dual personalities

Tag: church

July 27, 2026

Oh, taste and see

by chuckofish

Quelle weekend! Daughter #1 and I had a great roadtrip to Sedalia, MO on Friday. We stopped in Jeff City to do a little shopping (!) and go to Central Dairy for ice cream.

Then we proceeded on to Sedalia. On the way, we drove through Tipton and saw the giant Eight Ball, which is being painted and it looks like a scary spider is on top…

In Sedalia we checked into the historic Hotel Bothwell.

We sat outside for wine time and dinner.

In the morning we looked out our 7th floor window and there was a small crowd gathering in front of the Courthouse next door. Some people had signs and I thought–what, are they protesting?! Then I noticed the sheriff, who in dress and demeanor reminded me of Jackie Gleason as Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit. We ruminated on this situation for awhile and then we noticed all the cars on the block were from the seventies or before.

Well, we wondered, are they filming a movie here?! That might explain why the movie theater marquee was advertising Jaws! Also, the street was blocked off and what we thought was a street fair setting up was probably not. We googled “Smokey and the Bandit remake”. Sure enough, there is a new series for Netflix, which is intended to be a prequel to Smokey and the Bandit, which follows “the larger‑than‑life Sheriff Buford T. Justice and his loyal (if not always sharp) son Junior back home in Montague County, Texas.” The town of Sedalia will stand in for Montague County, Texas – home to Sheriff Justice. The show’s producers said they chose Sedalia because the “region’s look and spirit perfectly capture the world of Sheriff Justice” (a back-handed compliment methinks) and that they intend to showcase the town’s “character, charm and unmistakable Americana.”

When we asked at the front desk about it, everyone was very chill about the whole thing. Well, I guess those tax incentives for MO film-making are paying off.

After we checked out the scene outside, we went to our DAR leadership conference which was held at a nice church and where all the ladies looked like me or older. I sat with someone I have known since high school days–we even went to Smith together. It was very pleasant. We saw the Katy Depot and the Missouri State Fair Grounds on the way out of town.

We took the scenic route home in the afternoon.

Anyway, the moral of this story is, you don’t always have to go to some exotic place to have a fun time! Explore your home state!

On the way home, we stopped in Wildwood to pick up Mr. Smith who, it turns out, had a very fun time with the twins, who ran him ragged (literally).

He was a big hit at the farmer’s market…

…where he got his first pup cup…

Everyone was very tired when they got home.

On Sunday morning I headed to church where I was treated to the men’s ensemble singing “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” at the Offertory. How wonderful to hear the men’s voices! Also there was a good sermon on Psalm 34 (The Lord saves; we cannot save ourselves) and a wonderful adult ed class on Prayer as Encounter with God, led by our Associate Pastor. Church is such an uplifting experience every week!

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

(Psalm 34:8-10)

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July 13, 2026

Songs of thy salvation my heart with rapture thrill*

by chuckofish

Well, we all made it home to our particular homes after a wonderful holiday.

Daughter #1 and I arrived at 11:00 pm (12 hours after leaving Grand Haven), just as the electricity came back on after an outage at my house! Praise the Lord. On Saturday I did laundry and watched several episodes of The Mentalist (on Hulu) in between naps.

On Sunday I felt adequately refreshed to get up early and head to church for the early service. How wonderful to be back! I was rewarded with great music, an excellent sermon on Psalm 32 (on sin!–blessed are the forgiven)…

You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 

…and an inspiring adult ed class on prayer. Our teacher this week was a professor at Covenant Seminary and, I tell you, I wanted to shout “Woohoo!” at the end. I have learned so much in this series based on Tim Keller’s book. It is not often one feels that way these days.

As Anne always says, “Go to church!”

Don’t drift away. The devil is smart. “I want to keep going. I don’t want to waste the years. I don’t want to drift. I want to be constantly paddling upstream, against the pull of the flesh, the world, and the devil.”

“And Nothing is very strong: strong enough to steal away a man’s best years not in sweet sins but in a dreary flickering of the mind over it knows not what and knows not why, in the gratification of curiosities so feeble that the man is only half aware of them, in drumming of fingers and kicking of heels, in whistling tunes that he does not like, or in the long, dim labyrinth of reveries that have not even lust or ambition to give them a relish, but which, once chance association has started them, the creature is too weak and fuddled to shake off… Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

–C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Stay vigilant. Pray hard.

