Bad Economy & Reality Hits Kids Toys V. 2.0

BE THE FIRST KID ON YOUR BLOCK TO REPO ALL THE TOYS ON YOUR BLOCK !!!


Matchbox has a new die cast Rollback Repo Wrecker Truck.

Just think of the possibilities.

A young boy can repo his brother's Matchbox cars
and trucks while his brother is sleeping, outside playing, or otherwise distracted. (This  is just like the real world!)

When the brother complains and cries, the boy with the Repo Matchbox can say, "I am sorry, you missed too many payments!"

This one is even better: While on a sleepover the entire box of toys of the  host boy can be repoed and again when he complains, just like the real world he can say, "I am sorry, you missed too many payments!"

WHAT IS OLD COUNTRY MUSIC ABOUT? I'M GLAD YOU ASKED

IN A FEW WORDS. IT'S ABOUT

• BARS & CARS
• PLANES & TRAINS
• FIGHTS & BIKES
• CHEERS & BEERS
• GALS & PALS
• BLAMES & GAMES
• SADS & GLADS
• RIDDLES & FIDDLES
• TEARS & BEERS
• DYING & LIEING
• RINGS & THINGS
• SWIMMIN' & WOMEN
• MEN & GIN
• BETTIN' & SWEATIN'
• WORKS & JERKS
• BOSSES & HOSSES
• TRUCKS & BUCKS
• FISHIN' & WISHIN'
• TRACTORS & ACTORS
• WALKIN' & TALKIN'
• SMOKES & JOKES
• RHYME & WINE
• LOOKIN' & COOKIN'
• RACIN' & PACIN'
• CB'S & CD'S
• NEON & LEON
• STRAYIN' & PRAYIN'
• SURVIVAL & REVIVAL
• GLASSES & PASSES

CRAZY UNCLE WALTER "GK" GIVENS v.2.0

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

                                                    

Uncle Walter “GK” (Grassy Knoll) Givens was not your typical atypical crazy uncle that seems to be standard issue for each American family. No sir! Uncle Walter came to earth from his own alternate universe. Sadly, he spent much of his life attempting to find the worm hole portal through which he must have transited enroute to a troubled sphere called Earth.

Older family members summarily dismissed the Star Trek explanation for his bizarre behavior; instead, they point to a head first fall from Miss Carrie Sutton’s prize apple tree when Walter was six years old. He was in a coma for nine days and when he awoke he told of a fantastic voyage from somewhere in the night sky to Earth. He, and the people that knew him, was never the same.

At age 12 he created a firestorm by writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper by stating there was a huge conspiracy between Santa, the Tooth Fair, and the Easter Bunny and the seven dentists in his town. Later, at age 16 he accused the TV and radio weathermen of getting a kickback from area grocery stores each time snow or other bad weather was forecast. To prove his point he went from grocery store parking lot to grocery store parking lot counting cars after a forecast of bad weather. He stated there was an almost 100 percent correlation.

As he grew older his conspiracy theories grow bolder. He believed in December, 1963 the JFK assassination involved a second shooter on the grassy knoll.

Much of what he learned about conspiracies he picked up from the late night “Coast to Coast AM” radio broadcast. He slept until 11am most days.

A year after the tragedy in Dallas, when ZIP codes were implemented, he knew the codes were a sneaky communist plot to sub-divide the United States into easy to rule cells after the USSR defeated the USA in a threatened preemptive nuclear strike.

In addition to conspiracy theories, he made several “outside the box” deductions. One was to reduce the school dropout age to 14 from the present 16. His reasoning went like this: When a student drops out of school at 16 they realize their mistake later but are too embarrassed to return to school at 18 or 19. Therefore, if they drop out sooner they will be more likely to come back to school later!

School dropouts were of major concern to Uncle “GK”. He read a study that said many boys left school early to work full time so they could keep a car on the road. Well, why not have the government subsidize teen car owners to keep them in school? He said it could be called Medi CAR!

