Pollen Explosion

Ruth is still sick. I read that the late cold weather this Spring, followed suddenly by warm weather, caused a pollen explosion. All types of plants and trees unloaded their pollen at the same time. This would help explain my problem, and maybe part of Ruth’s troubles too. Please keep praying. Thanks.

Greatness is hard to hide, especially when it’s encased in the person of Johnny Hunt. He is, hands down, the number one missions pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention. He and his choir did a wonderful job last night.

I have seven sermons to preach in the next five days. I feel I have four of the seven under control and prepared. Pray about the other three, please. Thanks.

Humor helps. The Massachusetts Highway Department is having to replace road signs because it has misspelled the name of a lake which has 45 letters in it. Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. The state wrongly put “o” at letter 20 instead of “u” and put “h” at letter 36 where “n” ought to go. I’m glad they’re fixing this. We taxpayers deserve precise spellings. Last time I drove in Massachusetts this misspelling on the signs kept driving me nuts.

Keep Praying for Ruth

Ruth is still sick, despite being on her third day of antibiotics. Please keep praying. Thanks.

This is a historic week for Second. Tonight Johnny Hunt, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, preaches here. Thursday morning, Bruce McCoy, President of the Missouri Baptist Convention, preaches here for a Pastors Conference. Sunday morning, the First Vice-President of the Missouri Baptist Convention preaches here. That’s me. Sorry about the letdown. I couldn’t resist.

Welcome aboard, Kevin Hawkins. We have a new Minister of Music. The secret ballot vote was 450 to 5. I don’t think the outcome was ever in doubt. I’m looking forward to many good years Kevin and his delightful family.

The Cardinals are in first place. Let’s enjoy it while it lasts.

Humor helps. Walt Disney had originally suggested using the name Mortimer Mouse. Fortunately, smarter heads prevailed and Mickey Mouse was born. By walking an extra 20 minutes daily, you can burn off seven pounds of body fat in a year (to help make room for the twenty you are probably in danger of adding).

Extended Family

My cousin’s wedding was precious. About 53 members of my family attended. I saw people I hadn’t seen in 15 years, and was introduced to children I had never met. I grew up surrounded by extended family. I regret my adult years put distance between them and me. I miss them.

We are considering buying the empty lot across the street west of our church. I have for years eyed that piece of property. Maybe the Lord has favored us with it. If deacons okay it at their meeting May 3, we will vote as a church on May 6.

Ruth has bronchitis. She went to Urgent Care this afternoon. The doctor sent her home with a prescription. Pray for her. When she is sick, my whole world is sad.

Interesting weather tidbits. Based on temperature variation, precipitation, and sever weather, the USA city with least weather variety is San Francisco. The city with most weather variety is Springfield MO. I was in both cities last week. Springfield ranked number five on the top 10 tornado prone cities. Kansas City is the worst city for allergies; St. Louis ranked seventh on this list. I’m surprised Springfield didn’t make the worst allergy list. It’s been giving me fits this year. I need a hard freeze.

Lightsaber

Grandson Caleb had his solo cello recital last night. He wasn’t worried at all. I was a nervous wreck. All my fears were in vain. Way to go, Caleb.

I’m curious. How do these music students memorize all those notes, plus remember the order in which the songs are going to be played? That’s almost as impressive as the music itself.

I found a new feature to use on my cell phone. I downloaded a program which lets it flash and at the same time play the Star Wars theme. It turns a cell phone into a miniature lightsaber. I thought Grandson Ian was going to throw his shoulder out of socket playing with it last night. Rebekah told me the first thing Ian mentioned this morning was Grandpa’s lightsaber. Life is good.

The youngest of my cousins is marrying tomorrow in St. Louis. I’m the fifth oldest grandchild. She’s number 36. Congratulations on your big day, Jenefer.

Yesterday I resigned from the Missouri Baptist Convention Peace Committee. Our last two Executive Board meetings have been peaceful and wonderful. I think the election of Dr. David Tolliver as our Executive Director is bringing us peace.

Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett is no longer the only one who left his heart in San Francisco. A group of five from our church returned late last night from an exploratory trip to the city to begin plans for starting a church there with Ben Pilgreen. I fell in love with the foggy city.

I did not sense immoral oppression as fiercely as I thought I would. The city was clean, air was clear, weather was perfect. People were open, friendly, conversant. I found the Christians there to be right on target on how to best reach the city. We met with President Iorg of Golden Gate Seminary, plus church planting leaders from the California Baptist Convention and the San Francisco Baptist Association.

I have from the first fully realized how big a task it will be to start a church in San Francisco. For one thing, costs are extreme. For example, the parking charge at our hotel was $49 per night. There are other barriers, also, but I believe God has raised up Second for such an hour as this. We can do this. Therefore we must. Pray. More info later.