*Trinity Hymnal #551

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June 22, 2026

Then sings my soul

by chuckofish

Happy belated Father’s Day to all the good fathers out there!

Good fathers are a blessing and should never be undervalued.

I had a busy weekend as usual, starting on Thursday. Lots of fun stuff and good friends. This balances out with the beginning of my summertime weeks when I mostly stay home and work around the house. This works for me. The best part about being retired is having my Mondays back.

I went to church by myself on Sunday where we sang “Behold Our God”, “How Great Thou Art” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”–as you can imagine, I was a mess by the end of the service. Our Music Director also sang this song at the Offertory with a teenage boy from the congregation which was likewise great:

It was a two-Kleenex service to be sure. The sermon on Psalm 29 (God’s voice is like thunder!) was excellent. Our adult ed class on Prayer was also excellent. The young men (mostly seminary students) who have led this class are impressive and give me hope for the future.

I would not miss church for anything.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

–Isaac Watts, 1707

Yesterday was also the Summer Solstice–the days will start getting shorter now!

3 Comments
January 12, 2026

Lay your worries down

by chuckofish

Well, I had quite a weekend, starting Friday night when the twins came over for dinner and a movie and spent the night. Daughter #1 and Mr. Smith joined us for pizza from Dewey’s and we watched one of our favorite movies, The Court Jester (1955).

After they went home, the twins and I went to bed. I have four bedrooms and plenty of beds, but unfortunately, as the night wore on, we all ended up in the same bed (mine) and it was like trying to sleep with squirrels. Hopefully we will do this again soon, but I will have to make sure everyone is prepared to stay in their assigned space–my life is not a Shirley Jackson story, after all! Right? Right?

The boy picked them up in the morning. I spent the rest of the day recovering from getting no sleep, but daughter #1 and I did manage to meet for margaritas and visit our favorite antique mall and re-sale shop where we got some DVDs and books.

It was 25 degrees when I left for church on Sunday morning, so I wore my vintage fur coat. The wee bud asked me what kind of fur it was–bear? I said, no, mink. He said, oh, like a ferret? I said, no like a mink. He said he would like to have a ferret for a pet…Anyway, church was good. We heard a great sermon on Rahab (Joshua 2:1-24), a story I’m happy to say I was familiar with. Rahab is one one of those great women of the Bible–a Canaanite prostitute who does the right thing and believes in God, the one God of the heavens above and the earth beneath. After church I went to the new adult ed class which is for everyone and is the Intro to Covenant class, in other words, the newly developed new members class. They want everyone to take it and I think that is a great idea. It is a wonderful reminder of what we believe and why we go to Covenant. It made me very happy.

In the evening I returned to church for our annual meeting. Once again I was very impressed. Our session has a strong grip on things and boy, those Presbyterians can handle money. We send 25% of our budget to missions! And no deficit!

Morning by morning new mercies I see:

all I have needed thy hand hath provided–

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923

And now it is Monday. Onward and upward!

P.S. It was an amazing week for memes, but my favorites are still all the Marco Rubio ones.

3 Comments
November 24, 2025

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Mine was pleasantly uneventful. Daughter #1 and I were moderately successful at an estate sale run by our favorite company–and by that I mean we got quite a few books and DVDs for an amazing Lamar discount.

The highlight of the weekend was going to church and seeing the boy and his family stand up in front of the congregation and be welcomed as new members. When the wee bud returned to our pew he said, “That was the best moment I’ve ever had!” They have been attending for four years, so I don’t think the twins really understood what was happening, but something clicked. We sang good hymns and, I must say, it melts my heart to hear little Lottie singing in her sweet falsetto “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow” from memory beside me.

We also had a great sermon on the final verses of Philippians–4:10-23–and an in-context explanation of I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Ah, the secret of Christian contentment: you may not get what you want, but you will get what you need.