Since UFO’s, Greens, and Greys, are real we need to start communicating with them. But how? Uncle “GK” figured the only universal constant is the mathematical concept of Pi. He convinced a couple of dozen true believers to join him on a hilltop outside of town to use their car headlights to flash “3.14” in International Morse code for two hours each night for a week. No answer ever came. It appears he had not thought this through too well---why would an advanced civilization know or even care about the International Morse code?

Of course the moon landing was faked, Elvis was alive and owned a Krispy Kreme donut store in Detroit, and alchemy was a subject that should be taught in every high school and college.

He believed the government was keeping secret the radio power transmission experiments of Nikola Tsela to protect big oil and the electric industry. He made a feeble attempt to duplicate the experiments and only succeeded in knocking out power to all the homes in three blocks around his old two story home.

One of his prize projects was trying to develop a biodegradable bubble gum. He field tested his work in most of the parking lots in town. All of the bubble gum remained as planted. The only outcome was four letter words from men and women walking to and from their cars in the parking lots.

At one family reunion he brought a bologna covered cheese and macaroni casserole. Strangely enough the kids loved it. No adult would try it. 

 His best suit of clothes was a ‘70s lime green leisure suit. He always wore the suit to weddings, funerals, and when he was called for jury duty. He was called three times but didn’t survive the first round.

This poster man for crazy uncles never married. He had one date while in high school. Late at night, almost every night, he thought of the girl of his one night date and wondered if she had married, had children, grand kids and whether she was happy. He hoped she was as happy as he was. His only regret in life was that he had never kissed any female but his departed mother. This nightly fleeting thought was always quickly replaced by his current project or an idea that no one had ever thought about. Crazy Uncle “GK” slept the sound sleep of a happy man and looked forward to each new day.

Glenn <><

"Kinda of a clinger to old sad songs"

Once more I confess to being an unabashed lover of Old Country music. George and Dolly combine to tell George's life story in song.

If you liked George Jones and/or Dolly this is for you. The instrumentals are super.

Check it out and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV_1y5diNEo

IN THOSE WOODS YONDER

             IN THOSE WOODS YONDER

In those woods yonder he walked with his wise grandfather
Flora and fauna expertly identified, felt, smelt and touched 

The smooth-barked beech with sharp pointed small leaves
The shag-barked hickory seemed to forever peel away

The locust with sharp hidden thorns menaced climbers all
The acorn laden oak stood solid, tall, strong, and defiant 

"Grandson, in this life you'll meet people who are like trees
 

"POSSUM " --------- Dead at 81 V. 3

One of our deacons at church told me after church today that George Jones still owes him $10 for a ticket he bought and it turned out to be a "No Show" event.

Another deacon, knowing how much I love Country music, mused as to why I did not have the flag at half staff in memory of George Jones!



TRIBUTES TO THE LATE GEORGE JONES ARE EVERYWHERE. NO ONE (HANK,SR INCLUDED) HAS CONTRIBUTED MORE TO THIS AMERICAN ART FORM THAN GEORGE.

CONSIDER: OVER 5 DECADES ON STAGE,
OVER 140 TOP 40 HITS, OVER 150 ALBUMS,  AND MANY ARE NOW SAYING HE IS THE KING OF COUNTRY MUSIC.

HE WAS THE KING LONG BEFORE HIS PASSING. THOSE OF US WHO KNOW WHAT REAL COUNTRY MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE KNOW THE KING IS GONE BUT THEY WILL BE PLAYING HIS HITS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. I REGRET HIS PASSING BUT I AM PROUD TO BE A LONG, LONG TIME FAN. ALWAYS WILL BE.

You can take the boy out of the Country, but you cannot take the Country (Music) out of the 71 year old boy!!!!!!!!

The final curtain has come down and the stage is empty. A true country legend has taken his last bow-----George Glenn "Possum" Jones died today, 4-26-13, at age 81.

He earned the "Possum" moniker in the 1950's with his debut flat top and a slightly turned up nose that looked like a "Possum." 

Much of his career was marred by failed marriages and chronic addictions. He missed so many show dates he picked up a new nickname---"No Show Jones" among his many fans.

In later life he recorded some autobiographical hits: "Choices" and "Blues man." Hopefully he at last saw the Light.

