A Day To Remember (LB)

LOOKING BACK – Repeating a blog that I previously shared here.  On this weekend of 9/11 we need to be reminded of that sad day in our history and how we responded at that time.

          September 11 - a day that Americans will never forget. It is one of those days that everyone remembers exactly where they were when they first heard the news of the terror attacks. It was a day that changed our lives forever. 

          As I mentioned in an earlier blog, there are several days that I will always remember where I was when I heard the news ... the end of World War 2 ... the shooting of President Kennedy ... the launching of Sputnik ... the first walk on the moon ... the shooting of President Reagan ... and a few others. 

          But ten years ago I was in my room at school preparing for my next class. For some reason I decided to turn on the television to watch the news before class. Several minutes later I saw the first plane hitting the tower. The remainder of the day my classes of high school juniors watched in stunned silence as the events unfolded before us. There was little that could be said. As I said before, in an instance our lives were changed. 

          During the days that followed, people flocked to churches. It was suddenly politically correct to talk about God and to call on Him for help. There was a spirit felt throughout the nation unlike any we had experienced for years. Security was tightened everywhere and we feel that even today. Wars were fought to try and stop the enemy - many additional lives were lost. But in the years that followed, the wars continued and some security measures affected our freedoms, but for the most part people returned to their previous ways. Religion was no longer important and, in fact, it even become a focal point of attack by many liberals and atheists. How soon we forget. 

          Ten years later we have elaborate services to remember these events, but in New York City, pastors and other religious leaders aren't even allowed to participate. But God is still here and He is in control, no matter what man may do. And I have to believe that the return of the Lord is just on the horizon. We have just gone through a difficult time in this country with earthquakes, wild fires, hurricanes, flooding and unbelievable frustration. This has come at a time when our economy can't afford the billions of dollars involved in these losses. I don't profess to have the answers, but I can't help but wonder if God has withdrawn His hand of blessing and protection from this country. 

          The scriptures remind us that "God is not mocked for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap." Maybe September 11 is a time that each of us should renew our commitment, our love, and our obedience to God the Creator.

Second And Thirds

          Growing up I remember a prayer meeting leader who often said that he was glad that he wasn't the third verse of a hymn.  His reasoning, song leaders often choose to skip the third verse to save time.  And he was right.

          Unfortunately third verses (and often second as well) have powerful messages that are needed.

          Now while I produce my weekly hymn blogs I usually review the entire hymn.  But I've decided to go back through some of the 600+ hymns I've reviewed and look at some of these key verses.  Over the next few months I will devote some of my posts in this blog to many of these verses.

          I hope you will be challenged and encouraged as you review these.

 

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there. 

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

 **********

  Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made

**********

  A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, 

He taketh my burden away; 

He holdeth me up, 

and I shall not be moved, 

He giveth me strength as my day.  

He hideth my soul in the 

cleft of the rock that 

shadows a dry, thirsty land; 

He hideth my life with the depths of His love, 

And covers me there with His hand, 

And covers me there with His hand.

 

  With numberless blessings 

each moment He crowns, 

And filled with His fullness divine, 

I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God 

For such a Redeemer as mine!   

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock 

that shadows a dry, thirsty land; 

He hideth my life with the depths of His love, 

And covers me there with His hand, 

And covers me there with His hand.

**********

 Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to its rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings, my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.

**********

Jesus is all the world to me, 

my Friend in trials sore;

I go to Him for blessings,

 and He gives them over and o'er.

He sends the sunshine and the rain, 

He sends the harvest's golden grain;

Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, 

He's my Friend.

**********

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Chorus: Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!
**********

No other friend so keen to help you,

No other friend so quick to hear;

No other place to leave your burden,

No other one to hear your prayer.  
All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus!

**********

God hath not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

 

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

**********
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

**********

When, by the gift of His infinite grace,

I am accorded in heaven a place,

Just to be there and to look on His face,

Will through the ages be glory for me.

O that will be glory for me,

Glory for me, glory for me,

When by His grace I shall look on His face,

That will be glory, be glory for me.

