A Lot of Nice People In Kingsville

Today, we set out to handle a number of matter's for David's estate here in Kingsville.  First stop was the Veteran's Service Office.  As expected, it was straight out of a movie.  Mr. Pecos was very talkative and we spent a good time in his office which was decorated with all sorts of militaria.  He filled out all the paperwork and gave us plenty of time and attention.  He's also a City Commissioner here in Kingsville so a good person to know.

Later we had a locksmith come.  Eugene was not only skilled with locks but also everything else.  So he'll be a good person to fix anything that comes up.  He used to live in Garland and so he had a North Texas accent.  What is that, you ask?  Think East Texas that has come to the city and thinned out a bit.

Then for dinner we went to Yen Ching.  Surprisingly good Chinese food in Kingsville.  When we checked out Danny who said he had worked there 22 years told Mom "You always look so thin!"  He said he recognized her from her periodic trips.

So everyone we met today was very nice.  It sure made an day we thought might have its challenges to be very smooth.

Kingsville

I'm here in Kingsville with Mom and we are settling back in and going over some papers in preparation for our day tomorrow:

First order:  Breakfast at Lydia's

Then to the Party Barn Drive Thru - to get...beer? ...cigs?....no, money orders!  The best place in town

Then to the VA Office

Then to the credit union

Then it should be time to make phone calls and write letters.  We're in good shape so far.

Same Time Next Year - MS 150

There was a movie in the late 70s about a man and woman having an affair.  They were each married to someone else so they decided to meet for a weekend once a year.  The movie Same Time Next Year ran the course of their growing and aging together.

The 2013 MS 150 reminded me of that as I got together with some friends that we usually just see each other this one weekend a year.  There was me and Sam and John and Brad and Paul.

Friday night we were all scattered at different places and started the ride at various locations.  Some went 85 miles, some 75 miles.  But we all met in La Grange.  Weather was cold to start but I dressed in layers per Coach Sandy.  We made pretty good time and finished riding about 2:30 on Saturday.  We made our way to Brad's house where we spent the night in fine luxury.  Meanwhile the other saps were back camping out.  Ha!  Since we burned a lot of calories we just had to eat two dinners.  Another highlight of the ride was the donut shop stop in Bellville.  Much better than the "prison sandwiches" offered for free.  We had a local refer us to Snowflake Donuts and it was worth the trip as he promised.

Sunday it was warmer and we left about 7:00 a.m.   Some of our group decided they must ride straight through.  I on the other hand felt it my duty to stop at each rest stop.  I was moving  a bit slower Sunday than Saturday but made it in Austin at 2:00 p.m.  We were on the road back from Austin at 4:00.  Check out our circuitous route....

Austin to La Grange to Waller to Katy to Clear Lake = home at 11:30 p.m. Of course we did have a nice stop at the 59 Diner for a 24 hour dinner.  Steak and Eggs never tasted so good.

When I got home today, for some reason, my wife and mother in law said I looked tired.  Showing my age I guess.  I must have earned than Veteran Rider status after 11 times.  Funny how just like being a kid.  You want to grow up- then you want to go back in time.

These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty

I had a famous reading in church yesterday.  It inspired me so, that I wrote the sermon to go with it.  Maybe someone will want me to preach it sometime.

These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty

By Greg Turley

You remember the line from the 90s TV show Seinfeld…. Kramer gets a line in a Woody Allen film ….These Pretzels…. are making me thirsty. 

The gang spends a bit of time trying to capture the essence of this.  No context is given for the line.  At one point George takes a try, and Kramer says  “No, no, you don’t know how to act.”

We can’t agree on how to say a funny line from a TV show, so how are we to determine how to say perhaps the most famous line in the Bible. 

Now it’s not “In the beginning” or “God so loved the world”.  This famous phrase is one spoken directly from above.  It is one directed at one person, who appears to be the only person directly affected by it.  It was said to one of the most influential persons in our Christian heritage. 

Without it, we might not be here today.  It changed the world.

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

The great conversion of the Apostle Paul on the Road to Damascus.  Acts 9: 1-20.  One of those pivotal points in our church history.  But what did it really sounds like?

Remember, Saul was “breathing threats and murder”, wanting to tie up and haul in to Jerusalem those belonging to the Way.  He was not just doing this for meanness, he desired to get the letter of the law on his side, and had the authority from the chief priests to prove it.

But imagine Jesus looking down at this unlikely target.  Like a high tech camera, the cross-hairs came into focus.  But instead of zapping Saul, Jesus calls out to him. 

Was it a threatening call?  Maybe.  It caused Saul to fall to the ground.  It blinded him for three days and caused him not to eat or drink during that time.  Imagine the sickness it would take you to not eat or drink for three days.

Saul did not know Jesus before this time.  Or did he?  He must have recognized the voice, because he answered “Who are you Lord?” What does the voice of the Lord sounds like?

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.  But get up and enter the city , and you will be told what you are to do”.

Contrary to popular thoughts about a deep-voiced, lightning-hurling giant, I imagine that this voice that Saul heard would be one that might be all too familiar to him.  Someone who knew him by name.  Someone who knew just what to say to generate a response.  Someone who just might not be so unexpected after all.

You might think of how you might react to hearing from a parent, from a friend, from someone in your past.  A person who knows you well.

In short, someone who might see something in us that we don’t even see in ourselves.  The Lord said of Paul “He is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel”.  We say all the time that God sees everything and has a plan for us.   When this voice comes out of the sky,  or like to Ananias, in a dream or a vision, is it really that unfamiliar of a voice that we will hear?

“Saul, Saul”.  That’s my name!  “Why do you persecute me?”  The classic leading question.  When did you stop breaking the law?  It gives the answer before there is a chance to respond.  I know who you are and I saw what you did.

You’ve heard the expression , could have knocked me over with a feather.  In fact this did knock Saul over.   Nowhere to hide.

“But Get Up” – “You will be told what to do”. 

God speaks to us so be ready to listen.    When the Lord chooses to speak to us, he will call us by name.  He will know what he is talking about and so will you.  There will be no doubt as to what is to be done. 

Get Up.

Regain your sight.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit.  And Proclaim Jesus as the Son of God.  

Don’t say no one ever told you so.

My old hometown of Austin TX

Talking with my friend Casey today we discussed whether anyone in my family was still in Austin. I said we had all moved from there after 1990 and he said "right about the time it changed".

True words were never spoken.  Many of the things we associate with Austin now just didn't exist then:

South by Southwest
ACL Music Festival
The Food Scene/ Whole Foods
Dell Computer
Keep Austin Weird
Live Music Capital of the World

Of course, like Silicon Valley, many of the seeds  and building blocks were already there with the country music scene of the 70s, the University and the chip makers (IBM, Samsung).  Pretty cool to think how it just popped.

Stanley's Triathlon

Today was the Stanley's Triathlon, named after a guide dog named Stanley.  The event was to benefit a guide dog charity.  So it was an early start leaving the house at 0600.

The event was a 300 M swim, then a 14 mile bike, then a 2 mile run.  I thought I performed well on all three legs particularly the swim and the run.  But my cycling is just not as fast as some.  My time was 1:20 which I thought was good.  But I was still 5 of 5 in the age group.

Several of the others in the group got 1st, 2nd, 3rd place awards.  So many of them that I felt like the time when I was at a Boy Scout awards ceremony and it seemed like everyone got something but me.

But I didn't start the day looking for an award.  I participate for the company, the fitness and the fun.  And I think that I am a good positive influence to everyone else.  So that's my true purpose!