My adult ed class was a panel of elders talking about various topics, including stewardship, and it was very instructive and so incredibly different from my experience in the various Episcopal churches I have attended over the years. At Covenant the session sets a budget and trusts the Lord will provide. There is no lengthy Every Member Canvas, no fund-raising, no talk of gross vs. net pay. This continues to blow my mind. When there is an opportunity to preach about giving from the Gospel lesson, as there was on Sunday, the pastor talks about giving: And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

We went to the Sunny Street Cafe after church to celebrate and daughter #1 met us there. We gobbled down our food and talked about her business trip to Wyoming and Devil’s Tower and giant coal-mining equipment much to the twins’ amazement. The bud already knew all about Devil’s Tower and the legend of the two Indian sisters and the bear, because he is a whiz on landmarks. Speaking of bears, did you know they are wrecking havoc in Japan? Neither twin knew there were bears in Japan and were skeptical when I told them.

I am re-reading Shane by Jack Schaefer and enjoying it. It is interesting to see how it is different from the movie and how the screenplay (in the hands of the great A.B. Guthrie) changes some things and emphasizes others to make a truly great film. I can’t wait to watch it again soon.

Have a great week–be thankful for your many blessings! Be content, give generously, rejoice. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.

(And pet a nice dog.)

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!

–Henry F. Lyte, 1834

5 Comments
November 5, 2025

Come on in, the door is open

by chuckofish

Daughter #2 sent this pic of her street in response to my post yesterday about not much color yet in my flyover neck of the woods. The prairie is ablaze!

Here are two articles about growing older which I found to be very interesting. “This is a plea for aging Christians not to follow millions of your peers in making a tragic mistake: leaving the place, and especially the local church, where you have built up years, if not decades, of relational capital.” In other words, Boomers need to stay put. Retirement ought not be exclusively about playing golf and collecting seashells. “For decades, you’ve been amassing wisdom and experience and patience and perspective. Now, on the other side of a career, you’re finally free to share those riches with others. There are younger men and women in the throes of their early careers, new fathers and mothers insecure in their parenting, teens eager to grow up but unsure how — all in desperate need of your rooted presence.” I think of 80-something John who goes out to lunch with my son and mentors him on his spiritual walk. I think of Allan who keeps the furnace going and the grass cut at the church he has attended his whole life. I think of all the old ladies in my bible study group who pray without ceasing for us all.

(This meme never gets old.)

And in this one Carl Trueman talks about assisted suicide and the disturbing modern vision of what it means to be human. “We might even say that it represents a dehumanized and absurd view of what it means to be human. Our dependence upon others, and our obligations towards them, are what define us. The richest experiences in life arise in those contexts where we are not isolated individuals or lonely egos wandering aimlessly through this world. Love, friendship, kindnesses done, and kindnesses received are not inconveniences but elements of the very fabric of life.”

Go to church! Make some new friends. Share what you know. Learn about Jesus. His arms are open.

And this is for anyone who might need to hear it again:

2 Comments
May 19, 2025

Hearts to heav’n and voices raise

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Mine was quiet, but there were highlights. Also we had a big midwestern storm and EF 3 tornado damage in north St. Louis where five people actually died.

The storm blew through Forest Park, so that at the St. Louis Art Museum about 150 visitors were hustled into the basement. The Saint Louis Zoo has been closed for several days because of damage.

The tornado came pretty close to daughter #1’s house when it tore through Clayton, but we were unscathed. It hardly even rained in our neck of the woods. We watched the non-stop weather coverage for a good hour and a half though.

I went to church by myself, which is odd nowadays, but it was a great service–even though I literally cried through the whole thing–the Kindergarten Bible presentation, the choir singing this:

…and the congregation singing Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.

Yes, I am super stressed out, but that was too much.

Our associate pastor gave a good sermon on Apologetic Engagement, citing I Peter 3:13-17:

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

The people in my church are very good at this, but I confess, I struggle with it.

I did say hello to the man sitting next to me in church who I did not know. He was from Singapore, visiting on business. He had looked up PCA churches online and come to our service–I was impressed. Pleased to meet you! He probably wondered who the strange lady crying next to him was. C’est la vie.

Our Sunday School was an all-church meeting in the fellowship hall where our pastor talked about some changes in the service the session has agreed on, such as the clergy going back to wearing black robes over their suits in our morning services.

