What's Right With This World!

In my last blog I said that selfishness was the problem with this world.  I have not changed my mind, but that could be expanded to include the more or less identifiable symptom called greed.  However, I want to change the direction of our thoughts here so that we might see something that is right with this world.

We have just experienced the joy of Thanksgiving.  What a wonderful time of the year.  Now, I don't claim to be a philosopher nor even a teacher, so don't be disappointed if all I'm saying amounts to no more than just revving my engine, but I must yelp about the great time of Thanksgiving that we have just enjoyed at my sister's house here in Cleveland, TN.  We had relatives from Florida, Alabama and Texas and we got to met some new friends from Wears Valley, Tennessee.  The rest of us were from 'close by' Cleveland, TN.  There were about 40 of us.  Some were young and some were old, some were small and some were large, some were of modest means and some were fairing well, some were fit as a fiddle and some were more like Momma's old, antiquated, Stradivarius (copy) Violin, but we all had one common characteristic; we were all happy.  At least everyone seemed happy to me.  We've all experienced sadness and disappointment from time to time, but the good news is that we can got over it.  We didn't have to continue in a sad, despondent, gloomy mood. What fun!  Laughing, singing, reminiscing, and of course eating.

What does this world have to do with that?  Well, this world is the creation of God.  It is a display of His splendor and majesty.  He has created such a beautiful world that even the beauty of it has healing qualities.  There are marvelous healing qualities in the trees and the fruit of the land.  The clean air we breath is a gift from The Creator.  If we only use the "stuff" of this world properly, we would find that everything we need is provided for us by such a caring God, then perhaps, we would know more how to enjoy the good things that this world provides for us because of His care.  We have morning, day time, and night.  We have summer, fall, winter, and spring.  What wonderful mountains and valleys, oceans and springs of fresh, bubbling water.  This world operates according to the laws of nature that God has designed.  And, I could rev my engine more but I believe I'll just let it idle for a while.  There is something right about this world, and I thank God for it.

I do hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  If you want someone to say a prayer for you, just click on 'Prayer Request' and let me know.  I'll be glad to pray for you.

Together Again!

Today is a day to be remembered by the Brannen family - by the Louis A. Brannen family, that is.  On this day, after more than 50 years, all of the original Louis A. Brannen family that are still living, have addresses in the same city.  That city happens to be Cleveland, TN. 

About 55 years ago we all lived in the same three bedroom, shotgun house that was the parsonage for the church that daddy pastored in New Orleans, LA.  Daddy was a minister and pastored churches.  We moved a lot.   I used to look at moving to another place as an adventure, full of excitement and expectation with apprehension.  One or two years in any one location was not uncommon, but Dad stayed in New Orleans for four years.  Now, about the time we left New Orleans, my oldest brother, Fred, joined the U S Coast Guard after finishing high school in Cleveland, TN at Lee Academy.  I can't remember if he joined the Guard While we were still in N.O. or if it was after we left there in 1956 when we moved to Ooltewah, TN.  Ooltewah is only about 15 miles from Cleveland.  Fred was was the first one of our clan to leave the "fold". 

The next of the Brannen's who flew away from the "coop" was my next to the oldest sibling, Wil, who also completed his high school education at Lee Academy and joined the U S Coast Guard shortly thereafter.  I'm not positive about the exact times these events took place but I do remember that we moved from Ooltewah, TN, after being there only one year, to Smithville, TN where I started high school at DeKalb County High School in 1957.  I do remember for certain, that I had my own bedroom in that house.

That left two of us kids under the watchful eye of Mom and Dad - Me and my sister, Bonita.  We stayed in Smithville for only one year and then we moved back to Louisiana to the city of Monroe.  Monroe is the city I have often referred to as my home town.  While living there, I graduated from Ouachita Parish High School, I began my ministry with the Church of God, I began my college career at Lee University in Cleveland, TN, I joined the U S Air Force, I met my first wife, Vera Gail Welch, and I met my second wife, and we are still married after 37 years.  A lot of reasons to call Monroe my home, and Bonita has probably just as many and even more reasons to call Monroe her home, but she too now lives in Cleveland, TN. 

The three of us boys were at one time separated from each other as far as Corpus Christi, TX, is from Nairobi, Kenya, Africa, is from Lake Charles, La, is from Corpus Christi, TX, and Bonita was in West Monroe, LA.  At some point during that span of time, Mom and Dad were in Tennessee.  I heard my Mom say that we were all in different states, except that Fred was in Africa.  To say the least, we have been scattered.

While I was still in high school, there was another sibling added to the family, Donice.  She lived with Mom and Dad mostly in Louisiana and then attended, Lee College in Cleveland, TN, where she became engulfed with Tennessee culture and made Tennessee here home.  She now lives in Cleveland, TN.  As a matter of fact, so does Fred, Bonita and myself.  Oh, don't forget my Mom.  She moved here too, after Dad passed away over eleven years ago while they were living in Athens, TN.  That put us all here in Cleveland except for Wil.

