ahead with the purchase of the new camera setup for our system. Our biggest problem is lack of internet. We are currently having to operate off of “hot-spots” on our phone and that is a weak signal. I’ve asked our council president, who is also our resident tech guru, about purchasing a couple of “fire-stick” devices, one for the sanctuary and one for my office. I’m not sure what kind of cost that runs into. He has also found out that the State of Indiana has some grant money for rural internet service so he is going to look into that and maybe we can get High Speed Internet run to the church. I know some of the congregation members that live around the church have it because they need it for farming. So, we’ll see what happens. We’ll be getting just too fancy. LOL. 

Ms. Kate didn’t just stay home and sit while we were having church yesterday. I came home to a pot of freshly made veggie soup, a cherry custard pie, and a pumpkin pie. Talk about good eating. I had a piece of the custard pie for my breakfast and it is delicious. I’ll be having left-over soup for lunch today and a piece of pumpkin pie. 

That’s about all of the news I have for today. I think I’ll work on dropping some writing today and see if I can’t accomplish something. I was going to go get on the bike for awhile but I think it is just too cool out on the sunporch to be comfortable. Saturday I rode my eight miles with a jacket on. I guess I could do that again. It wasn’t too bad. 

Have yourself a wonderful day and a week full of blessings. Wear your mask out in public and keep yourself safe. Peace.