My kind of coffee …

Is this what we mean by ‘staycation?’ …

Dodgeball made me the man I am today …

This would be Jessie …

No nacho flavor in the 13th century? Sad …

Smoky Bear was found in Capitan, New Mexico as a cub after a forest fire. Betty, the boys and I saw him at the National Zoo in Washington, DC about a year before he died. His body was stolen at night (a church friend of ours participated in that adventure) and was returned to Capitan where he’s buried with a neat little museum of his life.

Can’t beat Far Side …

Jurassic Coke, Classic Coke, good times …

So true, so true …

Finally, sage advice for us in our latter years …

I ran across the following in a daily devotional from John Piper:

 “A great incentive to be authentic in our love to God is to recognize our best religious efforts duplicated in hell. Consider the “piety” of the demoniac in Luke 8:28:

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me.” (AT)

• The devil has religious insight: he recognizes Jesus as the Son of God. 
• The devil has a form of piety; he prays to Christ and entreats his benevolence: “Do not torment me!”
• The devil prays in a humble, contrite posture: “He . . . fell down before him.” 
• The devil prays earnestly and with expressions of deep feeling: “He cried out . . . and said with a loud voice.” 
• The devil uses humble expressions in his prayer: “I beseech you!” 
• The devil uses respectful and honorable designations for Christ: “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” 

What is missing here? One thing: love for Christ. “

This made me stop and think and realize that my Christian walk is one of simplicity – loving Jesus.

If I’m not careful, I can complicate my walk with things I do. They can be good things, but if they’re not motivated by my love for Jesus, they’re meaningless.

My simple prayer: “Jesus, help me love you as you love me.”

“There is no love on earth greater than that of a father for his son.” — Unknown

Chris is our second son, but his birthday comes before his older brother’s birthday which follows in 12 days.

Like his older brother, he was born while I was in the Navy, deployed to our second tour in Vietnam. That was the tour that wound up being an around the world tour. It probably added a couple of weeks to our time before getting home.

Chris was born about two weeks before our ship arrived home in Mayport, Florida. He was born at a local hospital so he, Betty and Wade were waiting for us when we arrived. If we had come straight home instead of showing the flag around the world I might have been home for his birth.

I did get to see some pictures of him and Betty before getting home. One of our stops was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A fellow officer’s wife met the ship there and brought some pictures for me to see. It was great to see them and made me want to see them even more.

Chris’ path through life has had its ups and downs, but I have always been proud of him, the man he is, and how he has handled himself throughout his life. He has also been smart enough to marry Deborah as she brings great joy and fun into his life and ours.

He loves to travel and has a great interest in finding interesting, unique places to eat and drink. He has shared his knowledge often with us.

He’s a good son, a good husband and a good man.

All my love and best wishes for a blessed and joy filled birthday for you and Deborah.

Love, Dad