Today, Wil is moving to Cleveland, TN.  He is here with some of his belongings and the moving van is to be here tomorrow.  It's been about 50 years but it is amazing how things turn around.  Time goes on and things change.  I don't know how long it will remain this way, but while it is this way, I plan to enjoy it.  Who knows?  It might be that the Brannen Brothers will become something of value, or it might be the Brannen Family that becomes renown.  There is already a Branham Family of note here in Cleveland but if you noticed, the spelling is different.  BRANNEN and BRANHAM!  The Branham Family Singers are really good.  What will the Brannen Family or Brannen Brothers be?  Who knows.  Anyway, we are all here together.  Look out Cleveland, TN!

Am I Getting Old?

Yesterday, Friday, proved to be a day that demands my consideration of the aging of my, and my wife's, mind and body!  We thought we would go to Captain D's for a break from the routine of our daily evenings and, for Janis, a break from the kitchen.  We ordered our meal, selected our table and waited a few minuets for our ticket number to be called.  Everything was going as it should, except for the fact that I had ordered two sides that was not the best combination, but it would do.  I wouldn't change it.  I hate to do things like that.  Still all was well.  We were enjoying the evening together.

Somehow, Janis made a move that resulted in her cup of water spilling right into her lap.  Oh my goodness!!  Water all over her lap, the booth seat, and the floor.  I helped her clean it up enough so that she could still eat, while sitting in the wet seat.  We continued with our meal and were ready to leave.  I thought she would be embarrassed with the front of her jeans being all wet, but the dark blue color of the jeans was a blessing because it really didn't show up too obviously.  So, with the tray of our dishes in my hands, we proceeded to leave.  As I turned around to leave the table, from somewhere, out of nowhere, appeared this half wall divider, right behind our booth and the tray in my hands found it.  Suddenly the cups with water and maybe a few of the other items like napkins etc., found their way over the wall onto the next table.  Oh no!!  Not again.  This time I was the one to be embarrassed.  I quickly got some paper towels and began cleaning up the mess while apologizing to the occupants in the booth.  Oh, thank goodness for large tables.  It did not splash on them and they were quite understanding.

Well, that makes me wonder if we are getting older or what.  I've noticed a few other minor fumbles that I've made lately, but wait a minuet!  Hasn't that always been the way it was?  As far back as I can remember, I have made mistakes.  When I was younger I made mistakes, but it seems that people were not quite as understanding.  And, yes, most of the time I probably could have avoided them.  Now, when I make a mistake, my age seems to get me off the hook.  That's good.  I should have some benefit for living this long.  I expect the benefits to increase as my age advances.  Hopefully, one day Janis and I can do whatever we want to, right or wrong, and no one will be upset about it.  Do you think that day will ever come?  Hahahaha!  LOL

I am glad that God is a merciful God.  If God was not merciful, I would be totally lost, without hope, but God is merciful.  Not only does He forgive me of my mistakes, and my out-right wrong doings, but He also blesses me with many, many good things.  One day I will be changed into the image of Christ.  Then I will make no more mistakes.  (1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.)

Well, enough of that.  Just go to my website and buy something or visit my church page and see if there is anything there that might help you appreciate God a little more.

Because I Must

I am going to post this blog shortly.  First I must write it.  I'm going to write it because I must.  You see, if I do not write it and post it, it just won't get done, so I must do it.  It is a good thing to post a blog regularly if I want you to follow my blog, because I understand that it is frustrating if you come to check out my new blog and there is the same old one staring you in the face, over and over again.  I've run into that myself with some whom I had hoped to follow.  So, here's my blog today (as if I posted one every day, hahaha).

Not only should I post a blog regularly, but the blog should be something of interest to you.  Now, there's a problem.  That's right!  The problem is that I don't know what interests you.  That being true, then I must rely on the style and manner in which I post it, i.e. the use of words, the choice of phrases, humor or shock, etc.  Now, I'm not the most motivated sometimes and then I just do as I'm doing right now.  I'm typing and knowing not what I'm about to say.  Oh, I'll check it out before I post it and maybe it will pass my test and then be posted.  "Hurray" if I do, and "oh well" if I don't.  Then I would try again later.

Continuing with the assumption that I will post this blog, let me say, "Don't do like I do.  Do as I say."  Somebody's gotta do it right.  It might as well be you.

Let me also say that I hope you will check out my website.  I have a new domain.  It is, http://www.janwell.com.  Why Janwell?  Well, just go to my website and I'll tell you.  Go to my store and my other website, http://www.landjspecialties.com, and have fun shopping.

There's more than one way to skin a cat!

Have you ever heard that saying, "There's more than one way to skin a cat!"? Well, it comes to mind today because I find myself in the Caldwell Parish Library sitting at the computer trying to check my email, and other sites that I visit often, but find that facebook, My Space, Twitter, and I guess others are blocked from access here on these computers. So, I have managed to get to my blogger account and have decided to post a blog and perhaps some of you will receive it and even still some of you might read it. Hopefully I have 'skent tha kat'. :)


As I have already said, I am at the Caldwell Parish Library. That is in Columbia, LA. We will be here in Columbia (actually in Hebert, about five or six miles out of Columbia) a few more days and then plan to return to Cleveland on Saturday. When I was in Sulphur, LA, I was on my daughter's internet connection and all was well. I may be able to get connected somewhere soon and catch up on f/b. If not, this will have to do. I think we can survive until then.  Meanwhile, go to my store and make a big purchase!

