Gravity Situation

          Here is a recent report about how gravity, which is a non-renewable resource, is gradually diminishing.
         "With the present rate of consumption, the earth's supply of gravity will be exhausted before the 22nd century," say several prominent physicists. "There is a direct link between the vanishing of the ozone layer and the decrease in the earth's gravity supply. 
         We're already seeing the effects of the disappearance of the ozone layer, but we're not likely to feel the effects of vanishing gravity during our lifetimes. However, our children will probably have to deal with the issue."
          It is interesting to think of some of the results science has yet to consider. The obvious impact will be on engineering, like keeping bridges and buildings weighted down. 
        But what about sports? Breaking records for the high jump will become easier. Football kicks will grow longer and a 92-yard field goal will not be unheard of.
          Until scientists discover a cheaper alternative, we need to help.  We can conserve Gravity by just following these simple suggestions:

1)  Walk with a light step. Carry helium balloons if possible.
(2)  Use tape, magnets or glue instead of paperweights.
(3)   Give up skiing and skydiving for more horizontal sports like snorkeling.
(4)   Avoid showers  ...  take baths instead.
(5) Don't hang all your clothes in the closet, keep them in one big pile.
(6) Stop flipping pancakes.

          This is most assuredly not a joke. What could be more serious? After all, gravity is the opposite of comedy. You may be laughing now, but just picture your great-grandchildren wearing safety tethers and tied to concrete posts, unable to play outdoorsfor fear of floating away on a windy day.

          Please be gravity conscious, while we still have some.

(NOTE - I wanted to use this report on April 1, but I forgot to do so.  I think my copy became attached to my helium balloons while I was walking with light steps!) 

(1)   I sing the mighty power of God,

that made the mountains rise,

that spread the flowing seas abroad,

and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained

the sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at God's command,

and all the stars obey.

(2)     I sing the goodness of the Lord,

who filled the earth with food,

Who formed the creatures through the Word,

and then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,

wherever I turn my eye,

If I survey the ground I tread,

or gaze upon the sky.

(3)      There's not a plant or flower below,

but makes Thy glories known,

And clouds arise, and tempests blow,

by order from Thy throne;

While all that borrows life from Thee

is ever in Thy care;

And everywhere that man can be,

Thou, God art present there.

Gardening Tips

        While growing up my parents always had a vegetable garden.  For many years they had to travel to reach their plot. That was difficult but it saved them money when money was tight.  But when they moved to Lititz they had a plot right on their property.  Later when we bought our house they also planted things in the farmland behind out house.  Growing up during the depression they learned the value of growing vegetables and canning them.  And they regularly did that.

          After we moved into our first house we also planted a garden behind our place.  Then at our second place we really didn't have room for one.  But after moving to our present location we had plenty of land behind us and we annually had big gardens – often larger than we could even take care of.

          But over the years our vegetable gardens shrank until all that we planted were tomatos.  But a couple of years ago we even gave up on that because we could buy better ones at local markets.  We did buy corn most years at the Corn Wagon and we would freeze it.  But this year with Dianne's heart surgery even that was too much for us.

         We' ve also tried to maintain our flower gardens but that too is getting more difficult for us to do.

          But while we can't do the physical gardening anymore, there is the garden of our life that we can still care for.  Recently I found the following instructions for properly caring for that garden.

GARDENING FOR GOOD RESULTS

Plant three rows of peas:

  Peace of mind

  Peace of heart

  peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:

  Squash gossip

  Squash indifference

  Squash grumbling

  Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:

  Lettuce be faithful

  Lettuce be kind

  Lettuce be patient

  Lettuce really love one another

Plant three rows of turnips:

  Turnip for meetings

  Turnip for service

  Turnip to help one another

Water freely with patience

  Cultivate with love

  There is much fruit in your garden

  Because you reap what you sow.

To conclude our garden...we must have thyme

  Thyme for each other

  Thyme for family

  Thyme for friends and especially

  Thyme for GOD

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;

And every one who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare

Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light

Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.

Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;

And find, for life's long battle day, all needful weapons there.

