Raining (on) Cats and Dogs

Bad weather was the item of business here in West Tennessee yesterday afternoon/evening. Tornado watches and warnings were issued (several were sighted .. some touched down) and our rain gauge showed three and a half inches of precipitation fell (that's a lot of rain in such a short period of time).

Of course, Will and Megan and the "kitty krew" got a late start (shocking, isn't it?) on their journey back to North Carolina.

The original plan was to be on the road in the morning (perhaps by 10:30). That quickly changed to around lunch time.

When "Plan B" fell through, it was to be just after lunch.

They left Humboldt at 3:45 PM .. with strong storms on their tail (the 'strong storms' took over where I left off .. I had been on their tail all morning to hurry up and get on the road!).

Fortunately, they made it to Chattanooga before the weather started getting rough (♪♫ the tiny ship was tossed ♪♫ if not for the courage of the fearless crew ♪♫ the Minnow would be lost .. the Minnow would be lost ♪♫).

Unfortunately, they have a very long second day of driving and it appears they will be traveling in the rain all the way home.

I'm a worrier (it's genetic .. passed down from my mother), so I will be a basket case until my "kiddos" arrive safely at their apartment tonight.

There will be lots of prayers going up today.

I would try to call, but I know they are probably still in bed.

"Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." - Leviticus 26:4

Here We (They) Go Again

Well, the week (make that week and a couple of days .. but who's counting) has flown by and Megan, Will, Dewey and Jack (actually Jack has been with his other 'grandparents' in Martin this time around) will be traveling back to North Carolina today.

Since I was "working" (I'm there more than just Sundays and Wednesdays .. fairly often) during their stay, I didn't feel like I was able to spend much quality time with them.

When I got up to go to work, everyone .. with the exception of the cat .. was still in bed. Sometimes they were still there .. with the exception of the cat .. when I came home for lunch. This is what happens when you stay up all night reading or watching television (I'm not bitter .. just jealous).

Now, they are leaving and it will probably be Christmas before we get to see them again.

This makes me sad.

Now that my children are grown, I sort of like them (this wasn't always the case .. especially during those tumultuous teenage years).

Actually, I've always "sort of" liked them.

Drew and Megan are great "kids" (he's 25 .. she's 22 .. at what point will I look at them as adults? .. never) and they have always been the apples of my eye (much like the Apples on my desk).

When Will came along, he proved himself (after a four hour interrogation under hot lights, a battery of tests and, of course .. feats of strength) to be "Meg worthy" and was welcomed with open arms (real men hug).

Even though Dewey and Jack are cats (shhh .. they think they are human) and I'm really a "dog person," I've grown to love them, as well.

By this evening, the house will be empty (Cheryl is still here, but she doesn't really talk that much) again.

However, many wonderful memories .. and tons of cat hair .. will remain.

"For every creature of God is good." - I Timothy 4:4a

Kev's Klip of the Week

"Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee." - I Kings 19:7b

Christmas in July at the Hamiltons

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year (I need to write that down .. it would sure make a great song) for several reasons. Like ..

Singing Christmas Carols (The Bathroom Door Said Gentlemen and Walking Round in Women's Underwear are two of my favorites) and eating Holiday Goodies (with the exception of the "yule log" .. as a general rule I never place anything in my mouth that has the word 'log' in it).

However, one of the biggest attractions of this "special season" is Family Gatherings.

Since we are so spread out (I'm referring to location .. not size .. however, that is another Christmas 'bonus'), this is one of the few times everyone gets to come "home" during the year.

Last night was like Christmas because our family was together for a meal.

Drew was in from Chattanooga (he goes back this morning) and Megan and Will are here (until Thursday) from North Carolina.

This made our immediate family complete.

However, we didn't stop there.

My parents came. Cheryl's parents came (with her nephew, Thomas, from Texas) . My sister and her family were in attendance. Even my cousin Jackie (along with her cat, Harry .. or is it Hairy?) from Michigan joined us.

In all, there were seventeen (not counting the cats) at our place for food, fun and fellowship (sounds like a Baptist function, doesn't it?).

The presents were the only things missing (actually, having everyone here was a 'gift' in itself).

Yes, Christmas came early this year.

Thank you, Lord for your abundant blessings and .. Happy (early) Birthday, Jesus!

"Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." - John 18:37

Another Home Run

Well, the Golden Sounds and the SonShiners were a big "hit" .. once again (I can't wait to get old .. everyone thinks you're so cute) with their final performance (that sounds like they all passed as soon as it was over .. no, everyone is fine) of Homeward Bound last night.

My sick actor (see Saturday's post) came through like a real trooper and was able to finish the presentation. However, he should have been on the "disabled list" since he was still running a low grade fever at curtain time. I'm reasonably certain he will be on the "DL" today after ignoring his wife's pleas to stay at home last night. I understand she was a little "miffed" (okay, let's just tell it like it is .. he's a dead man) and my guess is this will put Randy out of commission for the remainder of the season.

Last night's attendance was excellent with many "visitors," as well as, "home" folk who came out to show their support.

Finally, the social team and Sanctuary Choir did a wonderful job with the "concessions" that followed.

We had hotdogs, pizza, nachos and lots of "goodies." The menu had everything you would find at the ballpark .. except beer (we are Baptists, you know, and a good Baptist never drinks beer .. at church).

The Homeward Bound project (not to be confused with the Blair Witch Project .. although I did see real fear and heard very heavy breathing as the group was going up and down the stairs in the choir loft) was a huge success and many have already expressed interest in doing something like it again.

I'll think about that .. during our seven week break.

You people wear me out!

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary." - Isaiah 40:30

I've Got Plenty of Nothing .. to Say

Sundays are for resting (yeah, right) .. at least from blogging. See you tomorrow.

"And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning." - Exodus 12:10a

SonShiners On My Shoulder .. Make Me Stumble

This Sunday night our SonShiners (FBC Humboldt's choir for seasoned singers .. a more polite way of saying 'old people') will "team up" with the Golden Sounds (I hope silence is not golden .. we need the voices) from First Baptist Church, Bolivar for the final presentation of our joint musical, Homeward Bound.

Last week's program in Bolivar went extremely well (no one fell in the choir loft .. that's a successful endeavor in my book when dealing with senior adults .. plus they sounded great) and I expect the same for this Sunday night.

We do have at least one small issue as of this writing.

One of the lead characters in the drama is at home with a bacterial infection and high fever.

No problem. If he isn't able to be there ... okay, problem. However, I'm working on it. I'm working on it.

Whatever happens .. happens.

In Hollywood it's not uncommon for the director to also be an actor (Clint Eastwood, Sydney Pollack, etc.) in their own production.

Hmmm. I just wonder .....

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."

- Isaiah 1:5b

Does Yer Deug Bite?

Richard Henry Sellers: September 8, 1925 - July 24, 1980

I remember where I was in 1980 when I received word of Peter Seller's death. I had taken a group of youth to music week at Camp Carson (now called CarsonSprings Baptist Conference Center) in Newport, Tennessee and we were returning to our cabins for the night. There were several music ministers in the group and one asked if we had heard the latest. He then proceeded to share that the British comedian had died of a massive heart attack.

He was 54.

It's hard to explain, but I felt like I had lost a member of my own family.

Ever since being "introduced" to Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau in Blake Edward's 1963 film, The Pink Panther, I was a fan of this very funny man.

I saw every sequel .. even the one that didn't have "pink panther" in the title (A Shot in the Dark .. the best of the series, IMHO) and I was greatly influenced by this crazy character, played brilliantly by Sellers.

In fact, I was a college student during the second wave of "panther flicks" (three were made during my four years at Union) and I had a coat and hat that looked much like the ones Clouseau wore. So (anything for a laugh), I would often dress up like the Chief Inspector (I know it sounds a little weird now .. at least I wasn't a fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show which came out around the same time) and do little "scenes" around campus.

A guy from South Fulton (I won't divulge his name .. but his nickname was "Mercy") shared my enthusiasm of "panthermania" and he would play Kato "my little yellow friend," as Clouseau referred to him (talk about being politically incorrect!).

Mercy really "got in to it" and would often jump out and try to attack/scare me at the most inopportune times.

Once, while the guys were watching The Return of the Pink Panther (VHS of course) in the Men's Commons, I came walking through (in Clouseau costume .. of course) and Kato jumped on my back and we began "fighting."

This was planned.

On another occasion, I pulled my car around to the circle by the ladies' dorms and when I opened the door for my date, Kato leaped from the back seat of my car.

This was not planned.

To this day, I still check the back seat before getting in the car.

Housekeeper: You've ruined that piano!

Clouseau: What is the price of one piano, compared to the terrible crime that has been committed here?

Housekeeper: But that's a priceless Steinway!

Clouseau: Nyot Anymeur.

Has it really been 29 years?

You never know when it will be your time to leave this world. Are you ready?

"Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep." - Luke 6:25b

Dewey, Jack and RevKev .. Three Cool Cats

My daughter, son-in-law and "grandkitties" arrived in Humboldt Tuesday night around 8:30 and they will be spending a few days .. too few, if you ask me (I may have a different opinion after spending some quality time with the felines) .. in West Tennessee before returning to North Carolina.

I have always been a "dog person" and make no bones about it.

Much like comparing the subtle differences between the sexes (it is difficult to read the sarcasm in this statement .. trust me .. it was there): Dogs are from Mars. Cats are from .. wherever they choose.

Dogs are like men. All they really need to be content is to be fed, "petted" every so often, and .. no wait .. that about covers it.

Cats are like women. They are never content (if my wife reads this I won't be fed OR petted for some time).

Actually, other than liking to lounge on the table where I use to eat (Cheryl just read this) and making a snack of all our house plants, Dewey and Jack are pretty well behaved. They are prone to staying up all night (much like their mom, my daughter, Megan), but I find running a loud oscillating fan, wearing earplugs, and taking two benadryl makes me oblivious to their antics .. and the alarm clock.

Now, if I could only figure out why they can seem so content just laying there on the floor then suddenly jump up and have to run into the next room .. to lay on the floor.

Cats are curious creatures.

"Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things." - Acts 11:16a

Kev's Klip of the Week

"And Abram passed ... " - Genesis 12:6a

Would You Like to Play a Game?

In the 1983 movie, Wargames, David Lightman, a computer whizz (excuse me for a minute .. I suddenly need to go to the bathroom) kid, played by Matthew Broderick, accidentally connects into a top-secret military "super computer" (oops .. sorry) which has control over the entire nuclear weaponry of the United States.

The computer challenges him to a game of "Global Thermonuclear War" (should've gone with Pac-Man) between America and Russia and he innocently starts the countdown to World War III (much like I did when I cut Megan's bangs .. without Cheryl's knowledge .. when she was little .. those were dark days).

My conclusion?

All games are evil .. even "Spin the Bottle" (I always had to kiss the girl who held an uncanny resemblance to Ernest Borgnine).

Last night Russ and Susan (or Suzy .. no wait it's Sue ..as she despises being called) invited us over for supper (okay, Russ had no 'say so' in the matter .. guys just do as we are told .. make that smart guys just do as we are told).

We had a lovely .. and healthy .. meal and I was having a great time.

Then it happened.

Susan informed everyone (since I had just eaten her food, I was trapped) we would be playing some type of game after dessert. However, we could choose from a list she had compiled.

That list ranged from the "mildly annoying" to the "too horrible to speak."

We settled on a card game called Hand (mine was clinched into a fist) over Foot (oh, how I desperately wanted to kick someone .. anyone).

Russ and Cheryl were partners and Susan and I were partners (this was so we could end the evening without hating our own spouses).

Actually, as games go .. it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

Nothing ended up broken (including my nose .. or marriage) and the police never had to be dispatched.

All in all .. not a bad night.

Will I ever play Hand over Foot again?

Only if "Global Thermonuclear War" is not an option.

"Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us." - Exodus 1:10

Play Ball!

Last night the Golden Sounds from First Baptist Church, Bolivar and the SonShiners from First Baptist Church, Humboldt "hit a home run" when they presented the musical, Homeward Bound in Bolivar (no, not at the mental health institution .. although there are a couple of my guys who could easily qualify for admittance).

It certainly made for a long (but good) day for our senior adult choir who boarded the church bus (thanks John Harris for driving) at 3:30 PM and arrived back in Humboldt a little after nine o'clock (well past bedtime for a few of our singers) last night.

The musical takes place at a major league game .. continuing our baseball theme for the month (remember, the children did Sermon on the Mound last week) .. where two men share their faith with an unsaved friend.

There were eight in the drama cast .. nine if you count the "cameo" by the peanut vendor .. and a choir of seventy (that's the number of singers .. not the average median age) in the production. What a joy!

Usually, after a special program I give the Sanctuary Choir time off for good behavior. That's not the case with the SonShiners (it just takes one person to spoil it for the others and we had a couple of 'wise guys' on the bus .. stink bombs? really? I can't take some of you anywhere).

We will present Homeward Bound at FBC Humboldt next Sunday night at six o'clock and now is not the time to let this team fall apart. Today's 1:30 PM rehearsal will go on as planned.

That's right.

"Coach" is a slave-driver.

"But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing."

- II Thessalonians 3:13

Extra! Extra! Read All About It .. Tomorrow

"A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak." - Ecclesiastes 3:7

Kev's (3rd) Klip of the Week

Bubba: One of the truly great thinkers of this day .. Saturday.

"And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel."

- Luke 1:19a

Kev's (2nd) Klip of the Week

Okay, I admit it. I'm lazy.

This is no surprise to Cheryl, my extended family and friends, all former teachers and any member from the churches I have served. However, since they say confession is good for the soul (OJ .. we're still waiting), I'm admitting it here on the world wide web.

My "vacation" is quickly coming to a close and I didn't want to spend the last couple of days trying to think of something clever/inspirational/stupid to say on my blog.

So, today and tomorrow will include some short words of wisdom from Bubba.

Today's thought .. marriage and family.

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." - Genesis 1:28a

Laughter in the Rain

We have certainly needed "rain around these parts" (I'm practicing speaking like an old-timer since I'm fast approaching my golden years .. dang it!) and it appears we are going to get our fair share today.