Jones was a true Country music legend and Hall of Famer. I am an unrepentant fan of his and my favorite hit song is "He Stopped Loving Her
Today." (ADDED: MANY ARE SAYING THIS IS THE BEST COUNTRY SONG EVER----I SAY AMEN TO THAT.)

LISTEN:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYQViYm92hg

George "Possum" Jones is gone but will never be forgotten. R.I.P.

Glenn <>< 4-26-13

AND THE ANSWER IS............(In My Opinion)

And The Answer Is…………. 

It destroys Judeo-Christian values; darkens the vision of achievement; and diminishes the hard fought freedoms of all American patriots.

It creates a society where equality of opportunity is replaced by unattainable expectations of equal outcomes; causes mediocrity to replace excellence; and champions community responsibility over individual accountability.

It stifles creativity; silences dissent; and surrenders national cultural identity to a homogenized New World Order.

Unless you have been asleep on Gilligan’s Island the last 20 years, you have probably guessed the “IT” is Political Correctness (PC).   

 

TO BE CONTINUED 

THANKS! THANKS! THANKS

THANKS TO ALL !!!!!!!!

WE'VE PASSED 4200 PLUS HITS ON THE BLOG!

TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE BLOG.

GLENN ,.,<><

BRIEF BOSTON BOMBING BLOG

THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THIS TRAGIC HAPPENING REVEAL MUCH:

1. Acts of terror can happen anywhere at anytime.

2. The bombers show us the worst in man and the coordinated search shows the best in man.

3. For a few hours there existed a real national unity of pain and purpose. American helping Americans.

4.With some exceptions, politics were shoved to the side lines. What a relief it is!

5. The power of prayer was so real and evident.

WE SHALL NOT FORGET THE PEOPLE OF
                              BOSTON.  

         Glenn <><    4-20-13

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?

What Is Your Answer ?

I fear not death

Nor time of my last breath

I must before Heaven’s Bar stand

“How have you helped your fellow man?”

-----Glenn <><  4-17-13

CHANNEL YESTERDAY

                               CHANNEL YESTERDAY

Half asleep, yet half  awake. His right arm was draped over the food and coffee stained right arm of his recliner. The TV remote lay undiscovered beneath his twitching right hand on the carpet.

His children had given him a 32 inch television for Christmas which seemed to have nothing but news of bombings, shootings, and tax increases. Night after night the news was very predictive.

The cause of the of out-of-shape viewer was eating way too many meals that were served to him through windows. Without warning he voluntarily switched channels, even without the remote,  the new channel was Channel Yesterday.

This new channel was a happy place where everyone was high school age again and personal horizons were limitless. No bill collectors, no threatening repo calls, and no ten year old mini vans to keep running. The people on Channel Yesterday were filled with hope and eagerness for the future.

He had no need to read the TV Guide or look up cast members on his computer. He knew the names of all the people on Channel Yesterday.

Here's the weird part. All of the people talked like very mature adults, even though they looked like teenagers. The conversations dealt with children, grandchildren , jobs, travel and other topics one associates with advancing age.

Just before he changed the channel back to the rough and tough real world, he saw his mother running toward him and calling his name. Louder and louder his name sounded as she came nearer and nearer.

All of a sudden he realized it was not his mother calling, but his invalid wife calling him for assistance in going to the bathroom. Channel Yesterday had signed off the air.

Glenn <><

KINFOLKS CAN DO WEIRD THINGS !!

·         Posted Apr. 13, 2013 @ 10:00 am  Shawnee News-Star  Our Local Paper

A California man with a home he rented out in Shawnee has reported about $45,000 in household goods stolen from that residence and is making allegations that someone held a garage sale there and allegedly sold his belongings without his knowledge.

Former Shawnee resident Ken Clifford, who now lives in the Los Angeles area, has filed a police report in the case.

Clifford, who left his Shawnee home in the 500 block of West Dewey about a year ago, said he rented the home, which was furnished, to distant relatives, leaving furniture and other items inside that home for their use.

In a detached garage, which he said was to be “off limits,” he stored his car and many other items, from expensive tools to personal property.

“I rented it out — everything was fine,” he said.