O may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,

May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!

O may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,

I'll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

Coming Through (LB)

LOOKING BACK - Repeating and editing a blog that I first published on November 14, 2009.

        I am told that there are loads of "Murphy's Laws". If there are, one of them must go something like this. The probability of a person arriving late for an event, such as a game or concert, is related to how close that person's seat is to the middle of the row. 

         Most likely you've experienced this, hopefully as an end seat holder and not as a middle seat holder. Let me illustrate this fact. At Penn State many rows contain 30 or more seats. The seats are very, very narrow and the rows give you just enough room, at best, for your feet. Your knees usually press into the back of the person in front of you. I guess it must be that way to squeeze in more than 104,000 spectators. 

          Now guess who will almost always show up to be seated, five minutes after the opening kickoff - the ones with the middle seats. They will make everyone stand up and lean back while they try to squeeze through with their blankets and cold weather gear. They also block everyone's view of the game usually during a big or crucial play. 

         Now also guess who will need to get out to go the bathroom late in the first quarter. You're right, the ones with the middle seats. Now that is probably because they were out in the parking lot finishing their beverages when the game began. Now guess who will return early in the second quarter from the bathroom, and then, of course, leave again for the refreshment stand late in the second quarter to avoid the halftime rush. You've got it again - the ones with the middle seats. 

        And, of course, who will come back midway in the third quarter carrying their food which will pass right by your nose if it isn't spilled on you? That's right - the folks with the middle seats. I often wonder why many even come to the game. Obviously not to see the game. Probably they come to help those who have the end seats get their daily exercise. Stand up, inhale, lean back, move ... as they squeeze through ... again and again. 

        Now a final question, guess who leaves with a few minutes left in the game. Wrong! Not the ones in the middle seats, but us, the occupants of end seats! We leave to beat the crowd out of the parking lot ... and maybe also to avoid those in the middle seats who will soon want out once again. It probably isn't one of Murphy's Laws, but it should be. Expect it and accept it and maybe help yourself to some of their food as they squeeze by - now that's an idea ... maybe next year.

Laugh A Little

        One of the real challenges of aging is to remain pleasant and friendly and retain a good sense of humor, even as physical disabilities and loss of freedoms invade your life.  So many senior adults grow bitter and complaining and are discouraging to be around.  I pray daily that this won't happen to me, but at times it is hard to avoid.

          Many months ago a good friend, Nell Ruch, sent me a copy of an article, "Why Your Sense of Humor Fades the Older You Get."  It was published in 2012 but I don't know the name of the author.  I decided to share it for two reasons.  First, we seniors need to understand what happens to us.  Second, you young readers need to understand the challenges of aging and how to try and deal with us.  So here is the article.

          Along with aging come an array of health concerns and research from the University of Glamorgan shows that our sense of humor may decline as we age too. There are many benefits to having a sense of humor and laughing once in a while. Research has shown that laughing can reduce pain, achieve greater happiness and increase your immune system response among other health benefits. All of these benefits will help with all of the struggles that aging can present. If you want to feel younger, trying to maintain your sense of humor may be the best anti-aging remedy.

     Aging Leads to a Poor Temperament?

          The researchers from the University of Glamorgan discovered some pretty bleak findings related to aging and laughter. The carefree lifestyle of babies may be the reason that they laugh on average 300 times per day, but this positive attitude doesn't last for as long as you would expect. Teenagers, on the other hand, are more likely to laugh at someone else's misfortune but only laugh six times per day. People in their twenties laugh even less at four times per day. People in their thirties laugh five times per day which the researchers attribute to having children which may help to restore their sense of humor and make them feel younger. 

          Once an individual hits the age of 50, they laugh only three times per day and it gets worse once you get to 60, laughing only two and a half times per day. The researchers also found that joke telling also decreases as we age with 600 of the 2000 participants not being able to recall telling a joke in the previous year. The study also found that people over the age of 50 were also more likely to complain and spend time worrying. The findings from this study suggest that aging makes us take life a little too seriously. If you want to feel younger, perhaps laughing a few more times throughout the day would help.

