dual personalities

Tag: spirituality

September 8, 2025

“Oh, God. I can’t wait to get into bed and stretch out. You know, there’s a Bob Hope movie on television later.”*

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Mine was lovely. The weather was perfect. The sky was blue. I enjoyed great conversation, good fellowship at my mini-retreat in a beautiful setting…

I watched a good movie with daughter #1–in fact, my favorite Woody Allen movie (besides Annie Hall)–Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993). There is no bad language, no sex–just middle aged neurotics trying to solve a murder! I love the end where Woody is so relieved to find his wife (Diane Keaton) bound and gagged, but okay–he is so relieved and happy! It is like Cary Grant and Irene Dunne!

And you have to love Diane in a turtleneck, a blouse, a tweed jacket, and a belt!

Meanwhile we are back on our fall schedule of going to the 8:30 a.m. service at church, followed by Sunday School, and then on to a soccer game at 12:15. The boy and I went to the class on “The Power of Story in the Works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien” taught by our favorite college professor with a ponytail. It was very good. Also, our Associate Pastor is back from sabbatical and he gave a really good sermon on Philippians 1: 1-11.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

And BTW I heartily agree with this article by Albert Mohler Jr.: “I try to be appropriately respectful of all elected officials, but Sen. Kaine uttered one of the most profoundly wrong, dangerous, and downright stupid comments a member of the Senate might articulate.” Who are these ignorant people?

Have a good week! Pray hard.

*Larry Lipton in Manhattan Murder Mystery

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September 5, 2025

It’s Friday again–can you believe it?

by chuckofish

Last night my Church Community Group started up again after its summer recess, so I am back to doing homework! We are continuing to read this book…

…which we began last spring. I think I would rather read an actual book by Tim Keller, but this is okay. We got some good conversation going.

Next week my Women’s Bible Study starts back up. We are continuing with the study of Exodus (19-40) by Jen Wilken. So more homework! It’s a good thing my shredding project is almost finis. And in case you are wondering, somehow I have kept up with my daily Bible reading! I just read 2 Corinthians 4–I highly recommend it.

Tomorrow I am going to a ladies’ lakeside mini-retreat at Innsbrook about an hour out of town. I am looking forward to this fellowship time with my church friends.

Here’s a fascinating look at the “secular liturgy” that is Goodnight Moon. This book is still a favorite of my younger grandchildren, but it cannot be denied that its author, Margaret Wise Brown, was a real mess and lost soul. (You may recall that she was the granddaughter of early Missouri governor Gratz Brown, about whom I wrote a while ago.) Her famous book reflects her lostness. I have to admit, I always thought the book was a little odd. “Instead of appealing to a God who holds all things together in his ordered creation, the liturgy of Goodnight Moon simply observes the randomness of an inexplicable universe: Goodnight nobody. Goodnight mush.“

This is much better:

O LET the Earth bless the Lord: * yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O all ye Green Things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O ye Whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O all ye Fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.
    O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord: * praise him, and magnify him for ever.

–BCP, 1928

3 Comments
September 3, 2025

His grace is sufficient

by chuckofish

The Madcaps are grieving the death of one of their beloved Pugs. They are so right about “working” through it. Personally, I have been wearing out the shredder every day, since the OM never threw out a piece of paper in his life. Slowly but surely I am making progress. Bringing some measure of order to the chaos is bringing me joy.

This is a really good article about God’s mercies “even to your old age”.

“The manna in the wilderness was given one day at a time. There was no storing up. God wants us to depend on him every single day. We do not receive today the strength to bear tomorrow’s burdens. We are given mercy and strength to match the needs of today.” 

What a great analogy from Exodus!

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

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September 1, 2025

Postcards from the weekend

by chuckofish

How was your holiday weekend? Mine was delightful. We sat outside and enjoyed the lovely flyover weather and good company.

On Saturday we went to an estate sale where daughter #1 scored a Lane cedar chest for a very reasonable price. Then we went to Meijers in Champaign, which actually blew our minds. So big, so clean. There were even tropical fish.

But then, it doesn’t take much to please us.

We went to church on Sunday at daughter #2’s church in Urbana and heard a good sermon on Genesis 38–God works through what is sinful and shameful to accomplish his glorious redemptive purpose.

And Mr. Smith was a good boy.

I never took a picture of our hosts, but c’est la vie. Mea culpa. Everything was wonderful.

“Lord, help me to glorify Thee; I am poor, help me to trust Thee; I am weak, help me to lean on Thee; I am foolish, help me to learn of Thee.” (Charles Spurgeon – 1834-1892)

3 Comments
August 26, 2025

He must increase, but I must decrease*

by chuckofish

The nice weather continues. I know it will get hot again, but fall is in the air!

I watched the video of John MacArthur’s memorial service which was held last Saturday. (Most of it–it was over two hours long.) Alistair Begg, John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Sinclair Ferguson all spoke movingly of their friend. Sinclair Ferguson, though, is really wonderful. (He starts at 1:51:00.) Interestingly, the Bible readings were the same ones read at the OM’s memorial service! John 14:1-6 and I Corinthians 15.

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (I Corinthians 15:50-53)

As Albert Mohler wrote: “John MacArthur will be greatly missed and deeply mourned. He demonstrated faithfulness over a long lifetime of honorable ministry—a remarkable gift to Christ’s church. His race is now complete—and what a remarkable race it was. But, remember this: Pastor John MacArthur would be the first to say that the priority above all other priorities is that the faithful exposition of Holy Scripture continue until Jesus comes. Soli Deo Gloria.”

Amen.

And, yes, there was a bagpiper.