Cal and Cindi

Cal Thomas hit a grand slam last night at the Pregnancy Care Center banquet. He is a forceful, sane communicator. Few people have a better grasp of the cultural war we are in. Cindi Boston, PCC Director, received a much deserved standing ovation. She is one of the main players in the Christian community in Springfield.

Our people helped plant 1000 trees yesterday morning on the property where the home for adults with disabilities will be built. Since they finished the chore, soft rain has been falling off and on for 24 hours. I wonder if God alters the course of the weather to shine His smile on incidents like this. I’ll ask Him someday.

After preaching two intense sermons this morning, I am exhausted, but extremely fulfilled. I can tell you pray for me. I thank you from the deepest recesses of my heart. Ask the Lord to keep me faithful and true in the pulpit till my work is done.

Humor helps. American ingenuity. A zookeeper wanted some animals for his zoo, but did not know how to spell the plural of mongoose. He started out with, “I need two mongeese.” It didn’t look right, so he tried, “I need two mongooses.” That didn’t seem right either. He finally wrote, “I need a mongoose, and if you have another one, send it too.”

Sinus Alert

My sinuses are telling me we need Summer to arrive soon. Maybe a hard freeze would help, or a pouring rain. Whatever will help, I need relief. This has possibly been the most difficult Spring I’ve had with allergies since moving to Springfield thirteen years ago. Yuk.

I’m ready to preach about Jesus in the morning. What kind of Jesus do you want? This will be the question of the hour. The many views about Christ in our culture were mirrored by sects Jesus encountered in His day. In the spiritual realm, there is nothing new under the sun. Pray the message will come through loud and clear.

My creative sermons team helped me pound on my Southern Baptist Convention annual sermon manuscript. It’s a better document due to them. Thanks, Team.

Humor helps. A Harvard Professor has developed inhalable chocolate, containing zero calories. The verdict isn’t in yet as to whether it’s real, a hoax, a sly artistic commentary, a vanity project, or simply the greatest food invention ever known to man. The dispenser looks like a blend of an asthma inhaler, a tube of lipstick, and a shotgun shell. If this is on the up and up, I have just made a new best friend.

Burger for Breakfast

I opened the refrigerator this morning to get milk for cereal. I saw a day-old 99 cent Wendy’s hamburger. Did you know a leftover hamburger, if microwaved for 30 seconds and consumed with a huge kosher dill pickle, tastes absolutely wonderful. Try it someday. I might start going through a drive-thru at night to pick up breakfast for the next morning.

The youth Fine Arts Recital here at church last night was wonderful. My grandson Caleb is one good cello player. And I’m not partial either.

My creative sermons team meets today over lunch. We will edit the manuscript I’m preparing for the Southern Baptist Convention annual sermon I’ll preach this June in Louisville KY. Pray for us.

Humor helps. I may buy Jake and Millie some toys to comfort them over their not being selected as the White House dog. For $4 I can buy Booda Squatters; these oblong stuffed squeak toys are the perfect size for tossing, chewing, and carrying. For $6 I could buy them Tennis Ball Tuggers, four long rope legs, one rope tail, worked through a tennis ball body. Fun for hours, the commercial says. Jake and Millie are a bit too lethargic to play with anything for one hour.

Where is Sasquatch?

A group of us is gathering at church this morning to do history work. We will sift through four boxes of materials to find what we can about the first 33 years of our church’s history, 1885-1918. This is to help me find material on which to write a book about this era in honor of anniversary 125 next March.

My son is having trouble with the word for a 125th anniversary, quasquicentennial. He calls it “Sasquatch in Tennessee” just to aggravate me. He’ll be singing a different tune once I write the book and win the Pulitzer for historical literature. Never set your goals too low. That’s my philosophy.

The interview with Kevin and Karol Hawkins last night was a hoot. You can tell they feel at home here at Second. Let’s get the vote behind us and get on with life. I’m pumped.

Humor helps. Jet pilot thoughts on helicopters. If a helicopter begins to stall, you have one second before the craft becomes unrecoverable; if this maneuver fails, the copter flies about as well as a twenty-case Coke machine. Even a perfectly executed takeoff gives you the copter a glide ratio barely better than that of a brick.

Tough Day

On this date Titanic sank, Lincoln died, the Duchess of Kingston was found guilty of bigamy, and taxes are due. I enjoy exercising the gift of encouragement.

I spent the last two days in Jefferson City with the Executive Board of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Our meetings were excellent. Love and respect marked every session. I am proud of our leaders. Dr. David Tolliver is doing a good job as our new Executive Director. Dr. Bruce McCoy is superb as our President. I’m more optimistic about the future of the MBC than I have been in a long time.