Politics

         If you are feeling normal- whatever that is today - you must be avoiding politics.  Poly means many. Ticks are external parasites, living by feeding on the blood of mammals .  So politics must be the practice of many blood sucking parasites feeding on us and our resources. Does that sound familiar?

          For nearly eight years our governor has vetoed every conservative bill the state legislature has approved.  He has a record number of vetoes during his terms.  But then the legislature approved a possible constitutional amendment to allow the public to vote and have their say on abortion issues.  But the governor again decided to sue to stop their effort.  And he knows he will win because the majority of the state supreme judges are democrats. Good old politics.

          And then we have a president who solves problems like gasoline shortages by raiding the national reserves.  So, what do we do if we ever have an actual national emergency and need these supplies for what they were originally saved for?  And then he is giving away our stored military supplies which hopefully we will never need. Are there any plans to replace all these reserves or is it an easy way to influence voters?

          And then he adds to the national debt by canceling student debts.  I faithfully worked for ten years to pay off my college debt.  It was a sacrifice, but I did it.  Now I must help pay for thousands of others who can't work to pay off their debts.  They made bad choices. But the democrats are looking for support from voters before a crucial election.  Why not just buy the voters and that is what they are actually doing … with our money.

           Then there is the political candidate who is accusing his opponent of trying to buy a spot in the senate despite living in another state.  But he himself is trying to buy a place in the senate by pouring millions – most from democrats throughout the country – to buy his position. Ads are excessive and disgusting…  in my opinion.  Money and politicians – a terrible combination.

          Then there is the "investigation" run by the democrats for as long as the Ukraine War has lasted.  Now Trump might indeed be guilty but the witnesses and the "jury" are handpicked with those who are out to get him. The "evidence" is being televised and no challenges are allowed of any of the "proof" which they share.  No alternate views are allowed.  No cross examination is done. And if nothing else is done, they will string it out until after the November elections.  Not much difference than the trial in Russia of the basketball star who brought drugs into the country – slanted and biased. In America?  Yes, in America.

          Now whatever happened to the investigation of the Supreme Court leak concerning the abortion ruling? Somebody is going to get away with this serious violation.  I am guessing the investigation hasn't happened since it was probably done by someone who wanted to take the public's view off the bad economy before the elections.  What a way to influence and change impressions before the elections.  Politics at its worst.

            Then one political party takes on the past president for his stirring up protests – bad ones at that – for challenging the results of an election.  Meanwhile the current president stirs up protests over a Supreme Court decision which didn't go his way.  And protests resulted and even some members of Congress were arrested. But that is politics today.

               The crazy efforts can be found everywhere.  While I am writing this I am watching a newscast that is sharing that Los Angeles will be voting on a law that could require all motel and hotel owners to open to the homeless any rooms that are vacant by 2 pm.  So, would you want to visit LA and stay in a hotel with a hall full of homeless? Politics is certainly changing our country, and not for the good.

           Now I could go on and on with examples, but it would serve no purpose but to be more negative.  I never thought that democracy could be in danger.  But democracy depends upon honest people who can work with each other for positive results. That no longer exists. And, of course, it works when Biblical values are recognized and accepted.  And that is no longer the case.

          So, is there any hope? Without a revival, probably not.  Biblical prophecy warns us of a difficult future.  I would fear for my grandchildren and now my great grandson.  But, the Lord is coming back … hopefully soon.  That is the hope of all believers.

          As I often say, "Keep looking up!"

Land of Plenty?

          America – the land of plenty.  Is this still true?  Will it be true in the future?

          The pandemic has made a hit on our "plenty" that nobody could have predicted.  We are all struggling with shortages of many needs, inflated costs and problems caused by shortages of employees.

          Changes in weather are creating serious problems – floods and fires have been devastating and incredibly expensive. And many major parts of our country are experiencing serious droughts which are curtailing crops bringing on more shortages of food and water.

