RVing Fulltime with Tom and Ella

MUSINGS- May 19 2018

WAY TO BURY THE LEDE**

Acts 2:14-21
“Then Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. In a loud voice he said to them, “Men of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand this, so pay attention to what I say. These men are not drunk as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning. Rather, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will speak what God has revealed. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour my Spirit on my servants, on both men and women. They will speak what God has revealed. I will work miracles in the sky and give signs on the earth: blood, fire, and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will become as red as blood before the terrifying day of the Lord comes. Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’’”

Every good newspaper editor knows that you start the article with the most important part. First you paint the picture with broad strokes and then drill down to the details. This is done because most people read a headline and a few following sentences and then skip to the next thing that catches their eye.

If I were Peter’s editor I would ask him if the most important thing that I am to take away from this article is that the disciples weren’t drunk?

No, of course not. The important part of this story was (and still is) “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”. That should come right under the headline 3,000 People Saved.*

However, Peter was a fisherman not a newspaper man. Nor was he, until that very day, a preacher. Even as a preacher he could have used some pointers on a proper outline and using bullet points. But then he had 3,000 converts that day which goes to prove, if you are led by the Holy Spirit, miraculous things can happen … no matter what you say.

Here is what I want you to remember … if the Holy Spirit says, “speak”, speak. And, I know, I buried the lede**

*Acts 2:41

** lede – noun – the opening sentence or paragraph of a news article, summarizing the most important aspects of the story.

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2018 May 18 Friday

2018 May 18 Friday in Grimes Iowa

59° calm and clear morning today.

Mr House Finch at our feeder.

While Mrs Finch kept an eye out up above.

We get quite a few birds here in addition to the house finches, there are gold finches, Orioles, Downey woodpeckers, several varieties of sparrows, wrens, white-eyed grackles, and an occasional. Flicker. Then below the feeder you’ll find; robins, brown thrushes, more grackles, cowbirds, Cardinals, blue Jays plus rabbits, squirrels and ground squirrels. As I was writing this, I looked up and a male Cardinal was on the top of the hook above the feeder. Knowing how skittish they are with even the slightest movement I took a quick shot which makes it appear he’s sitting on my travel mug in the foreground.

I worked the morning shift (8-2:30) today. I prefer mornings for several reasons. One, I’m a morning person. By eight o’clock I feel that the day it’s half over. Plus the cash drawer is always right when I get there; which sad to say isn’t always true for the afternoon shift. Mistakes happen and it may take some time to untangle the knot. I’ve made my share.

The traffic at the fee booth is different in the morning also. Less people checking in … more checking out. Mornings are also when most people come to pay the electric bills on their seasonal sites, buy golf cart license plates and/or yearly tags. I think more folks come to check out basketball and tennis equipment while it is cool in the morning also.

In the evening e played cards jackpot at Cutty’s Adult Center. 1 won twice (9 nickels total) which means it only cost Ella and I combined sixty cents to play.

The sun was just about to set when we came out from our games.

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2018 May 17 Thursday

2018 May 17 Thursday in Grimes Iowa

62° and mostly clear this morning. Tried very hard to reach 83° today. Altogether a nice day with just enough breeze to be comfortable.

On the way to the senior center, we stopped at the post office. I received more meds.

As usual we played games and ate. We had a special speaker today. Honestly, I don’t know what he talked about. Because after he started with some lame jokes, I quit listening. I spent the time reading my emails and checking out Facebook.

Ella had a pencil portrait of her mother in a glass covered frame. She had taken it to the Grimes senior center for Mother’s Day. However, after she brought it home she broke the glass and damaged the frame.

This afternoon we went to Hobby Lobby and got it in a new frame with new glass.

Then we went to Nathan and Beth’s so we could see the great grand kids. This is the first time in over seven months that I’ve seen them.

When we returned to Cutty’s, we went to the Fireside Cafe for pizza. I ordered “the heavy” which is topped with every ingredient that they have (except onion to which I’m allergic). I then scraped the toppings from the crust and ate only the toppings. Trying to avoid the carbohydrates but get the protein and veggies.

That’s all for today. Goodnight y’all.

Visit my other blog “Musings”

https://wordpress.com/post/musingsdevotions.wordpress.com/51

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2018 May 16 Wednesday

2018 May 16 Wednesday in Grimes Iowa

58° and clear this morning. I worked at the fee booth from 8 to 2 today. I had a new employee with me so that I could continue his training.

After work we went to Village Inn for pie. Tom & Sue, Sandy & Francis, Keith & Jean, Gail, Luella, and Ella & I all gathered for pie and conversation.

In the evening Ella and I went to Cutty’s Adult Center to play Mexican train dominoes. We were the only ones there. We played a couple of games while we waited. After a while we gave up and put everything away.

The sun was getting low in the west as we came out of the Adult Center.

We need a few groceries so it was up to Walmart. The sun was setting as we left there. I pulled over to the side of the road while Ella snapped a photo.

