TURN UP THE VOLUME

As I was getting ready to enter the MRI, the technician asked, “Do you have a choice of music?”  I immediately answered, “Neil Diamond.”  When I came out of the MRI, the technician said, “I just knew you were not going to lie still when Sweet Caroline came on, but you did.”

It was hard to lay still!  I could direct almost every Neil Diamond song.  I know the breaks and when the verses begin.  I want the radio cranked up when Cherry Cherry or Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show or I Am I Said or Cracklin Rosie or … You get the idea.  I am a fan!

The first time I saw him perform was in 1996.  Bill and I had tickets to fly to Seattle and then I saw it.  NEIL DIAMOND WAS PERFORMING IN INDIANAPOLIS!  On the night we were to fly out.  (Big sigh.)  Things have a way of working out.  We changed our airline tickets.  Although the concert tickets were not the best, I GOT TO SEE HIM!!  Our tickets were almost behind the stage, I saw more of his butt than I saw his face.  I told Bill, “Doesn’t he have a great butt.”

The next morning’s headline, in the Indianapolis paper, read:  Women rate Neil Diamond’s butt a 10.  I am not kidding.  We saw him perform two more times. 

I turned a page in the Guideposts* and there he was.  A picture just like I remember him.  The story was about Neil Diamond raising $1.8 million to help the residents of Oak Island, a suburb of Houston, Texas.  What connection did he have with this community?  In 1966, at the beginning of his career, he flew into Houston for his first Texas gig and realized he had left his money in New York.  As he was trying to convince the rental car clerk he would pay later, his song A Solitary Man come on the radio.  He said, “That is my song.”  He sang a few bars and the clerk welcomed him to the great state of Texas and handed him the keys, no charge. 

Fast forward to 2008.  Neil Diamond returned to the area and saw Hurricane Ike’s devastation.  He donated the merchandise proceeds from his remaining shows, along with his own money, to help rebuild the community.

Often a kindness is given and there is no expectation of a reward.  I am sure the rental car clerk had no idea that her one act would result in a $1.8 million gift.

We are never sure when the smallest thing might have a big impact.  A smile might change a day for someone who thinks no one cares.  A card might give encouragement to someone who is grieving.  An invitation to church might save a soul. 

*Taken from the article: Solitary Man, by Kimberly Elkins and Adam Hunter, June/July 2023 Guideposts

 

NORMAL?

That is a word not usually associated with me.  I have been called not-normal, unusual, unique, and strange.  Those words are usually associated with the way my mind works.  To that I say, “And proud of it!”  The thing is, I like normal.

Normal is a routine that makes life easier.  Normal is having an alarm set that encourages you to start your day.  Normal is … Oh for goodness sakes, THERE IS NO NORMAL!

People my age - aka old - grew up watching Leave It To Beaver and Life With Father.  The wives wore dresses, pearls, and high heeled shoes.  The kids got in trouble but each infraction was a lesson.  The husband would come home from work, change from a suit coat to a sweater, and relax by reading the daily paper.  Then all sat down to eat supper together.  We thought this was what normal life should be.  NEWS FLASH: IT WAS NOT NORMAL THEN AND IT IS NOT NORMAL NOW.

My dad was a trucker.  We never knew when he would be home.  He wore work pants and a shirt.  No suit and tie for him.  Mom was a stay at home wife and mother.  She did the cleaning, cooking, sewing, gardening, canning, and laundry.  Us kids had chores and were to do as we were told without any argument.  We were to go to school and do our homework without being told. 

That was my normal.  Was it a good normal? Sometimes.  Sometimes not.  But it was normal for me.

The trouble is my normal lacked a lot of things.  My neighbor always had new clothes.  I had her hand-me-downs.  When it was daylight at 9:00 PM, I could hear the neighborhood kids still playing.  I had a bedtime.  In high school, other kids went to restaurants for lunch (we did not have a cafeteria).  I walked home for lunch or took a sack lunch.  Other girls were allowed to go here and there, but I had a whole list of places I could not go.  I saw fathers hugging their children and I saw mothers listening with compassion.  I had parents that were not huggers and a mother that did not listen.  I wanted what other kids had.  What other families had.

You see, I wanted the normal other kids had.  I wanted new clothes.  I wanted to go to bed when I was ready.  I wanted to go where I wanted.  I wanted a father that was home regularly.  I wanted a mother that would listen.  I wanted …

David saw Bathsheba and he wanted her…

Lot’s wife wanted to look back at what she was leaving…

Ananias and Sapphira wanted to keep money for themselves…

- - - - - - - - - - - 

This started out to be a blog about being normal, but somewhere it took a bit of a turn.  I realized my life was normal for me.  It was just not the normal I wanted.  I realized I wanted what my friends had.  I think they call that coveting.