     Laugh a Little for Anti-Aging Benefits

          There are many anti-aging and health benefits of laughter including: boosting immunity, decreasing stress hormones, decreasing pain, relaxing muscles and preventing heart disease. Additionally, laughter can provide you with mental health benefits including: improving mood, decreasing stress and anxiety, and increasing happiness. Laughter can also help with your social life by improving teamwork, strengthening relationships, enhancing teamwork and helping to resolve conflict. All of these benefits can help you to feel younger and be healthier.

     How to Feel Younger as you Age

          If you want to keep laughing during the aging process, here are some suggestions to help you along the way ….

1.   See a movie – a comedy of course!

2.   Connect and laugh with friends – life is busy, but maintaining social connections is an important anti-aging tip to help you feel younger. Going to a comedy club or going to see a movie with some friends is a great way to experience the anti-aging benefits of laughter.

3.   Laugh at yourself – instead of getting embarrassed or frustrated, try to skip ahead to the future and see how funny the moment actually is.

4.   Smile, even if you don't want to – studies have shown that you get the same health benefits whether your smile and laugh are genuine or fake. So, even if you don't feel like smiling, just do it.

5.   Pay attention to children – aging can shift our way of thinking, kids know how to enjoy life, laughing along the way. Watching them may be a gentle reminder to enjoy life.

          Aging can come with unwanted worries and stress, but laughter may be the best anti-aging medicine. Tell a joke to a friend, share a laugh with a loved one and try to maintain your sense of humor with life. It will help you to feel younger and it will provide you with many health benefits that will help you live a longer, happier life.

I’m so happy

And here’s the reason why

Jesus took my burdens all away;

Now I’m singing

As the days go by

Jesus took my burdens all away.

Once my heart was heavy with a load of sin.

Jesus took my burden gave me (wonderful) peace within,

Now I’m singing

As the days go by

Jesus took my burden all away.

Good Old Days??

        The older one becomes, the easier it becomes to yearn for "the good old days".  But the old days weren't always as glamorous as we seem to remember.  Of course our better health then makes them seem better because we could do more.  And we had special experiences with friends and relatives who are no longer with us.

           While life was probably simpler years ago, we experienced World War 2 and the Korean War.  We did not have the medical advances we now have and we lived with diseases such as polio.  Many had to work and drop out of school.  Travel and communications were often limited.  Sometimes we forget these things about "the good old days".

          However, in those days we never really thought about growing old and how that would one day limit us.  Then suddenly these changes happened and almost overnight things we took for granted were done.  And we began to wonder how this happened to us so fast.

          Now there are things that I do miss.  For example I miss being able to walk very far, even with help such as a cane.  I used to walk every day, not only for my health, but because there was so much to see.  I now realize that I will never be able to do that again, but I have good memories.

          Music was always an important part of my life.  I enjoyed leading worship, hymn sings and Senior Saints at Pinebrook. I enjoyed singing in groups like the Gospel Four. Those opportunities to minister were highlights of my life.  But my voice is gone, my breathing is limited and those opportunities are now history.  But the Lord has given me good sources to listen to good music all day.  And He has given me the opportunity to minister to folks all over the world through my Hymn Blog.  Over 320,000 visits have been made to my blog and literally they have come from all over the world.  Recent visits have been made from folks in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Philippines, India, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, and Jamaica, just to name a few.  Even though my voice is gone, the Lord has provided a much greater field of ministry.

       I miss my mother's great macaroni salad.  It was so special but its secret died upon her death.  A number of family members have tried to recreate it, but with little real success.  And of course, I still miss my parents.  So often I wish that I could  visit them, take them out to eat once again or even just call them.  But I know the time is coming quickly when I will be with them once again, this time for ever.

         I miss the opportunities to travel.  Over the years during my decades as district math coordinator, I was able to travel to about 30 major cities to participate and speak at national math conventions.  We also spent a summer in Florida as I attended FSU and of course we had a few family trips to Disney.  And I thought that after I retired, like many of our friends, there would be many more chances to travel.  But for a variety of reasons that hasn't happened and probably won't and at times that has been disappointing.   However, we have had many great experiences that have provided us with many special  memories.  

