A golf buddy/friend sent me this after an afternoon of golf together. erv, After dr. appointment decided needed to lose 10-15#...came home the wife was gone so was going to grab an apple and mow...apples gone so grabbed some chips.. "What was I thinking?" This mornings devotion... "our actions are the signature to our beliefs."
Chasing after the wind! Meaningless! Well, many folks spend most of their life trying to impress other folks. They might accomplish that and maybe not. I just hope that some day I don't realize that I have been climbing the ladder of my life one rung at a time and get to the top and say--I had my ladder set against the wrong wall! Chasing after the wind! Meaningless! What was I thinking! Ouchy ouchy! Here is the test for me (i.e. if I am doing what is right)--Shorter Catechism says: My purpose on this earth is “to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” GeorgeTheCrook says--Ya that is right and folks can do that many many different ways. We are all unique. Sooooo true GeorgeTheCrook. Sooooo true!DuaneTheWorm thinks he can fool folks (i.e. what is he thinkin'). I have news for him, he can't; folks see right through him (i.e. at least most of them do). Saturday question--Are you a real person with a good, true heart or are you a phony person? Only you can answer that question? CrazyMarvin says--I have been tyring to fool folks all my life; what was I thinking! "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There in no one alive who is Youer than You." ~Dr. Seuss~ You are the man/woman! Whoever you are! Abe Lincoln said--"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."
What impresses me. Folks with big, smart brains with even bigger hearts, folks who have a lot of money (i.e. even if they married it or inherited it) who manage it well and are generous with their money and talent and time, folks who have average amount of money who manage it well and are generous with their money and talent and time, servants, humble folks, folks who have little money who manage it well and are generous with their money and talent and time, folks who have self-discipline, folks who manage their life well (i.e. physically and mentally), real folks, folks who love the Lord, folks who are confident but not cocky, and kind folks. Even more soooo are the folks who impress me are the ones who handle diversity (i.e. both physical or mental--to them and to their families). That list of folks would include most of you. Soooooo you impress me. Yes you do. Here is an example of what I'm talking about--While running the other morning, I met an ol' friend (i.e. I do occasionally). I told him he impresses me--why is that--you have Parkinson's and have to walk with a cane and here you are out wobbling along every
morning (i.e. he says I trot along). You could just as well sit on the couch, eat chips, complain and fell sorry for yourself. He said--thank you; but I have a very good wife who is very good to me. Huh, interesting. ~ "All the hardships of this world, Might wear you pretty thin, But they won't hurt you, one least bit...Unless you let them in."~Barbara Johnson~ ~ It says some place--A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. I'm one lucky guy let me tell ya! Such is life.
Maybe trying to impress the wrong folks! What was she thinking! A very old man lay dying in his bed. In death's doorway, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookie wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven. There, spread out on newspapers on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. The aged and withered hand, shaking, made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when he was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife. "Stay out of those," she said. "They're for the funeral."
This impresses me--Bear is a friend who along with his wife have moved to the great NW to be closer to their children. ANYWAY their son Michael is a teacher and does some cadding during the summer. He caddied for Jordon Spieth when he won his two jr amateur titles. Sooo when Jordon decided to turn pro, he asked him if he wanted to be his caddy. Michael took a year off of teaching to do this. As they say, the rest is history. Here is part of an email I got from Bear in response to the email I sent him--Did you see Jordan talking with his dad and Michael right after the regular play was over? His dad gave him a hug and "rocked it" with his fist. And just prior to that a little girl jumped in Jordan's arms and squealed "Jordan! Jordan!" Well, that was his 13 year old Autistic sister, who idolizes him. We met her in Dallas when we down there for the Byron Nelson. Her name is Ellie. Her dad brought her fishing with us one night when we down there. With a special needs child in the family, Jordan's worldview reflects this. I think it humbles him and gives him a grateful appreciation of all that his family means to him. Did I tell you Michael just got married Aug 3rd? Jordan got criticized for taking a week off and going to his caddie's wedding! Can you believe it? The really funny thing is that Jordan, Michael and his lovely bride, also named Ellie, all went on the honeymoon together to the PGA Tour Championship the next week! That's probably why he missed the cut!