Ya'll take care now and we'll be seeing ya.

I'm Not Lazy - Just Tired!

I don't know where I heard it the first time, but I've heard it many times since. Maybe, the most I've heard it is from my own lips. "I'm not lazy. I'm just tired." I used to think I was lazy because I had no reason to be tired, but still I didn't want to do anything and what I did was like pulling a locomotive along behind me. Well, at one point in my life, the doctors discovered a medical condition that attributes to extreme fatigue. That doesn't sound as bad as lazy, and besides if there is a medical condition connected to it, it seems to be more excusable.

You know, I'm not so sure that any ailment causes me to be so fatigued. Oh, I know that there are conditions that cause extreme fatigue, but I'm just not so sure that, that is the case for me. Besides, I have something else to blame my "fatigue" on now. So, if I'm pressured about my frequent sluggishness, I can choose to say that I have been diagnosed with a condition that causes me to be extremely fatigued, or I can blame it on something that may be more acceptable - I'm an old man now, at least by the standards of most young whipper-snappers.

As it is, you just never know. If I feel like doing something, I may do it and if I don't feel like it, I may not. Just don't ask me why?

There aught-to-be!

We just celebrated our Senior Adult Ministry at the church and I was just thinking...."there aught to be a distinction between 'young adult' and 'senior adult'. Well, I guess there is. It's called middle-aged. But, that sounds like someone who is torn between the two classes. Their fading youth pulls them away from their inevitable older age....for a while. Then their certain destiny of old age yanks them back from the ranks of the young. Sometimes it literally 'yanks their back' and reminds them that they are no longer young.

I've noticed that these 'middle-aged' people are usually not happy to announce their age. If you've noticed, the youth will proudly say, "I'm 16", or "19", or maybe they are pround to say, "I'm 21", or even "35". Also, it's noticable that the aged are proud to say, "I'm 65", or "75", and with much more pride you may hear someone say as they have a broad smile on their face, "I'm 85", or with a much more frail voice, "I'm 95 years old today!" It's that gap between 35 and 65 that seems to be hard to define. Maybe we could make it more precise and say between 40 and 60. They are not young adults and they are not senior citizens. Oh, they may run with the young and the wild,...for a while, or they may get a senior discount at their favorite resturant, but they are 'middle-aged'.

I have a suggestion. Let's say that after the teen years, a person is a young adult through 29, a sophomore adult from 30 to 45, a junior adult from 45-60, and a senior adult from 60 to whatever. For greater clarification, the Senior adults are silver senior adults from 60 to 75, gold senior adults from 75 to 90 and beyond 90 the senior adult is a platnium senior adult. I think those who are struggling with their middle-age will have an easier transition to their senior adult position if we adopt these standards. If anyone has problems beyond the scope of this designation, well, they just need more professional help than I can offer. Sorry!

While searching the internet, I found this which may help clarifiy senior adult status: You might be a Senior Adult if:

Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work. The gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals.
Your little black book contains names that only end in M.D.
Your children begin to look middle age.
You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it's leaning against the wrong wall.
Your mind makes contracts that your body can't keep.
You look forward to a dull evening.
Your favorite part of the newspaper is "Today In History."
You turn out the lights for economic reasons rather than romantic ones.
You sit in the rocking chair and can't get it going.
You knees buckle but your belt won't.
You're 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist, and 96 around the golf course.
Your back goes out more often than you do.
You get excited and your pacemaker makes the garage door open.
The little old grey haired lady you helped across the street was your wife.
You sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there.
You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.
You know all the answers but nobody asks you any questions

I may be having a little trouble adjusting to my status, but you see, I'm an exception. I am 66 years young but I don't look it. If you don't believe me, just ask my wife. Neither do I feel like I should be 66, and you know, 'you're only as old as you feel," so I don't mind being a little exceptional. No, I'm OK. It's just all those other aged people out there that are having a time adjusting that I am concerned about. (Is anybody laughing! Watch it!)

Getting ready for the New Year

Everyone is settling down now after the holidays. School is starting back, all the goodies have been eaten, the exchanges have been made, and we are beginning to settle into the old routine. That is always so nice, isn't it? Yes! Yes it is, but I won't be settled until we do our belated Christmas in Louisiana, until we welcome Gabriel (my second grandson) into the world, and until we return to Meca.......ah....I mean Cleveland. lol


We are leaving tomorrow (if Janis doesn't change her mind, and you know a woman has that prerogative) and we will visit her relatives and one of my daughters (Tammy) in North Louisiana and then travel on to South Louisiana to visit my other daughter (Jennifer - the one who is having my grandson). As we travel, I will have a new toy to play with. My Christmas present. A TomTom. I imagine the excitement of it will be over by the time I return to Tennessee, so I will then be able to settle in and settle down.