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2018 May 15 Tuesday

2018 May 15 Tuesday in Grimes Iowa

59° and hazy to start with. The sun came out about 11:00. We reached out high of 76° be 2 p.m.

We started our day with dentist visits for both of us. After a checkup and cleaning, my teeth are good to go until September. Ella gets to go back shortly to have cavities filled.

We headed to the Grimes senior center with just one stop to check for mail. It was early as we arrived at the center so we helped get things set up. Renee, the site manager is on vacation for a couple of weeks. So Mary, her sub, was glad for the help.

Lunch was another carbohydrate laden meal of pasta and bread. I ate the veggies and the pasta to get what protein I could from the meat sauce. Before going to work, I ate some cottage cheese to bring the protein intake up.

And here I am at work waiting for campers to arrive or depart.

It was a slow day at the fee booth.

https://musingsdevotions.wordpress.com

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2018 May 13 Sunday

2018 May 13 Sunday in Grimes Iowa

Rain! We’ve had four plus inches of rain since we arrived in Iowa on May first. I have algae growing between my toes. On the way home from church rain so hard I could hardly see where I was going. Thank God by about two it started to clear up and by four we had mostly sunny.

We got home in time to fix lunch take about a 20-minute nap and for me to go to work.

MUSING – May 13 2018p

THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

1 John 5:9-13
“‘If we accept the testimony of men, then the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater: that he has testified about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God, holds the testimony of God within himself.

Whoever does not believe in the Son, makes him a liar, because he does not believe in the testimony which God has testified about his Son. And this is the testimony which God has given to us: Eternal Life. And this Life is in his Son.

Whoever has the Son, has Life. Whoever does not have the Son, does not have Life. I am writing this to you, so that you may know that you have Eternal Life: you who believe in the name of the Son of God.”“

Being a witness it’s a serious matter. So serious that it is one of the ten commandments*. Indeed it could never be my word against yours. There had to be at least two witness** to determine the truth.

At least twice Jesus claimed to be the Messiah of God.*** And twice the Jewish leaders tried to stone him because he claimed to be God.****

So we have Jesus’s testimony about himself. Now add God’s testimony that Jesus is his Son.*****

Now who do you testify that he is? Before you answer that read the words of Jesus, “Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father, who is in heaven. But whoever will have denied me before men, I also will deny before my Father, who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

*Exodus 20:16

**Deuteronomy 19:15-20

***Matt 16:15-17 & John 4:25-26

****John 8:63-59 & John 10:32-42

*****Matt 3:17 & Matt 17:5

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2018 May 12 Saturday

2018 May 12 Saturday in Grimes Iowa

47° chilly degrees and more rain this morning with occasional gusts of twenty plus. Not a nice way to start the day. But any day in this side of the sod is a good day!

The patio is soggy and it is too cold to sit out there anyway.

Costco is where we purchase most of our nonprescription medications and supplements. This morning I started refilling my pill sorters for the next few weeks. That was when I realized that there were some supplements that I was out of it low on. Off to Costco we went. We managed to escape with only a $70 dent in our bank account.

One of the local eateries chains that like in Iowa is Pizza Ranch. The have a buffet with lots of pizza choices (or you can order one that’s not on the buffet) but my favorite part of the buffet isn’t the pizza it’s the fried chicken. Sorry, KFC and Popeye’s but the best chicken in town is at a pizza joint.

Some friends were celebrating their anniversary with a party at Cutty’s Adult Center today so we stopped in for a while.

After returning home and resting for a bit, we took our dirty clothes to the laundry room in the lower level of the clubhouse. I popped some corn the take with us along with a Rummikub game to keep us occupied while the clothes washed and dried.

While we were there one of our friends stopped me to ask for some spiritual and relationship guidance. This has been happening more often over the past few years. I’m not a trained counselor but I try to answer these kind of questions with pertainet Bible verses.

As we left the clubhouse we drove party around the lake. It was just beginning to rain again as we arrived home.

The laundry was brought in and put away. So it is now time to get the blog caught up while resting in the recliner.

MUSING – May 12 2018

CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS

1 John 2:3-4
“We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments. The person who says, “I know him,” but doesn’t obey his commandments is a liar. The truth isn’t in that person.”

What are His commanders? Here are a few.

Repent – Matthew 4:17
Follow Me – Matthew 4:19

Rejoice when criticized – Matthew 5:11–12
Do visible good works – Matthew 5:16
Make amends – Matthew 5:23–25
Avoid sinful thoughts – Matthew 5:28–30
Be honest – Matthew 5:37
Turn the other cheek – Matthew 5:38–42
Love Your Enemies – Matthew 5:44–46
Be Perfect – Matthew 5:46–48
Don’t seek recognition – Matthew 6:1–18
Seek the eternal – Matthew 6:19–21
Judge Not -Matthew 7:1–3
Ask – Matthew 7:7–8
Do for Others – Matthew 7:12
Stay on the path – Matthew 7:13–14
Be careful who you follow – Matthew 7:15–16
Don’t fear physical death – Matthew 10:28
Invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: – Luke 14:12–14
Love the Lord – Matthew 22:37–38).
Love Your Neighbor – Matthew 22:39–40
Be ready for My Return – Matthew 24:42–44
Remember me – Matthew 26:26–28).
Be Born Again – John 3:5–7
Watch and Pray – Matthew 26:41
Feed My Sheep – John 21:15–16
Baptize – Matthew 28:19
Wait for God’s Power -Luke 24:49
Make Disciples – Matthew 28:19–20

For more of Christ’s commandments go to 50 Commands of Jesus which is where these were adapted from.

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2018 May 11 Friday

2018 May 11 Friday in Grimes Iowa

54° rain and wind to begin the day. Rain went away but temperature only reached 60°.

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain . The pitter patter of a light rain welcomed me from my slumber. And shortly turned much angrier with wind and pelting rain. It didn’t last long and was gone by time to go to the senior center.

Games were played and lunch was eaten. Then we left so that I could get back and to work.

This is my supper at work. Yum!

No sunset photo but I got a shot of the foggy haze in the air.

MUSING– May 11 2018

HEART OF STONE TO

LIVING STONES

1 Peter 2:4-6
“You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God. You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ. That is why Scripture says, “I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, and the person who believes in him will never be ashamed“*

This scripture passage brought to mind the old hymn, The Church’s One Foundation.**

“The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ our Lord
we are his new creation
by water and the Word
from heaven he came and sought us
that we might ever be
his living servant people,
by his own death set free.

We now on earth have union
with God the Three in One,
and share through faith communion
with those whose rest is won.
Oh, happy ones, and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.”

With Jesus as our foundation and 2000 years of living stones applied, what a mighty structure the church united must be. Indeed the Pew Report published these findings, “As of 2010, Christianity was by far the world’s largest religion, with an estimated 2.2 billion adherents, nearly a third (31 percent) of all 6.9 billion people on Earth.”

But, dear Christian, before you pat yourself on the back, remember that it also means that ⅔ if the world is not Christian. Remember also: “The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. (2 Peter 3:9)

As a living stones we have an obligation to seek out those with hearts of stone*** and turn them into living stones.

*Isaiah 28:16

*** Ezekiel 36:26

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2018 May 10 Thursday

2018 May 10 Thursday in Grimes Iowa

52° with clear skies and ground fog as the day began.

Many years ago youngest daughter Heather gave us a gourd birdhouse. And, yes, that is exactly like it sounds like. It is a large gourd hollowed out through a small hole.

Last year I noticed that there were some small sticks inside the gourd. However I saw no activity. This year there are definitely wrens living in it. This morning I’ve seen a lot of coming and going from a pair of wrens. I assume that means that there are little ones to feed.

As my hearing has deteriorated I no longer great many of the birds see around me. But I can still hear the high trilling sound of these wrens. It makes me smile.

We took a little drive around the campground and just enjoyed the beauty

Now, this was an unexpected visit at the senior center. I don’t know all the details about what was going on so I’ll not comment at this time.

When we went back to the campground to check out the adult center.

This is where we hold our worship services from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

We stopped at Verizon to clear up a billing issue. Just before going to IHOP to have supper with a couple of my nieces.

Another great sunset.

MUSING – May 10 2018

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

James 5:13-16
“If any of you are having trouble, pray. If you are happy, sing psalms. If you are sick, call for the church leaders. Have them pray for you and anoint you with olive oil in the name of the Lord. (Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them.) If you have sinned, you will be forgiven. So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective.”

My first heading for this scripture reading was PRAY PRAY PRAY. Because the word ‘pray’ was used three times and ‘prayer’ twice. Clearly the writer of this letter was including the readers to pray.

However, as I re-read an meditated on it I realized that a more proper heading would be DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Because these calls to pray were in response to a need.

If you are sick
If you’ve sinned
If you’re happy

I know that if we were happy we were to sing a Psalm. So technically it doesn’t say to pray if you’re happy. But the Psalms are prayers. They are songs of gladness, worry, fear, exaltation, and the whole range of human emotions.

So whatever situation you are in, don’t get stuck there. Prayerfully do something to move you forward.

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2018 May 08 Wednesday

2018 May 08 Wednesday in Grimes Iowa

62° and clear. And climbed to 73 by the afternoon with a mostly cloudy sky.

Liver and onions for lunch today’s flex meal at the center. The regular meal was a Chief salad. We played bingo after lunch until it was time to go to Village Inn.

We arrived about fifteen minutes before Lila, Sandy, and Francis arrived. We weren’t able to say to long because I needed to get back to Cutty’s to work the afternoon/evening shift at the fee booth.

While I worked the fee booth, Ella planted her Mother’s Day flowers.

And then there was the sunset.