Last night there was a knock on our door. We welcomed in Ed Johnson and his son, Cameron. He didn't stay long. He was only here to loan me a DVD that I had asked about. It was the DVD of the last year's Christmas activities. Linda and I watched it until it was over around midnight. We both were awed. It was wonderful watching and listening to people we knew singing and reading together. We saw four very special children playing a song with the bells. What a blessing! We laughed with the ones who were putting on the show in their pajamas. And then that tree. I could not imagine the work that had to go into constructing that tree. It was strong enough to hold David Williams at the top. And the lights. I assumed that they were computer driven but then it may have been Doug working his fingers to the bone changing the colors in sync with the music.
The music was the very best!
Isn't it good to be a part of a church that is small but still does productions that would compete with much larger churches. Just think how good it will be when we win all the new members and get them active. Think of all that has been given to this community and look forward to even more that we can give together. And as you have given to the least of these you have given unto Me.
I look forward to the time when all churches will join together in the common cause of showing God's love as he has asked us to do. Without quibbling!
I think I will start by telling you once again that I love you. And I am proud of the things you are already doing. And I will not see your warts. Will you forgive mine?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
They are building!
It is almost finished. The new sanctuary for the Munfordville Methodist Church is probably going to be ready by Christmas. I have enjoyed watching it go up in almost every detail.
Most of my life has been in building. Only thing is all of the building I have ever done was done either on the drawing board or on the computer. I never really worked with bricks or mortar. But I have always enjoyed visiting the jobs that were originated by my pencil. Most builders feel as if those of us who worked in architecture are simply creating monuments to our own bad taste. And perhaps they are right. But I sometimes wonder what the world would be like if there were no dreamers.
The number one law of architecture is: One man's eye for beauty is another's eye sore. We all do not agree about exactly what is beautiful or what is good. So we create committees so that we can argue about it. The second law of architecture then is: A zebra is a horse designed by a committee. But in the end we find that if we join the dreams of the architect with the practical thinking of the builder we end up with a compromise that is usually what we wanted in the first place.
While I was watching the sanctuary go up I was aware that there had probably been many discussions about how it should be done. And many disagreements. But now, because I am retired, I am able to simply enjoy what I see and look forward to that time when all those involved in the planning will sit back and say to themselves, "Look what I did! Isn't it good?"
As I was watching the brick masons do their thing I was so impressed with their work that I felt thankful. I stood there in the yard and prayed. I thanked God for building this fine building. But I remembered that it is not 'our church' but it is 'His church' It is not a social club to serve the ones who have always been coming here but a worship center where the members can reach out to others in our community and show them the love that Jesus taught. We can invite them in, welcome them, tell them that we do not own any seat and they can sit where they like. They can park their car where they want. They are to be welcomed and loved. It is for God's people, not our people. There is already a lot of love in that place and now it will be easier to share it. God has given us much. Let's give back!
Most of my life has been in building. Only thing is all of the building I have ever done was done either on the drawing board or on the computer. I never really worked with bricks or mortar. But I have always enjoyed visiting the jobs that were originated by my pencil. Most builders feel as if those of us who worked in architecture are simply creating monuments to our own bad taste. And perhaps they are right. But I sometimes wonder what the world would be like if there were no dreamers.
The number one law of architecture is: One man's eye for beauty is another's eye sore. We all do not agree about exactly what is beautiful or what is good. So we create committees so that we can argue about it. The second law of architecture then is: A zebra is a horse designed by a committee. But in the end we find that if we join the dreams of the architect with the practical thinking of the builder we end up with a compromise that is usually what we wanted in the first place.
While I was watching the sanctuary go up I was aware that there had probably been many discussions about how it should be done. And many disagreements. But now, because I am retired, I am able to simply enjoy what I see and look forward to that time when all those involved in the planning will sit back and say to themselves, "Look what I did! Isn't it good?"
