dual personalities

Tag: quotes

November 10, 2022

Food for thought

by chuckofish

Have you entered the storehouses…which I reserve for times of trouble? (Job 38:22-23)

“Our trials are great opportunities, but all too often we simply see them as large obstacles. If only we would recognize every difficult situation as something God has chosen to prove His love for us, each obstacle would then become a place of shelter and rest, and a demonstration to others of His inexpressible power. If we could look for the signs of His glorious handiwork, then every cloud would indeed become a rainbow, and every difficult mountain path would be one of ascension, transformation, and glorification.

“If we would look at our past, most of us would realize that the times we endured the greatest stress and felt that every path was blocked were the very times our heavenly Father chose to do the kindest things for us and bestow His richest blessings.

“God’s most beautiful jewels are often delivered in rough packages by very difficult people, but within the package we will find the very treasures of the King’s palace and the Bridegroom’s love.”

–A. B. Simpson (1844-1919) quoted in Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

“Trust God’s Word and His power more than you trust your own feelings and experiences. Remember, your Rock is Christ, and it is the sea that ebbs and flows with the tides, not Him.”

–Samuel Rutherford (1600-61)

We hunger to be known and understood. We hunger to be loved. We hunger to be at peace inside our own skins. We hunger not just to be fed these things but, often without realizing it, we hunger to feed others these things because they too are starving for them. We hunger not just to be loved but to love, not just to be forgiven but to forgive, not just to be known and understood for all the good times and bad times that for better or worse have made us who we are, but to know and understand each other to the point of seeing that, in the last analysis, we all have the same good times and the same bad times, and that for that very reason there is no such thing in all the world as anyone who is really a stranger.

–Frederick Buechner, “The News of the Day”

The painting is by William Bradford, 1859

2 Comments
November 4, 2022

There is no other stream

by chuckofish

“Are you not thirsty?” said the Lion.
“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.
“Then drink,” said the Lion.
“May I — could I — would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl.
…The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
“Will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I do come?” said Jill.
“I make no promise,” said the Lion.
…“I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill.
“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.
“Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”
“There is no other stream,” said the Lion.

C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

Have a good weekend.

Friday Bonus: Here’s Chico Marx playing the piano in A Night at the Opera (1935) which I watched last night. It ought to put a smile on your face.

2 Comments
October 28, 2022

To walk in the way of duty

by chuckofish

Another Saturday night, January 1738-39, I had such a sense, how sweet and blessed a thing it was, to walk in the way of duty, to do that which was right and meet to be done, and agreeable to the holy mind of God; that it caused me to break forth into a kind of loud weeping, which held me some time; so that I was forced to shut myself up, and fasten the doors. I could not but as it were cry out, “How happy are they which do that which is right in the sight of God! They are blessed indeed, they are the happy ones!” I had at the same time, a very affecting sense, how meet and suitable it was that God should govern the world, and order all things according to his own pleasure; and I rejoiced in it, that God reigned, and that his will was done.

–Jonathan Edwards, Personal Narrative
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December 21, 2021

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy

by chuckofish

Four days til Christmas! I am re-reading Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon, the Mitford Advent/Christmas book, to help put me in the mood. It’s the one where Father Tim is fixing up the old nativity set. Standard stuff but always comforting.

I also got out some of my mother’s old Christmas books, including Happy Christmas, published in 1968, which includes selections from a wide variety of books.

This one reminds us that nothing changes that much–at least peoples’ view that times are never as good as the good ol’ days…

Anne is right on target as usual. “In the face of all this searching desire on the part of God, you can keep backing up, like Israel always did, hoping he will get bored and hassle someone else. Or you can be like Mary. You can magnify him—that is, praise his holy Name. You can let your soul rejoice in him. You can revel in the contrast between his great mercy and strength, and your own foolish weakness.”

Here is part two of Paul Zahl’s TCM picks for December. I have to say, I really disagree with him about King of Kings (1961) which he still really likes. I loved it as a child (Jeffrey Hunter is dreamy) and the music is great, but it is unbiblical and really pretty bad.

And here’s the Charlie Brown Christmas Medley (with all the parts played by Josh Turner) to put you solidly in the mood for mistletoe and presents for pretty girls…

And this made me laugh.

7 Comments
October 18, 2021

A bushel and a peck

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Mine turned out to be very busy and with way more socializing than I am used to.

The OM and I spent five hours going to the Newcomer Classes at our new church (on Friday night and Saturday morning). It was time well spent, but it was a lot for my aging brain to take in.