But when he didn’t receive the rent and couldn’t reach the tenants last month, Clifford became suspicious and had a friend check the home, which appeared to be empty.

“It looked like no one was around,” he said. He had another friend check the home, which was found to be in a state of disarray, with his household furnishings and the storage items in the garage no where to be found.

His vehicle, which he alleges had been driven, remained, but all of his tools, construction equipment and other items from the detached garage were gone.

Clifford, who said he later learned a garage sale was held at the home on Feb. 16-17, said he believes all of his property was sold at that sale and now he wants answers.

“They cleaned me out,” Clifford said.

He said a witness has reported to him that he bought a tool that was worth about $150 for one dollar at the reported garage sale. Among household items missing from the home are his leather couch, tables, and other furnishings from the appliances to artwork and other items.

“I am thoroughly beside myself,” Clifford said, adding he’s tried to contact the previous tenants by phone to question them about the property, but “they’re not talking to me at all.”

Still, he has no definitive proof what happened to any of his property.

“I don’t need to get any more upset about this…I need to know justice is done,” he said. “Justice is having someone reprimanded.”

Clifford said he made a theft report with police, who have indicated to him this is a civil issue.

·         Page 2 of 2  --  

Shawnee Police Detective Ethan Rieves said if the lease signed by Clifford and the tenant doesn’t clearly indicate which items in the house were the property owner’s and were required to remain in the home, then this is a case of a landlord and tenant dispute and “turns into a civil issue.”

“It’s his word against their word,” Rieves said, adding that without a lease showing what’s spelled out to stay, this becomes a division of property issue for a judge to decide.

Rieves, who said he last spoke with Clifford a few days ago, said Friday night that he is awaiting Clifford to send him a copy of lease. Once Rieves receives it, he’ll review it to see what items are supposed to be at the home that are no longer there.

“If the property is supposed to be there and he can provide that form to us, this turns into a criminal investigation,” the detective said, and a detective will be assigned the case.

But until that happens, Rieves said police have no way of knowing what items in the home were Clifford’s and what items the tenants could have moved into that home.

If this turns out to be a criminal action and police can track down the property, Rieves said those who bought stolen items at the garage sale could be out the money they paid for their purchases.

Clifford, who said he is upset at Shawnee police because of this ordeal, said Friday he hadn’t yet sent the lease papers to Rieves but will do so in case there’s anything else police can do.

He also is upset at the city of Shawnee for issuing a garage sale permit at the residence.

City Planner Justin Erickson said when someone applies for a garage sale permit, the city checks utility records and also makes sure there haven’t been more than the three sales per year at the same address, which is intended to protect residents in the neighborhood.

In this case, the person applying for the garage sale permit also was the same person who had water service at the home, Erickson said.

“We followed procedures we do for all garage sales…there was nothing abnormal about the issuance of a permit,” Erickson said.

“We don’t know what they’re selling in terms of a private sale…we’re not there to police contents of a garage sale,” he said. “There’s no way of knowing what individuals are selling or claim ownership to,” he added.

For now, Clifford, who remains in California for his job in real estate, said he’s having the house repaired so he can either rent it out again or possibly live in it when he returns to Oklahoma. Or he may just decide to sell it.

Making this situation worse is that Clifford had insurance on the home itself, but not his contents since it was considered a rental.

“Nothing was covered except the building,” he said.

Attempts were made to reach Clifford’s prior tenants to ask about the garage sale, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

 

"YOUR ARE A SLUG SIR"

Teaching is a calling. Teachers shape the future. Teachers help children be prepared to take an active, responsible role in society. The overwhelming majority of teachers are very professional and are worthy of the name. However, some give education a bad name.

It was in the 5th grade of a small country school where Ms Wilson had finally run out of patience with a slow, seemingly indifferent, student named Leroy Jones.

Leroy sat motionless for much of each day

JOHNATHAN WINTERS DEAD AT 87

One of the great comics of our time has taken his last curtain call. The Ohio native and man of a thousand sounds is dead at 87.

In my opinion Winters was best when free-wheeling and didn't have to stick to a script.

The late Johnny Carson always enjoyed his visits to the Tonight Show. Carson was a great straight man for Winters.