         I also miss my longtime family doctor, Dr. Fuchs, who retired two years ago.  He was so intelligent, so kind and so helpful.  He would do anything to help us, at any time.  Doctors and family practices like that apparently no longer exist.  Now I see eight specialists.  They are good but they only handle their specialty and they are hard to schedule.

         I miss attending Penn State football games.  For at least two decades we were able to attend almost every home game.  But now it is almost impossible physically to go and it has also become too expensive now that we are retired.  But almost every game is now on television and we can watch them in HD in a comfortable chair.  We just miss the tailgating and all the activity not shown on television.  But we don't miss the traffic.

          And I do miss so many of my old friends - Norman, Gary, Ralph and my brother Terry.  But like my parents, I will soon see them again.  And He has provided me with good sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren.  And that is a real blessing which I would not trade for anything.  What more could I want.

          There are many other things that I miss but God has provided replacements. I really have no regrets. God has been so good to me - all of my life.   And I am reminded that He is the author of my life and my story.  How could I complain about that.

(1) My Father is rich in houses and lands,

He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!

Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,

His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

I'm a child of the King,

A child of the King:

With Jesus my Savior,

I'm a child of the King.

(2) My Father's own Son, the Savior of men,

Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;

But now He is pleading our pardon on high,

That we may be His when He comes by and by.

I'm a child of the King,

A child of the King:

With Jesus my Savior,

I'm a child of the King.

(3) I once was an outcast stranger on earth,

A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,

But I've been adopted, my name's written down,

An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

I'm a child of the King,

A child of the King:

With Jesus my Savior,

I'm a child of the King.

(4) A tent or a cottage, why should I care?

They're building a palace for me over there;

Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:

All glory to God, I'm a child of the King.

I'm a child of the King,

A child of the King:

With Jesus my Savior,

I'm a child of the King.

Poor Advertising (LB)

LOOKING BACK - Repeating a blog that I first published on October 9, 2008.

         Earlier this week I was coming home from Park City when a little old lady - maybe my age - pulled out from a bank, right in front of me.  Fortunately I was able to hit the brakes to avoid hitting her.  I then had to follow her until we reached route 741.  Then, with no traffic in front of her, she took off going at least 55 mph in a 35 mph zone.  I quickly lost sight of her.  The interesting thing, however, was her huge bumper sticker.  It said JESUS, in very large letters.  It was either poor advertising or an acknowledgement that she really needed Him when she was driving. 
         That reminded me of another story which I read recently.  A man is being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly the light turns yellow just in front of him. He does the right thing and stops at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman hits the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she misses her chance to get through the intersection with him.
          As she is still in mid-rant, she hears a tap on her window and looks up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer orders her to exit her car with her hands up. He takes her to the police station where she is searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a cell.  After a couple of hours, a policeman approaches the cell and opens the door. She is escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer is waiting with her personal effects. 
          He says, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping the guy off in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.  I noticed the "Choose Life" license plate holder, the "What Would Jesus Do" bumper sticker, the "Follow Me to Sunday School" bumper sticker, and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally I assumed you had stolen the car."  Oh yes, another case of poor advertising.  
          While we might laugh at that story, maybe sometimes we as Christians are guilty, too, of false advertising.  An old song says, "What you are, speaks so loud, that the world can't hear what you say.  They're looking at your walk, not listening to your talk, and judging from your actions everyday."  How good is your advertising? 

1. My life, my love, I give to Thee,

Thou Lamb of God who died for me;

Oh, may I ever faithful be,

My Savior and my God!

I'll live for Him who died for me,

How happy then my life shall be!

I'll live for Him who died for me,

My Savior and my God!

2. I now believe Thou dost receive,

For Thou hast died that I might live;

And now henceforth I'll trust to Thee,

My Savior and my God!

I'll live for Him who died for me,

How happy then my life shall be!

I'll live for Him who died for me,

My Savior and my God!

