WORLD CLASS

Sunday we had a pre-4th of July Celebration at church honoring our servicemen and giving thanks for God's blessing on our Nation. America is a wonderful Nation. It is the best place in the whole world to live. 

The presentation was super as the choir and singers did an outstanding job under Mike Hammontree's direction. 

It was great. 

The young man in the uniform below is David Rogers. He had just returned this week from months of Boot camp training and participated in the program. We are proud of David as well as all our servicemen who stand guard for our freedom. 

Our special guest was Doyle Dykes and his guitar. Doyle is a world class guitarist who travels the world doing concerts and special events. He has played in some of the largest churches and concerts around the world.

We haven't been able to connect our family tree's, but we must be cousins somehow. He told me that his father had a favorite uncle named Milton. So there must be some connection. When I traveled for 12 years ministering in churches across the South, I would often be asked when I ministered in the Jacksonville area if I was related to Doyle. I had not met him yet so I didn't know who he was. 

On occasion, some would mistake me for Doyle. I would tell them that he must be a really nice looking guy. Ha!

You cannot help but be awed by his talent. He does things with a guitar that just drops your jaw. I sat in church Sunday amazed, inspired, and encouraged by his ministry.

Here is a brief sample.

Enjoy.

I'M A HEAVEN'S ANGEL

I'm a biker, a Heaven's Angel.

I gotten into motorcycle riding, or at least I've started. 

For a number of years I have had this in the back of my mind. Several years ago Kristy and I went on a get-a-way in Amelia Island and stayed at the Florida Inn, the oldest working hotel in Fl. It is unique, historic and a fun place with mopeds for guests to ride. We rode one and she loved it. We thought about getting into biking then, but just never followed up.

Several weeks back I mentioned to Wanda that I might like to get into biking and asked if she would ride with me. She said she would so I took

a motorcycle riding course. 

I almost got killed in the safety course, not from the motorcycle but from a tornado that hit the parking lot where we took the course. I survived and now have bought my first bike. My bike that I rode in the safety course is just beyond the damaged cars in the picture. We got off our bikes and literally ran for cover as the tornado came out of nowhere. 

My bike is huge with room for Wanda to go cruising with me. It will be several months before she rides as I am taking time to get comfortable with the bike. A church member, Jim, is training me and up to this point I only ride in a church parking lot around the corner from my house. I have also ridden slowly a couple times in my neighborhood.

A couple of my neighbors have gotten a real kick out of their neighbor "preacher" getting a bike. It is fire engine red and is a Honda Gold Wing. I bought it used and saved a bundle over what a new bike costs.

Am I going through a late "mid life" crisis? 

I don't think so as this has been an interest of mine for a long time. I have a number of preacher friends and buddies who ride. They have been after me to get a bike, and I wouldn't until I saw if I could pass a safety course. Now that I have, I am taken ample time to get comfortable of riding before getting on the open rode. 

It will be an outlet from me, and Wanda and I will enjoy riding together as well as with friends. Say an extra prayer. Cycling is fun but it is also dangerous. This bike has lots of lights, a loud horn, and is fire engine red and all that helps in people seeing and hearing you.  However, it is still a very defensive sport. All eyes and ears have to be focused.

So call me a Heaven's Angel. I prefer that over Hell's Angel. HA!

CALL ME DANIEL BOONE

The raccoon is gone! I caught him in my trap.

Wanda and I enjoy bird watching as we eat breakfast on our back porch, but every sense the raccoons invaded our back yard to eat the bird seed we have been able to enjoy the birds. I bought a trap and set it up to catch the raccoons and relocate them.

My first catch was a pitiful squirrel that I released and let go. The next night I caught this raccoon and he looked so forlorn and sad that I almost let him go too. 

But I didn't.

Sunday afternoon I took him for a ride down Beach Blvd. to find a spot to release him. Eventually I saw some wooded areas behind the Post Office and Sam's that I felt he would enjoy. I got the trap out of my trunk and set it down pointed toward the woods. 

Slowly I opened the cage and released the little guy. What did he do? He turned right toward Sam's and ran as fast as he could. He was gone and the last time I saw him he was peeking around the corner of Sam's trying to find his way. 

I don't know if he went shopping or what, but he isn't in my back yard now. There are probably more raccoons to be caught, but we are enjoying the birds again.

Just call me Daniel Boone. 

"Daniel Boone was a man, yes a real man!"

 Isn't that how the little tune goes?

***

Wed. 8:36 AM

Oops, I didn't have the lyrics right. Here are the words to the tune. Double click below to hear the original version sung.

Lyrics by Vera Matson, Music by Lionel Newman

(Copyright 1964, 1966 Twentieth Century Music Corporation, New York, NY)

Daniel Boone was a man,
Yes, a big man!
With an eye like an eagle
And as tall as a mountain was he!

Daniel Boone was a man,
Yes, a big man!
He was brave, he was fearless
And as tough as a mighty oak tree!

From the coonskin cap on the top of ol' Dan
To the heel of his rawhide shoe;
The rippin'est, roarin'est, fightin'est man
The frontier ever knew!

