Dad's Pocket Watch

This is the actual watch I purchased...very good condition.

 I know when a person sees a clock a number of thoughts might pass through their minds; thoughts like making every minute count or that my life is get shorter every minute. I love clocks and watches. Not sure why, but every time I see a clock or a watch or an old clock radio I just gotta take a look. The loud ticking of a mechanical clock is both relaxing and annoying; but always conjures up memories of grandma and grandpas house or my own house as a very young child. My mom loves clocks as well and maybe that is where my fascination with clocks comes from. Now bear in mind I am not obsessed with the notion of time as much as I am the clock.

I was in a store the other day that sold second hand stuff and I came across an old Westclox Bull's Eye pocket watch. I was immediately reminded of the countless times I saw my dad pull his out of his pocket attached to his belt by a rawhide fob to check the time. We would be fishing and he would pull out his watch, working together, gardening, or any other of a number of times one might check the time. Dad was a tree surgeon and a wrist watch was out of the question for him; I am not sure if he viewed it as a safety hazard or not but it was always a pocket watch. Nothing fancy either, it was always the least expensive most reliable he could get; and it was almost invariably a Westclox Bull's Eye.

When I saw the watch in the case at the store I knew that I wanted to buy it as little reminder of my dad. Brand new I am fairly certain that the watch sold for less than $5.00, the problem is that I could have purchased 2 or 3 brand new watches back in the day for what I paid for this old one. Pursuing nostalgia can be an expensive endeavor, but to me it was worth it. I can almost imagine dad rolling his eyes if he knew that I bought this watch for almost $15.00...funny.

Harry's Secret

His name was Erich Weiss by the time of his death he was likely one the highest paid entertainers of his day. He was born into a Hungarian-Jewish household in 1874. He lived in Appleton, WI; I have driven past his house situated over the river. His name was changed to Harry. A master showman known for his mystifying magic, and a distinguished flyer. What we remember him most for is his ability to escape. He was the master of "escape-ology" (wow is that a new word?...you heard it first right here).

On March 10th, sometime around 1904(?) he was challenged by the London "Daily Illustrated Mirror" to escape from a special pair of handcuffs they had prepared. There were six locks on each cuff and nine tumblers on each lock. Seven days later 4000 spectators gathered in the London Hippodrome to witness the outcome of this seemingly impossible challenge.

At 3:15 in the afternoon Harry Houdini stepped into an empty cabinet that came up to his waist, he lowered himself into the the box. Out of sight for 20 minutes he stood up smiling. The crowd broke out in applause thinking that he was free...but he was not, he only asked for more light. The lights shown brighter and again he lowered himself into the box for another 15 minutes.Once again he rose out of the box and into the sight of the crowd. Applause erupted certainly he was free now; he said he needed only to flex his knees. Down into the cabinet box again for another 20 minutes (the crowd murmuring and wondering what was going on, certainly this was unusual for Mr Houdini). The heat of the lights and the confines of the cabinet were too much, he was overheating.

Leaping from the wooden cabinet Harry twisted and turned until his manacled hands were in front of him so he could reach a pocket knife in his vest pocket. Harry opened the knife with his teeth and bent over so far that his coat tails fell and hung over his head. Grabbing the coat he pulled it over his head and then proceeded to cut and slash his jacket to ribbons and toss it aside. The crowd roaring with approval Harry leaped back into the box. Again lowering himself he remained out of sight for another 10 minutes. With all of the drama and flourish that he could Harry leaped out of the box to show his hands were indeed free waving the bulky handcuffs over his head. Pandaemonium erupted and the crowd exploded with excitement and enthusiasm; certainly Harry Houdini had accomplished the seemingly impossible.

Later Harry was questioned in an interview why he had interrupt the process so many times with what seemed meaningless reasons. He replied that his ability to escape was based firmly in the knowledge that could escape. His ability to escape was based in knowledge. He interrupted the show to allow the audience to to bolster and keep up his own enthusiasm. Two things set Harry free that day, the knowledge that he could indeed be set free and the cultivation of his own enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is vital in all of our lives. It is what keeps us going forward in the face of the dull monotony of life; we must find something to get excited about and run with it. Without an enthusiasm for learning, teachers and students fail, without it salespeople starve, and leaders would have no followers. Nothing really important is ever achieved without some form of enthusiasm to motivate us to accomplish the deed.

The secret to our lives as Christians is to have a knowledge of all of the great things that God has promised us, and being excited about it. His Word should stir up and instill enthusiasm in us. No one is going to be interested in the God you serve or your  testimony if you are not excited about being a Christian.

When you cannot "feel" the excitement of your own Christianity...you better "know" something about your Christianity.

Lucky Me

I am not sure who has ever played in the lottery but as of today the jackpot is over $500,000,000. That is over a half a billion dollars. I asked a cashier at a gas station near Shiocton, WI if people were buying lottery tickets and she replied that the machines have been humming. Well the winning numbers will be picked tonight and someones dreams may come true.