3. Oh, Thou who died on Calvary,

To save my soul and make me free;

I'll consecrate my life to Thee,

My Savior and my God!

I'll live for Him who died for me,

How happy then my life shall be!

I'll live for Him who died for me,

My Savior and my God!

Incredible!

          It was a very nice Christmas gift - two tickets to Sight and Sound in Lancaster to see the spectacular performance of "Jesus".   We really looked forward to attending.  But health problems made it difficult for us to do so.

          We knew we were running out of time since the last show in Lancaster would be October 5.  With all of our appointments there were only three remaining shows for which we could get seats.  So we made a purchase trusting the Lord that we would be well enough to attend.  And we were!

          Our tickets were in the very last row in the balcony.  We sat in that area before and found the seats to be excellent because you could clearly see everything in the wrap around stage.  But we were younger and in better health when we sat there before.

          The balcony is very steep and the seats were low to the floor.  The backs of the seats in front of us were at our shoe level.  The rows were narrow with very little leg room and there were no rails in front of us or behind us to help us get up.  Once we were seated I began to question how we'd ever get out of our seats to go home.  With our physical problems it is often hard to get out of any seat in a normal situation.  Would I fall trying to get up and roll down a few rows? Could I get on the floor and crawl out until I could reach a rail to pull myself up? You normally don't think of these challenges when you are young with good balance. 
          But at the end of the show, after four attempts using my cane, I was finally able to stand and get my balance.  Then I was able to use my arm to help my wife stand.  We made it.  We had to - we couldn't afford to stay and pay for more shows.

          In the opening announcements they asked everyone to turn off their cell phones - taking pictures was prohibited.  However, when the lights went out, from our high location we could see dozens of phones still lit up throughout the audience. People, especially tourists, can be rude.  Fortunately, during the show most of the lights/phones/cameras were off.

          Now the show was spectacular and the scenes touched my heart.  It was amazing to see the stories from the gospels portrayed so vividly and thoughtfully.  Their professional performance was outstanding.

         One of my favorite scenes was that of the disciples in the boat on the sea during a storm.  The water looked real.  The thunder and lightening made you feel that you were in the storm.  And then Jesus appeared and walked on the water and commanded the storm to stop.  Incredible reminder and portrayal of the power that Jesus had over the elements.

          But maybe the most impressive scenes were those of Jesus being taken prisoner, His trial, His crucifixion, His burial and then His Resurrection.  You had to be touched as you watched this portrayed.

         And from a performance standpoint it was amazing to watch an actor, dressed as a angel, descending and ascending to the stage from the fourth floor of the auditorium.

          Throughout the performance I was often stirred to pray for the nearly two thousand throughout the audience who were hearing about Jesus, maybe some for the first time.  I asked the Holy Spirit to descend upon their hearts and lives.  Hopefully some will come to the Lord as a result of being there.

         Hopefully you too will have a chance to experience this portrayal of the Gospel before it closes on October 5.  Probably only a few seats in the balcony remain - but you can handle that location - we did.

(1)     Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell how the angels in chorus,

Sang as they welcomed His birth.

"Glory to God in the highest!

Peace and good tidings to earth."

Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

(2)    Fasting alone in the desert,

Tell of the days that are past.

How for our sins He was tempted,

Yet was triumphant at last.

Tell of the years of His labor,

Tell of the sorrow He bore.

He was despised and afflicted,

Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

(3)    Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,

Writhing in anguish and pain.

Tell of the grave where they laid Him,

Tell how He liveth again.

Love in that story so tender,

Clearer than ever I see.

Stay, let me weep while you whisper,

Love paid the ransom for me.

Tell me the story of Jesus,

Write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious,

Sweetest that ever was heard.

Modern Frustrations

          Did you ever wish that you might have had a different career or occupation?  And if so, what would it have been?

          Now I can't say that I would have done anything else than work as a public school educator.  I thoroughly enjoyed my 39 years doing that.  And I thank the Lord for leading me that way and giving me the wisdom, strength and guidance that I needed to both do a good job and to enjoy what I was doing.  I would not change any of that.