I meet Steve Kerper recently on our little day trip. I saw his little sign that said--Custom carved duck decoys and baseball bats outside his business--Washington House Antiques and Steve Kerpers Custom Baseball Bats and Decoys in New Vienna, IA (i.e. population 350). Steve has whittled 2,300 decoys and many baseball bats (i.e. decoys sell for about $200 and the bats for about $130--He says he makes about $8 a hour). That is impressive but more impressive to me is that Steve was a drunk. He said he would drink all day and didn't know what he did or who he talked to at the end of the day. Sooooo he said--I shuck hands with Jim Beam and said, see ya later Jim. He quite drinking and hasn't had a drink for 37.5 years. Then about 10 years ago he quite smoking. Then three years he started exercising and watching his diet and lost 185 pounds. Now that is impressive folks! Sooooo stop and see Steve if you are in his area. Yes, Steve might be loquacious! http://iowamadestuff.com/steve-kerper-decoysLove--hate relationship! What was he thinking. A golf buddy/friend has a putter that he loves when he makes a putt and hates when he doesn't (i.e. one hole his putter is worth a lot of money and the next hole we can buy it cheap). I tell him he needs to talk harsh to it and treat it a little mean to make it behave! I sent this to him--After a lousy putting round at East Lake in 1927, Bobby Jones put Calamity Jane over his knee, but the club got a stay of execution when a passerby said, "Hey, you'll want that tomorrow. You better have a devil you know than one you don't." My golf buddy/friend responded--I love my putter! "If you love them who love you, what reward have you." I told him--I will buy your putter for what's worth!!!!
A friend was telling me that a neighbor, when mowing their lawn, would blow the grass onto his sidewalk. He said--I always wondered--what is that guy thinking; I always blow the grass in for the first three rounds. It really irritated him but didn't want to cause hard feeling soooo didn't say anything. Then one day he came home and his neighbor was brooming off his sidewalk after mowing. They talked and his neighbor said--I never realized until today that I was blowing grass on your sidewalk when I mowed. Da! My friend then told him about his habit of making three round blowing the grass in. The neighbor said--That makes sense. Da! He-never realized it before. He didn't know the difference. That scenario could be dogs barking, loud music, etc. Da! What was I thinking. I was told of a group of guys who got together for coffee. One guy told his buddies that he was having marriage problems. He asked them what they thought would help to shore up his marriage. They told him he was a jerk. Who, what, me? Yes, you. He didn't realize he was a jerk. Da! Everyone knew it except him. Huh, interesting! I think it saved his marriage.
I should have known! What was I thinking! I played in a foursome the other day where I was the only guy not on steroids (i.e. really I was)! How can I compete. I said to NeverMissFrank--Do you think we see things clearer and better when we get a little older? He said--Well, hind site is 20 20 for sure and we probably just see reality better or at least differently. Huh, interesting. Yabut he's on steroids ya gotta remember. He has an advantage you know. NeverMissFrank is one smart man to start with and then you add the steroids. What more do I have to say!
I was concerned about a get-to-gather that we were considering being a part of. I was concerned that it could be a massivehuge "dog and pony" show (i.e. some folks can at times sorta kinda can make it that). Some folks are regular "circus announcers" a.k.a. "ring masters or is that ring mistresses")! I don't much care for dog and pony shows (i.e. showy and phony a.k.a. a performances). They are just not for me. What do the performers think, that we can't see right through this "make believe"! What do they think? It's a hugemassive turn off for me. JoeBlow says--Yabut erv, many folks like dog and pony shows. They just love them (i.e. it's like being at the circus). Enough said folks! LuckyEddie says--It seems like some weddings are "dog and pony" shows but very few funerals. Some circus announcers try to make funerals "dog and pony" shows but you can't much fool folks after the deceased has been around for many years. It's the new folks that fall for the "dog and pony" shows. Huh, interesting. ~ CadillacJack says--Yabut erv, maybe you are looking at a situation wrong (i.e. you have been programed wrong); When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change. Could be CadillacJack. Could be! 
Grandkids can be a good circus show. Some times they don't even know they are the show but other times they perform (i.e watch me watch me). They just make me laugh. We stopped in Waukee and saw Charlie and BudBoyHenry and are now in CO seeing Erin and EastonTheJimmer! They are the show in our lives! And we love it! Such is life.Last Sunday I was playing in a foursome of competitive guys. We play 7-5-3-1 (i.e. that is the best score on each hole gets 7 points the next 5, next 3 and the last 1). We add them all up after 18 and that is how much you win or loose (i.e. quarter a point). ANYWAY on #4 (i.e. 132 yard hole over water) the pin was in the left front. The wind was in our face quite hard. You do not want to be back right as the fast green (i.e wind added) has a nasty right to left break downhill (i.e. almost a certain bogey or possible double). I hit my tee back right and said--What am I thinking! The BigKahuna says to me--I hate to break the news to ya erv, but you're not that good!
I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half a peach on it--Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Footnotes say--Fear God is loving reverence and is the foundation of wisdom. The fulfillment, for all--a far cry from "meaninglessness."
Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (:-
erv
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