As I was watching the brick masons do their thing I was so impressed with their work that I felt thankful. I stood there in the yard and prayed. I thanked God for building this fine building. But I remembered that it is not 'our church' but it is 'His church' It is not a social club to serve the ones who have always been coming here but a worship center where the members can reach out to others in our community and show them the love that Jesus taught. We can invite them in, welcome them, tell them that we do not own any seat and they can sit where they like. They can park their car where they want. They are to be welcomed and loved. It is for God's people, not our people. There is already a lot of love in that place and now it will be easier to share it. God has given us much. Let's give back!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Back to Florida
Linda tells me that we are going back home to Florida next week. I hope we get back in time to vote but I don't know now. The truth is, however, I am not ready to leave Kentucky. This has been a fast summer with too much to do and I don't feel like I am through yet. I enjoy it here. This is the place where I grew up and still call home even after living in Florida for forty years. But Linda keeps reminding me that we have many friends in Florida as well so I should be glad we are about to return there.
That got me thinking about friends at both places. Each one has at least one special quality. This morning while at the liar's club I glanced around the room and stopped at each friend there. Roy always has a cute story to tell. Jerry laughs a lot and told everyone there that they should buy a meal ticket from me for our church's chicken dinner this weekend. John Ray just sits there smiling at all the things he hears others say. John Freeman was especially happy about something but I could not hear what he was talking about so I can't share that with you. I went home feeling good. A lot of fine people there every day. Maybe one of them should run for president.
When we get back to Florida there will be a similar group to visit with. Bob the builder will be telling me about his latest pieces of furniture he has built. Jack will show me the latest things he has added to his wood working shop that he created after he retired. Charley will maybe want me to go fishing with him. I hope so. That is one of my favorite enjoyments. Barb, Dee, and Shirley will greet us with hugs and smiles that I really enjoy. We will all get together and sip a bit of wine and tell stories of our summer experiences.
There is the 7:14 group, too. That is our fellowship group that meets once a week to study and discuss things that we think are important. We seldom agree on everything but we have remained friends for over fifteen years. In case you are wondering the 7:14 comes from II Chronicles in the Old Testament. Read it. You may enjoy it, too.
Then there is our church choir. I have been with them for over thirty-five years and they still are not aware that I am unable to sing. I just like the people there. I did sing a solo once, however. It was two words long. I was a hit, or at least that is what I told everybody.
I will miss Kentucky and I will be glad to see Florida. And I want to go to Japan to see my beautiful great niece whom I have never seen other than pictures. One life is not long enough, is it? I think I will just continue to love everyone I meet. Who knows? I might make another friend. Let's all spread lots of love. Its worth it!
That got me thinking about friends at both places. Each one has at least one special quality. This morning while at the liar's club I glanced around the room and stopped at each friend there. Roy always has a cute story to tell. Jerry laughs a lot and told everyone there that they should buy a meal ticket from me for our church's chicken dinner this weekend. John Ray just sits there smiling at all the things he hears others say. John Freeman was especially happy about something but I could not hear what he was talking about so I can't share that with you. I went home feeling good. A lot of fine people there every day. Maybe one of them should run for president.
When we get back to Florida there will be a similar group to visit with. Bob the builder will be telling me about his latest pieces of furniture he has built. Jack will show me the latest things he has added to his wood working shop that he created after he retired. Charley will maybe want me to go fishing with him. I hope so. That is one of my favorite enjoyments. Barb, Dee, and Shirley will greet us with hugs and smiles that I really enjoy. We will all get together and sip a bit of wine and tell stories of our summer experiences.
There is the 7:14 group, too. That is our fellowship group that meets once a week to study and discuss things that we think are important. We seldom agree on everything but we have remained friends for over fifteen years. In case you are wondering the 7:14 comes from II Chronicles in the Old Testament. Read it. You may enjoy it, too.
Then there is our church choir. I have been with them for over thirty-five years and they still are not aware that I am unable to sing. I just like the people there. I did sing a solo once, however. It was two words long. I was a hit, or at least that is what I told everybody.