I had a certain something happen to me the other day that proved to me that I am in fact I am a "lucky" guy. I am not sure I believe in what everyone seems to view as luck; but if I did I would have gone right out and bought myself a lottery ticket.  I recently purchased a new gas grill for...grilling I guess...anyway as I was putting the grill together I opened a bag that contained the ignitor switch and the battery that would provide the power for the ignitor to spark. I know it all sounds complicated but when I push a button I hear a click and then a whoosh and then the grill is lit.

So as I am about to slip the battery into the ignitor case I noticed that the battery had a unique name brand label; the label had three large sevens on it. Wow my first thought was this is gonna be a great grill, my second thought was that today might be a good day to get a lottery ticket. Now please bear in mind I have never purchased a ticket. If I had done so I would likely have done it wrong, and all my earnings would have gone to someone else. I decided to save my money and apply it toward the purchase of a gas tank and gas; which nearly requires a loan from the bank...or winning the lottery...what was I thinking?

I Am A Published Author...(sort of)

Today I received my first blog book in the mail; I guess that makes me an author of sorts...sort of. The book has no ISBN number nor was it inducted into the Library of Congress; hence the "sort of" disclaimer in my title. The book contains all of my blog entries for the year 2010.

So far I have had over 6,300 page views from almost 60 countries including nations like: Nigeria, Isle of Mann, Latvia, Slovenia, Australia, Sweden, India, Thailand, Chile, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, and Tasmania to name only some. When I was a kid I fell in love with shortwave radio because I could hear radio stations from other countries. Blogging is a very cool way for me, to be read by people in other countries.I just want to have something meaningful to say. The internet certainly has changed our world.

The book is nice. I like it. In reading it, I was encouraged, by what I wrote to encourage others.

A Few Thoughts On Envy (part2)

I have recently finished reading the book of Job; what an amazing book from the Bible. I will confess that for a number of years I just could not "get into" the real meaning and purpose of the book, and the depth of it's meaning. I am not going to try to expound on the details of the conversation between Job and his close enemies. The part that strikes me whenever I read Job is what God had to say to Job after all of man's wisdom has expired. God asked Job a few questions: "tell me if you can"; and Job couldn't

I am perfectly satisfied with the notion that I do not always understand God's ways. I do not have all of the answers and any attempts on my part to speak for God only ever sounds trite and hyper-Christian. I do not speak hype, I am somewhat fluent in faith; very big difference. God is God and He can do what He wants; I do not need to understand, so I may not have a lot comfort; but we can pray and seek God in our difficulties. Hype always tries to tie a pretty little bow on our trials, and hype always simplistically attempts to make a lists of what God does in certain situations. Word of Faith people used to say "you are sick because you are weak in your faith, or there is sin in your life", much like Job's friends did; God was not pleased with them.

My second thought on envy is based in the realization that I do not always understand. Why others are blessed and it seems like I have been looked over...again. Remember King David had a similar dilemma; why do the wicked prosper?

"If I truly believe that every good and perfect gift comes from above; gifts to me, and gifts from God to others. I refuse to compare myself to others; my gifts are from God, to me, so I will work with what I have been given".

I am a minister and an assistant pastor I see other men my age and many younger with seemingly less gifting who seem to be blessed with big churches, successful ministries and Biblical titles; why not me? Envy might try to raise it's hands and slow me down with questions about why always others. Honestly I am blessed beyond what I could have imagined. I do not need to be part of a big church I only need to walk in the confidence and gifting that God has given me. I am not a great anything but God has given me me gifts. Comparing myself to others is a trap and a pit; I will not be envious of others. God has generously blessed my life.

A Few Thoughts On Envy (part1)

Let me say before I begin that I am a middle child, I am also a phlegmatic personality type (I love peace and unity...and naps...it is true), I grew up in a very modest home, and I never knew I was poor until after I wanted "things". But I also want to say that I do not feel like envy has ever been a problem for me. I am glad when others succeed; having said that...

Envy is a very sinister desire, we suspect it in others, but we seldom identify it in ourselves. It often displays it's ugly little disposition in trivial ways, but the root of it seems to be, that we do not have what we want our what we think we deserve. So, envy should be foreigner in the Christian community, but sadly it is not. We want to impress other people, or at least have what others have. We want to be on a level field with other believers and things should never be unfair; I want what you have.

It seems like envy, jealousy, and covetousness are like brothers, and they are very close. Often discontentment with things like possessions, status, and a perceived level of success, contribute to our feelings of entitlement and self-centeredness. When these feelings rise up we often think unkind thoughts, say unkind words, and we do stupid things to gratify our ego. Then we sink into the darkness of self-pity, bitterness, and depression. What a sad state of affairs. Is anything really worth all of that.

My number one thought concerning envy in my life is this:
"I will not envy because I know that God is generous and gracious. If a man or a woman is blessed in ways that I am not...I know that all of my (and their) spiritual blessings come from heaven".