         However, there is one area in which I wish that I had a better background - technology.   Technology developments - especially for computers - advanced so quickly in the latter part of my career.  I tried to keep up.  I went to Florida State for 12 credits in computer science.  I established the first computer lab in a high school in Lancaster County.  I introduced my students to hand calculators and programming.  I especially enjoyed programming. I even won a national award from a computer magazine. All of this was considered to be on the leading edge at those times. 

          Our school district was also a leader in the area in using technology and regularly offered excellent workshops for staff members.  I really felt on top of things .... until I retired.  Then all of those opportunities ended.  And 17 years is an eternity in technology development

          In the years that followed retirement I have continued to use Apple products.  They are expensive but easy to use and without problems that PC's experience.  I have run websites, done blogs, kept all sorts of records and done many things that I felt were creative and interesting.

          But then the problems began.  My computer suddenly would not support or use  modern browsers.  And it couldn't be upgraded to do so if I wanted to continue to use many of my valued software products - at least that is what I have been told.  Now that wasn't a major problem until suddenly I couldn't open or use some websites.

          The first major problem was with two of my investment sites.  That was a critical problem but I did find a way around that and that is still working for me at present.  The same came when the Awana site was changed but I found another browser which has been working for that.

          But my major blow came suddenly a few weeks ago when I could no longer reach my website host, BlueHost.  As a result I can't change or update my Awana site, fbfawana.com, which I have used for almost 20 years.  It is now dead.  I  spent hours talking with service techs at BlueHost, trying to understand all of their technology terms.  Did you ever try to talk to a computer expert?  Usually impossible.  They told me to try all sorts of things like Filezilla, and I did, without any success.  They claimed they had not recently made any changes in their site.  But an advertising e-mail which I received a few days later shared the "advantages" of their updated site and offerings. So much for the truth. They were of no help even though I have been their client for almost 20 years.

          What can I do about it?  Probably nothing other than purchase a new computer and new software and start all over.  That involves a lot of money, a lot of time, plenty of technology knowledge which I don't have and much energy.  Is it worth it?  Right now I don't know.

          But the problem will continue.  For several years I have been using the site Dropbox to send the powerpoints for Dianne's offertories to the technicians at church.  Suddenly my browsers aren't recognized by that site.  Incidentally they just upgraded their site as well.  I have been given some alternatives by the fellows at church but they also speak a different language than I do, suggestions I just don't understand.

          And what will be next?  Probably more frustration and disappointments.  If only I had somebody who spoke my language, understood computers and had the time to help me.  But i don't.  I've shared my needs with many without any responses or help.

         Maybe if I hadn't retired when I did, or maybe if I had taken more computer courses, or maybe if I had friends who were computer experts ...  maybe, maybe, maybe.

(1)   When your heart is aching, turn to Jesus,

He's the dearest Friend that you can know;

You will find Him standing close beside you,

Waiting peace and comfort to bestow.

Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,

Go to Him today,

Do it now without delay.

Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,

He will take your heartaches all away.

(2)   There is joy for every troubled sorrow,

Sweet relief for every bitter pain,

Jesus Christ is still the great Physician,

No one ever sought His help in vain.

Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,

Go to Him today,

Do it now without delay.

Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,

He will take your heartaches all away.

(3)   Jesus understands, whate'er the trouble,

And He waits to heal your wounded soul.

Will you trust His love so strong and tender?

He alone can make your spirit whole.

Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,

Go to Him today,

Do it now without delay.

Heartaches, take them all to Jesus,

He will take your heartaches all away.

A Birthday Adventure

        We seldom do anything to celebrate our birthdays.  In fact, most summers we have been working at Pinebrook Bible Conference on my wife's July 11 birthday.

          However this year we found ourselves at home on her birthday so we discussed the possibility of going somewhere for her free meal.  Now we seldom visit buffets anymore since we really can't eat enough food to make it worthwhile.  But there were two buffets which got our attention.  The first was Yoders where they have a nice buffet that isn't too expensive.  The second choice was the famous Shady Maple which might have the largest buffet in the world, or at least in this country.

