Things I Believe, and Things I Love

Per Dr. Heather Cox Richarson, what are the things that I believe with all my heart?

There are theological things, for sure - the love of God, universal salvation, the final outworking of all things ... the reality of sin ... our common creation ... the cross as an image of sacrifice for others, and the empty tomb a vindication of such sacrifice.

There are political things, as well; all of them an outworking of my theological ideas (or is it the other way around? and likely a little of both) ... "one nation, under God," ... but not one religion, or one race ... we are one in our diversity, and diverse in our oneness. I believe in universal health care, the rights of women to choose for their own bodies, including abortion rights; the rights of LGBTQ persons, including marriage equality ... a government that works for the folks on the bottom of the heap (demand side) creates an economy strong for everyone ... because supply-side economics have never worked, except for the already rich.

And believing such things with all my heart gives birth to things that I love dearly:

Art, for example - museums ... a million different ways to capture the world - in paint, clay, marble, fabric, light, iron, plastic, plaster and wood.

Yes, for me, opera ... jazz ... heavy metal ... the blues ... and dance - from ballet to the jitterbug.

I love words - nothing pleases me more than a writer in command of the language - and so I love poetry (e.g. Carl Sandburg), novelists who can take me into another world, historians who probe the past to find the rest of the story, and give expression to the ceaseless yearnings of humanity for a share of life, and a place to call home.

I love things that make noise - thunder and lightening in a dark Oklahoma sky, high rpm engines at Road America, trains in Cajon Pass, and planes taking off from LAX.

And people ... who possess a sense of humor (and that comes in a lotta different forms) ... who can laugh at themselves easily ... and help others to laugh, too.

So, these are some of the things which I believe, and as a consequence, some of things I love.

For such things, I give my thanks, and to such ends, my devotion.

The Ideal Husband??? - hee hee ...

The Ideal Husband to His Wife

WE'VE lived for forty years, dear wife,

  And walked together side by side,

And you to-day are just as dear

  As when you were my bride.

I've tried to make life glad for you,

  One long, sweet honeymoon of joy,

A dream of marital content,

  Without the least alloy.

I've smoothed all boulders from our path,

  That we in peace might toil along,

By always hastening to admit

  That I was right and you were wrong.

No mad diversity of creed

  Has ever sundered me from thee;

For I permit you evermore

  To borrow your ideas of me.

And thus it is, through weal or woe,

  Our love forevermore endures;

For I permit that you should take

  My views and creeds, and make them yours.

And thus I let you have my way,

  And thus in peace we toil along,

For I am willing to admit

  That I am right and you are wrong.

And when our matrimonial skiff

  Strikes snags in love's meandering stream,

I lift our shallop from the rocks,

  And float as in a placid dream.

And well I know our marriage bliss

  While life shall last will never cease;

For I shall always let thee do,

  In generous love, just what I please.

Peace comes, and discord flies away,

  Love's bright day follows hatred's night;

For I am ready to admit

  That you are wrong and I am right.

Sam Walter Foss

Sam Walter Foss (June 19, 1858 - February 26, 1911) was a librarian and whose works included The House by the Side of the Road and The Coming American.

Do I need to say, the above is a delightful tongue-in-cheek description of the "ideal" husband ... but I suspect some guys might miss the point.

D is shaking her head right now ... she does that a lot with me.

Good Humor? Good Puns?

From a dear friend:

Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.
A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.
Dijon vu – the same mustard as before.
Practice safe eating – always use condiments.
Shotgun wedding – A case of wife or death.
A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.
Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.
When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.
A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.
What's the definition of a will? It's a dead give away...
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.
She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.
You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia – the LAN down under.
Every calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted – It taint yours and it taint mine.
A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.
Once you've seen one shopping centre, you've seen a mall.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis...
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture is a jab well done.

Bulletin Bloopers

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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes snacks and meals.
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The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
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Ladies , don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again , ' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don't know it , we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
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At the evening service tonight , the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans , bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you will want remembered.
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The church will host an evening of fine dining , super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon..
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge so up yours.'
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