Jonathan Edwards

I’m all for it. We are also going to start using wine (in addition to grape juice) during the Lord’s supper, because it says wine in the Bible, not grape juice. Again, yes, agreed. (Did you know that grape juice was invented in 1869?)

We soldier on. Life is not easy right now, but we do not lose heart. “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

And the Babylon Bee will not let the Episcopal Church alone. (I love it.)

Have a good Monday.

4 Comments
March 31, 2025

So we are always of good courage

by chuckofish

The Big News of the weekend was that Lottie scored a goal. You go, girl! She is small but mighty…

I also cleaned up the Florida room on Friday and moved a lot of plants out there. It is ready for spring happy hours. Daughter #1 and I kicked off the season on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday morning the OM and I went to a memorial service for a longtime member of our church. We sang Abide With Me and It Is Well With My Soul and I was done in. (Luckily I had a paper towel with me.) There were Remembrances and Readings by the numerous family members–much love expressed and many tears and why not? There were prayers and our pastor preached on 2 Corinthians 5:1-10:

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on[a] we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

I always loved the Episcopal service for the Burial of the Dead (Rite I)–it is a beautiful service, but, indeed, rather impersonal. I have to admit, the more personal Presbyterian service is all right. And, of course, everyone–and I mean the whole congregation turned out–sings with gusto. The reception was in the Fellowship Hall with cookies made by the deceased.

I was a little discombobulated when I had to get up and go back to church on Sunday morning–at 8:30–we are back to lacrosse season timing. The bud had a game at Noon! But we all made it there and to Sunday School. Our pastor gave a good sermon on Hebrews 12:1-17–throwing off sin, enduring discipline. I also made it to the game which was played at my old school stomping grounds. Nice astro-turf!

It was very windy, but pleasant to sit in the sunshine with daughters #1 and 3 and watch the young cubs play. The bud, I am proud to say, has all the moves and was playing pretty aggressively.

He was the Man taking face-offs!

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet…” (Hebrews 12:12)

Woohoo! And the anticipated storms mostly passed us by. Have a good week!

*Thanks to the boy for the great pics!

4 Comments
March 18, 2025

And also with you!

by chuckofish

This made me chuckle. If you go to an evangelical church you will understand this. The boy and the bud are definitely Village People during the Benediction. I am Hold My Baby (moving tentatively to Mufasa). Lottie is somewhere in there with me. The OM is hesitating between Elbow Flap and Carry the TV.

Feel the joy–go to church.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

–Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

2 Comments
January 20, 2025

Skies could not blue-er be

by chuckofish

Because ice was predicted on Friday night, daughter #1 decided to hold our Saturday morning DAR meeting on Zoom instead of at the country club where we usually meet. I had not experienced a Zoom meeting since retiring in 2021, but it worked just fine, I did not suffer PTSD and daughter #1 looked very glamorous indeed.

Sunday morning we went to church in the freezing cold. I was able to wear my vintage fur coat again. The twins were there with their dad and everyone kept their depravity in check. They drew in their journals with half an ear cocked to the service and the sermon on Hebrews 9:1-14. I am very proud of them. In Sunday School they are finishing up the book of Acts. We came back to our house after church for Episcopal/Calvinist Souffle and conversation. Plus, the boy and daughter #1 got my car set up with Apple Play. I tried to read the car manual but it is all Greek to me. Cars are so complicated now and I am such an old lady! Oh well, c’est la vie. I do the best I can.

Sunday night the OM and I returned to church for our annual meeting. We elected new elders and deacons and went through the annual report. I am so blessed to be a member of this church community. I thank God every day that he has led me to this place and that, although it has taken me a long time to get here, I will finish strong.

So–a typical January weekend. I watched The Court Jester (1955), a movie that I just love. Danny Kaye et al will lighten your mood, if you need it lightened. And if you are actually feeling pretty good, as am I, it will just add to your joy. I told the twins they should watch it and they did on Sunday night–according to their Dad, they were “transfixed”–of course they were! Even the credits are great:

Meanwhile daughter #1 and I are working on getting a new blog launched, so maybe this week we’ll have something to show you. Courage, dear hearts!

3 Comments