dual personalities

February 20, 2024

Pop quiz

by chuckofish

We haven’t had a pop quiz in a while, so I thought, it being the day after Presidents Day, we would have a quiz about U.S. Presidents in the movies.

  1. Not surprisingly, Abraham Lincoln appears as a character in the most number of movies. Which presidents appear the second and third most times?
  2. Henry Fonda played Abraham Lincoln in Young Mr. Lincoln (1939). Which President’s son did he play in The Longest Day (1962)?
  3. What President did Harry Carey, Jr., Tom Selleck and Robin Williams all play?
  4. Character actor Sidney Blackmer played this President five times, most notably in Buffalo Bill (1944).
  5. Who played Andrew Jackson twice?
  6. In how many movies does Shirley Temple sit on President Lincoln’s lap?
  7. Did Ronald Reagan ever “play” a President before he retired from acting and went into politics?
  8. Raymond Massey played President Lincoln twice in the movies and several times on television. The photo at the top shows him in what movie?

How did you do? I’ll post the answers in the Comments section later today.

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure conduct. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in thy Name, we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

–BCP
7 Comments
February 19, 2024

It’s the same old song

by chuckofish

Friday we got several inches of snow. Plans were canceled.

But the sun came out on Saturday and we were back in action, venturing to an estate sale and even Costco with daughter #1.

On Sunday we went to church and during the adult ed hour heard from two of our missionaries, one in Mexico and one in Connecticut. I find it fascinating that Connecticut (and New England in general) is a mission field. But with 5% of people attending church, it really is.

I made a new breakfast casserole which incorporated bagels, eggs, bacon, cheese. The consensus was positive, so I will make it again. The twins had fun frolicking with Mr. Smith, whom they had not seen in several weeks. “Smitty!”

I want someone to make me one of these…DN?

And I think this is funny:

I heard the boogie man checks under the bed for Chuck Norris.

Happy Monday!

5 Comments
February 16, 2024

“But it’s a five o’clock world when the whistle blows/No one owns a piece of my time.”

by chuckofish

Happy Friday, readers! As usual, it’s the end of a long week and I don’t have much for you. Of course, I do have Mr. Smith content. My sweet valentine got two new chew toys and was very pleased with them.

I worked from home today, and the sun was out and it was above 50 degrees, so we took a nice long walk. I like my little neighborhood and enjoy walking Mr. Smith so much. I always feel very thankful that by some miracle I ended up where I did.

In other fascinating news, my Apple Music has been on a real good bender. If you play a song on Apple Music, it will make selections that are similar. I played a Suzy Boggus song and so for several days it has been churning out hits and deep cuts from other early 90s greats like Patty, Hal Ketchum, Mary Chapin Carpenter and others. It’s a real treat.

I mean, who doesn’t want to listen to Hal yodel while stuck in traffic on Highway 40?

3 Comments
February 15, 2024

A glowing coal at my heart

by chuckofish

We’re halfway through February and spring is in the air. But don’t be fooled–winter is still here and it will turn cold again. And that’s okay. The end of winter is in sight. Baseball season is just around the corner.

Tonight we finish Pilgrim’s Progress in our community group. I really cannot recommend this great book enough. You will recall that John Bunyan wrote the book while he was in prison–he was imprisoned for twelve years because he was a nonconformist preacher (meaning not licensed by the state church). That he knew his Bible throughly is evident on every page. Charles Spurgeon famously said that Bunyan “is a living Bible! Prick him anywhere; his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him.”

Coming to the end of the book was very moving as several beloved characters come to the end of their journey and cross over the River of Death to the Celestial City.

The River has been a Terror to many, yea the thoughts of it also have oft frightened me. But now methinks I stand easie, my Foot is fixed upon that, upon which the Feet of the Priests that bare the Ark of the Covenant stood while Israel went over this Jordan. The Waters indeed are to the Palate bitter, and to the Stomack cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the Conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing Coal at my Heart.

I see my self now at the end of my Journey, my toilsome Days are ended. I am going now to see the Head that was Crowned with Thorns, and that Face that was spit upon, for me.

I have formerly lived by Hear-say, and Faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him, in whose Company I delight my self.

I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of, and wherever I have seen the print of his Shoe in the Earth, there I have coveted to set my Foot too.

–Mr. Stand-fast

Here are ten things you should know about The Pilgrim’s Progress.

And here’s a Valentine bonus pic of Ida B. in a red jumper made by her great-grandmother.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

4 Comments
February 14, 2024

The best kind of love

by chuckofish

Happy Valentine’s Day, loyal readers!

Do you have special plans? Me neither. The OM and I will watch Bullitt (1968) which is our Valentine tradish. He will probably fall asleep.

Here is a fine poem by Billy Collins to celebrate the day…

And lest we forget: this. You’re welcome.

2 Comments
February 13, 2024

The earthly tent we live in*

by chuckofish

We are off to another unseasonably warm week and I am not complaining.

I am slowly putting my house back together. I keep finding baby dolls and plastic cups and packages of wet wipes in odd places that remind me of our sweet visitors. Luckily now I do not have to pack up a box of odds and ends to send back to them but can wait until they/we visit again.