“This is why Paul upholds the teaching of the gospel in such a forceful way … Seeing such an example and such a picture of man’s great weakness and fickleness, Paul states that the truth of the gospel must supersede anything that we may devise … he is showing us that we ought to know the substance of the doctrine which is brought to us in the name of God, so that our faith can be fully grounded upon it. Then we will not be tossed about with every wind, nor will we wander about aimlessly, changing our opinions a hundred times a day; we will persist in this doctrine until the end. This, in brief, is what we must remember.”

–John Calvin, Sermon on Galatians

On Saturday afternoon I brought in all the plants from the Florida Room and attempted to find suitable winter homes for them throughout my house. Exhausting. Then I took a quick nap before going out to celebrate our 41st (!) anniversary with some old friends at a nice restaurant.

Kids, 1980

On Sunday, instead of going to church with the boy and the wee twins as planned, the OM and I drove to Jefferson City where daughter #1 had purchased a Power Wheels Raptor for the twins at Walmart (spoiler alert: combo birthday/Christmas present from all of us)…

…but, curses, had discovered that it would not fit in her Mazda. (There is a lot of backstory here, but I will not go into it. Suffice it to say, we have been looking high and low for the aforementioned truck, so when she found one, she jumped on it.) So we drove to JC, picked her up and hustled over to Walmart where they were holding it. Two nice young men brought it out to the OM’s SUV…

…only to discover that it was too big for his car! Luckily we were in mid-MO where the two young men took it upon themselves to make it fit. They took it out of the box and persuaded it to fit. Bravo.

We thanked them kindly and headed to Steak ‘n Shake for lunch. Then we bid adieu to daughter #1 and drove back to our flyover town and managed to unload the Raptor into the garage, where we will put it back together at some later date.

What a weekend! I must say, it was a beautiful weekend, weather-wise–crisp and cool. I watched Circus World (1964) starring John Wayne, Claudia Cardinale and Rita Hayworth on Sunday night, which rounded out the weekend nicely.

5 Comments
August 23, 2021

“In the tempests of life, on its wide heaving sea, thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in thee”*

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? It was blazing hot here (well, not that hot) but at least there were no damaging storms to wreck havoc and make a big mess.

On Friday, the boy brought the twins over for a visit. Lottie complained about being hot…

while the wee laddie got busy emptying out the garage.

After a couple of hours, we did go inside where we ate some pretzels and cooled off.

Daughter #1 drove home that late afternoon after a busy week in JC for some downtime in our flyover town. On Saturday we were very successful at an estate sale and I bought a classic Forshaw wrought iron table and chairs for our patio. I have been on the lookout for a nice set for a couple of years, so I was very pleased. And what a bargain! The boy picked them up on Sunday morning before he opened his store and we went to church. How nice to have a son with a truck who so cheerfully pitches in!

Later on Sunday the boy came back for tacos with the wee babes. (Daughter #3 was getting ready for the first day of school today.)

Lottie still balked at playing outside, but Aunt Mary was there this time to make it all okay.

Fun times.

But it occurred to me the other day that I was way behind in pre-Christmas planning/present stockpiling. For some reason, I feel very unmotivated this year. I’m not sure why. Uncertainty about the world order? Feeling anxious about the end times? Wondering what God is requiring of me today?

When as the grass the wicked grow,

when sinners flourish here below,

then is there endless ruin nigh,

but you, O  Lord, are throned on high;

Your foes shall fall before your might, the wicked shall be put to flight.

Hymn #635

Yes, I remind myself constantly, our Lord is throned on high.

Cheer up, Christian! Things are not left to chance: no blind fate rules the world. God hath purposes, and those purposes are fulfilled. God hath plans, and those plans are wise, and never can be dislocated.

Charles Spurgeon

*William O. Cushing, 1876

4 Comments
July 13, 2021

“And so the seasons went rolling on into summer”*

by chuckofish

Sorry I am late with Paul Zahls’ recommendations for TCM viewing in July. I don’t check the Mockingbird site as regularly as I used to, because a) I am no longer an Episcopalian and b) I am kinda done with their glib, never quite serious attitude which is so prevalent in hipster Christians. Why can’t they admit they are just a bunch of nerd believers (like me)? Anyway, PZ is great and I love him.

“Of all preaching in the world, (that speaks not stark lies,) I hate that preaching which tendeth to make the hearers laugh, or to move their mind with tickling levity, and affect them as stage-players use to do, instead of affecting them with a holy reverence of the name of God.”