Thou shalt not covet they neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet they neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is they neighbour’s.             Exodus 20:17

I was blessed in my not normal home.  I had a father that provided for his family.  I had a mother that managed a home and took care of us.  I had clothes, a bed, and food.  I had restrictions that made sense to my parents.  The problem is, instead of seeing my blessings, I saw the blessings other people had.  And I wanted them.

RANDOM “AHS”

What is an “AH”?  The dictionary says it is a less common spelling of “aah” and, since I am a lousy speller, I will stick with “ah.” 

Ah:  intransitive verb – to exclaim in amazement, joy, or surprise

I like that definition.  One important thing is that “ah” moments cannot be planned.  We had one such moment a few nights ago.  We were sitting on the deck playing a card game when I looked up and saw this. 

A cross!  Right there in the sky!!  Now you can rationalize that two jet trails formed this.  You would be right.  BUT, for me, it was a very big AH moment!  Of course, when I posted this on Facebook, one grandson said it was a sign of intervention and grandpa was to win the card game.  It was a sign, but not for a card game.  I beat him.

Ah number two only lasted a couple of seconds.  We were coming out of a restaurant and everyone coming in the door had eyes straight forward…. except for one little tyke.  That child was waving!  A smile and a wave for everyone.  Children give more ah moments than adults.  Adults have forgotten how to look at strangers and acknowledge them.  Not children.  They like to wave and they bring joy with their smile.

Ah number three was seeing the surprise on the faces of the congregation last Sunday.  I am not sure if they had a look of surprise or that “deer in the headlights” look.  I gave the message and the last part was congregation participation.  They were not expecting that.  BUT they took a deep breath and first one and then another answered my question.  Thank you to the congregation of Urbana Yoke Parish for being willing to get out of your comfort zone. 

Ah moments are fleeting and we have to be ready or we will miss them. 

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.  And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven:  “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  Luke 3:21-23

Now that would have been something to see.  A really, really big ah moment.  What if you had your back turned and were drying off because you had just been baptized?  What if you had left to get supper ready?  A fleeting ah moment and you missed seeing Jesus baptized.

(The disciples wanted to send the crowds away to get food.)  Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat.”  Matthew 14:16

Now that would have been something to see.  A really, really big ah moment.  What if you had left early because the kids were getting restless, you were tired of sitting, you were impatient, and you were hungry?  A fleeting ah moment and you missed being fed.

<  <  <  <  <  <   >  >  >  >  >  >

Many parables tell us we have to be ready.  Ah moments are fleeting and we have to be ready or we will miss them.  We do not know when the BIG AH is going to happen. 

(Jesus speaking to his disciples.)  “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also maybe where I am.”

This ah moment will be at a surprising time and will be amazing and joyous.  This is one ah moment you do not want to miss.  Be ready.

 

BROKEN

What will break next?  I think if one more thing breaks, I will scream!  You are not going to get the whole list of the things that have broken in the last year and a half….  only part of the list. 

A few months back, I took something out of the oven and it was cold.  Yes, I had turned the oven on.  It even said it was at 350 degrees.  I called and they came to check the oven that was residing in a 23 year old gas range.  The diagnosis was quickly made.  As suspected, the oven was not working.  Duh!  As expected, it was going to cost over half the price of a new range to do a repair.  A new range was ordered and would be delivered in approximately three months.  THREE MONTHS!  Thankfully the burners worked.  The range was delivered and I wrote a check.

On a Monday morning, before I had my first cup of coffee, Bill informed me, “The fridge is not working.  Everything is warm and thawed.”  I poured my coffee and took a very large gulp of caffeine.  Everything was thrown out and the repairmen (who know exactly how long it takes to get to our home) arrived.  “The refrigerator that you bought 23 years ago has a blown compressor.  We brought a loaner just in case.”  Out with the old, in with the borrowed, and an order was placed.  You guessed it —- to be delivered in about three months.  I will be writing a check, hopefully, in October.

“Bill are you listening?”  He replied yes but I wasn’t so sure.  I know he has problems hearing, but is it getting worse?  Could it be the hearing aids are no longer working?  Off to find out.  Of course!  Besides, there are new and improved versions….  he picks up his new hearing aids Monday and will hear, “Cash, Check, or Charge?”