I did make a new years resolution. If I keep it, I can forget about settling down. I've decided that I will start on those house remodeling projects that Janis is so anxious for me to do. Notice that I said, "I will start". I didn't say, "I will finish". Why, if I did all of those 'honey-do' jobs, I'd first run out of money and then I'd just get tired and quit. So, I am going to start on them and we'll see how far along I'll get with them. Hopefully, I can post some 'before' and 'after' pictures, but if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath all the way from 'before' to 'after'. That's right. I'm going to take my time, so it will take me a little while - maybe a lot-a-while, but that's my new years resolution. Just in case you wanted to know!

Christmas Eve and All Is Well

"Christmas Eve, and all is well!" I can almost hear him saying those lines now. My dad had a part in the Christmas play and those were his words as he played the part of a watchman, or security guard. I don't remember the name of the play nor very much about the play, but those words have seated themselves in my memory. Oh, it was years ago when I was just a child, maybe a teenager. I have recalled those words most every Christmas since then. Now, today, December 24, 2008, I can say "Christmas eve and all is well!"

This Christmas is very different from most every Christmas that I can remember. It's alway been a busy, busy time with hustling and bustling everywhere. Christmas messages, Christmas plays and Christmas contatas for the church; presents, and parties for family and friends; and traveling, visiting and on and on and on. It seems that we have always been so busy at Christmas time that we almost hated to see it come, but this Christmas is different. There is still Christmas messages and contatas but it has not been a frustration for me because I no longer hold the position of pastor, thus much less responsibility and anxiety over those things. There is still presents and parties, but in my present role, I am more like a participant rather than a frustrated leader. But this year, the usual traveling and visiting of relatives in Louisiana will be a little later than usual, making it possible for Janis and I to be home alone at Christmas time. Yes, we've been home at Christmas time before but it was always with one or more of our Children. This Christmas, I have a son in Colorado Springs, two daughters in Louisiana and one son visiting in Ohio. What a difference. You know, it's almost eerie. It's so quite. Janis is sleeping on the couch right now and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.

Tomorrow, I think we are going to find a resturant, if there are any open, and have a romantic meal together and tonight I think we are going to rent a movie and watch it together. That's something we seldom get to do. I told Janis that we are about to experience something that we have never experienced before and possibly will never experience again - a Christmas at home alone. It almost sounds like a tear jerking experience doesn't it? Well, put your hankies away because I think this is the way I want it. Maybe never again, but this year let it be. I feel like I may stumble upon some kind of hidden wisdom or something. It may turn out be a very dull and boring experience, but remember, I've alway got "Facebook". :) Nevertheless, I can say with my dad from years gone by, "Christmas eve and all is well!"

How I Waste My Time

You wanna know how I wast my time at the computer? Here it is! Well, not all my time is wasted this way. I have several other ways in which I waste my time, but this is one of them. I thought you might want to waste a little time with me! :)

People are Just People

Have you ever noticed how getting acquainted with someone can give you an entirely different picture of that person? I just had that to happen to me. Janis and I went to the North Cleveland Church of God Encourager's Sunday School Class Christmas Banquet tonight and it turned out that we were sitting at the table with two ladies about our age, whom we had met while we were attending the class. I thought they were fine people but figured they were just too far above me socially for there ever to be a real friendly, comfortable conversation with them. They are both widows, so I want to emphasize that Janis and I both were there at the same table with them. We had our introductory (getting reacquainted) greetings, shared two or three 'blond' jokes (one of the ladies was blond......maybe) and just talked and enjoyed our meals.

Both ladies had husbands who were successful ministers in the Church of God - one I knew from years gone by and the other I knew of and had met. This just falsely assured me that they had no interest in getting to know such a non-achiever as I and unfortunately, through no fault of her own, my wife. I must say that we all had a pleasant, yes, interesting, time of sharing. I will never see those ladies as being so socially sophisticated that they can't be friends, again.

Over time I have discovered that people are so much alike. Even those who seem so different. When you get to know someone, I think you will begin to see in some way, how they have traits and characteristics, likes and dislikes, goals and yes, faults, much like yourself. I'm glad to be reminded every now and then that I am not a total odd-ball. It makes me believe more strongly that we were all created by the same God and He has given us our uniqueness, and we should not be ashamed of what God has done.

Set Your Watches Back!

Hey everyone! Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday night! That's right. It's that time again. If you remember, it was in October but that has been changed to the first Sunday in November at 2:00am. Now, there is really not many excuses for being late to church this Sunday, since you will get an extra hour of sleep if you want it. Here's an idea: Don't set your clock back and get up to the same time as it now is and that will cause you to be on time for church. When you get there on time and maybe before some of the others, the pastor will be all smiles to see you, and you can give him your biggest smile and walk right on into the church with your shoulders held high, just like you knew all the time what you were doing.

Personally, I would rather leave the time alone. Throw the daylight-saving idea out the window. It doesn't matter how early or late we get up and go to bed, nor does it matter how early or late we arrive or leave our work place. There will still be a predetermined amount of daylight and darkness. There will still be 24 hours in a day. Oh, I've heard the argument for it, but there are also some good arguments against it as well. I think the idea was thought up by some federal employee who had too much free time on his hand, and to make himself appear busy (so as not to loose his job because of idelness) he thought up this 'ingenious' idea. Well, it gives us older and hopefully wiser persons something to blog about. Besides, If everybody did everything my way, what would I have to do?