I regret my grandkids never had the same affection for him as I did. He was a funny man in a very sad world. He will be missed.

Jonathan Winters----R.I.P. 

A-N-N-E-T-T-E Dead at Age 70 V . 2.0

THE REVISION INCLUDES ONE OF THE TALLEST STORIES I HAVE EVER HEARD.

Every teenage boy in the 1950's had just one favorite Mouseketeer---Annette Funicello. She was an 11 before the 10 scale had been invented!

Her dark skin, and hair and her prematurely developed figure, kept us boys watching the lame skits and dance routines. A series called Spin and Marty was OK. But it was Annette we adored.

She would later star with teenage girl heartthrob, Frankie Avalon, in a blue million Beach Blanket romances.

Her health was poor for most of her life because she had MS.

Interestingly, she was the last Mouseketeer hired by Disney, but she quickly became the star of the Mickey Mouse Club.

Annette Funicello         R - I - P

ADDED:  Over 20 years ago I preached one Sunday in a very small OK church. A man there asked me to take him to the Unemployment office the next day. From the time he got in my car until he got out he told what sounded like one unbelievable story after another.

The biggest was he had once been the body guard for Annette when lived in Hollywood!

HUSBANDS, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME !!!!!!!! V. 2.0

V. 2.0 CONTAINS AN EXPANDED ENDING

           Husbands, Don't Try This At Home

He told the police the last thing he remembers at his house was his wife's shrill voice screaming," SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE!"

The first thing he recalls in the ER was the Johnny Walker Red marinated voice of a female nurse who said in a professional monotone, "We're losing him." A thirty something doctor yelled, "Stand back!"

In an increasingly impatient voice, Detective Benson said, "That's really nice to know information but I want to know who hung that mouse on your left eye, split your bottom lip from end zone to end zone, broke your right arm in two places, and smashed your left knee with a blunt object?"

"That's a fair question. Here's the whole story."

"It's six o'clock right now. I want to get home tonight before the 11pm news and watch a big drug bust I was involved in early this morning. Make it short and sweet. OK?"

"The wife and I had been arguing about how her cousins trashed out my garage last Christmas and how many tools they stole."

"Alright already. Speed it up man."

"Well, after a while the heat went out of the argument and she scooted her breakfast chair over beside mine and started gently flipping me on the ear lobes."

"Will you wake me up when you get to the hitting part ?" 

"This is important detective. It really is."

"I don't believe you, but drag, I mean, go on."

She whispers in my ear, "Honey, this is just like going to school." 

"I know I will regret this, but please continue."

"I said, probably reminds you of your girl's reform school. It hit the fan. I mean it hit the fan!"

"Maybe this three hour thriller is getting somewhere."

"She never cooks breakfast and we always have donuts. You cops like donuts don't you?"

"Go on"

"Picks up a donut and holds it a couple inches from my left eye and before I can react, she uses it like a target and jabs me in the eye through the donut hole. My hands in auto reflex mode cover my bleeding eye and she uses my uplifted arms like goal posts and slings her coffee saucer that squarely hits my bottom lip like a 25 yard field goal.

"Then?"

"I grab for my napkin with my right arm and she uses two rapid, back-to-back, judo chops and breaks arm in two places."

"What about the left knee?"

"She then grabs the handle of an unused 7" skillet and goes to work on my left knee Chicago style."

"Is that it?"

"Isn't that enough?"

" Sign the compliant here and I'll let you get back to sleep or read your free hospital newspaper."

As he reaches to pickup the pen, the door to his private hospital bathroom suddenly bursts open. Out walks his 6'-2" wife who is pounding her
wallet size handbag into her left hand and says, "You don't want to sign anything do you sweetheart?"

"No....No..... I don't want to sign anything."

Detective Benson tries in vain to convince the trembling husband to sign the compliant. No luck.

The Amazon-like wife smirks at Benson as he departs the room and says, "Come over and have donuts with us any morning."

Benson looks at his watch and picks up his step as he nears the elevator. As the elevator door starts to close he hears the screams of the battered husband and the sickening laughter of the wife.

