MacBook Pro .. Where Have You Bean?

This is going to be short and sweet. I have to go to Memphis this morning.

Today I am doing the "happy dance" even though I know this is inappropriate behavior for any Baptist and doubly bad if you are in the ministry.

I can't help it.

The "Prodigal Pro" (MacBook Pro .. that is) will be returning home after a week away at an Apple Service Center where they replaced a bad Nvidia graphics card (a known issue with this particular model).

The very same week Cheryl was out of town, I had to also part with my beloved laptop.

Which one did I miss the most?

That's not a fair question.

They are both apples  of my eye.

".. let not the wife depart from her husband."

- I Corinthians 7:10b

It's Summertime

Everyone is talking about the weather, but no one seems to be doing anything about it.

I know that has certainly been the case around these parts (that sounded like something Gabby Hayes or Yosemite Sam might say .. 'dagnabit'). It has been hotter than a snake's hind end in a wagon rut (I must be going through some type of 'cowboy stage' .. there's one leaving in five minutes .. that sounded like a line spouted by Festus on Gunsmoke).

If you are a "summer person," the month of June has been a dream come true (once I dreamed I fell asleep on the platform at church. When I awakened .. I had. I did some quick thinking, said AMEN really loudly and we continued with the service).

With the soaring temperatures, it's like a tropical paradise (without the beautiful ocean, sand and palm trees .. of course) out there.

High humidity? No sweat for all you sun-worshipers.

However, for those of us who are .. sane (okay, that may be up for debate when it comes to me), there is plenty of sweat (if I wanted my underwear to be soaking wet I'd drink three or four glasses of water before bedtime and take a sleeping pill).

Although today's temperature is supposed to reach 96° degrees, the forecast calls for only 49% humidity.

In West Tennessee that's known as a "dry heat."

"They are all hot as an oven." - Hosea 7:7a

Kev's Klip of the Week

"And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl ..." - Ekekiel 39:17a

An Oldie .. but a Goodie

On July 19 and 26 our SonShiners will be combining with the senior adult choir from First Baptist Church from Bolivar, Tennessee to present, "Homeward Bound" (the title should be sufficient in explaining the subject matter .. no, it's not a musical setting of the Disney flick about two dogs and a cat trying to get back to their owners).

Yesterday, we had our first combined rehearsal when their group came to our regular 1:30 Monday practice time.

Next week, we will go to Bolivar (it has been strongly suggested for years that I do so) on Tuesday at 4 o'clock when they normally (as opposed to abnormally, I suppose) rehearse.

Since I haven't had a youth choir for the past few years (like the man whose mother-in-law drove his new Cadillac off a cliff .. I have mixed emotions about this), the SonShiners have sort of filled that void. They have done programs for other groups (just like the youth used to do) and they are performing (I never really liked that word .. but, hey it's a show every time we 'take the stage') a musical (again .. just like the youth used to do).

We had about fifty singers at yesterday's rehearsal (approximately 2500 years of combined choir experience) and they sounded great.

If you are anywhere within a thirty mile radius (if you live further out, just check out a movie) on July 19 (FBC, Bolivar) or July 26 (FBC, Humboldt) at six p.m., it would be well worth the trip to hear these folk sing.

They'll bless you more all over than anyplace else!

Too old to cut the mustard (what the heck does that even mean)?

No way.

"Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" - Genesis 18:12

There's No Place Like Home

Cheryl returned last night (reluctantly, I might add .. she tried to hide in a cleaning closet on board the ship) from her annual seven day "sanity" cruise. This year's adventure included Key West, Belize, Honduras and the Cayman Islands.

While away, she learned to relax and became well read .. five books, I believe.

While away, I learned of ex-lax (isn't 'occasional irregularity' an oxymoron???) and became, well .. red (I'm using sunscreen from now on when mowing without a shirt .. my 'cooked shoulders' could have taken home a prize at Memphis in May).

This September we will celebrate twenty nine years of matrimonial bliss.

What's our secret?

It's a mutual love and respect for one another and a commitment to the "institution" (boy is that an appropriate word) of marriage.

Taking a week off from one another once a year doesn't hurt a bit either.

It helps "clear the head" of any thoughts of murder that might have surfaced over the past twelve months.

Welcome back to the madhouse, Cher.

Did you miss me?

"Behold, I know your thoughts and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me." - Job 21:27

I'm Going Ape .. Finally, a Day of Rest

Per usual there is no post today (it's Sunday) but I'll be back tomorrow. However, I do want to say Happy Father's Day to my dad.

So ...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY .. to my dad!

"My son, hear the instruction of thy father .." 

- Proverbs 1:8a

Now THAT'S Some Kind of Hot

Another 97° day (I'm pretty sure with the humidity the heat index is like 181° or 182°) here in the Mid-South.

It's so hot ...

• The farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs

• The cows are only producing evaporated milk

• The potatoes are already cooked .. underground

• The trees are whistling for the dogs

• The birds are using pot-holders to pull worms out of the ground

• You have to eat jalapeño peppers just to cool off

• You can poach an egg in the birdbath

• You can fry an egg on the hood of your car

• Ice melts in the freezer

• Your seat belt doubles as a branding iron

• The milk you bought at the store turns to cottage cheese before you can get home

• When the temperature drops below 95° you start to feel a little "chilled"

"... and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." - II Peter 3:10b