Get prepared for the winter! It's comming! Burrrrrrr!!

How'd The Surgery Go?

Just to let you know that Janis' "surgery" went well. Notice, I put "surgery" in "" because it wasn't regular surgery, but it was a procedure. It was done in the doctor's office. The procedure is called 'electrolysis'. I guess it is a lazer type surgery where the eylashes are zapped so that, hopefully, they will not grow again. The procedure has about an 80% success rate, and if it happens to be in the 20% failure rate then she will be a candidate for the more pervasive surgery. Your prayers will be appreciated. One thing Janis and I both have noticed, She has slept very good the last two nights. I think one night she didn't even wake up during the night. That is unusual. She has been restless and unable to relax her leg and/or hip muscles at night when she lays down, resulting in very little sleep. Once or twice she slept only about 2 hours. Now how that can be related to her eyes, I don't know, but it makes me wonder. This will be the third night. We'll see how it goes.

One more thing I want to add to this blog. Saturday, we went to Merciers Apple Orcherd in GA. We have been going each year for about three or more years now, with friends from church, Nathan & Tammy McConnell. It's just a fun thing to do and we get a supply of good apples, plus some other apple products - apple sauce, apple butter, apple cider, apple fritters, apple pie, you name it. Now, Janis and I didn't get all of that but it was available. By the way - apples are good for you, you know. Have you heard the saying, "An apple a day will keep the doctor away"? Well, I guess Janis and I won't need the doctor for a while. I usually eat at least one apple a day, sometimes more. Now it looks like I may have to eat two or three or they may spoil before we eat them. I guess we could cook some apple pies etc., but Janis works and doesn't have a lot of time to experiment, so I guess that means I could do it. You think maybe I could? If I give it a try and it turns out well, I'll let you know, but if I don't try it, or if I do try it but it flops, I probably won't even mention it again.

Apple Poems

Apples

Helen H. Moore

Apples, apples, what a treat,
Sweet and tart and good to eat.
Apples green and apples red,
Hang from branches overhead,
And when they ripen,
Down they drop,
So we can taste our apple crop!

Apples in Autumn

It's hard to eat apples,
Without my front teeth,
But apples in autumn
Are really a treat.
The apples are squooshy
Down under my feet,
But those from the tree
Are still crunchy and sweet!

Just Doing What I Do

Since my last blog, I have taken my wife to Dr. Abrams, an ophthalmologist in Chattanooga, in preperation of a proceedure that he will be doing tomorrow, Oct. 10. She has a condition called Trichiasis: Ingrowing Eyelashes. Hopefully, she will be able to see clearly, without discomfort and therefore be a happier wife, making me a happier husband.

I participated in the Walk-For-Life event at Cleveland High School. It was really a breeze. Walking! Not running nor jogging. Just walking. I completed the course and could have done it again, but I guess that was a good starter, being less than 2 miles. Who knows? You may read a blog one day about me doing a marathon!! Not likely, but you never know.

For 3 nights and 2 days, I stayed at Laural Crest in Pigeon Forge, TN to attend an Assembly of God ministers retreat which was held at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburge. I'm not a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God, but being on the staff at Grace Assembly, I had the priviledge of attending. Actually I am a retired ordained minister with the Church of God, serving on the staff at an Assemblies of God church.

I attended a Peacemakers (Senior Adults) Fellowship Meal at the North Cleveland Church of God.

I took my mother to a hearing specialist at the Chattanooga Healthy Hearing office in Ooltewah, to be tested and fitted for hearing aids. The test proved what most of us already knew, that mom needed hearing aids. She was fitted and one weak later her hearing aids were ready. I took her back to the specialist to get the aids and she is now wearing them. She has worn them now for about a week and she is happy. They are working great. It's amazing how those devices have changed in the past few years. They are now like little computer chips in the ear. She doesn't have to adjust them. She only has to change the batteries. From time to time she may have to have them adjusted by the specialist but I assure you, it doesn't require a screwdriver nor pliers. The aids are simply attached to a computer and a few key strokes are made for the adjustment and all is well.

Last Sunday night, I went to a party!! Don't turn me out of the church now, for you see, it wasn't a sinful party. No, it was a good 'sanctified' party. Grace Assembly had church at one of the members house and of course we had a great time of fellowship and food.

Monday was prayer meeting time in the NCCOG Prayer Center.

Wednesday night was church.

Now, here we are today. oooooops! I mean here we are tomorrow. I started yesterday and I'm finishing today. Or was it, I started today and I'm finishing it tomorrow?? I don't know but it's after midnight and I've gotta close out and see about going to bed.

My Monthly Blog!