Also note: the amaryllis is blooming again. They are truly amazing plants.

I also caught up on my daily Bible reading. I was a tad behind.

Q: How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? 

A: That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer, receive it with faith and love, lay it up in your hearts, and practice it in your lives. 

Q: If the matter we read or hear be good, is not that enough for our salvation? 

A: No, God requires that the word be read and heard in a due manner, and the manner of hearing is of special regard with God; Luke 8:18. Take heed therefore how ye hear. 

–John Flavel (1627-91)

Here are a few good things to read…This is an interesting article about whether we should pray the “vengeance” psalms. The boy and I were just discussing the issue of vengeance and how it is right “to leave room for the wrath of God.” However, I am all for reading those psalms which some find offensive, especially Psalm 58. The Anglicans, no surprise, exiled the imprecatory prayers from the psalter after WWI.

Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones?
Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
2 No, in your heart you work wickedness;
You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent;
They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
5 Which will not heed the voice of charmers,
Charming ever so skillfully.

6 Break their teeth in their mouth, O God!
Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7 Let them flow away as waters which run continually;
When he bends his bow,
Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.
8 Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes,
Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the burning thorns,
He shall take them away as with a whirlwind,
As in His living and burning wrath.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
11 So that men will say,
“Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely He is God who judges in the earth.”

–Psalm 58

Food for thought. Read the article!

And this is about President Lincoln, the almost-Presbyterian. Very interesting.

And the inimitable Joni Eareckson Tada writes about grumbling.

The Lord be with you and bless you today.

*I Corinthians 5:1

4 Comments
February 12, 2024

Beer for my horses

by chuckofish

What a strange two weeks this has been! Daughter #2 and DN are moved in, but not totally settled in yet. That will take some time. Their new home is great–unfortunately I took no pictures when I was there–and the University of Illinois is very impressive. I liked Champaign-Urbana a lot. It is the perfect sized small city with everything you want but without a lot of the stuff you don’t need.

After a few days in their new house, Katie said, “I think Mamu is living with us now!” Well, no dear. I certainly enjoyed all the bonus time with daughter #2 and her sweet family, but I am glad to be home. In my absence the OM did not burn the house down. Now I have mountains of laundry to do and sheets to change and the house to get back in order…but c’est la vie.

It was so good to be back in church on Sunday. We had a good sermon on the transfiguration and we sang some great hymns. I teared up twice. The twins seem very grown up after spending so much time with a three-year old and one-year old! They came over for bagels after church and played contentedly with their old toys. The bud sang the doxology without prompting to show me that he knows all the words.

Daughter #3 made this updated sweatshirt for me (Wheeler, Lottie, Katie, and Ida), which I think is pretty great, don’t you?

In other news, I was sad to hear that ol’ Toby Keith had died. He was one-of-a-kind. I liked his attitude: “How do you like me now?” And I did love that deep vibrato of his. We’ll toast him tonight.

You gotta saddle up your boys
You gotta draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
And we’ll all meet back at the local saloon
We’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces
Singin’ whiskey for my men, beer for my horses

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

4 Comments
February 9, 2024

I’m still standing

by chuckofish

We made it to Illinois on Tuesday–Katie spent a full two hours “reading” aloud old Golden books from Mamu’s vast collection. (Katie took all the books with “Katie” in the nameplate.) Ida dutifully listened appreciatively.

Since arriving we have been unpacking boxes at a slow rate. DN worked his magic in the kitchen and everything is pretty much put away and functional. He has so much space now!

We went to the local Schnucks (twice) and are working on getting back into a sleep routine. We are going to check out the University after nap this afternoon and go out to dinner. Then I’ll head home in the morning.

Hopefully, all will be back to normal next week!

4 Comments
February 6, 2024

Still hanging in there

by chuckofish

Today daughter #2 and I are headed to C-U today with the girls.

DN left yesterday– He is very excited and happy to start work in person. The movers will also arrive today (allegedly) so there will be a lot to do. I am leaving my house in an absolute shambles and the OM in it, recovering from the dreaded virus which caught up with him Sunday night. He’s through the worst of it, eating rice cakes and drinking Gatorade.

“Listen. Your life is happening. You are happening. Think back on your journey. The music of your life…” (Frederick Buechner, The Sacred Journey)

All will be well.

Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!

–Psalm 66:20
3 Comments
February 5, 2024

How’s it goin’?

by chuckofish

I have lost all sense of time over the last few days since daughter #2 arrived with her family–you know how it is when the dishwasher is literally running three times a day. And also the washing machine. Plus everyone (except the OM) got sick with some stomach virus and we have been cleaning up bodily fluids since Friday. I barely got out of bed on Friday.

We were on the mend by Saturday. And some of us managed to do a few normal things…

…but you can tell around the eyes that things are not 100%.

Then daughter #2 got sick early Sunday morning and I had a relapse. I was unable to go to church for our new senior pastor’s first Sunday and I missed the last Sunday School class of the TULIP–Perseverance of the Saints. Did I mention that poor Ida is teething?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

–James 1:2-4

Lord, have mercy upon us.

4 Comments