Detective Benson quickly radios dispatch he is off duty and headed home for the evening. He smiles to himself as he turns his radio off.

To quote Sonny and Cher, "The beat goes on."

--------Glenn <><

         

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD !!!!!!

During the 20 years I was privileged to wear the uniform of this great nation and the 32 years as an ordained minister of the gospel I have refused to give endorsement to various products and/or creative innovations. That is OVER! The time and times require that I speak and speak loudly and speak now.

My top five endorsements:

1. Remastering and conversion of Lawerence Welk shows to 3D. (Could be worth millions)

Just think of the joy your grandchildren and pets will have attempting to nip the many 3D bubbles floating in your living room!

2. Develop and market bio-degradable bubble gum. (Moms and the Al Gore's of this world will love it.)

3. Develop and  market an inflatable ative American sweat lodge.(Who doesn't want to drop a few pounds?)

I GUESS IT HAD TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER !!!!

It is just after 2am, Oklahoma time, and I must relate what has just happened.

I was awakened from this bittersweet dream in which I was in a large room with many of  my Lovett and Paris Crossing classmates. Some in the room were obviously children or grandchildren of deceased classmates.

Some were actual classmates who had already crossed River Jordon. Talk was a mixture of happier days and difficulties currently being experienced.

I recall asking to sit on a couch between some of my classmates and praying with and for them. In spite of a few tears there was much laughter and the children and grandchildren were glad to hear heartwarming stories about their parents and grandparents.


Aware that the encounter was nearing an end, I vividly recall making a comment that I wished this unanticipated gathering would never end.


Yes, I am hard pressed to interpret this pleasant dream. Hopefully, I will have another. If I do you will hear about it.

Coach Dale---Hoosiers---- "I love you guys." seems appropriate

TRUE ACCOUNTS FROM A REAL STORE---Shop Lifting Doesn't Pay!

There is a grocery store just a mile or so from our house. I am the classic hunter-gather shopper. Sometimes I will be there three times during one day. The late night janitor and I and have become very close friends. The following true stories were told to me by the janitor:

1. While preparing to clean the Men's Restroom, he discovered an empty six-pack of beer and a magazine removed from the in-store rack.

The well read, happy shopper was never caught.

2. Many months later a man stole two steaks and went across the road to a convenience store where he go into a drunken brawl. The store owner called the Police and searched the brawler. As circumstances would have it, the butcher from the grocery store was there when the stolen steaks were discovered. (When I shared this story with my quick witted brother he interjected, "Where's the Beef?" The drunk was taken back to the grocery store and the security tape caught him red handed. He was arrested and booked in the County slammer.

3. I saw a young girl stuff something down her bra yesterday at Wal-Greens. he looked way to you to have had breast-augmentation implants

4. Cattle, horses, oil, tractors, trucks, and pecans are hot items for fast fingered thieves in Oklahoma. Smash and grab robberies are the easy get rich crimes here. Pawn shops are open on Sundays.

5. In Vermont and Maine, maple syrup is being lifted at night.

6. My granddaughter has had her bike stolen. One of her friends has had two stolen.

I have just got to ask: "Who's that Hope and Change working out for you????????" 

IT SURE NEEDS TO BE SAID----AGAIN !

SOMETIMES YESTERDAY'S VERSE APPEARS AS TODAY'S HEADLINES. CONSIDER:

 The Ideal Husband to His Wife




WE'VE lived for forty years, dear wife,

  And walked together side by side,

And you to-day are just as dear

  As when you were my bride.

I've tried to make life glad for you,

  One long, sweet honeymoon of joy,

A dream of marital content,

  Without the least alloy.

I've smoothed all boulders from our path,

  That we in peace might toil along,

By always hastening to admit

  That I was right and you were wrong.

No mad diversity of creed

  Has ever sundered me from thee;

For I permit you evermore

  To borrow your ideas of me.

And thus it is, through weal or woe,

  Our love forevermore endures;

For I permit that you should take

  My views and creeds, and make them yours.

And thus I let you have my way,

  And thus in peace we toil along,

For I am willing to admit

  That I am right and you are wrong.