That's what it looks like it has become. A monthly blog. So let me see. What will it be this time? Uhhhhhh...... Oh! How 'bout this. The other day, as a matter of fact it was Friday, I took my mom and two of her friends over to Fields of the Wood, a christian theme park operated by the Church of God of Prophecy. As best I can remember, it's only about a 90 minute drive from Cleveland (TN, for those who think OH). We drove up to the alter on the top of one of the mountains and up to the top of the other mountain where the cross of flags is (when the flags are in place). That mountain also tops the huge Ten Commandments that is laid out on the mountain. We also walked inside of the replica of The Garden Tomb. We did a little bit of shopping in the gift shop.

After that, we stopped by the historic site of the first general assembly of the Church of God, saw the site of the Shearer Schoolhouse where Milton McNabb, Joe Tipton, William Hamby, and William Martin...preached the noteworthy 1896 Shearer Schoolhouse Revival, and saw some other COG historical site which I have forgotten the name of. I wanted to show them Barney Creek, (for those of you who know the significance of it) but I was not sure just where it was, so I didn't attempt to find it. Plus, I had my mother and two other elderly ladies with me and they were not excited about this old man getting lost and wasting a lot of their time for nothing. Anyway, I think they all enjoyed it.

Upon returning to Cleveland (TN), we went on out to the Farmhouse Resturant. What good food! What good portions! It's just good home cooking. If you have never been there, you don't know what you are missing. You should try it. It's located out on Harrison Pike, east of the interstate. When and if you go, tell them that I sent you. You'll be treated special. That's right. No, not because you tell them I sent you but because they will want to keep you comming back. They won't even know who I am, but if enough people will tell them that Lowell sent them, I just might have the good fortune to get a discount or something. LOL

OK. There you have it; a new blog. Now, let me bid you farewell. I have written a decent blog. I have told you an event in my life. And I have finished this day. So, there is awaiting me a bed of softness with a pillow of foam, which I shall enjoy because I have legally purchased it with my wife's money, and Walmart will gladly bestow this kind of pillow, and even a better one, to all those who will be willing to pay for them after waiting in line for ever how long it takes.

Farewell.

Where does time go?

Now that's a pretty good question! Where does time go? Does it go to the disposal? How about the storage closet? Maybe it just goes off leisurely meandering down a path that seemingly leads to nowhere! I really don't know where time goes but I do know that it goes somewhere fast. It's already been a month since my last post. It doesn't seem like it though. Seems like just a week or so ago. Really, it seems like just the other day I resigned pastoring and started on this senseless road of retirement, but it was over two and a half years ago when that happened. Why, I remember celebrating my 40th. birthday not long ago (really 25 yrs. ago). I expect that somebody will call me 'old' any day now. Old? Who, me? Did I hear that cashier at the resturant right. The other day when I was making an order, did she say 'senior'? Look, I've had it. I quit. I'm not playing the game anymore. If you want to be old, just go ahead and be old, but just leave me out. I'm going up to the mountain tomorrow (Signal Mtn.) and I may just stay. No, wait. Maybe Fred will let me go to his cabin up on the other mountain (not sure of the name of it) and I wouldn't have to worry about people up there. Wouldn't have to worry about paying a light bill or a water will either. Just me and a few snakes, turkeys, rabbits, and squirrels I'm sure, and maybe a bear. Yieks!! A bear! You never know about these Tennessee mountains. Can anybody help me if I call you? Oh! Wait! There's no phone service up there either. What if I fall down and can't get up? I mean, you know, a man like me might need some help. I don't get around like I used to. And I may not hear the growl of the bear. OOOOOOh! What if I don't even see it. It has to be close before my eyes will focus clearly, you know. I can't run very fast nor very long anymore either. Something has happened to me in the past few years. Ummmmmm! Maybe, I'm not quite ready to quit the game. I think I will stay in the race, but don't try to tell me how to do it. I've been around a lot longer than some young whiper-snappers have and I'll just take care of myself, unless I need somebody. OK, let me get off that subject and move on to the blog I intended to post here today. Oh, my! It's getting late. Past my bedtime. I gotta go for now. Maybe later. Yes! I'll try again later. Soon! Bye for now.

We're back from Louisiana

We just returned from Louisiana yesterday, so I have spent most of my computer time today catching up on my emails and other spaces. We had a good trip. As it has been so many times before, I believe that God was with us for a safe trip, both going and coming.

Our purpose for the trip was to check on Janis' mother and to spend some time there with her. She is 86 years old and she is beginning to show that she is getting feeble. She did seem to be a little more spry and lively the last day we were there but I suspect that it was just for a while. It's a sobering thought to know that we are all getting older every day and that we too shall soon be 86 yrs. old. Soon?? Yes, soon. You see, 21 years (that's how many years I will have before I turn 86) does not seem nearly as long as it used to seem, and what makes it worse is that 21 years of being over 65 will not be as agressively active as the 21 years before. Well, anyway, we were confronted with the thoughts of loosing Janis' mother in the near future - Not only Janis' mother but my mother as well. My mother just recently turned 87. We do have to face the facts. None of us are going to live forever in this present state of existence.