I will miss Kentucky and I will be glad to see Florida. And I want to go to Japan to see my beautiful great niece whom I have never seen other than pictures. One life is not long enough, is it? I think I will just continue to love everyone I meet. Who knows? I might make another friend. Let's all spread lots of love. Its worth it!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Zija night
This Thursday night there will be a zija meeting in Bowling Green. Dr. Russ Bianchi will be there to explain all the things I have trouble explaining to people. If there is anyone who wants to go with Linda and me please give us a call and we will be honored to take you. So why would you want to go or even to know anything about what I am talking about? Well, zija has pretty much changed my life and the lives of many of my friends. They feel much better and some are making money to boot.
Last year Linda and I went to get our hair cut by Jennifer. When we got there we saw a woman who was forty or so pounds lighter and who had a step in her life that was noticeable. I asked her what she had been doing and she simply said,"Zija." I asked her what that was and she explained as best she could. When she told me that it was sold through network marketing I thought, "Oh, yeah. A pyramid scheme that sells snake oil.." I dismissed it at that point.
We went to visit Jennifer's mother and there she was some forty pounds lighter, too. She had a smile on her face that said how good she was feeling and she seemed to have more energy than I could remember her having. I asked her what she was doing and she simply said. "Zija." I dropped it at this point and said no more about it. Then I noticed a strange thing. Neither of these fine people tried to sell me anything. When I asked them they would answer quickly but they never tried to convince me that it was something I should try. But I wanted to know because I was seeing the results.
I agreed to try it for three months because they told me it might take that long to get my body like it was supposed to be as far as nutrition was concerned. It turned out to be the best decision I have made in a long while.
I do not wish to sell anything to anybody. I simply want you to feel like I do. Yes I do make money telling this story and you can as well but that is not my motivation. Perhaps it is yours. It for me is like going to a good restaurant. If the service was good, the place ws clean and the food was good why not tell others about it? That is what I am doing about zija. It is good. It works if you stay with it. You will be glad you tried it. Call me or e-mail me and I will answer all the questions I can and put you in touch with others who can answer the rest.
I love each of you. Thank you for reading this far!
wilkinsw@bellsouth.net 561 842 3869 (Florida) or 270 524 5172 (Kentucky) or 561 389 6695 (Linda's cell)
Last year Linda and I went to get our hair cut by Jennifer. When we got there we saw a woman who was forty or so pounds lighter and who had a step in her life that was noticeable. I asked her what she had been doing and she simply said,"Zija." I asked her what that was and she explained as best she could. When she told me that it was sold through network marketing I thought, "Oh, yeah. A pyramid scheme that sells snake oil.." I dismissed it at that point.
We went to visit Jennifer's mother and there she was some forty pounds lighter, too. She had a smile on her face that said how good she was feeling and she seemed to have more energy than I could remember her having. I asked her what she was doing and she simply said. "Zija." I dropped it at this point and said no more about it. Then I noticed a strange thing. Neither of these fine people tried to sell me anything. When I asked them they would answer quickly but they never tried to convince me that it was something I should try. But I wanted to know because I was seeing the results.
I agreed to try it for three months because they told me it might take that long to get my body like it was supposed to be as far as nutrition was concerned. It turned out to be the best decision I have made in a long while.
I do not wish to sell anything to anybody. I simply want you to feel like I do. Yes I do make money telling this story and you can as well but that is not my motivation. Perhaps it is yours. It for me is like going to a good restaurant. If the service was good, the place ws clean and the food was good why not tell others about it? That is what I am doing about zija. It is good. It works if you stay with it. You will be glad you tried it. Call me or e-mail me and I will answer all the questions I can and put you in touch with others who can answer the rest.