           We've all read of the shortages of baby formula.  What stress for parents of small children.  What does one do when formula is not available?.

          But one of the most serious shortages is the shortage of school teachers. Many teachers are leaving their profession.  Years ago such departures were usually the case of inadequate salaries.  Now salaries have increased but other pressures are more serious and are causing burn-out.  Discipline can be very difficult.  Pressures from the public detract from the ability to teach.  Social causes, required  gender-neutral pronouns, gender recognition, school shootings and political pressures add new stresses.

          So, what can schools do?  They can hire and use uncertified teachers – anybody can teach.  You require teachers to have larger classes, or they can be required to cover other classes, they can be forced to design internet lessons that can take extensive time and training to be done well.  None of these are great alternatives – in fact they are terrible strategies.

          I completed 39 years in the classroom and I enjoyed each year.  I miss my students and I miss the art of teaching.  But would I go back again, even if I was much younger and they offered me twice what I earned 20 years ago?  No way.

          Now this is a serious shortage which could affect America in so many years.  Dumb down and dilute the educational system and serious problems will result.

          But there is another major shortage – The shortage of doctors and medical staff.

          When the pandemic began, we were stunned to get a notice from our dentist that after many decades he was closing his practice.  He was a friend who had very fairly taken care of us since his practice opened.  I think he was concerned about his health and that of his clients with covid.  We miss him.

          Since our former family medical practice was bought out by Penn State Medical, seven of our former doctors have retired or gone into practice elsewhere.  Three of these were my wife's favorite female doctors.  This large practice has not been able to replace any of their female family doctors.  They claim they have not been able to hire any.  What does that tell you about the medical field?

          Several months ago both my wife and I needed physical therapy.  About 25 years ago we began to go to a therapist who was known by many doctors as being the best in the area.  And he was.  He especially helped me survive several knee, back and neck surgeries.  But we were stunned to know that he had sold his business and was not taking clients anymore.  This was another major disappointment.

          Then this week my wife's cardiac doctor hinted that he might soon be retiring.   Her surgeon who did her pacemaker also suddenly retired during the pandemic.   And her favorite gastro doctor for over 30 years has now limited his schedule and is hinting of retirement.

          And, of course, a few weeks ago when I needed to schedule a CT scan and an unlrasound for my wife it took almost four weeks to get one scheduled.  The reason given?  They said staff shortages.

          So, what does the future hold for this land of plenty?  Who knows, but I can't think it will ever get any better.  

          Land of plenty?  Maybe America is just getting what it deserves after many years of turning its back on God and His teaching.

Stretch Time

Did you learn anything new today?  We need to exercise our brain regularly and stretch it by learning new things regularly.  Well, here is a list of trivia facts, some important and most not too important. Enjoy!   ·       A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.   ·       A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.   ·        A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.   ·        A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.   ·        A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.   ·       A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.   ·        A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.   ·        A snail can sleep for three years.   ·       Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.   ·      All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.   ·      Almonds are a member of the peach family.   ·       An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.   ·      Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.   ·      Butterflies taste with their feet.   ·      Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.   ·      "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "MT".   ·      February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.   ·      In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.   ·      If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.   ·      If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.   ·      It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.   ·      Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors.   ·      Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.   ·      No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.   ·      Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.   ·      Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.   ·      Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.   ·      "Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.   ·      The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.   ·      The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.   ·      The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.   ·      The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.   ·      The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.   ·      The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).   ·      There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.   ·      There are more chickens than people in the world.   ·      There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous   ·      There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."   ·      There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.   ·      Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.   ·      TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.   ·      Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.   ·      Women blink nearly twice as much as men.   There, that's enough brain stretching for this week.

 

 

A Shocking Solution (LB)

LOOKING BACK - a feature where I share a blog that I previously shared.  This was shared in 2012.

          For more than a year residents around us have been worried about a string of robberies in our neighborhood.  

          Within a mile or so of our house, over 20 homes have been broken into and money and jewelry have been taken.  The robberies have happened at all hours of the day.  Some have happened while folks were outside of their homes working in their yards.  Some have happened while they were sleeping.  Most happened when they had gone away for a few hours or a few days.  

