Brother. Have You Got a Dime?

My hat's off to the many of you that have checked in to this website. It is a privilege to count you among my friends, and to come to you again with the possibilities of interesting subjects, as well as conversations to make you think. Right off the bat, I come to you with the subject that I have struggled with time and again on the sidewalk by the parking places, at the grocery store, or at the gas stations. As I returned to my car from the business that I had conducted, I was approached by a person with a story that is so sad that only the hardest of the hard-hearted could possibly say no. "My mother is having surgery; my son and daughter have not eaten for three days: I must get to San Antonio (insert any city close to where you are); and I need 3 gallons of gas, or money for milk and food for my babies." How can you deny a couple of bucks for this kind of request?

How am I to tell you the story that I am hearing is actually true? I see a car sitting at the gas pumps. Two little kiddies are looking out the window with hungry faces at me. The person looks legitimate, even though somewhat tattered. It is a plausible story. As a rule, I don't carry cash on my person. I would need to write a check, which means I would need to return to my residence, for I don't carry checks with me. I want to pause for a moment to remember something that I said when I was initiated into a fraternal organization, which went something like this: "I promise to help those in need from my organization, to the best of my ability, not causing harm or distress to my self or family." (You realize that I am stating this quotation with a loose translation to protect my organization and its members.) What that means basically is that I would be glad to help if I knew that person, had the ability of those resources at my disposal, and could be assured that what I was actually doing was buying food, buying gasoline, or assisting someone who's mama was indeed in the hospital at the neighboring city.

As a part of my ministerial task. when I was a pastor of the parish. was to help the weary traveler, and those who are down on their luck. One of the features of this organization in those years was a network of persons like myself in different cities who consulted with each other as to how we were spending our vouchers and where they were going. There were those who worked the system. They went from the city where I live, to the neighboring city, told the same story received another voucher, and so on until they had actually received more in their voucher systems than I made as a working pastor.

In 1960, I started out from Indiana traveling to central Oklahoma. There were three of us, one being a baby less than a year old. It was before the days of interstates, and we traveled the highways and byways for six days. We started with little money, and by the time we reached the border of Kansas and Oklahoma, the gas tank was empty, and we didn't have a dime. It was evening, when I pulled into a gas station, and told my story to the owner. I took off my watch, and left it as a guarantee that I would return and pay for the gas, redeeming the watch. I'm sure he thought, "Ya, sure. I'll never see that guy again." Three weeks later I was able to return to that gas station, redeem my watch, and pay for the gas. Was I grateful? You bet. That's the way it was done in those years. I never thought of approaching a stranger at the gas pump, or at the grocery store to ask for money. People helped each other then, because it was a different time. I must admit that a part of me regrets the fact that I say no, but another part of me says there is an avenue for people who need such help. Without going overboard in moralism, or preaching a sermon, I want to reflect on where we have been, where we are, and where we are going as a people and a society who triy to live in harmony in this great country called America.

We will be at the TN Walker National Celebration, later we will be at the Morgan National, the Reigners National, and possibly at the Arabrian National.  Call us for details. 

I am developing a page with FREE ebooks for you to download. They are short, but some may be of interest and will start some thinking in these subjects.

Thanks to all will have checked back often. Dave

Some of you have attended my churches over the years, and have heard me tackle some of the issues of the day. There were some that I felt were best left in the discussion-study ministries of our churches, but others needed to be proclaimed publicly. You have heard me say on several occasions that, “Nothing creates interest like controversy.” We have seen God's children (Church folk) going along through life without looking right or left, seeing little around them until something happens. I have observed this over and over. Sometimes I or my family was the controversy. Folks noticed. Something was out of the ordinary.

If you change out the word controversy with “crisis,” you have entered modern politics. Our modern society moves from crisis to crisis, but we are directed to understand the new controversy in such a way as to direct public opinion. We think about issues as we are aroused from our sleep to form an opinion and then move on. There were some issues that were quite important and earth-shaking to me and my family at the time, that when mentioned to a church attender years later, had no idea what I was talking about. It was life-changing to me, but others had their own lives to live. I hope we all made the right decisions at the time.

I hope you have noticed that our society has operated on this principle for the past 70 or 80 years. People in leadership have hoped that you didn't really notice what was really happening in our society, or observe the changes that do affect our very existence. Because we didn't notice the new idea, new change, new law, or new direction, it comes as a surprise when we get a letter telling us of a new demand. “Nothing will change without a crisis” may be my new saying. Someone else has said, “Let no crisis be wasted!”