I love each of you. Thank you for reading this far!
wilkinsw@bellsouth.net 561 842 3869 (Florida) or 270 524 5172 (Kentucky) or 561 389 6695 (Linda's cell)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Emmaus Walk
Linda and I just got back from three days at Gatlinburg, Tn. We had a wonderful time but had to hurry back on a Thursday so that we could take our friend J.T. to a sendoff for the Emmaus Walk. And, as always, there was a lot to learn if only we looked and listened. J.T. was excited about going but on the trip to E-town he was quiet and in thought. He didn't say much but kept up his usual good nature. As we talked to him we asked if there were any questions about the weekend. He didn't have any. We knew he enjoyed smoking and had wondered if he was wondering about whether or not he would be asked not to smoke there. So we told him that they had many breaks as the weekend progressed and that they were allowed to smoke at those times. He then shared something with us that has left its mark on me. I keep thinking about it over and over. We had all been watching television about the saving of the miners in Chili. J.T. said that he had watched and prayed a thanksgiving prayer as each miner had been lifted out of that awful pit after sixty seven days there. He recalled the trials they endured while there. They had very little to eat or drink at first. They could get very little exercise. Their problems went on and on. And we all said a prayer of thanks for each one as he was lifted out of that dark hole. We were thankful fot the safety of each one. One man said that he had met God and the devil while down there and God had won. We were all impressed at that.
When we told J.T. that smoking was allowed to those who chose to do so he simply patted his shirt pocket where his cigarettes normally were and smiled as he said, "If those miners could stay down there in that hell hole for that long with that little food and drink then I certainly should be able to go without smoking for three days as a tribute to my God who also wins." Linda and I were both speechless. We knew how much of an enjoyment smoking was to him and felt as if that were a fine gift he wanted to give to God. I am certain that God is surely with him during this special weekend and the time after that. We all have habits that we wish we did not have but we can learn something here about what a wonderful time in life it is when a friend makes an effort to better himself in order to please God. Cannot we all benefit by copying this kind of struggle? I am thankful to God for many things, one of which is for His bringing friends into my life such as J.T.!
Let's spread the good news. I love my neighbors whomever they are and you are one of those, aren't you?
When we told J.T. that smoking was allowed to those who chose to do so he simply patted his shirt pocket where his cigarettes normally were and smiled as he said, "If those miners could stay down there in that hell hole for that long with that little food and drink then I certainly should be able to go without smoking for three days as a tribute to my God who also wins." Linda and I were both speechless. We knew how much of an enjoyment smoking was to him and felt as if that were a fine gift he wanted to give to God. I am certain that God is surely with him during this special weekend and the time after that. We all have habits that we wish we did not have but we can learn something here about what a wonderful time in life it is when a friend makes an effort to better himself in order to please God. Cannot we all benefit by copying this kind of struggle? I am thankful to God for many things, one of which is for His bringing friends into my life such as J.T.!
Let's spread the good news. I love my neighbors whomever they are and you are one of those, aren't you?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
WOW!
It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. When Linda and I went to Sodus, New York recently to see our great grandchildren our granddaughter Shannon told us right away that we might have a hard time bonding with the youngest boy. He is one and a half years old. His name is Gavin. He is sort of chunky and built like a bowling ball. You know what I mean. He is the same size any way you happen to measure him. He is really good looking, as all of our family happens to be, and he laughs a lot. When we got there I told Linda that I would take my time trying to win him over. After all it was the first time either of us had ever seen him. So when we arrived we walked into their house, Gavin looked up at us while he was sitting on the floor, jumped up smiling and ran to me with both arms stretched out wanting me to take him. He stayed in my arms almost the whole time we were there. Does that give your heart a lift? It did mine! I have always loved children and this was a very special time in my life. I knew that there could never be a time any better that would happen to me in my lifetime. Or even be as well.