It started last night right after choir rehearsal (thank you Lord for holding off until afterward .. if it had started at 6:15 PM some might have been tempted to stay at home from our six thirty rehearsal) and it rained off and on all night.

Evidently there was quite a lightning "show" going on (there may be a rerun today .. if you missed it), as well.

It's funny but (♫ I'm in the mood for love, simply because you're near me. Funny butt, when you're near me, I'm in the mood for love ♫) we never seem to be satisfied with the weather.

When it's been dry for a long time, we pray for rain. However, if that rain comes at an inopportune time .. we sure are "fickle folk" (I seem to be getting the hang of speaking old-timer .. I'm thinking about taking it as a second language).

Prior to July 4th it was pretty parched here in West Tennessee. We wanted rain. We needed rain. However, when it started threatening to do so .. just around dark (firework shooting time) .. everyone on Facebook (my source for news and weather) was upset because they couldn't shoot firecrackers or roman candles.

Of course, I no longer have children at home to disappoint (I did my fair share of that while they were here, though). So, I didn't have to explain to little Johnny that even though we bought all these fireworks and have talked about nothing but (nothing butt .. my nickname for most of high school) for the last week .. it ain't gonna happen.

Oh well.

Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.

Except for one.

"Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season." - Jeremiah 5:24a

Kev's Klip of the Week

"For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped .." - Luke 1:44a

Home(r) Alone

If you are an early riser and a RevKev regular (the same is true of medium, large or extra large), chances are you will need to check in a little later for the next several days because ..

I'm on vacation this week!!

Granted .. I'm staying in town, I worked yesterday, I'm doing Wednesday night rehearsal and a drama practice afterward, I have an article and an order of worship to complete, and I need to put the finishing touches on a musical our SonShiners are presenting the next two Sunday nights. Still ..

I'm on vacation this week!!

Sitting around the house in my underwear all day is very high on my list of priorities (Jehovah's Witnesses .. be warned) for the week. However, I also plan to do a little painting (shelves .. not a portrait or wall mural) and some general "straightening up" (Megan and Will are coming in next week and she is such a neat freak, you know).

Rest and relaxation are the main objectives (and just enough work around the house to make Cheryl think I care).

Of course, since I am in town I will have my cell phone with me at all times.

If there is an emergency don't hesitate to call .. 911.

"And he saw that rest was good." - Genesis 49:15a

Ten Year .. Tenure?

July 19th marks my tenth anniversary at First Baptist Church, Humboldt and yesterday morning they "pulled one over on me" during the morning worship hour (make that morning worship hour .. and a quarter).

In our regular pre-service "routine" the choir lines up in the hallway just outside the sanctuary awaiting my signal (a point of the finger coupled with 'go, go' .. it's sort of like sending sky divers out of a plane) to enter the choir loft.

As the choir is filling the loft (make that half-filling .. it is summer) I go through a separate set of doors (much like the entrance of a WCW wrestler) and meet them "on the other side" (the sanctuary .. not heaven .. most Sundays, not even close).

Yesterday, the choir was seated as the organist finished the prelude (Dinah does play something before the Call to Worship .. you just can't tell with all the talking and such) and then I had them stand to sing. I usually glance over to the instrumentalists to see if they are ready .. no point of the finger and 'go, go' this time .. though that might be more effective .. and give the downbeat.

When I did this yesterday .. nothing happened (it wasn't the first time in ten years).

No problem.

I did it again and .. again .. nothing.

By now I am just a little embarrassed (it was a fairly substantial downbeat .. like you'd use for Beethoven's Fifth .. drank like a fish, I'm told) and slightly miffed (if I want to be ignored I'll just say something to Cheryl when she first crawls out of bed).

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice ..

At this point I realized something was amiss (Dinah and Katie 'a missed' their cues) so I turned around to see my pastor (and former friend) walking to the platform to put me out of my misery.

What followed was a nine minute DVD of possibly every unflattering photo ever taken of me (fortunately, there was no nudity) over my thirty four years of ministry.

The congregation loved seeing me looking stupid (this rarely happens .. I'm usually so sophisticated) and I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some type of blackmail (5'11".. 180 lbs) attempt if these photos ever got into the wrong hands (obviously that has already happened).

They came back and made nice, however, with flowers for Cheryl, a glass plaque (have you ever noticed how much plaque looks like plague? .. Is it possible the ancient Egyptians really just got an engraved list on a flat ornamental plate? .. flies, boils, locusts, etc. etc. etc.) and a monetary gift (you don't have to tithe on those you know) that will really come in handy in these uncertain economic times.

Thank you, FBC for putting up with me for a decade.

You are gluttons for punishment.

"Put me in remembrance." - Isaiah 43:26a