Daniel Boone was a man,
Yes, a big man!
And he fought for America
To make all Americans free!

What a Boone! What a doer!
What a dream come-er-true-er was he!

Daniel Boone was a man!
Yes, a big man!
With a whoop and a holler
he c'd mow down a forest of trees!

Daniel Boone was a man!
Yes, a big man!
If he frowned at a river
In July all the water would freeze!

But a peaceable, pioneer fella was Dan
When he smiled all the ice would thaw!
The singin'est, laughin'est, happiest man
The frontier ever saw!

Daniel Boone was a man!
Yes, a big man!
With a dream of a country that'd
Always forever be free!

What a Boone! What a do-er!
What a dream-come-er-true-er was he!

A SUPER FATHER'S DAY

Father's Day was wonderful!

As church began Sunday morning, someone grabbed me on the left arm and as I turned it was Julie. She had called earlier Sunday morning and told me she was headed to church. I assume she was headed to her church in Tampa, but she drove up to Jacksonville to share Father's Day with me. It was a great Father's Day gift.

Wanda prepared the most delicious dinner and Max and Darlene came down from St. Mary's Ga. We had a great time together and only wished the rest of the family could have been with us. Jennifer is in San Juan and called, but it was too far for her to come up for a day. We'll have to make a trip to see her later this year.

Dad shared a few thoughts as I interviewed him in our morning church service. It was a treat to have my 84 year old father who is a minister and my pastor in my growing up years in church with me. He has great stories of faith that work. He and Mom have been faithful to the Lord through it all. 

Julie gave me a most beautiful card and a gift to Applebee's. I love my Father's Day ties from Alex and Nic. They are hand made and are very valuable. Nic's card is three D. Love made them. That is what counts on Father's Day.

THREE CHEERS FOR DAD

I have the greatest dad in the world. 

No, he is not perfect, but he is the greatest dad in the world.

Dad is 84 and he and mom still watch over their brood of five children. I am the oldest and the one they most strived to make perfect. I got more spankings than all of my other siblings but Norma. She is less than one year younger than me so I think they tried to make her perfect too, but they didn't do as good a job on her as they did me! HA! 

The picture above includes my younger brother Max. We share the same birthday just a few years apart. 

What are my memories with dad while growing up?

We fished, flew model planes, did skits together to promote youth camps he oversaw for the A/G denomination in Alabama, took family trips, and had long behind the barn talks. No, we didn't have a barn, but we did have some very long talks that kept me on track. Dad is a preacher so I heard years of sermons at church and at home. I will have to admit that he is a good preacher and has some amazing stories to tell. 

I have said that my mother led me to Jesus, but dad kept me saved. His prayers, his base voice, and his belt worked--not necessarily all in that order. HA!

Dad always brought his paycheck home. He never drank, smoked, or cursed me. He has always been there for me--even now when I am approaching 60. 

Now that is a great father.

He prays for me now everyday. He is just a phone call away. He will spend Father's Day with me and we will share Father's Day dinner together. 

Thanks dad for all you have done for me. I am grateful.

PRIDE JUDGES HARSHLY

Do you know the primary reason for strife? What causes rifts' that cannot be resolved? 

Recent study in The Book of James moved me to look at the issue of pride. God isn't pleased when pride enters our hearts and He certainly isn't pleased with its results. Pride does lots of damage and has consequences that harm us eternally.

We all have different points of view and opinions. There is nothing to be ashamed when we have differences. Couples are bound to have differences and sometimes they are huge. Here is the greater issue. Pride doesn't consider the feelings and interests of others. Pride exalts self and diminishes the importance of others including God.

When we are proud then our point of view exceeds and dominates others. Pride causes personal opinion to overpower personal concerns. When we are proud, then what God has stated and what others feel dwindles and pales in comparison to what we think.

God resists the proud, but He give grace to the humble. 

We judge others because of pride. We point fingers because of pride. We belittle others because of pride. 

Pride stinks and has a way of making the prideful stink tool!

Oh Lord, forgive me for pride. Help me to value others and their opinions and to be willing to listen and show genuine concern. 

HIGH TECH CAMPING

This past week Wanda and I enjoyed having Julie and her boys here for several days. We camped out at Hannah Park here in Jacksonville, and I commuted back and forth each day for work. Wanda and Julie and Alex and Nic rode bikes, swam in the Atlantic Ocean, and the little guys played in the water park.

The pictures are of the "little guys" around the camp fire and of me getting the bike rack ready to load up and head home. 

We had a borrowed trailer from our friends, Don and Sandra, but camping isn't camping without cooking in an open fire.  That was my job after I returned to the camp site each evening. I did cheat with using charcoal, but the charcoal was old and would not catch fire easily. It was supposed to be ready to lite with a match, but that wouldn't happen. 

So what to do?

Well, technology wins again. 

When the fire wouldn't start and burn fast enough, I got the hair dryer out of the trailer with an extension cord and used it to fan the flames. 

Bingo!

It worked and in a matter of minutes we had a great fire to cook our burgers. Everyone liked the tasty burgers and high tech won again!

Just watch: