Thank You for Being a Friend

Taking Sundays off from blogging has helped with that "pressured to produce" feeling that sometimes overwhelms me. However, skipping a day also seems to interrupt the "thought process" (there is one .. not MUCH of one, granted .. but I do at least day dream a little before the fodder flows (I think that's the name of a 'soap' my grandparents watched on CBS when I was a kid).

Going to the wedding reception in Memphis (see Saturday's post) was like a Whitten (a former church .. that is .. a former church of mine .. not a church that used to be a church that's no longer a church .. this is starting to get a little confusing .. and not particularly humorous) reunion. I saw friends I haven't seen for almost ten years (I suppose if they were real friends they could have at least picked up the phone ..) and the fact that I recognized them was no small miracle.

Cheryl and I have been on one cruise together (we stopped for medical reasons .. it makes her sick when I'm along) and all but one of the couples who traveled with us were/was (Katie .. Erin .. grammatically, which is correct?) there.

It was great catching up and talking about the "good old days."

This morning I received a note from a new "old friend" on Facebook (it's been well over 30 years since we were in school together). She commented, "you have the most friends I have ever seen on Facebook."

There are those (especially the FB junkies .. I don't consider myself one .. I only check it a dozen or so times a day) who have far more contacts than I do. But, I did check my profile (I have a well defined nose and a chiseled chin) and I have 562 people who claim to know me .. and actually admit it.

The Bible says in Proverbs, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly." It goes on to say, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

I'm not so sure the first part of that verse is true of "moi." However, I know that last part is "dead on."

Jesus! What a friend for sinners .. and tenors.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Today's temperatures are supposed to reach 76° degrees here in West Tennessee. That's a far cry from last Saturday when it started out cold and rainy and ended up with several inches of snow (eleven in Jackson, I believe) on the ground to "wreak havoc" (that sounds like the name of one of those international villains in a Bond movie) on Sunday morning.

I'm glad the weather is nice (not because I love working out in the yard .. or anywhere else, for that matter .. you've got to be kidding) because number one son (birth order is very important .. how would you like to be referred to as number two? .. I didn't think so) is driving in from Chattanooga. The road conditions should be much better than they were a week ago.

One of Drew's buddies from Memphis is getting married today and we have been invited to attend the reception (we didn't make the cut for the actual ceremony .. that's fine with me .. I'm strictly in it for the cake).

I don't like being out late on Saturday night (Sunday's a 'work day' .. I mean a 'day of rest' .. if only) and this one is a "double whammy" with Daylight Saving Time beginning at 2 AM (the toughest part is setting my alarm for two o'clock, getting up to change the time and then INSTANTLY losing an hour of sleep .. wait a minute .. if I spring forward when I first go to bed, I won't have to get up at 2 .. what a brilliant idea!! .. I wonder if I could patent it??).

However, this is a "one time only" event (statistically they have a 50/50 chance .. but I won't be sharing that little bit of info with the new bride and groom when I go through the receiving line) and Daniel and his family mean a lot to us.

So .. we're going to Memphis tonight and I will see all you FBC Humboldt folk (if you don't oversleep .. set those clocks!!) in church.

I'll be the guy on the platform "nodding off" during Greg's sermon.

If I play my cards right .. not that I condone the playing of cards on Sunday .. I can make it look like I'm praying.

Guys' Night Out

Look out, West Tennessee. Tonight my dad, brother-in-law and I will be roaming the streets of downtown Jackson.

That's right. 'Budge,' 'Slick' and 'Kev' (nick names sound so much tougher) are out for a night on the town looking for some laughs and ready for anything .. as long as we're home in time for SportsCenter.

My dad has always had a love for Dixieland Jazz and he instilled that love to me (okay, he played it around the house over and over again .. sort of a "brainwashing technique" .. and I was "conditioned" to love it).

Tonight, the Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz group will be performing at the Ned R. McWherter West TN Cultural Arts Center and you can rest assured any time there is something cultural going on within a 100 miles, you will find three guys .. from Bemis .. named 'Budge,' 'Slick' and 'Kev.'

Next week we are going to the Museum of Modern Bart (that's not a typo .. the building has 'Simpsons' related artifacts).

Society guys. That's just who we are.

This Is An Emergency!

Scripture refers to the Body of Christ (the Church) as having many members. Each has their own specific role or task to help the body function properly.

A family works the very same way. Every member does their part to contribute to the general "health" and "well-being" of their particular family unit.

I've often said that Cheryl has been the real "heartbeat of the Hamiltons" over the years. If it weren't for her, our children would be hungry & naked and never receive a birthday or Christmas present.

She does the finances, cooks the meals (make that cooked the meals .. the oven has been rather cold since the kids moved out), etc, etc, etc.

I wash towels .. and only towels (I'm not allowed to do 'whites' or 'permanent press' after a few unfortunate laundering incidents).

For the most part, I'm her trophy husband .. strictly eye candy. I accept this role in our relationship and try my best to "look good" for my woman.

Occasionally, Cheryl gives me a task or assignment (make a bank deposit, pick up a book of stamps, buy milk ..) and she always leaves the instructions in a place where I can't miss them .. beside the coffee pot.

This morning when I went to make coffee, there was a card laying there that said URGENT NOTICE.

Alarmed, I quickly read it and learned I needed to call immediately to ensure my information was accurate and up-to-date for .. the Union University Alumni directory.

We are in a recession, the Dow has been at an all time low, and there is war, famine & flood throughout the world.

I can't worry about any of those things.

First, I have to call a toll free 1-800 number and make sure they have me listed as a 1979 graduate with a BM (that's Bachelor of Music, gutter mind) who currently resides in Humboldt, TN.

It's URGENT!

Kev's Klip of the Week

Here is a blast from the past. Enjoy!

What Are the Arrangements?

Yesterday morning, I made a quick trip to Memphis (I was back in Humboldt on time .. well, almost on time .. for SonShiners choir at 1:30 PM).

Today, I am going the opposite direction down Interstate 40 toward Nashville (Brentwood) to attend an Arrangements Committee meeting (no, we are not responsible for all the flowers .. that's what I thought when asked to serve) for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Since our meetings are few (this is only the second one for the year) and far between (Tennessee is a loooong state, you know), I almost let this one slip up on me (I just happened to notice it on the calendar last night .. after eleven .. happy, happy, joy, joy).

So .. today's post is short (shocking, I know .. this is from a guy who can't say 'hello' in less than ten minutes), sweet (ah, look at the little puppy .. isn't he a cutie wootie ..), and not particularly amusing (no surprise here .. that's an every day occurrence).

Tune in tomorrow for my "clip of the week" (remember, I'm posting short videos on Wednesdays). I don't want to give too much away but ..

You are going to love it .. okay, I have no idea what it's going to be at this point .. I'll make that decision at 5 AM in the morning.

I just "roll that way," you know.

Riding On the Snowball Express

Well, the weatherman was right on the money this time when he predicted "snow in them thar hills" (and everywhere else), here in West Tennessee.

Saturday afternoon around 5 o'clock the "wet stuff" turned to "white stuff" and it continued to fall, well into the early morning hours.

Almost every church in the area called off services .. except for us .. and West Jackson (I understand they provided complementary snowmobile shuttles for their guests) . We went right on as planned at 10:30 AM and, except for no choir and a streamlined congregation, things were pretty much like any other Sunday.

There was an issue with ice on the parking lot, especially when I arrived around 7:15. As soon as I got out of my car, I did a "triple salchow" and a "lutz" (no, I wasn't wearing skates .. but I did get three 7s and an 8 from the Lynchs next door, who happened to be looking out their kitchen window at just the right time).

As far as I know, there were no other "figure skaters" or "Chinese acrobats" to grace FBC Humboldt yesterday morning. Everyone was very careful walking to the church entrance (Katie sort of looked like that "elderly man" character played by Tim Conway on the old Carol Burnett Show) and by the time our service was over, the temperature had risen enough to help warm things up and "break the ice."

It's amazing how things are changed after being exposed to the sun.

It's even more amazing how things are changed after being exposed to the Son.

Hank Williams couldn't find a way to "free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart."

Christ can. Check out His story (the book of John is a great starting place). It's .. heartwarming.