          Several times the robber was almost caught, but he had always gotten away.  Many of our neighbors purchased security systems.  Some added new locks.  We generally left lights on as well as the television or stereo when we were gone.  

          And then one night the robber made a mistake.  Somebody heard glass breaking and they called the police.   The police found the robber but he again escaped when he told them that there were others in the house.  Fortunately the police had noticed a car parked in the area and apparently had recorded the license number.  And shortly they were able to find the address and take the robber prisoner at his home.  

          But that wasn't the end of the story.  His home is only about two blocks from ours.  He wasn't an unknown college kid or a teen druggie as many had suspected.  He was a 49 year old resident who was well known by most of the community.  In fact he was a former student of mine and he graduated and played athletics with one of my sons.  He had been a soccer coach at two area high schools and had won Coach of the Year four times.  

          People knew him as a friendly man who would often carry his three-legged Chihuahua, Buddy, and talk to the neighbors as they passed.  He lived with his mother.  Neighbors had confided in him their fears and asked him to watch their homes when they were aware.  People are shocked and that is putting it mildly.  

          Police took two truckloads of loot out of his home after finding thousands of items in his basement, bedroom and attic.  These included jewelry, coins, guns and sports memorabilia.  He had sterling silver pieces that had people's initials engraved on them.  He robbed so many houses that he does not remember specifically which ones he robbed.  

          Now the police did find some heroin and marijuana in his home but  they believe that this was just part of the problem.  He told the police that he was getting a thrill out of it.  He was surprised at how easy it was to get into these homes.   Like all of our neighbors, we are relived that the thief has finally been caught.  But we are shocked that it was somebody we knew. I guess we never know what is really in a person's heart. 

           I am reminded again that the scripture tells us that the heart is desperately wicked and who can know it.  The answer is that God is the one who knows our heart and our thoughts and our actions.  And we should not be deceived for God is not mocked and whatever a man sows that is what he will reap.  

          My hope is that somehow Laz will hear and accept the Gospel while he spends his future days in prison.

A Job Is A Job

Another of the writings for my grandchildren.

"Hi, ho, hi, ho, it's off to work we go!"  sang the dwarfs in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

           Another version that I've heard is "I owe, I owe, it's off to work I go!"  And, there is some truth to that.  Certainly, one of the reasons we work is to be able to pay our bills and to buy what we need to live.  But working just to pay bills or disliking your job can make going to work a real burden.  And for many, many people their work is a real burden that they must bear.

           On the other hand, the seven dwarfs seemed to have a special blessing – it appeared that they really enjoyed going to work.  You just can sense that in their song.

           I have been truly blessed throughout my life.  I have held many interesting jobs and there have been very few days that I haven't enjoyed going to work.  And one of the principles I've tried to apply to every job is found in Colossians 3:23, "And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."

           I learned early in life to seek the Lord's will and leading to find jobs.  I've learned to do my best work, in all situations, as His representative and to please Him.  I've learned that whether my boss is good or bad, I'm not working for the boss, but for the Lord.  And that has made my jobs more than just tolerable, but both interesting and enjoyable.

           The first job that I remember is cutting grass for my dentist, Dr. Charles Eshleman, on Broad St.  I also remember, about the same time, just after moving to Lititz, that I went door-to-door selling greeting and Christmas cards. I doubt that I earned much money doing this. 

           In junior high I began to umpire Little League baseball games.  Then I received my first "big break" when I was hired to keep score for a men's softball league.  This led to writing articles about the games for the Lititz Record Express.  Soon this expanded to writing reports about Little League games.  By the time I reached ninth and tenth grades I was beginning to cover all Lititz and Warwick sports events.  I wrote two regular weekly columns for the Lititz Record Express – Spotlight On Sports and High School Highlights – until I graduated from high school. I also worked for two years for a local medical agency delivering surgical supplies in several counties each night after school.