And when our matrimonial skiff

  Strikes snags in love's meandering stream,

I lift our shallop from the rocks,

  And float as in a placid dream.

And well I know our marriage bliss

  While life shall last will never cease;

For I shall always let thee do,

  In generous love, just what I please.

Peace comes, and discord flies away,

  Love's bright day follows hatred's night;

For I am ready to admit

  That you are wrong and I am right.

Sam Walter Foss

((My note: How did he know this was my situation? Maybe yours too?)

Life In the Shadow of the Sixteenth Pole

Life In The Shadow Of The Sixteenth Pole

Disclaimer: Many of you know that I grew up about 65 miles from the famed Indy 500 oval. It was approximately a similar distance to the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. While teaching American Defense Policy at the University of Kentucky, I was about 20 minutes from the playground of the ultra-rich at Keeneland horse track.

I have seen all of these fabled tracks from the air, but have never been on the ground at these internationally known pieces of sporting real estate. I try to watch the Derby and Indy 500 each year on television. The singing of My Old Kentucky Home and Back Home Again In Indiana always seems to fog the trifocals of this converted Okie.

Kentuckians, including those in self-imposed exile, feel a special bit of equine two-minute history on the first Saturday in May. Names like Whirlaway, Citation, Secretariat,  Gallant Fox, War Admiral, Seattle Slew, and five other Triple Crown Winners are fondly recalled like favorite uncles. Man of War, Needles, Nashua, Northern Dancer and of course, everyone’s favorite Rose Party crasher, Swaps, are remembered like nearby cousins.

Empathy abounds when recalling Hall of Fame Jockey Bill Shoemaker’s inexplicable million dollar mistake, that cost Gallant Man in the 1957 Derby, a rose blanket and a place in history. Shoemaker mistook the sixteenth pole as the finish line and eased up and finished second to Iron Leigh.

Here is a brief application for all:

Yoga Beria allegedly first said, “It’s not over till it’s over.” We must keep giving our best until we cross the finish line.

All of us live our lives in the shadow of the sixteenth pole and life can be over in a heartbeat. Our opportunity and joy is to be ready whenever that day comes. (Revelation 3:20 is Jesus’ invitation for our preparation.)

                                 ---Glenn <><

               

 

 

 

 

"ONLY IN AMERICA !!!"

"ONLY IN AMERICA !!!"


Love him or hate?

You cannot help but notice him.

Many, I do mean many, years ago when I first saw him on TV, I laughed.  

I've long since stopped laughing and started respecting.

I have come to realize that Boxing promoter Don King is in many ways the embodiment of the American Spirit. His hair points upward; his optimistic smile is an encouragement for today and tomorrow; and his entrepreneurial drive is a true, large chip off the founding capitalistic rock. 

His ubiquitous sound bite speaks volumes about our great nation's exceptionalism: "ONLY IN AMERICA!"

Don King's quote of Teddy Roosevelt summarizes what he believes about his career and life:

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails at least he fails while daring greatly, so that this place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.

— Theodore Roosevelt

 

 

AMEN!

 

                            ---Glenn <><

 

 

  

"AH RIGHT MY FRIEND. I"VE GOT TO DO IT"---John R.--WLAC Radio

My tribute to WLAC is still a work in progress. However, the history of this great station can't wait for me.

Check out this URL

http://www.yodaslair.com/dumboozle/wlac/wlacdex.html

Listen to the short on air recordings at the bottom of the page to get a flavor of what I'm talking about.

"This is old John R way down south in Dixie."

Glenn <><

"WE'VE GOT TO TAKE KEVIN HOME"

This true event has all of the characteristics of a Greek Tragedy.

                                                                           

It is very likely a sign painter in Springfield. Mass has been contacted to report to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The over-paid, under-informed March Madness talking heads have squeezed, massaged, and analyzed the University of Louisville-Duke Easter afternoon Regional Finals to the point of depleted exhaustion.

Obviously, the turning point in the game, with the score tied at 42, was the heart rendering compound fracture of the right leg of the U of L guard Kevin Ware.

What followed could not have been written by Oscar winning screen writers or performed by supermarket magazine idols.

