"ummmmm" and "um"

It was late in my Navy career and, as best I can recall, I was home on leave or had been recently discharged from the service. At the invitation of my parents I went across the street from our home to attend the Sunday morning service at the church where I had learned and even served during my adolescent years. It was good to be back and to enjoy the hymn-singing and fellowship with some old friends, just like the "old days" before World War II. But this Sunday service was different. There was special music -- a nice-looking teenager playing a hymn on a marimba, surely the first time I had ever witnessed such an event! She was none other than Mary Kathryne ("Katie") Jackson who was a friend of my younger sisters Joan and Jean. I had met her briefly months before on a short leave and thought she was a good girl to hang out with my kid sisters. But this occasion was markedly different, or I guess I was! She was wearing a nice black dress and really making heavenly music! To myself I could only observe: "ummmmmm!" Nothing happened after the meeting, but some time later (as I recorded in an earlier blog, I think...) I was bored at home on a Sunday evening and asked my Mother if she knew any Christian girl I might take to church, she quickly recommended that I call Katie Jackson and ask her. Well, I did, and she agreed, believe it or not, and since our little home church did not have an evening service that Sunday, I took Katie some 15 miles down to the Waterman Baptist Church at Lodi, IN, where they were holding an evangelistic service, which gave me a little discomfort, praise the Lord! But I was still going"ummmmm"
in my heart to be in her presence ... and still am! You know the rest of the story...like this past December 18 marked 62 years of marriage. Well, I was reading in my old German Bible to start the new year and discovered that, when God was to create a helpmate for Adam in Genesis 2:18, she was to be "um" him for life. The word literally means she was to be "around" him continually as a help "meet" or suitable for him. So, I really think that, when God presented Eve to him
in that first wedding ceremony, he was thinking "um!" and "ummmmmm!"...and for 900 years or so thereafter! That said, we do wish all you lovers, young and old, a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Surely, "Many waters cannot quench love..." - Song of Solomon. 8:7.

Turkey Tale

My stint in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II was concluded aboard the USS President Jackson, an "Attack Transport" that had been a cruise liner before the war. Our quarters were crowded and anything but luxurious, but we had to make plenty of room for the thousands of troops we and others were bringing home from the Philippines. So, on November 22, 1945, we were celebrating our first Thanksgiving after the war, out on the Pacific somewhere west of San Francisco. The "General Mess" holiday menu read: "Thanksgiving Dinner: ROAST TOM TURKEY...Thyme dressing...Spiced ham...Giblet gravy...Cranberry sauce...Mashed sweet potatoes...Buttered green peas...Sweet pickles...Ripe olives...Head lettuce with French dressing... Mixed nuts...Assorted candy...Fruit cake...Hot mince pie...Bread...Butter...Coffee...Cigars and Cigarettes"!-- really quite a scrumptious meal to please Navy crew and Army passengers alike! Later, on December 22, 1945, we radiomen up in the Radio Shack received the following message from the "Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific": "CINCPAC sends to the personnel of the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas his BEST WISHES for the Christmas Season, our first one in peace after nearly four years of a hard fought and successful war." We spent Christmas, then, in drydock near San Francisco, made more round trips to bring our soldiers home, and I was discharged at Great Lakes, IL, on March 10, 1946. This year (just 65 years later!) we rejoiced to celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones at the Ole Home Place at Wallace, with sister Jean and brother-in-law Bob Larsh graciously hosting the event, and with "missionary kids" Phil and Mary Ruth Taylor (wrapping up a 9-month furlough from Brazil, S.A.) and daughter (our granddaughter) Rachel (visiting from Memphis, TN) as our special guests. We hope all of our readers had a great Thanksgiving...and we wish you all a BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR! Surely, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live (eternally) through Him!"- I John 4:9. May this promise be precious to you, too!