           For two summers I worked two weeks at Mizpah Grove helping to set up and tear down tents and prepare for Camp Meeting.  Then for two summers I spent five to seven weeks there in Allentown working in the camp store.  Here I learned valuable lessons in organization, sales, and handling of money.  I developed good friendships with many, many people and I grew spiritually by attending the services.  I also worked on the ice truck selling blocks of ice to tenters each morning.  Working here was a very special opportunity, which the Lord provided for me.

           At home my writing for the local newspaper expanded and for two summers I worked fulltime for the paper.  I covered all the local news, attended meetings, wrote headlines, helped with layout of the pages, and even sold advertising.  

           After I graduated from high school I worked for two summers with the Lancaster Sunday News in both the Lancaster and York offices.  Again, I covered all sorts of news and assignments and even had a chance to take some pictures.  I especially enjoyed the time I worked in sports, in preparing the weekly TV Guide, and in covering the courthouse.

           After my sophomore year I went back to the Lititz Record Express where for that one summer I actually worked as acting editor and was responsible for the entire weekly layout and production.  This was a major responsibility that I thoroughly enjoyed.  For two weeks before I was needed in this job I worked at a cemetery in Sunbury.  Here I helped dig graves by hand, fill the graves after burial, and cut grass.  That was very hard physical work.

           Though I was headed for a teaching job, I wasn't done with newspaper work.  The summer after my junior year I worked for the Sunbury Daily Item editorial staff.  Then for 25 years I worked again for the Lancaster Newspapers covering football games and some basketball games on a part time basis.  I covered many Saturday football games for Penn Manor, Donegal and Columbia in particular.  I enjoyed keeping stats and writing the stories.

           While in college I also worked as an assistant in the chemistry lab, washing dishes in the dining hall, and serving as a dorm monitor.  For most of these four years I also traveled with the football and basketball teams keeping all the statistics for Susquehanna and reporting them to the NCAA.  I thoroughly enjoyed this part of my college experience and never thought of it as work.

           After a summer of picking apples and cherries for Cherry Hill Orchards, I began my 39-year teaching career at Penn Manor.  I had four job interviews – Hershey, Donegal, Elizabethtown, and Penn Manor – and received a job offer at all four.  It was a hard choice, but the Lord directed me to Penn Manor and I never regretted this decision.  I always felt a call from the Lord to be a missionary in the public schools and I think this calling helped make me content in this job.

           For the first three years I served as a math teacher and then the Lord allowed me to become department chairman.  For the remaining 36 years I served in similar positions and I ended my years there as the district math supervisor for grades K-12.  I also had special opportunities during this time to serve as PR Coordinator, Computer Coordinator, TELLS and Chapter I math coordinator (we won national recognition for this program).  I coached freshman, boys' basketball (NBA star and Seattle Supersonics owner Wally Walker played for me), boys' varsity and freshman track, freshman cheerleaders and I served as a timer, scorekeeper, and track official.  I advised the Berean Club and the National Honor Society and served on many district committees.  I have many great memories from these 39 years at Penn Manor!

           Over the years I had many additional part time jobs.  I taught adult education (GED), served as an adjunct math professor at Millersville, tried to sell World Book, worked on the editorial board of Books In Print, served for over 25 years as chief basketball statistician for the PIAA, ran the clock for play-off games at the Farm Show Building, tutored many students in math, served as a consultant for an Addison Wesley geometry text, wrote SAT questions, and helped develop a computer touch-screen mathematics program for ICS.  What interesting experiences.

           As a result of my work experiences, I urge you to seek the Lord's will in looking for every job.  When you are in His will you will find a job that is both interesting and satisfying.  It may be challenging but He'll give you wisdom and direction when you "work for Him".  And remember, money is not the measure of success (but don't forget to honor Him with your tithe).  Being in His will is the true measure of success.  Work heartily and enthusiastically (don't be a complainer or a slacker like others) to please the Lord and hopefully you'll be able to sing, with a smile on your face, "hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go!"