Easter's Over, Spring has Sprung and so on

It's been busy. We had our annual Easter pageant. As you can see by pictures, we completely built a new stage for the front of the church. We gave 3 performances, with 300 plus at every performance. In the middle of all of that, I got sick with an ear infection. Fun, Fun Fun!

I got my raised bed gardens in. I put in two of them that are 4 ft x 8 ft. I am tired of mealy tasting tomatoes. I want the real thing. So, I have planted a salsa garden. Tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, onions, and just because, some pole beans, squash, and cucumbers. They tell me birds are problem around here. I am ready. I have located some netting and broke out the pellet gun. I have taken the screen off the window facing the backyard, and am ready for war.

Ok, springhas sprung here in South Texas, and I am taking pictures of flowers once again. The question for all you biologist out there is, what is the name of this flower? It's worth a cherry vanilla coke at Moo Moo Burger, but you will have come here to claim it.

P.S. While at the doctor's office, the lady doc told me my blood pressure was up. She made the mistake of asking me why? So I told her my waiting in the waiting room would do it every time. She wanted me to set there for 10 minutes, and she would be back to check it again. I told her it would higher. Well, it was. She told me I needed to learn to slow down. I told her she needed to run a more professional office. It went downhill from there. I haven't been back, and she hasn't called.

Religion and Church Stuff

Every year about this time our Ministerial Alliance holds it's annual Community Palm Sunday Service. I do not look forward to it. It seems every preacher wants his church to have some part in it, and when these guys get to pray or speak, they feel the need to preach some sort of min-sermon. ( Can you tell I don't like it?) I call it a dog and pony show. All the ministers will set together on the front row together. I guess its to show unity or something. Two years ago they made the mistake of asking me to lead worship. I stuck to my guns, so to speak, and had a worship service. ( I haven't been asked since then) Last year, I was reminded I needed to set on the front row, and to dress the part. Naturally, I refused on both accounts, and sat and dressed with the common folks. This year, I sat on the back row, and watched the parade.

My wife says I have mellowed over the years. I don't know about that. One of my minister friends greeted me last night, and asked how the rebel was doing. The very thought, put a smile on my face. Why, because I have always thought that Jesus was the ultimate rebel. Aren't we supposed to become more like Him as time goes by?

Get real- Get God- Get goin'- Life's too short for more dog and pony shows.

Another Week of Twists and Turns

Let's see I was in Uvalde on Thursday, for A Singing Men of South Texas Concert. It is a group of around 50 men who are music ministers that serve in Baptist churches in South Texas. We did a concert at the First Baptist Church in the evening, and did a mini concert at the First State Bank there. Here's the twist, the bank's primary stock holder is former governor Dolph Biscoe. He had requested we sing at his bank. It turned out to be a really big deal. Lot's of government types and bigwigs. The bank is not your typical small town bank. It speaks of money, lots of money. I found out that Dolph is the largest land owner in the state of Texas.( over 1 million acres) In the lobby of the bank there are hanging 2 original Rembrant etchings. The bank itself speaks of an elegance found years ago. You know the kind I'm speaking about, old Texas money.

Here's the turn. 3 week ago, Dolph Briscoe's twenty year old grand daughter was killed while riding a horse on his ranch. He was very close to her, and this was his first public appearance since that happened. He came into the bank using a walker looking very weak and frail. He was very attentive during the concert and very gracious. Towards the end of the concert, as we were singing Texas, Our Texas, I was close enough to see a change his facial expression. As we started the song, he sat up a little straighter, and about half way through the first verse, he pulled himself up, using his walker, and stood straight as an arrow, until the song was over. It made the hair stand on the back of my neck. Afterwards, he spoke with us. You could see the fire in his eyes and hear it in his voice. I don't remember to much about him as a governor, but he impressed me that day. Man oh man, I'll bet 30 years a ago, he was a force to reckon with.
Here is picture of me with him and one of the other Singing Men.