Indian Summer

Recently I asked a fellow-resident if we were in "Indian Summer" yet. He said, "No, it arrives after the third frost!" Well, it did frost last night, at least for the third time, so I guess we are officially enjoying Indian Summer with 66 degrees outside temperature, a warm breeze and beautiful sunshine. Across the street we can see the huge combine parked, after harvesting the corn and soybean fields nearby. We oldsters are amazed at the modern farming methods and miss the excitement of fall harvests years ago. I recall my schoolmates who lived on the farm and helped their parents after school and on the weekend, the boys arguing about whether a "peg" or "hook" was best for shucking (or husking) corn...and, how many bushels they had shucked in a day's work! We had no way to determine which boy was the best shucker or just a good liar! At any rate, Dad's supply of "Corn Huskers Lotion" at the store was greatly reduced in a short time. But speaking of competition, it wasn't just the teenage harvesters who made great claims, because their dads were just as handy or even more experienced with a peg or hook, or in reporting huge numbers of ears of corn tossed into waiting horse-drawn wagons. In the late 1930's we remember a stellar event for the shuckers -- the National Corn Husking Contest held near Newport, Indiana...and in fields actually bordering Grandpa Jackson's (Mary K.'s father's) farm! This contest held more excitement then for country folks than a Nascar race does nowadays, but especially for Grandpa, as he was warned that his corn field might be needed for parking for the big crowd anticipated. So he had to work overtime to get his corn shucked. We don't remember who actually won the national competition, but Grandpa should have received a prize for clearing the way. At least he set a record for getting his own harvest done! With fall rains and approaching winter there is always an urgency about the fall harvest. And this reminds me of another, eternally important harvest that God is concerned about (and we should be): "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!" (Jeremiah 8:20). Dear reader, if you have put off a decision to receive Christ as your Saviour, we urge you to take advantage of this "Indian Summer" of grace and to trust Him today! Truly, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation!" (II Corinthians 6:2).

Hip-hip Hooray!

This Fourth of July was not only a celebration of our country's 235th birthday, but for me it was also a time of thanksgiving for recovery from my hip implant replacement surgery! I am grateful to God for the relief from bone-on-bone pain, for the skills of the surgeon (Dr. Hornback) , the anesthesiologist (Dr. Dan Hesler, our great-nephew), hospital and nursing home nurses and therapists, plus the home health care nurse and therapists, and counsel of a retired nurse in our building, all who brought me to a sort of "graduation" last month. Also, the extra-special TLC from Mary K./Mamaw here at home while tugging on my pressure hose (to reduce swelling) and caring for countless other needs. And we appreciated our special "rehab team" of daughter Ruth and son-in-law Phil who are home on missionary furlough from Brazil and were able be close to help "get our act together" -- like Ruth relieving Mamaw in the kitchen and Phil securing special bathroom aids and filling in for me at our Thursday Bible Class here at Rosedale Court. Along with the prayers of friends and loved ones we surely appreciate the tangible support from daughter Judy and son-in-law Mike out in Washington state who sent birthday, Mother's and Father's day gifts and packages filled with gourmet coffee, trail mix, candy, vitamin supplements, etc., etc. -- what therapy, too! We are asked from time to time if the pain is gone and we answer that we still have some discomfort from the old spinal stenosis problem, but doctor thinks that this will improve, too, in time. Anyway, in spite of possible changes in the healthcare system of our country we praise the Lord for its care of its senior citizens. We celebrated the independence of our great land by having Phil, Ruth and fellow-resident Anna for a "picnic" in our apartment with all the "trimmings" of cole slaw, potato salad, and Hebrew Kosher HOTDOGS ...and, of course, American flags decorating our table and balcony railing ... finally, at dark we watched the fireworks at the Crawfordsville park from the parkinglot here! We continue in prayer: "Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing: Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King!" Truly, "happy is that people, whose God is the LORD!" - Psalm 144:15.

Leaning...On The Everlasting Arms!

On our Blog three years ago around this time we wrote about the Old Covered Bridge at Wallace, and how that I had walked again down the hill east out of town as I had many times as a kid on an outing with our dog Fanny. It was refreshing to hike down and back then , but in more recent years my spinal stenosis and deteriorating right hip made it painful and finally impossible to do. I was giving in to the discomfort and to cope with the problem I was leaning more and more to the right and using a cane constantly. In nautical language I was "listing to the starboard"! In an earlier Blog I used the German word "hinken" to describe the limping on my right side. Well, in the May issue of that fine local publication "Jackson Journal" there was a report of the tornado that hit the Wallace area on April 19 and left the Old Covered Bridge leaning precariously to the south, almost ready to collapse into Mill Creek! The "before" and "after" pictures with news articles tell how that County Highway workers and local citizens, using huge wreckers and cables were able to pull the Bridge back upright and shore it up inside with new cross-bracing. Since it is on the National Historical Register the community hopes that the cost of saving and repairing the Bridge will be covered by Federal funds and private donations. Well, I've been thinking ... I'm so glad this edifice was spared and soon I hope to take a sentimental walk down there again...not leaning painfully on a cane! Since the right hip replacement surgery in March, and after home therapy care, I'm now walking without a cane and more upright all the time...although I keep the cane close for emergencies (and for sympathy)! In a way I feel like the Wallace Bridge, a short time ago leaning and often ready to collapse, but now with outside help pretty straightened and stronger than ever, it seems. I didn't need huge machinery and cables, only good medical care and, above all, the gracious provisions of the One Who assures us: "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms..." (Deuteronomy 33:27). So, the hymn-writer got it right: "O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, Leaning on the Everlasting arms; O how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the Everlasting arms...!" We hope every reader has found, or will find this promise to be a blessing, too!

