The Muse is Loose

Two thousand two hundred thirty will be a red-letter day for Bernard Madoff. On that day he can walk, or be rolled out of prison, a free man. He will be 221 year old. The courts gave him a 150 year sentence with no parole. All of this seems to me a bit of a farce. How and why are sentences so ridiculously long, and mean so little? It's the court system that has gradually gone haywire. In Goliad, Texas, where our son-in-law and family are soon moving, there is a large live oak tree on the court house lawn. It is an historically true "hanging tree". Court was held inside and justice was rendered outside, often on the same day. This man Madoff committed what some are calling the largest financial fraud in history. Thousands have lost all their life savings. Institutions who trusted him have been bilked. His crimes are murderous. He should receive a murderer's penalty. Of course we are heavily in to wrist-slapping in our wimp-courts. Corpus Christi is finally getting ready to enforce a law they have had for some time. They will sue parents for damages caused by graffiti artist teen- agers who have done multiple thousands of dollars damage in defacing the city. Of course, many of those parents will admit they have no control over the actions of their baggy-pants hoodlums. It is for repeaters, by the way. Why not the first time? Maybe a parent could be invited to spend an evening with their little angel in the cross-bar hotel.

A final word about unpleasant events: Check your fresh asparagus and potatoes for pot residue. Immigration officials with dog-sniffers uncovered two separate trucks loaded with marijuana at the Sarita checkpoint. Each truck had almost a ton of the stuff. One load was potatoes; the other asparagus. Three million dollars worth ,street value. Explain to me: Did they float it across the Rio Grande and scale the "wall"? Did someone at the border check-stop at the river take a few bucks and wave them through. Take your guess. All of this has given me a headache. Where is my Tylenol? Oh no! It says here the Feds are after Tylenol! What's the world coming to? Do we have any aspirin?

How would you like to be awakened at 12.01 on a Wednesday morning by someone offering you millions of dollars? It happened to some of the NBA free agents. These are guys that are free to sign with another team to play basketball. Jason Kidd was met at the door by Mark Cuban, Dallas billionaire, and owner of the Mavericks. What did he offer at this midnight hour? We are not given that privileged information. In Orlando Marcin Gortat heard a rap on his door and ushered in Houston Rockets General Manager, Daryl Morey, with a pocket-full of big bills. It happened in other places as well. Wednesday was the first day for free agent signings. It appears none of them signed at that early hour. Their agents have to get in the act. It is an interesting phenomenon in the sporting world.

Over in College Station was another person up at midnight. It was Texas A & M University Chancellor, Mike McKinney. He received word of a "no confidence" vote from the Faculty Senate. This came just weeks after the President of A & M resigned. Rumors have it they are thinking of combining the two lucrative jobs to save some money. So, while some institutions are seeking ways to save money, other entities are working to spend it.

Over in Waco their newspaper will now be printed in Austin! Shades of green and orange! What is this world coming to? Anyway, times they are a changing. By the way, America's best-selling car for the fifth year in a row??? Toyota Camry!

In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.....

The declaration goes on to mentioning all the injustices placed upon them by the King of England. Finally, there is the time of commitment; signing this document. It is each one's death warrant if the new country falters and falls. These fifty-six signers were all members of the Continental Congress. The oldest was Benjamin Franklin at 70. The youngest were Thomas Lynch and Edward Rutledge, both 26. Most of the signers are men forgotten in history, but some went on to be great leaders; John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, and Thomas Jefferson. They knew what they believed and put their lives and fortunes and families on the line for those beliefs.

Isn't that what we do when we become Believers? Our commitment to Jesus Christ should be nothing less than the kind made by these fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence. We have no way of knowing if all these men would have stood tall when facing death for their beliefs. We have no way of knowing about ourselves and others if challenged for our Christian beliefs. I think we would each hope and pray we would stand tall in our own adversity. HAPPY FOURTH!