Speaking of my mother, let me tell you a little about her. About two months ago, she preached a revival for Ed Dickerson at the Hudson Chapel Church of God. She preached Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning. I was there with her and I preached Sunday night. About a month ago, she was ready to go, and did go to Crosville with the Peacemakers for a day filled with fellowship, shopping, good food and a play at the Cumberland County Play House. As of right now, this very minuet, she is in Florida. She went with Bonita, my sister, and her husband, Michael, to Orlando, FL to go to Disney World. Can you believe it? An 87 year old woman at Disney World? She started out with a bang. The first night there, she slipped down the steps in the camper and broke her arm. At least that's what she told us. Do you suppose that she could have been sliding down the waterslide or maybe riding one of those wild rides designed for active teenagers and maybe fell off and broke her arm? haha! Well, I guess we will take her word for it and assume that it wasn't like that. :) The last I heard, she is doing better with her arm in a temporary plastic cast. She will see the doctor her in Cleveland when she gets back so they can put her arm in a permanent cast. Thank the Lord that she didn't hurt herself more than that, and thank the Lord that she is able to take care of herself as much as she does. But you know, we just do not know who will be the next to leave this world. It could be my mother, or it could be Janis' mother. It could be me!! Or it could be you!!! We would do well to be ready to answer the call of the Master, whenever that may be.

Let me sign off for now and post a few pictures taken in and around Janis' mother's house.

Janis' Mother, Edna Stamper. (86 years old)

Janis' Mother and Daddy - some years ago.

My youngest daughter Jennifer and her husband Bill. And Brownie and Daisy.

Well, who do you think? Me and the First Lady! (Picture taken at her nephew's house)

Janis and her three sisters and three brothers (two now deceased) were raised in this house.

Glen's garden. Glen is Janis's brother.

The land is rented out to another farmer.

What in the world could that be?? A tire??

I believe this Grand Toreno has seen it's best days.

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

Do you remember that song we used to sing when we were just little rascals? It went like this: Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, ..........ummmmm...............er, ah, .................well, I don't remember how it ended. Maybe it was something like, Tra la la la laaaa. The big bad wolf! What is the big bad wolf. Maybe it is something different for each one of us, but us church kids we may have thought of it as the devil. Now-days, we think of it maybe as the IRS or maybe the wonderful years of retirement with it's totally deficient social security income. Or maybe it's all those special on-line offers that promise so much but have proven to be nothing more than a scam artist's trap whereby he steals our identity and/or floods us with never ending spamming. It all seems to be devilish, doesn't it?
Well, I may have fallen into the hands of the big bad wolf this AM, but if I have, it will only cost me 39.95 plus 6.95 shipping and handling...........hopefully. Have you heard of the magicjack? It's a little plugin thing that plugs into the usb port of your computer, into which you plug in any phone and then start calling and talking to anyone anywhere for free, for one year. Then you are charged 29.95 each year thereafter for free local and long distance calling, plus some other phone benefits. I have heard of something like this from somewhere. It's not 'vonage' nor 'skype'. Hey! Why don't you just check it out for yourself. Go to http://www.magicjack.com/ and read all about it. Or, you can just wait a couple of weeks and ask me if there is anything to it. I should have my magicjack within 10 day and then I'll give it a try. If I don't get it, or if it doesn't work, or if there are a lot of 'buts' (notice - there is only one 't' in the word 'buts') that makes it undesireable, I'll be glad to let you know. Now, let me just add in right here, that I am not working for magicjack, nor am I being paid for this blog. I just wanted to add a blog to my blogspot since it's been more than a week since my last blog. I hope you have a good day and don't get taken by some scam. Leave that to us brave souls who are not afraid of the big bad wolf.

Now here's a few pictures from my yard, hopefully to cheer you up!