We serve a very generous God. Much more generous that we deserve, our problem is (I think) that we do not always trust God's wisdom, or understand His economy.

So Why Am I Afraid?

A little scary

Not everyone loves Ronald

There are a million reasons for a person to be afraid. Without the proper perspective and frame of mind a person can find a reason to fear in almost any arena of life. Some people fear clowns (coulrophobia); they are afraid of the unknown. Why do they have such big pockets, and what is inside? Why do they wear so much make-up; why is their nose so big? Why are they so happy?

Fear can grip us to the point that we become paralyzed; afraid to move ahead, afraid to stand still and afraid to go back to what we have always done. Fear is irrational. Fear is never your friend. Fear will keep us locked up in a house of loneliness. I read a book at a time in my life when fear had a strangle hold on my daily thoughts; I know a little of fear.

The following is from a book by Jenetzen Franklin;
40% of the things we worry about never happen.
30% of the things we worry about are in the past and can't be helped.
12% of our worries concern the troubles of others, and we have no part in them.
10% of our worries concern illness, real or imagined that may or may not have happened.
8% (Only 8%) of the things that we worry about are things that might really happen.

The words fear not, or be not afraid, occur over 360 times in the Bible, that is enough don't be afraid's for each day of the year. When we frame plan and view our lives through the lens of God's word and His promises for and to us we find far fewer things to fear. Trust God with your concerns and don't allow them to become fears that paralyze you.

Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. Isaiah 12:2

Why Oh Why Cant It Be Like That Here?

Almost four years ago now I took a trip to Martinique to see my brother in the French Caribbean and I enjoyed it immensely; I was able to totally forget about it being winter here. Now I am not typically an unhappy sort of guy, but I am sick of cold weather already and it is only the middle of December.

"Help me Jesus I am fading (freezing) fast"

This last year we have become Home Missionaries by helping out in a growing Home Missions church pastored by my very good friend Jeff Peckham. I am wondering if the Lord sent me someone else's mail; maybe I was supposed to go to Fiji or Barbados; at least that is what my cold fingers tell me when I go outside. (Please understand this is all in jest, I know I am in the middle of God's will for my life). Why can't it just be in the 60s I would love to mow the yard again.

The Bible says that godliness with contentment is great gain. I have been so blessed, especially in the last year with the birth of a brand new granddaughter Coralie; she is such a sweetie pie. I am content in spite of the cold. Let winter come and stay if it wants I am blessed.

Wow, I Thought I Was The Only One

I wonder how many friendships have been formed and forged because of a common experience or a familiar mindset. I remember sitting in a middle school class and feeling very much out of my element; I had just arrived from a summer of fun and a small elementary school to a much larger social landscape. D. C. Everest Middle School had students from all over the place and we are all placed together in a really big school.

I was sitting in a classroom back in the...along time ago, and I did not know anyone. I looked around the room to see if there was anyone else who looked terrified and a little insecure; (because I was) and I found one. Seated in the row of seats right next to me was this guy who looked a little nervous and shy. What did I have to lose? I asked "so, where do you live?' It was that simple and a conversation began, he liked to go hunting and fishing, and confessed to being a little intimidated at the new school thing. His name was Nathan. We had an encouraging sort of friendship for awhile back when I needed it.

I wonder how many friendships we miss out on because we never speak up? If we would only brave up a little we just might be surprised at what others could add to our lives. I find it a little too easy to mind my own business; I could be in a room full of people and not say a word. Our cell phones and Ipads have made seclusion in a crowd easy to do. Don't look up or around, it is easy as pie...(I have made many pies and honestly it is not as easy as it sounds). But really, who knows how many good things I have missed out on.

No Please No Not Again...Wooly Caterpillar 2011

Winter of 2010 on our road

Well it "seems" to be official at least to the weather men and women that winter is about to give us a prophetic sample of what is ahead; I keep hoping that this is all a bad dream and that it will start to warm up instead.

The weather man's forecast is for a long harsh winter. I have heard from and seen a number of people who have said the same thing. A Pittsville Wisconsin woman told me that her trees have produced more acorns than she normally sees and that she seen a lot of squirrels gathering up the acorns. Judy (the woman from Pittsville) uses acorns and squirrels as her winter weather predictor; I say good enough for me.

I was in Eland on Saturday and picked up a "wooly" and he only had four rings the black on the front and the back were about the same which means that both Fall and Spring were going to be fairly normal.

So my prediction is that we are going to have winter this year but it will last a relatively short 4 months. 

Please bear in mind that it is not really a snowfall or the beginning of winter unless you can track a cat or any other fairly small animal in the snow. So the wet sloppy accumulations I get this week may not classify as the beginning of winter. Last year the wooly caterpillar nailed winter with it's forecast; and I will guess that this year it will be the same. With absolutely no meteorological training this little guy can guess with the best of them, and so can I.

No wooly bear caterpillars were harmed in the posting of this blog.

Check out last years prediction. Wooly Bear 2010