With pain that immediately shot past the 10 scale, young Ware repeatedly encouraged his Cardinals teammates to “Win the game!” “Win the game!”

In a living portrait seldom seen in sports, Cardinals and Blue Devils hoop heroes openly wept and several were so overcome they fell to the hardwood in unrehearsed empathy.

Coaches Pitino and K bit their lower lip and brushed away imaginary insects from their eyes.

Millions of Naismith offspring, from the banks of the Ohio River to the Tobacco Road, cleared their throats and said to family and friends, “I’ve got to go get a drink of water.”

Coach Pitino reminded his team many times for the rest of the game,  “We’ve got to take Kevin home.” This simple, yet profound, reference to Atlanta---home of the 2013 Final Four--- and boyhood high school playground of Kevin Ware inspired the Cardinals to a 20 point plus victory over the Blue Devils.

Move over Coach Rocne and “Win one for the Gipper.”  Have a seat Roy Hobbes and “Pick me out a good one Bobby.”  Step aside Coach Dale and “I love you guys.”

Coach Pitino’s “We’ve got to take Kevin home” dramatically proves only Life Can Fully Imitate Life.

 

                          

 

HAPPY EASTER 2013 !!!!!

The great English preacher, C.H. Spurgeon, once observed: "We can never make too much of Jesus' Crucifixion; however, we can often make too little of the Resurrection."

Read and Rejoice:

Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Joh 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Joh 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Joh 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

Joh 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

Joh 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

Joh 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Joh 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Joh 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

Joh 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Joh 20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
 
Joh 20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Joh 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Joh 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Joh 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.


May Almighty God Unzipper Heaven On Your Family This Blessed Easter.

Daddy's Girl ! A different twist to the term

Most of the time the term Daddy's Girl is reserved for a girl who is the special favorite of her father.
I recently met a person who told a rather interesting story. In this case, Daddy's Girl assumes an entirely different meaning.

This person told of jokingly telling his wife of many years that he was not man enough to wear a pink shirt. Her instantaneous reply, "You've got that right!" 

On several occasions, the wife would remind her husband that her father would do things differently than he was doing them.

Once while watching a TV Western about the wagon trains heading West, the husband asked her if she would like to have traveled West on a wagon train? She told him, "Yes, if my Dad went with me."

The husband said his father in law once drew his fist back to hit him because of a very minor disagreement. The father in law once told his daughter, the one in question here, that he always preferred her younger sister to her.

The man confessed to me that his marriage was basically a sham. It was always lived out with the wife's father the center of attention.

What is hard to understand is she considers her father a hero and he considers her younger sister the apple of his eye.

Why would I devote a Post to this strange subject?
Maybe, just maybe, someone else is living through this nightmare and they should be encouraged that with the Grace of God they can make it through. The man telling me the story is a walking testimony to that truth. Life Hurts. God Heals. Church Helps!  

Finally, being a pastor is happy, hard work!

Your First Time (IT IS NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK)

FIRST TIME

1. Saw a TV---B & B Auto Supply in North Vernon. TV was in window huge crowd on the sidewalk. Show was "Midwestern Hayride" WLW-T, Cincinnati. Year about 1951.

2. Saw Color TV---Wife's uncle and aunt. Year about 1961.

3.t

"OLD FOLKS" Lexicon

It is strange how as I age I feel a greater and closer kinship with "Old Folks" I knew as a boy. Here are a few expressions from the past, some are still in use by some of my family. (Hey, we are the Jr. side of the "Old Folks!"

a. Tonic-----"She was a good tonic for him." The emphasis is on how one person is good for another person.

b. Tolerable----- "I guess I am doing tolerable." A term that suggests a person is not feeling real good or real bad.

c. Much Obliged----"Much obliged for the cake." A phrase that denotes thanks and has the unspoken obligation to do something nice in return.

d. Fair to Middling.-----"Bill said he was still feeling fair to middling." A term used to characterize state of health.

e. Scrap off the scab.-----"Hope my story doesn't scrape off the scab." An apology for mentioning something that might bring back unpleasant memories.

---- MORE ANOTHER TIME

Guess that's enough for now.