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!

We'll Always Have Paris

Seeing that the famous bar in Houston, Marfrelee's is closing at the end of this week after a 40 year run makes me think of my one and only experience there.

Marfrelee's is a speakeasy type of place, no windows, no sign on the outside, and a place you think of yourself as in-the-know to go to.  In the 80s when I was much younger, it had a mythical reputation behind it of a dreamlike place a la Blue Velvet.  Few of my generation had much experience there, and we knew of it only by hearsay.  It was rumoured to be a dark place and upstairs there were couches and room partitions where you might take your date for a private tete-a-tete and, ...   We thought it would be A Sure Thing.

Now because, or maybe in spite of this perception, not many people I knew would frequent Marfrelee's.  Perhaps the suggestion of even going there was too forward, too bold.  But it was there beckoning, in fact right next to two others places regularly frequented by the 20-something crowd of the day, XIT and Birraporetti's.  There might as well have been a red light outside of Marfrelee's, right next to the "safe" places and yet so far away.

So one fall week, I happened to be out during the week and ran into some friends I knew pretty well, and they were a group of young women.  One of them I didn't know but of course I realized that she was quite pretty.  When we were introduced, I had to nearly bite my lip - she was "Abby" - a cheerleader from our days in middle school, one of the "finest" girls of that class.   Now of course, she didn't know me then, had not idea that we had gone to middle school together years ago, and I was happy not to remind her of those days.  It was a fresh start for me and for us!

Thereafter from that night, I got her number from our mutual friend and called to ask her out, and she accepted.  We went for dinner and then a drink or two at XIT.  As things progressed during the night, she must have gently inquired, what next?  With the courage of a soldier, I suggested "Why don't we go next door to Marfrelee's?   Good idea she said.  [cue the music]

We went next door and the hostess escorted us upstairs to the couches.  It wasn't quite as tawdry as I expected, more like going into a room in a home where no one else was.  I think there were curtains but there was a hallway of sorts where the waitresses were going in and out.  Lights were low but not completely dark.

In this hallway as we were going to our private sitting area, Abby and I were somewhat surprised to see.... someone we had both gone to middle school with.  In fact he was "Jeff" who was Abby's boyfriend in middle school.   They were the classic football/cheerleader All American Couple that Everybody Loved back then.  They were the popular ones.

And here, at Marfrelees', 10 years later, in the inner sanctum, was I, out on a date going great with Abby, and Jeff was simply an onlooker.  I felt I had struck a blow for all Late Bloomers in Middle School.  Anthony Michael Hall would have been proud.  I know I was.

I never let on to Abby that we had all gone to school together, or how that moment made me feel.  Needless to say, that was the high point of the night.  We had a nice drink and conversation upstairs in Marfrelee's and it was a most pleasant time.  That's it.  Afterwards I took her home and we said goodbye with a handshake.  We never went out again, and I think she might have moved to make it big in New York City.  It wouldn't surprise me if she is still there.

Twenty five years later, I'll remember that evening for a long, long time.  I'm sorry to see Marfrelee's close, as it did live up to its lofty reputation as a magical place.  I guess that makes me a real sentimentalist.

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship
Casablanca — MOVIECLIPS.com

USA Citizenship Ceremony

Today was the day:  I've always wanted to go to a US Citizenship ceremony and today I saw Claudio Kogen sworn in to the USA and out of Argentina.

The ceremony was done by Chief Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.  It occurred at the Temple Emanuel in McAllen TX since Claudio is also a Rabbi and the head of that congregation.

As expected it was both a solemn and happy occasion, like a wedding.  Family and friends were there.  He said a few words, and a few tears fell at the thought of this long journey.

And a long journey it is:  US law provides that a person must live in the US (legally under various visa/permanent resident) for 14 years.  So no one does this on a whim.  The ceremony underscored the important decision by the oath taken:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

My friend Larry noted the word "potentate" and questioned what one was.  So... challenge 
accepted...

Part of 8 US Code  section 448   specifically states that the oath must contain a renunciation of any  

"foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereign".  

Apparently, that language has been part of the oath since the original Naturalization Act of 1790.  It has not changed substantially since then.

Interestingly, one part that is not normally included, but is a part of the oath, is to renounce any title of nobility that you might have from that foreign country.  So if you were a Knight, you're are one no more.

Webster's simply defines potentate as:  : ruler, sovereign; broadly : one who wields great power or sway

Potentate appears in the New Testament (King James Version) 1 Timothy 6:15

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Roots are from the middle ages and Latin:  potent:  power, dominion

Rather than suggesting a negative, it appears to simply be a synonym for leader or power, both of which much be renounced in favor of US leaders and allegiance.

I had expected an allegiance to the Constitution, like the Presidential Oath.  Note that the Presidential oath does not contain a "defend from all enemies, foreign and domestic" like the US Military Oath or the US Citizenship Oath.   But it was interesting to see the similarities and differences.

Congratulations to Rabbi Kogen!  We're glad to have you in our American Family!

Spring Break

This spring break week has gone fast with Sarah being home.  When we went to orientation, we received a book on parent adjustment to having a college student.  One of the chapters was called "Just when you get used to them being gone, they're BACK".  That has been prescient.  Not a bad thing,   But there has been a schedule adjustment.  For example, at 10:45pm when I'm thinking of getting ready for bed, she's going over to Danielle's house for a few hours !

Anyway today is Saturday and I decided to catch up on some sleep.  It's been great weather this week.  I got new tires put on Sarah's car so she's ready for the highway tomorrow.  Already planning on helping her move out on my birthday May 11.  I remember moving out of my freshman dorm very well - that must have been around June 1 or 2 of 1984.  I recall it as a nice sunny day and that I saw the movie Footloose that night before.  It was definitely a nice sign of relief for freshman year to be done with.

I suppose she is feeling the same now.

Thursday March 7

A nice day today.  Yesterday was a "blue" day - just couldn't get too excited about anything (except the Wed. night church).  So I intended to get a good start today and did just that.

My car is still in the shop and its been so nice driving a nice new loaner that I decided it might be time to look and see what else is out there.  So I sent an email to my friend Larry.  We'll let him run with that ball.

Tomorrow is Friday and spring break starts so Sarah will be home next week.  That will be nice to catch up.  Of course, I'm sure she's planning to see friends, sleep late, go out, so I might not do as much catching up as expected.

Looking forward to March Madness starting Thursday March 21.

Also Daylight Savings starts this Sunday.  Last year I was in San Francisco for that.  Sure wish I was back there at the Olympic Club playing golf! :)