Near our home in Rockport is a bank with four tall flagpoles. Each pole has a beautiful American flag waving on it. These poles reach up, perhaps thirty feet, into the sky. On this day after Fourth of July, I was moved as I saw those four flags waving and flapping to and fro in a stiff southeast breeze. I thought how that flag so aptly represents our great country. Today I saw something in the four flags I had never seen before, though it had always been there. Each flag was different in it's movement. Not for a single moment did all four flags wave exactly in a formation. The breeze did one thing to one flag and something else to the others. They never were the same, though exactly the same in size and shape.

That's our nation! None of us are exactly the same. We are different in color, religion, size, family, economic standing, physique, health, and a thousand other ways. The gulf breeze that blows me in one direction blows another differently. So, we are never exactly the same. Not even in our little family groups.

But something is vital, even in our differences. It is illustrated by the poles. Those poles are exactly alike. They have some "give" to handle the winds, but they are firmly planted in a pillar of concrete. They offer the same support for each flag. Those poles will survive a hurricane when it strikes. The flags will not if they continue on the poles. They will need to be folded and put away until the storm passes. There are times when our country calls for unity of purpose. We put aside our individual ways and join in a common purpose to survive.

I saw all this in those four flags waving smartly in a South Texas breeze.

John begins the Revelation with these words: " The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John" (Revelation 1:1-3)

William Barclay puts some insight on these words: "In Greek the word is doulos and in Hebrew ebedh. Both these words are difficult fully to translate. The normal translation of doulos is slave."

Why would it matter if it is servant or slave? Being persons who have neither of these in our homes it is hard to separate the two. In the time of this writing both were common in households. There is some difference in a servant and a slave. A servant works for wages and can bargain with his boss. He/she can even quit and move to another employer. Not so with the slave.

A slave was an absolute possession of his owner.He received whatever the owner wished to give him. He had no hours of his own except those given by his master. His life, literally, was in the hands of his owner. The worst possible setting was belonging to a mean, cruel, uncaring owner. To be a slave to such a one was terrible. The Bible states that we can be a slave to sin. Sin is the worst owner imaginable for any person.

To have a loving, kind, caring owner was the very best scenario for a slave. He knew that he would always have food,clothing,shelter, protection, and love. He could work day and night for a person like that. He didn't mind what was given for him to do, for the assignments came from one who would always be there, loving and caring for him.

Perhaps the doulos translation of slave over against servant would better serve us in the Kingdom. Doulas brings home to us how absolutely and completely we must surrender ourselves to the Lord. We have sung it again and again:

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to Thee.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love

Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.
Take my moments and my days. Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

To capture this is to be a true servant of God.

That's how Associated Press referred to this rather bizarre memorial service for Michael Jackson today. However, it is not his final act, for like each of us, he will one day stand before the judgement seat of God.

All of this hype and publicity today is not his doing. It is done by those who have used him for years. Be that as it may, it is a phenomenal event with an element of danger. Thousands have come who didn't win a lottery ticket. Many are determined to go anyway. Police have to be quite nervous at this point.

As a man from another age, I cannot bring myself to get caught up in all this. His music never appealed to me. His showmanship and dancing certainly caught one's eye. So did Evel Knievel attempting to soar across a canyon on a motorcycle. I think much of who and what he was reflected where our kids were and are. Does music establish culture or reflect it? I think, perhaps, a bit of both.

To show you just how ancient this writer is I am listing ten of the most popular songs of 1950, the year I graduated from high school. How many do you know? Can you sing them? Why?

Some Enchanted Evening Perry Como
I Can Dream Can't I? Andrews Sisters
There's No Tomorrow Tony Martin
You're Breaking My Heart Vic Damone
That Lucky Old Sun Frankie Laine
Dear Hearts And Gentle People Dinah Shore
Music, Music, Music Teresa Brewer
If I Knew You Were Coming Eileen Barton
Mule Train Frankie Laine
Room Full Of Roses Sammy Kaye

A lawyer and a music mogul won the rights to manage his estate. Someone will get rich out of this. I wonder who?