Hang in there.  I am almost done.  We were eating lunch and a very old filling was no longer attached to Bill’s tooth.  The dentist will be able to make the proverbial “boat payment.”

I swear, if one more thing breaks, I am going to scream.

“My child you are broken.”

Au contraire.  I hate to disagree with God, but I am not broken..  I am REPAIRED. 

“Mary.  Mary.  I love your sense of humor.”

I am not trying to be funny.  I was broken!  Now I am repaired. 

“Repaired.  I like the sound of that.  My repaired Mary.”

You know the part I like?

“What part do you like?”

That you called me “my Mary.”

————————————-

I want you to turn off the TV, put your phone on silent, read the rest of this sentence, and then close your eyes and listen.  Did you hear God call you by name?

Never forget.  God knows your name.  You are His.  And He loves to repair broken souls.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

MOSES HEARS VOICES

Just in from Midian:  An Angel of the LORD appeared to Moses.  Moses, the man who killed an Egyptian and fled, seems to have seen the Angel of the LORD in a flame of fire that did not consume the bush.  If that doesn’t make you wonder exactly what funny mushroom Moses had eaten for breakfast, this will.  Hold onto your tunic.  Moses, a killer, seems to have heard GOD.  Yes, GOD!

The LORD, according to Moses, asked him to deliver the LORD’s people out of the hands of the Egyptians.  Conveniently, Moses was the only person there and his story cannot be confirmed.  That is unless you can find a sheep that can talk.

The Pharaoh could not be reached for comment.

Remember, you heard it here first.  The Egyptian Observer

JONAH MISSING — LAST SEEN GETTING ON A BOAT TO TARSHISH

Just in from Joppa:  Jonah missing after fleeing to Tarshish after the LORD instructed him to go to Nineveh.  We do not know what the LORD wanted Jonah to do, nor do we know why Jonah ran away.  Please notify us if you see this prophet.

Update:  The crew, of the boat Jonah bought passage on, reported that there was a great storm and Jonah said it was his fault for running from the LORD.  They threw him in the sea and the sea became calm.  I guess this proves you should not mess with sailors.

Update:  Jonah is walking the streets of Nineveh.  It seems he is telling them to straighten up or be overthrown.  It also seems the local fabric store is sold out of sackcloth.

Remember, you heard it here first.  The Nineveh Post

DAMASCUS ROAD CLOSED AFTER STRANGE ENCOUNTER

Just in from Damascus:  The men traveling with Saul, well known persecutor of those that profess to believe in Jesus, reported that Saul was blinded by a bright light and they also heard a voice.  They said they could not see a person, but the voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  The men led Saul to the house of Judas.  I must add a disclaimer:  I did not interview Saul and the men, making this report, seem to have spent a bit of time in the local pub.

Update: It seems that Saul can now see and has been seen with the disciples.  Saul is also preaching in the synagogues about Christ being the Son of God.  To escape the Jews that want to kill him, Saul went to Jerusalem.  I am told he is now using his other name: Paul.

Remember, you heard it here first.  The Synagogue Weekly

---------------------------------

Do you read the paper?  Do you watch the news?  Do you believe what you read and hear?  Sadly, the news is no longer the news.  It is written to lead the reader in a certain direction. 

The word killer was used twice to describe Moses and the reference to finding a talking sheep was used to discredit him.  This was certainly written to influence your impression of Moses.

Jonah ran away.  He was weak.  Jonah put everyone on the boat in danger.  He was self-centered.  Jonah walked the streets of Nineveh and sackcloth flew off the shelves.  BUT there is no mention of the people turning away from their ways and no mention of Jonah sulking.  This left out the true meaning of Jonah’s actions and made him look like a crazy, religious freak.

Saul had a conversion.  The Light blinded him and he heard a voice.  Saul went from persecuting believers to preaching about Christ, the Son of God?  Now who does that?  Besides, those reporting the story could be a bit tipsy, a perfect way to make the reader doubt if the story is true.  This would diminish the impact of Saul’s conversion.

You can have fun with the scriptures and the stories can be told in many ways.  (My talking with God on my blog or a children’s Christmas play come to mind.)  There are millions of books, blogs, newspaper articles, TV shows, magazines, learned scholars, and google which want to tell you what the Bible says.  Many of these are written or preached to influence the reader/hearer in a certain direction.  What point am I making?  Read the Word for yourself.  When reading or listening what others say, make sure they are Biblical. 

Now, go read about Moses, Jonah, and Saul/Paul and discover the truth.