Fancy profile picture, aboard a ship!

The new profile picture was made on July 12, the day of the "formal" pictures, on board the "Golden Princess" while at sea in Alaska. One of our group of about 120 people made the picture there in the ship's atrium. I am wearing an over-top that I crocheted. I was 69 years old in May. The trip was arranged through the PR and Alumni office of Florida College near Tampa, Florida, which I attended beginning in August, 1962, though nowhere near everyone with our group was an alumni nor associated with the college. We all met at a hotel in Seattle, then were bused on Sunday morning, July 7, to the church of Christ in Burien, Washington, then to the ship. When the ship got back to Seattle early July 14, buses were also arranged to take some to the airport for early flights, and others of us to morning worship. We also had daily devotions and information meetings on the ship. It was definitely the trip of a lifetime, and one that I enjoyed more than a trip to Hawaii in 2006.

WHEN I WORSHIP

When I worship, I want to be sure
that all that I do is good and pure.

I want my actions to have chapter and verse
so that I am right, and not accursed.

The slightest of doubt, and I'll back away,
so I'll see Heaven on that Great Judgment Day.

                                    I'd rather miss things on this spinning ball,
                                    than to miss Heaven ... and miss it all. 


- by Netagene. I wrote that in maybe 5 minutes on August 20, 2013 -

WHAT WILL IT MATTER?

If someone passes me by, and doesn't speak,

in a few years, what will it matter?

If I sometimes cry because I had a bad week,

in a few years, what will it matter?

If I trip and hurt myself, because I missed the door ...

Of a vase falls off a shelf, and becomes a mosaic on the floor ...

If I lose everything because my house burned down ...

If I sing and pray, or if I smile or frown ...

In a few years (or less), what will it matter?

If things go well for days, no matter what I do ...

If I am daily blessed, and feel I'm born anew ...

So what befalls me, physically, for good or bad while here on earth,

It's how I've acted, what I've done, that's the thing that has some worth.

That's what matters ...

God's gift for me is salvation. I know I'm saved by grace,

but I still have to reach and take it - I have to run the race.

How I've treated others, the road that I have trod ...

And if I've studied the Bible, and if I've obeyed God ...

That's all that will matter ...

- by Netagene. I wrote that off and on August 18 - 20, 2013 -

 

TALKING to MYSELF

On my porch, on my swing –

Crocheting maybe, just some … “thing” –

And talking to myself.

Walking down to get the mail,

I use a cane – hate to feel frail (1) –

And talking to myself.

At the stove to heat some food –

In the doldrums – lousy mood –

And talking to myself.

On the couch, reading a book,
My mind wanders with a faraway look (2) –
And talking to myself.

Kin (3) long ago turned away from me,
But God knows my heart (4). God can see

That I talk to myself.

It’s fine that I will never be rich,

But I wish my brain had an “on” and “off” switch,

So I’d stop talking to myself!

Taking a nap while it’s still day-light,

Or lying on my bed (5) at night,

I talk to myself.

But the silent talking -- now please, no jeers --
Is mostly to God, Who always hears (6).

I pray to God for friends and foes.
He lifts me up. He already knows (7)

Why I talk to myself.

God knows my thoughts (4). His hands I’m in (8)

When I talk to myself, or write with a pen.

Though I sometimes feel I’m the only one left (9),

I’m not actually talking to myself.

My talking to God is done quietly (10).

Living alone, it’s God and me,

So I talk ...

(1) v. 2 – Ecclesiastes 12:5; (2) v. 4 – Titus 2:13; Hebrews 12:2; Jude 21; (3) v. 5 - Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; (4) v, 5 & 10 – Job 21:27a; Psalm 94:11; Hebrews 4:12; (5) v. 7 – Psalm 4:4; (6) v. 8 – I Peter 5:7; I John 5:14; (7) v. 9 – Jeremiah 29:11; (8) v. 10 – Isaiah 49:16; (9) v. 11 – I Kings 19:14ff; (10) v. 12 – Psalm 46:10.

- by Netagene, in about 30 minutes while sitting on my front porch swing, 5pm, Thursday, July 25, 2013. I got the idea for this from lines in 2 books that I was alternately reading at the same day. One was a true story by Julie Powell: “Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession”, © 2009, in which I read the words: “inner whisper” near the front of the book – and lines in Jonathan Raban's ''Foreign Land'', © 1985: chap 9: ''talking in the park, talking in the dark with you''. -

The Preacher Says

Ecclesiastes says there's a time for all things.

3:2 says a time to be born and to die.

Chapter 12 tells what will happen as onward we age.

Can't stop it no matter how hard we may try.

Personally, I'm not sick, but I'm falling apart,

just as wise Solomon said,

but I still plug along and do what I can,

until ''this ol' house'' of mine is dead.

My ''windows'' became bad in 2003,

but I still have some usable sight.

And I need aids for my ears, but I still can hear some,

But I often enjoy the quiet.

A congenital problem I have with my feet

has become worse, but I can still walk.

And a real old grinder recently had to come out,

but I can still eat and can talk.

So what that I'm slower, don't see or hear well,

and my speech is no longer real clear.

I'm still above ground and I'm mostly OK.

I guess God's got things for me yet to do here.

God gave His Son and I know I am saved.

I'm waiting for my Heavenly rest!

So even though I have problems - and don't we all! -

here on earth, O how richly I'm blest.

- by Netagene, written in about an hour this afternoon, Tuesday, May 15, 2013, while sitting on my porch. The word: "Ecclesiastes" is the Greek word for "gatherer", "teacher", or "preacher".

Growing Old and Going Crazy

“Growing old and going crazy” –

Something most of us have heard.

Old wives’ tale, I guess that that is –

Maybe real, more likely – absurd.

Some die young, but most grow older.

We’re not promised how long our life.

Each of us will face some problems –

Many good times, sometimes strife.

Sometimes “crazy” is simply meanness.

Aging’s not the problem here.

Bound up in bad is some folks’ habits.

Like dirt, it’s sin that some will wear.

Some act crazy, silly, pompous – 

Nothing that has to do with age.

A crazy rant might be emoting.

The actor might be quite a sage.

Be godly, gracious. Don’t become grouchy.

It’s possible, whether young or old.

Yes, it takes work but I can do it

I aim – and live in the Good Shepherd’s fold.

- by Netagene. I wrote this in a few minutes the evening of April 23, 2013, during worship (shame on me!), using a couple of lines I had scribbled, said by preacher David Holder, during another of his sermons, at the Huffman church of Christ, Birmingham, Alabama. David is from Nashville but has lived and preached for the Castleberry church in Fort Worth, Texas, for years.

LOOKING for a RAINBOW

I'm looking for a rainbow
during a raging storm's lull.
The sun's behind the clouds now.
The sky's overcast and dull.
The air is whispery, eerie calm.
following after blowing wind.
Only pitter-patter droplets
where downpour just has been.

I'm still looking for a rainbow,
but more dark clouds are moving in.
Listen! Distant thunder!
The stillness becomes wind.
Even though it's only mid-day,
street lights are coming on.
School buses are running early,
bringing children safely home.

The clock says it is day-time,
but the sky's near black again.
The storm's calm eye's passed over.
Here comes more howling wind.
Whether weather, whether life,
I prefer the calm, the sun,
but it take rain to make a rainbow,
and Heaven waits when this life's done.

- by Netagene. I wrote that on this day, in about 30 minutes, while sitting on my porch during the storm. Prayers going to people in other areas in a few other states, which got the brunt of the eastward moving storm. There were a few deaths and a good bit of destruction in some places.