Tonight I will publicly interview Kevin and Karol Hawkins for our music position. Wow, they are popular. There’s a lot of energy coming out of the music department these days on their behalf.

Humor helps. The new symphony conductor seemed a bit out of place. The cymbalist, realizing the conductor did not know what he was doing, clashed his instruments together during a quiet song. The conductor, highly agitated, looked angrily at the orchestra, demanding, “Who did that?”

Comforting The Dogs

We broke the bad news to Jake and Millie as gently as we could. We told them they would not be moving to the White House. Another canine has been chosen as First Dog. It’s sad. I’m not sure how Sophie took the news. Amanda will have to comfort her. Congratulations, Bo. I had never heard of a Portuguese Water Dog. Google has some pretty pictures of them.

Almost 4000 of us were here yesterday morning. The music and sermons presented a clear, clarion message about Jesus being our crucified Savior and our Resurrected Lord. No one could have left saying they had not heard the Gospel.

Kevin Hawkins received standing ovations yesterday each time we announced we will be voting on him to become our Minister of Music. The vote on Kevin may be the most superfluous vote in our church’s history, but it has to be taken to make everything official. I am grateful for Kevin. We’re going to have a lot of good years together.

Humor helps. At age 57, I’m sure everything I can’t find is in a secure place, I’m realizing aging is not for sissies, I can’t remember what else I meant to type here.

A White House Dog

John, Amanda, Caleb, and Sam are in Ohio visiting her family. They did not take her dog. Have I forgotten to mention Amanda has a dog? Sophie is a Jack Russell Terrier. I’ve not met Sophie yet, but I do know this breed is what I commonly refer to as nervous dogs. It will be interesting to see how calm and serene Jake and Millie take to nervous Sophie, and vice versa. I’ll keep you posted.

Speaking of dogs, even the President of the United States is struggling with canine decisions. He promised his daughters a puppy. Since one of them suffers from allergies, choices are few. Whatever variety the First Family chooses will become a top seller overnight. Dog lovers hope they pick a pure breed. Half-breeds are often genetically weak, due to the unscrupulous practices of puppy mill owners. I’m not a dog lover, but I do believe all animals should be treated well. The Bible says, “A righteous man cares about his animal’s health” (PR 12:10a). The Obamas may spend over a thousand dollars for a dog. Rest assured, Jake, Millie, and Sophie are not for sale, at any price. I think.

My daughter, who is a great writer, has been bitten by the blog bug. If you want to learn more about my precious family, and are interested in crafts, check it out at yeebird.blogspot.com. Way to go, Rebekah.

Dog Baths

My daughter-in-law-to-be is rapidly endearing herself to our family. She is even impressing Jake and Millie. She intends to take them to the dog park soon to let them romp and play. She’s even going to take them in her car. Wow. There is one little hiccup, though. Since she intends to use her car, Amanda asked yesterday how long it had been since the dogs had had a bath. That’s a tough question. I hated to tell my adopted daughter how I feel about giving dogs a bath. It was a tough moment, but I think I finagled my way out of it quite well. Those dogs are going to be the death of me yet.

It’s baseball season again. Hurray for the Cardinals. I’m hoping for better things this year, but am saddened by the fact they lost two of their first three games. Oh well. I’m a diehard fan, especially of Albert Pujols. I appreciate his straightforward Christian testimony. His exploits on the diamond don’t hurt anything, either.

It’s Holy Thursday. Today we commemorate the Last Supper, Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, His agony in Gethsemane, and His betrayal by Judas Iscariot. Our Savior loved Judas to the end. The first word he said to Judas after the betrayal kiss was, “Friend.” Jesus is a loving Lord worth serving.

Cookie Cheater

You would think a Grandpa could bend the rules a little with his 21-month-old granddaughter without getting caught. Oh no!! Not in your lifetime. When her mom said they were going to Bass Pro Shops, Lilly Ruth said, “Grandpa. Cookie.” Uh oh. Rebekah asked me point blank, “Do you get Lilly Ruth a cookie when you take her to Bass Pro?” I told the truth, and tried to put a good spin on my explanation. Yes, I buy a huge chocolate chip cookie when we first go in. I eat half of it and parcel out to her the other half as we make our way through the store. It’s my way of helping her stay happy. Her mother was okay with this explanation. Whew. She even said she might do the same thing. Hurray!!

It’s holy week. I always try to keep a light schedule the week before Easter. It is the most important day of the year for our churches, and I always want to be my best on Resurrection Sunday. Let’s pray for a mighty day at Second. Also pray for me as I focus my thoughts on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

I’m on target in my reading through the Bible in 2009. I began this second quarter of the year by reading the Gospel of Mark, which many scholars consider to be the memoirs of Simon Peter. I am now in I Peter, and will soon read 2 Peter and Jude, the other New Testament books heavily influenced by Peter.