"Help!...Help!..."

As a pastor I made numerous calls to hospitals and nursing homes and had occasionally heard a resident cry out "Help!" It was a pitiful plea for attention. But recently following hip replacement surgery at our local hospital and being moved to a nursing home for a few days of rehab I heard it again in the wee hours. The cry for help was answered quickly by the staff, but it set me to thinking about the true condition of the human race. Since the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden there has been one constant outcry for spiritual or physical relief from the results of sin. We read in Romans chapter 8, verse 22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now!" I had some anxious moments both in the hospital and then in the nursing facility, but the staff was so good to answer cheerfully my "help!" I praise and thank the Lord for those who prayed and continue to pray for me and Mary K through this special time of need. As this is written, I am in home healthcare and the therapists tell us I am doing well, walking with a cane and gaining strength. A young man named "Daya" got me started in the nursing home and we are grateful for him and those who continue to help me recover. We are thankful, too, for our skilled surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses and aids and all who have given us encouragement along the way such as our pastors and Christian friends. One shared Psalm 50:15 with us before surgery: "And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me!" God keeps His promise for present crises and, beyond that, HELP for eternity -- "even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body!" (Romans 8:23). For the Christian, one day soon the "Help!" will turn into "Hallelujah!"

Thinkin' 'bout "hinken"...

As we drove the 20 miles to Yeddo Baptist Church yesterday morning it was truly a "winter wonderland" of frost-covered trees and we marveled again at the handiwork of God in creation and preservation. And, since Mom/Mamaw/Mary K. and I strive this year in our private morning "quiet time" to read through the Bible, we each came to Genesis chapter 32 yesterday and discussed it together on the road. It's the record of Jacob returning with his family and possessions from Uncle Laban in Syria, and anticipating meeting his brother Esau. You will recall that Esau had threatened 20 years before to kill Jacob the next time they met! No doubt Jacob had other problems, but the fear of the approaching confrontation with Esau loomed large in his mindl Alone (verses 24-32), Jacob spent the night wrestling with the Lord and emerged victorious with a new name -- "Israel" (prince with God) -- a new glimpse of the Lord ("I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" ) -- and a new walk! In wrestling with the Lord, "Jacob's thigh was out of joint" and, as a result, "he halted upon his thigh"! In the German Bible it reads: "er hinkte an seiner Huefte!" "Hinken" means "to hobble, halt, limp." Dear readers, I totally emphasize and sympathize with ol' Jacob. Due to spinal stenosis and the degeneration of my right hip, especially the last year, I have been doing a lot of "hinken"! And, as this goes to press, I am scheduled for a visit with my cardiologist to seek clearance for hip replacement surgery, as I have a heart issue, then I see our orthopedic doctor on February 1 to make some definite plans. We need and ask the prayers of God's people, that the doctors may have wisdom and that the outcome will be greater (hopefully pain-free) mobility. Meantime, I get cranky with the discomfort and inconvenience of "hinken" on a cane or walker (pray for Mary K., too), but I'm trusting the Lord to do for me what he did for Jacob -- give me a fresh glimpse of His grace and goodness. Jacob concluded in v. 30: "...and my life is preserved!" In my old German Bible that reads "my soul is mended, or recovered!" Surely, we often enjoy physical healing, but in all our trials as believers we need the spiritual mending and healing, above all! Praise the Lord for Romans 8:28, but let's not forget His goal in all our testings, shown in verse 29, that we might be "conformed to the image of His Son"!