*John 3:30

4 Comments
August 25, 2025

Deepening personal humility and the amazing bounty of God

by chuckofish

August continues to wind down. I have been thinking more about small joys and I ran across this quote from Pilgrim’s Inn, which I have quoted before:

“…Hilary enjoyed himself, just as he had enjoyed himself drinking the port. Increasingly, as he got older, he enjoyed things. As his personal humility deepened, so did his awareness of the amazing bounty of God…so many things…The mellow warmth of the port, the pleasure of the game, the sight of Lucilla’s lovely old face in the firelight, and David’s fine hands holding the cards, his awareness of Margaret’s endearing simplicity, and the contentment of the two old dogs dozing on the hearth…One by one the small joys fell. Only to Hilary no joy was small; each had its own mystery, aflame with the glory of God.”

I can really relate to this, can’t you? Coffee with a friend, a glass of wine with my daughters and joking about New Jersey “Charbonnay”. The satisfaction of filling in a hole in the driveway with Quik-crete (just add water!) with the boy.

Along those lines, daughter #1 and I went to a good estate sale on Saturday. It was at a big old, well-maintained three-story house in the old neighborhood where I grew up. We got a few books and some pretty blue juice glasses and Lamar gave us our usual discount. We drove by the old manse on Westgate and it was good to see it totally renovated and looking good. Interestingly, it is owned now by a law professor who is also a faculty fellow with the Carver Project. The world is more than we know.

Meanwhile the twins went to the farmers’ market out in their neck of the woods. And the prairie girls got ice cream.

After church on Sunday, daughter #1 and I went to our favorite winery in Hillsboro for the first time this year!

We had a lovely time sitting outside listening to live music on a really lovely day.

So remember, no joy is really small, after all, and all are aflame with God’s glory.

And don’t miss this:

Go Mizzou! What?! (Not a joke.)

4 Comments
August 22, 2025

And let us consider

by chuckofish

It finally cooled off in flyover country and it is quite a relief. We’ve had a “too darn hot” run here in August. Soccer practice was even called off! But it is bearable to go outside again, thankfully.

Kindergarten is going well.

And third grade, so I hear, as well.

Meanwhile, I have been keeping busy and my shredder has been a-buzzing. I am making progress.

Also, as you know, John Wayne movies are my comfort food for the soul. This week I watched The Alamo (1960) and I was impressed. It is a fine, moving film, with excellent performances from all three leads and the supporting actors, including Frankie Avalon. And the last 45 minutes or so brought me to tears several times. Really. I could not find any good clips on YouTube, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Well, I am looking forward to a visit from Mr. Smith this afternoon and dinner at the boy’s house tonight. Tomorrow there is a good estate sale to check out and a chance to say ‘hey’ to Lamar. It’s the little things, right? Never overlook those everyday joys!

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

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August 19, 2025

“‘Rando’ is a slang term for a person of no significance.”*

by chuckofish

There are still an amazing bounty of flowers still blooming in our flyover town. It must be all that rain we had in the spring. Long after the Daylilies in my yard are gone, Don’s garden is still pretty lush…

Meanwhile the twins started third grade and Katie started kindergarten. Sunrise, sunset. And I guess that means the summer is over…

This picture of the prairie girls reminds me of the conversation I had with Lottie about her recent trip to Oklahoma. I said, oh yes, they have great clouds in Oklahoma–big sky, big clouds. And she said (with a bit of a tone) well, their clouds are no better than our clouds here in Missouri! I stand corrected.

Here’s a wonderful reminder from John Piper about God’s provision for us.

We won’t endure on our own. God brings brothers and sisters in Christ into our lives to help us along the path to heaven. That’s actually one of the great themes in Bunyan’s famous allegory Pilgrim’s Progress. Faithful and Hopeful are the friends Christian needs, his fellowship, along his path to the gates of the Celestial City.

And I really like the new Zach Williams song, don’t you?

*Oliver in Only Murders in the Building

Mabel Mora – “I’m a stranger that lied to you a bunch. And you’re two randos that dragged me into a podcast.”

Oliver Putnam – “‘Rando’ is a slang term for a person of no significance.”

Charles-Haden Savage – “I used context clues, but thank you.”

Oliver Putnam – “You’re welcome.”

3 Comments
August 18, 2025

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?

by chuckofish

I spent a lot of time with my therapy dog Mr. Smith this weekend. Also daughter #1 and I went through more stuff. She also played DJ and we listened to old CDs, which we haven’t done in ages. (We bought an old LP at an estate sale on Saturday and that got us started.)

Don Williams is just the best for whatever ails you–I think even Mr. Smith mellowed out to his dulcet tones.

I went to church and Sunday School; the sermon was on Psalm 24.

I love that the Westminster Shorter Catechism answers the question, What is the chief end of man?, so clearly and concisely: to glorify God and enjoy him forever. That is what Psalm 24 is about. God is the creator and we are the worshippers–with clean hands and a pure heart.

Have a good week. Pet a nice dog, listen to some good music, worship God and enjoy Him forever. Feel the joy.

Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

(Psalm 1:1-2)

2 Comments
August 11, 2025

Abide with me

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Daughter #1 and I worked on the basement some more, keeping this…

…always in mind.

The sermon on Sunday was about Psalm 23, which we read, of course, at the OM’s funeral. The scripture reading was John 10:7-30, which includes: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” (Our pastor shared that with the OM on the night he died.) All the hymns were about the good shepherd and we sang On Jordan’s Stormy Bank I Stand, which is a favorite.

Never forget that God promises his presence no matter what our suffering is. His sheep are safe. My cup runneth over.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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