But I was wrong. Today we went to see Bobbi Logsdon. We love Bobbi and wanted to see her but the real reason for the visit was to see Rebekah, her one year old granddaughter. We saw her the first week of her life and Julia, her mother, let me hold her for a long time. That time she didn't even wake up. But today! We walked in and there she sat on the floor playing with some toys. She looked up and ran to me the same way as Gavin did. She jumped up into my arms and snuggled as if to say that she was very happy to see me. Now don't try to pop my bubble and say she would do that for anybody. Each time I put her down to play she would sort of do some little something and then turn around and come back to me with those little arms stretched out for me to take her again. I can't speak for you but I do know this: children are wonderful and if you let them they can make you very happy. And all without saying a word.
Don't you wish we could all be like children? I do. I guess that is why I do not really want to grow up. Children love anyone who is kind to them. So today be kind to a child. Their smile and hugs will more than pay you for that little bit of time well spent.
I love you, too, whether you want me to or not, and there ain't nothing you can do about it. So there!
But I was wrong. Today we went to see Bobbi Logsdon. We love Bobbi and wanted to see her but the real reason for the visit was to see Rebekah, her one year old granddaughter. We saw her the first week of her life and Julia, her mother, let me hold her for a long time. That time she didn't even wake up. But today! We walked in and there she sat on the floor playing with some toys. She looked up and ran to me the same way as Gavin did. She jumped up into my arms and snuggled as if to say that she was very happy to see me. Now don't try to pop my bubble and say she would do that for anybody. Each time I put her down to play she would sort of do some little something and then turn around and come back to me with those little arms stretched out for me to take her again. I can't speak for you but I do know this: children are wonderful and if you let them they can make you very happy. And all without saying a word.
Don't you wish we could all be like children? I do. I guess that is why I do not really want to grow up. Children love anyone who is kind to them. So today be kind to a child. Their smile and hugs will more than pay you for that little bit of time well spent.
I love you, too, whether you want me to or not, and there ain't nothing you can do about it. So there!
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Reunion
Although it is hard to believe I just returned from my high school graduation reunion. Oh that is not hard to believe. What is hard to believe is that it was my sixtieth. Most people don't even live that long. There were seventy-four in our class, out of which twenty-seven have died. Two died last week. This could very well be my last blog.
So what did I learn? Well I got to visit with a lot of old friends I have not seen since our last reunion five years ago. Most of us who are still living are trying to keep living until we have something to brag about at those affairs. Not an easy thing to do. So some sort of made things up to talk about. I was one of those of course. We together remembered things that happened when we were in high school, most of which never happened at all. I recalled for them the time I hit the home run in the final game of the regional tournament. No others could remember that. I can't imagine why. I think the best part of the day was when one of the women got up and told the story about the time she farted in church. Then she swore us all to secrecy about it. So I won't tell who it was. It was funny, though.
I really did learn something, though. I learned that old friends are precious. I think maybe all friends are precious. And I learned that all memories are not good. But there are enough good ones to offset the bad. I hugged all of the ones I talked to and not a single one complained. Madisonville, Kentucky is the Best Town on Earth and I am glad I went to high school there. Why don't you call some of your high school classmates right now and tell them that you love them. You will both feel better for it.
So what did I learn? Well I got to visit with a lot of old friends I have not seen since our last reunion five years ago. Most of us who are still living are trying to keep living until we have something to brag about at those affairs. Not an easy thing to do. So some sort of made things up to talk about. I was one of those of course. We together remembered things that happened when we were in high school, most of which never happened at all. I recalled for them the time I hit the home run in the final game of the regional tournament. No others could remember that. I can't imagine why. I think the best part of the day was when one of the women got up and told the story about the time she farted in church. Then she swore us all to secrecy about it. So I won't tell who it was. It was funny, though.
I really did learn something, though. I learned that old friends are precious. I think maybe all friends are precious. And I learned that all memories are not good. But there are enough good ones to offset the bad. I hugged all of the ones I talked to and not a single one complained. Madisonville, Kentucky is the Best Town on Earth and I am glad I went to high school there. Why don't you call some of your high school classmates right now and tell them that you love them. You will both feel better for it.
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