Ready...Set...Survey

If I look in your glove box, what will I find?
Car book, registration and insurance papers, cell phone charger, and maybe some mint or gum wrapers.
What jewelry are you wearing?
My wedding band
What is something your friends make fun of you for?
Acting silly or dumb. Sometimes I am dumb, but my friends think that I am just acting silly.
When was the last time you saw the second person on your list?
What list?
What is in your pocket right now?
A handkerchief. By the time I am ready to leave the house, I will have my pocket knife, some change, my keys and my wallet. In my shirt will be a pen, my date book and my reading glasses. All set and ready to go!
Where was your default picture taken?
In my front yard.
Who do you know that is in jail?
No one right now. Thank you Lord!
What was for breakfast this morning?
Oatmeal, rasin toast and fruit.
Something irritating about your living situation?
All the little odds and ends, in and around the house,that need fixing up.
Where are you right now?
In my home office, here in Cleveland, TN.
What was the most interesting thing that happened today?
I noticed that we collected only one can of garbage this past week. It's just 7:30am so, give me some time and I sure hope something more interesting happens.
When was the last time you got blood taken and why?
Maybe two months ago so the doctor could keep a check on my blood, making sure that it reads ok.
What were you doing at midnight Friday night?
I can't remember that far back! Probably checking my email.
Do you have a best friend of the opposite sex?
Yes! My wife.
Where were you three hours ago?
In bed sleeping.
What's for dinner tonight?
Not sure, but there will be one of those delicious blueberry slush drinks that my wife makes.
What makes you cringe?
Filth. I mean anything that is beyond dirty. You know, like nasty!
What was the highlight of your week?
My wife said that she believed her birthday this past Saturday was the best ever.
Taken any medicine lately and for what?
Thanks be to God, I am off all medicine.
Would you rather have straws for legs or slinkies for arms?
Maybe straws for legs because I could hide them with pants.
Of your friends, whose car do you want?
I don't want anyone else's car but I wouldn't mind having one like 'Grancee' has. Only 'Janis-62' and 'Grancee' know who I am talking about.
What is the last issue you thought about?
I thought about entering one of my poems in the Winning Writers poetry contest.
Do you fake bake?
I don't even know what that is.
What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
"Okay, It's time to get up."
Something you dream about most of the time?
Most of the times when I dream, they are different.
When was the last time you hysterically cried?
Don't know if I have ever 'hysterically' cried. But I did a lot of crying while on medication for hep-c.
Was anyone with you?
Sometimes.
What was the last thing you got in the mail?
Snail-mail Spam, i.e. junk!
Tomorrow...?
Don't know. Every day is a new day.
I don't know about tomorrow. I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine, for it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o're the future, for I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.
Who/What do you sleep with every night?
My wife and my c-pap.
Have you met anyone new in the past 24 hours?
No.
What are you doing after this?
Probably will put a power point message together that will be used to make church announcements.
What will you be doing at 8pm tomorrow?
I plan on being in church at that time.
What are you saving your money up for right now?
Regular saving - Well I just used some of it to pay my taxes.
My secret stash - A laptop computer, or a ham radio, or a mandolin, or maybe all of the above. If my wife finds out about my secret stash, it's all over!! :(

What's wrong?

OK!! What's wrong? Nobody but my oldest brother has made any comments on my last blog. Is it because it's too cold outside? Or is it because Barack Obama is hoping to be president of the US? Or perhaps it's because the subject "Church Teachings" is just tooooo hot to touch!!?! Ooooh, just kidding!! I know, we just got out of the Christmas holidays and then the New Year celebrations, trips, and so much going on. But I can't wait any longer. I've got to post another blog or somebody may think I've died and gone to heaven. Now, that's what's wrong with my posting frequency. All those things I just said. In other words, I have no excuse. Well, maybe just a little bit of an excuse. I mean, if it were a matter of life and death, I would have found a way to post another blog, and another and another. But I'm making up for my slackness right now. See? Here's a blog.

Hey! You won't believe what I'm listening to right now. I have another window open on the Internet and I am listening to Casting Crowns. You younger folks will know who I am talking about but for the sake of some of my peers, Casting Crowns is the name of a modern day Christian singing group. Actually, I really do like their music. Maybe it's connected with the idea that when we get old enough we don't worry about what others think about us as much as we used to. Somebody may think that I have gone off the deep end but who cares. It's time for me to enjoy retirement. Right? By the way, peers. Just listen to the words if you can't take the music. They really are saying something. I don't think their music is bad either.

Let me get a little more serious now. I finally got around to seeing my doctor yesterday. You see, Sunday I was fine, but Sunday night I was bothered with a feeling like a cramp in my leg, actually in my hip joint right in front of my body, like right in the groin area, and I had a tough time trying to sleep. When I awoke Monday morning, I couldn't hardly walk. I was limping. But I stretched, laid flat on my back on the hard floor for about 10 mins., walked and worked with my leg as best I could during the day. It got a little better but then at night time it got worse. Now, it is new years eve and I am in pain. Since I have a 24 hr. hot line to a nurse, I think she is in Atlanta, I called her just about midnight. I know she probably thought somebody was high as a kite calling to celebrate new years, but after she asked me all the questions that would verify that I was not 'loopie' and I answered them correctly, I explained to her my problem. To make it short, she suggested that I take a hot bath. Well, I could do that and I did. That did make me feel some better, but the next day was New Years Day! Now, the tradition is that us men get together and go somewhere just to cook breakfast, talk, sing, have dinner or whatever else we feel like doing. Now understand that we usually go to some camp or some place in the mountains etc.

I'm about to get side tracked here. Let me get back. So, my leg got worse that day and I drug it around like a log attached to my body. (Almost!) Just ask Fred, Curtis, Rick, Eddie, Mike, Jason, or one of the several others that was there. Man! I couldn't even lift my leg off the floor at one point and most of the day not over an inch without pain.

Let me make this short. OK? I got better before going to bed and slept fairly well. Saw Dr. Sims Wednesday. He scheduled me back today so I could get a
?sonogram? or whatever you call it. (I'm in a hurry - haven't got time to check my spelling) Dr. Sims thought maybe it was a ?femoral? hernia. (Again, I'm in a hurry) Can you believe that. I won't know the results of the exam until maybe Monday or Tuesday. Anyway, I feel great at this present time. I can lift my leg, walk without limping, and kick the devil in the teeth. Ha! Gotta go now. I'm in a hurry. I don't know why, but I am.

Now that you know what is wrong with me (or if you are still uncertain, I can come in for counseling most anytime) let me know what is wrong or right about you!!