–Richard Baxter, “The Reformed Pastor,” 1615-91

Erica Wilson: A Life in Stitches, a new exhibition at the Winterthur Museum, looks interesting. It delves into the life and work of the “Julia Child of needlework.” I remember Erica Wilson and her needlework kits back in the 1970s and 80s. Our mother appreciated her historically referenced work. She also had a successful 1970s television program that taught needlework and was one component of many business ventures that included embroidery kits, books, newspaper and magazine columns, public appearances, and a store bearing her name on New York’s Madison Avenue.

A belated happy birthday to Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817-May 6, 1862). I would toast him, but you know, he said, “”I would fain keep sober always. … I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man; wine is not so noble a liquor. … Of all ebriosity, who does not prefer to be intoxicated by the air he breathes?” So I’ll take a walk instead.

And here’s Travis Tritt’s new song/video, “Set in Stone.”

*Henry David Thoreau, “Walden”

6 Comments
November 23, 2020

“Before the fiddlers have fled”*

by chuckofish

Well, it was a quiet weekend all around. It was gray and cold and rainy–the kind of weather when you feel justified in staying home and reading a Mitford book in bed. I also tidied up in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday. I wrapped some Christmas presents and also some birthday presents for upcoming family anniversaires. The boy stopped by to pick up some cookies I made for the wee babes.

It was a good weekend, if a quiet and uneventful one.

I have shared a lot of quotes about thankfulness over the years, but I have to say, I really like these words from straight-talkin’ John MacArthur:

“Don’t complain when you’re in bad circumstances; cultivate a heart of thankfulness instead. If you’re not a thankful person, it’s because you think you deserve better circumstances than those you currently have. But if you got what you deserved, you’d be in hell. That goes for all of us. So be thankful for whatever God gives you. That will take all the sourness out of your life.”

Now I am ready for my two-and-half-day work week. Let’s face the music and dance.

*Irving Berlin

4 Comments
October 9, 2020

Help of the helpless

by chuckofish

Truly, the last rose of summer

I read recently that one of our local scions, in his later years, did a three-minute plank exercise each morning, propping himself up on his elbows and toes while singing “Abide With Me,” reciting the Lord’s Prayer and praying for loved ones. I think this is just a great exercise plan and I have started doing it. So far, I am unable to maintain the plank for the full time, so I shift into a yoga pose taught to me by one of my daughters.

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me

That “help of the helpless” seems particularly appropriate for an exercise descriptive.

Anyway, I am taking today off–no Zoom meetings, so it is possible–and I’m getting some ‘stuff’ done. I am going for my flu shot and I am having my hair cut. Woohoo!

In other news, I am forcing myself to continue reading Jack by Marilynne Robinson. Sad to say, Jack, as the NYT reviewer put it, is “the dullest bad boy in the history of bad boys.”  And he is not, in the long run, very likable. Worst of all, the book is kind of boring. If it were written by anybody else, I would not finish it. Sigh.

I enjoyed this article about scrubbing away one’s anxiety. “This is why I am so glad that my church’s lectionary is taking us through the book of Exodus right now. I’m reminded that we are not the first group of people to be led through hard times. We are not the first people to grumble and whine and not trust that God will provide. We aren’t even the first ones to do dumb things to distract ourselves from the problems that weigh us down.”

I confess that I have contemplated buying a power-washer.

Have you started your Christmas shopping? You know this year it’s going to creep up on us. It may feel like it’s still May, but it is not! It is mid-October. I mean, I don’t want to alarm anyone, but Christmas is, indeed, 77 days away.

This made me laugh:

So get out this weekend and enjoy the fine fall weather! Do some Christmas shopping! Shop local! And remember:

5 Comments
October 6, 2020

“Will you walk into my parlour?” said a spider to a fly”*

by chuckofish

As if things weren’t scary enough in the world, a Missouri Department of Conservation employee took a picture of this is southwest MO:

Allegedly the work of one orb weaver spider, an arachnid known for its intricate web designs, this spider web was constructed between two trees. What the heck was the spider hoping to catch?

Well, it is October and around here that means Halloween.

The limit of my Halloween decorations

And in my neck of the woods, that means house decorations–not just some vintage candles in your window. Some people go really overboard, I must say. But who am I to judge?

There are a variety of skeletons and giant spiders attacking this house…across the street from
us. Zut alors!

If decorating your yard to look like a graveyard makes you happy, so be it. And if you want to spend hundreds of dollars buying huge blow up inflatables, so be it.

I think you’re crazy, but that’s your choice.

A bargain at $199.00!

“All things on earth point home in old October; sailors to sea, travellers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.” (Thomas Wolfe)

I doubt if old Thomas Wolfe ever dreamed of this.

*Mary Howitt (1799–1888)

6 Comments