Let me tell you of a world view of the forties, but use farm animals to represent the nations: we were to hate the bulls (Germans), and the foxes, but love the bears. We found a place for the lynx, and called them our friend. Public opinion, and world crisis told us later, to love the bulls, and the fox, but hate the bears. The lynx was still on our side. In the sixties we were to hate the tigers who helped the deer fight against us, while the tigers and the bears were building alignments against us in what was called the “Cold War.” Now we hated the bears, but the tigers were manufacturing many of our products, and supporting our financial system. The bears tried to set up bases in Cuba and were rejected. And on it goes. How did we know who the players were? What did you believe? And more to the point, “Why did we change our minds as to which ones we loved or hated? The Missile Crisis, brought us to our feet, as reported by the newspaper and TV. The death of a president caught our attention and the details were easily accepted. When a president resigned, the media told us what to think. Gas lines, Berlin wall, Middle East oil, and wars, all come to us by the media when we are awake, and nothing awakens us like a crisis. Details not important!

I feel like John and Baptist, or a comical commentator who said.”Wake up, America.” Have you noticed that your way of life is moving down a funnel of evil? When a court has to decide whether a pastor has the right to speak the truth in this pulpit, we have reached a dangerous place in our society. One last thing...I have access to a magazine published for retired military people. They have reported the number of times the military has stood on our side against the powers in Washington. They are not the enemy at this time. If they are on training sessions in Southern Texas, I want them in place in case the “bad guys” decide to burst over the border and invade Texas. I want them to stand against the mob and riots of people out of control. History changes because people who wish to do bad things, hoping that “good people do nothing.” Do something – and don't forget to pray. - Pastor Dave

Seems like I have stirred a lot of dust since my last entry, but haven't gotten very far. We have sold and delivered our big truck. Ann has had eye surgery (a cataract removed) and is getting along fine'sh. In her last episode, a roll of shipping paper got dropped on her leg, and we have had several trips to the doctor to make sure there are no blood clots. She has been sitting or lying with her feet up, like she was supposed to do anyway because of her legs. So, our tale to woe...

I'm full of ideas and concerns, since the last that we met, much is happening in the political and financial world. I would like to suggest that I KNOW what the future is going to be like, financially. I hear the same stories and news that comes your way as well. If gold becomes the new way of life, making jewelry and selling may have to be re-thought. On the other hand, all the doomsday conversation may be so much smoke. You are welcome to your position as far as I'm concerned.

I attended by grandson's wedding this past month, now (April). How did that little boy running around the yard at our daughter and son in law's apartment get so tall. Ann and I wish them the best.

Some where the pastor in me rises to the occasion to give some sage/advise. You know “Advice is the worst vice.” I have the picture of the couple signing the marriage certificate. Again, every couple whom I have married have heard me say that marriage is a contract made between two people. Love is nice, is fun, feels good, makes one want to sing, but in the moments when disappoints, hurts, boredom, or a hundred other things set in, the contract is all that's holding. (I have learned that over the years somethings are not allowed – abuse, drug use, inability to work at a relationship, etc may have to be my exception)

I was surprised at a line in an old VHS movie, (doesn't that date me!) which followed a disclosure of infidelity with an older couple. Now grown daughter sees father with a younger woman. She approaches her mother to break the bad news. Mother, who is in the later stages of cancer, says, “I have known about this for some time, but...your Dad and I are comfortable with each other, and I don't want to adjust to another person at my age”. I have always considered infidelity as an automatic reason for a break in relationship. I would need to reassess my “advice” if I were working with couples on a regular basis today. It is still wrong, but not fatal to a relationship. (Maybe?)

Ann and I have reached the ages where we depend on each other for more than a pretty face across the table in a nice cafe. I have always been acquainted older (particularly gentlemen) who have lived alone. Our home is away from usual services, such as grocery stores, doctors, hospitals, senior centers, etc. To get anywhere, one must drive or ride. Some years ago, our friend, whom we had been keeping touch with, announced that she was not going to drive any more, and I could buy her car cheaply if I would drive. Some months later I was driving along when a strange bump came up on the front tire. It blew. It was apparent that she had driven over a curb somewhere and it scared her. She hasn't driven since. Our gentleman friend now in her house across the street is beginning to remark about living along. I realize the role of companion has included being aware to how the other is functioning. To know that someone cares is worth all the tea in China.

Time to go. Come back soon. I hope I have started some thoughts with you. -D