         We debated the choices - Yoders, Shady Maple, home ... or maybe even Wendys.  While Shady Maple was more expensive than Yoders, the difference in price wasn't very much and their selection was bigger.  So even though we hadn't been there in years, our choice was Shady Maple.

          Now our next bad choice was arriving there a little after noon.  Not too smart!  The parking lot was packed - definitely no handicapped spots and no other spots as well.  We should have known then to leave and go to Yoders.  But we looked and looked and looked.  Finally we saw two couples leaving and we tracked them to get one of their spots.  Well they then stopped decided to talk to each other for about ten more minutes and when they finally started to leave the women returned to talk some more.  Finally we were able to follow the one couple to their car where we waited again and had to even block off some other drivers who wanted that spot.  But we finally were able to park and with our canes slowly amble to the entrance.

          Fortunately it didn't take too long to pay.  Then we waited in line for a booth.  When we finally reached the front of the line the attendant was very nice.  She saw our canes and worked very hard to find us a booth close to the buffet lines.

          We noticed several things while we waited.  First, if you weighed less than 300 pounds you were probably out of place there.  Second, if you couldn't carry two heaping fulll plates, at the same time, you were at a big disadvantage.  Third, if you had good manners or were shy you were definitely at a disadvantage!  And fourth, no matter how folks acted, Shady Maple would not run out of food.

          Then the real adventure began.  The lines - actually there weren't lines - were packed.  People stepped in front of you and blocked you when you tried to get some food.  For example, the pork and sauerkraut were to the right of the mashed potatoes.  Dianne got hers and then three different folks butted in between us to get theirs before I could get mine.  Did any of then say excuse me or thank you?  Heavens no - they had to get their food just in case it ran out ...  or at least that was the way they acted.

          There were numerous folks on electric wheelchairs.  At first i pitied them.  But I soon learned that they could take care of themselves and their chairs were actually a weapon.  I waited to get a scoop of dried corn and some harvard beets.  But one lady with her chair blocked my side of the counter while a friend, also in a wheelchair, blocked the other side.  And then they had a conversation about the food while blocking the way of us customers as well as the server who was trying to refill the buffet.  Rather than taking anything to eat they just discussed what each item was. I finally gave up and moved on.

          Then suddenly another hungry bus group arrived and they maintained a long solid line blocking the rest of us from the buffet.  Many football teams would love to have a line like the one that they made. Unfortunately I had left my cane back at my table.  Otherwise I might have been able to use it to butt in and get some food.  By now I was exhausted and discouraged.

          Then I saw somebody walk by with a hot dog.  At that point even a hot dog even looked good.  I saw that they were at a grill in another location so I was able to get one.  Besides the chocolate milk, it was the best thing that I had there that day. 

          That was enough for me.  It was an adventure and I had had enough of the rude crowds.  I don't ever intend to go back to Shady Maple no matter what deal they have on our birthdays.  Yoders is a much better choice for us!

          Oh yes, when we left it was pouring outside.  And maybe that was an appropriate ending to this experience.
          Bu† there is one "buffet" that I do look forward to.

1.     Jesus has a table spread

Where the saints of God are fed,

He invites His chosen people, "Come and dine";

With His manna He doth feed

And supplies our every need:

Oh, 'tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!

"Come and dine," the Master calleth, "Come and dine";

You may feast at Jesus' table all the time;

He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,

To the hungry calleth now, "Come and dine."

2.    The disciples came to land,

Thus obeying Christ's command,

For the Master called unto them, "Come and dine";

There they found their heart's desire,

Bread and fish upon the fire;

Thus He satisfies the hungry every time

"Come and dine," the Master calleth, "Come and dine";

You may feast at Jesus' table all the time;

He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,

To the hungry calleth now, "Come and dine."

.

3.     Soon the Lamb will take His bride

To be ever at His side,

All the host of heaven will assembled be;

Oh, 'twill be a glorious sight,

All the saints in spotless white;

And with Jesus they will feast eternally.

"Come and dine," the Master calleth, "Come and dine";

You may feast at Jesus' table all the time;

He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,

To the hungry calleth now, "Come and dine."