Father's Day or Fathers Day?

What a difference that apostrophe makes. It makes the difference between being lumped together with all other dads and being able to claim it as my own day. Not that there was any doubt but my children, and grandchildren, made sure I knew I was their #1 dad.

From comments made, to jokes, to time spent together, even to the menu and gifts of the day, my children showed(and showered) their love for dear OLD dad. While I've never had any reason to think otherwise it's always nice to see them exercise their love "on purpose".

The Message version, Prov 23:24-25, says "Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents. So make your father happy! Make your mother proud!" Color me rejoicing and proud.

Leader or Follower?

"A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually." (Abba Eban)

"Consensus building", "Bottom up", "Top down"; all of these phrases of management jargon are intended to make folks feel valuable and included. What can be more valuable than principled individuals promoting and standing by that which they believe. "Let your yes be yes and your no, no." And let everything in between be what you sincerely believe and for which you are willing to take a stand.

4 needles?!?

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a dialysis problem I referred to as "3 needles". I explained that my typical dialysis treatment involves the use of 2 needles and that day I had received the third needle because of a problem call "infiltration". It happens but fortunately it's rare. OR at least I thought it was. I've had 3 infiltrations in 3 weeks and today was the "creme de la creme"; 2 infiltrations in 20 minutes and 4 needles total. Pain, ache, swelling, nuisance.

My son shared an anecdote recently about a minister who was challenged to participation in an outreach with the words "it's not like we're asking you to take a beating and be hung on a cross". I guess that if I'm going to take up my cross daily pain, ache, swelling and nuisance is not all that bad.

The "IRS" Psalm

(To the pious who will say "How sacrilegious can you get" I say "Chill".)

Like many people I've had occasions over my 40 years of working and filing taxes to have to deal with the IRS. I'm currently in one of those seasons again, this time dealing with the "full weight and authority" of everyone's favorite government agency.

I won't pretend to be blameless but I'm certainly not being devious. I'm not a scofflaw either. However, when the news is filled with references to white collar criminals who have bilked the public out of billions of dollars, and you know they MUST have cheated the government as well, I can only hope that they receive as much attention as I've gotten for the few dollars we have in dispute.

With this situation monopolizing my attention these days I was really taken this morning while reading how appropriate Psalm 143 seems to a case such as mine. The Message version relates it this way:

"Listen to this prayer of mine, God; pay attention to what I'm asking. Answer me—you're famous for your answers! Do what's right for me. But don't, please don't, haul me into court; not a person alive would be acquitted there. The enemy hunted me down; he kicked me and stomped me within an inch of my life. He put me in a black hole, buried me like a corpse in that dungeon. I sat there in despair, my spirit draining away, my heart heavy, like lead. I remembered the old days, went over all you've done, pondered the ways you've worked, stretched out my hands to you, as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain. Hurry with your answer, God! I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Don't turn away; don't ignore me! That would be certain death. If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, God— you're my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you're my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland. Keep up your reputation, God—give me life! In your justice, get me out of this trouble! In your great love, vanquish my enemies; make a clean sweep of those who harass me. And why? Because I'm your servant."


And I repeat this refrain: "If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you."

"Wanna play with me Pawpaw?"

I don't get to amaze my wife of 38 years that often anymore but last night was one of those occasions. My daughter Sarah was visiting with her daughter Olivia (grandchild #2). While Sarah was working on a project Livie was playing with a large bottle of pop beads and accessories. I had connected several pieces for her and she was on the living room floor when she made her request; wanna play with me, Pawpaw? It was the first time she had ever made that request.

When she was born I was recuperating from hip replacement surgery having already had a knee replaced the year before. Not quite a year later I suffered kidney failure and all the physical degradation the goes along with that. So, my granddaughters have never known me to be "normal" but that doesn't matter to them. They will take what they can get.

Once I understood her request I got out of my chair, crossed the floor and very gingerly got down on the floor beside her. I snapped beads together with her and made a necklace which I snapped around her neck. She had made some bracelets so she was "bejeweled". She showed her mommy and Grammy her prizes while I started cleaning up. Needless to say it was a special time.

There were times during her early years when I wondered if I would live to see her playing on a floor like that. But all along the way I knew that the Lord was at work perfecting my physical as well as my spiritual. I had polio when I was 4 and "walked away from it" so I've always believed in God's ability to keep me physically. This morning as I was reading I was reminded of that exact fact.

Psalm 86 in the Message version says "Bend an ear, God; answer me. I'm one miserable wretch! Keep me safe—... Help your servant—I'm depending on you! You're my God; have mercy on me. I count on you from morning to night. Give your servant a happy life; I put myself in your hands! You're well-known as good and forgiving, bighearted to all who ask for help. Pay attention, God, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help. Every time I'm in trouble I call on you, confident that you'll answer...

From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord;... You've always been great toward me—what love! You snatched me from the brink of disaster!... you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit. So look me in the eye and show kindness, give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child! Make a show of how much you love me... As you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet."

We Con the World Video as performed by Captain Stabbing & Friends

We Con the World Video as performed by Captain Stabbing & Friends

A humorous look at the recent Gaza "Flotilla" intervention.

Well said, David!

Psalm 41: 13 Blessed is God, Israel's God,
always, always, always.
Yes. Yes. Yes.

(The Message)