It was about twenty years ago when Lester Thorp and I went to a golf tournament in Portland, Texas. It was a Ben Hogan tournament for young men trying to make it to the PGA pro tour. We didn't know any of the golfers so simply picked out a foursome to follow. One of the golfers was David Toms from Shreveport. He wasn't very big, but was really good. We were allowed to walk along with the golfers. They caddied themselves. We talked to David while we walked from shot to shot, encouraging him as he played. At the end of the round this young golfer came over to us and shook our hands, thanking us for walking with him. I thought right then how I would love to see him make the "big leagues" and do well. He did and he has! He has placed second once this year already. He is a past winner of the prestigious PGA Tournament. He is ranked among the best golfers in the world.

Yesterday on his website I saw an address so e-mailed him about that long-ago event. To my utter amazement I received this reply: "Mr. Pogue: Thanks for taking the time to write me an e-mail. I do remember the course, the tournament and the conditions. I hope you are doing well. I hope the hurricanes stay clear of you this fall. David"

How is that for class? A man making millions each year taking time to write an old coot like me.Join me in pulling for David Toms on the pro tour.

Today I had a first. It was the first time I had ever taken a jetty boat to North Jetty at Port Aransas. I have fished off a jetty many times but never the North Jetty. A boat is the only way one can get there. Once you leave the jetty boat you are there for at least an hour before it returns. You can stay as long as you like. Miss the last boat and you stay all night! There is no way off except to swim. Homer Hanna and I took the trip to fish. Several other folks joined us. They pulled carts loaded with water, rods, tackle, and whatever. To go to the end of the jetty would be a mile hike. We passed on that. Another option is to get off the jetty and hike the beach on St Joseph's island. There are no vehicles, malt shops, or restrooms. This barrier island is about twenty miles long. It is owned by the Bass family.. Access to the beach is allowed, but that is all. It is a beachcomber's delight. We stayed on the jetty. I saw several sea turtles swim by, popping their heads up to look around. Some really large porpoise swam and dived in the deeper water. Fishing was poor but enjoying such a unique setting was great.

I sat on a huge granite rock and watched the Wharf Cat, a catamaran charter boat, go by heading for the Gulf of Mexico a few hundred yards south. I guessed how high the waves and action would go when they hit the jetty rocks. I missed my guess by one granite rock and was drenched from hat to foot. It really felt kinda' good in the heat of the morning. Birds dipped and swooped and kept me guessing as to their identity. I didn't have binos.

It's a good thing to get away from the noise of the city and it's like. On one occasion when activies for Jesus and His disciples had been demanding he spoke to the men and said: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." . That place for you could be to walk the sands of St. Joseph's Island at about 7:00 in the morning. No telling what you might find.

Judy Small was a young college student when we went to our first full-time church after Seminary. Her dad, Howard Small, was pastor of Calvary Baptist in Lufkin. Her mother was church secretary. She had a younger sister named Fran. This was back in 1962. The winds of change were beginning to blow across our country. Calvary was mostly a blue-collar church of folks who worked at the paper-mill or foundry, or had small businesses. It was a wonderful fellowship of folks. I had a large choir of mostly untrained voices. Our Sunday "specials" came from singspiration song books and such. Judy was active in our youth program. She and Fran were the models of what Christian young people should be. Our ministry in that church was cut short when I was recalled to military service during the Cuban missile crisis.

This week Judy called us. She and her husband are retired and live in Bonham. He had been an
engineer with Alcoa. She had been a teacher. Alcoa moved them to places around the world. She was coming to Port Lavaca, and wanted to see us. We had only seen each other at the funerals of her parents. That was many years ago. We had a delightful visit for most of the day Friday. It was amazing what we all remembered from those brief months. It was also amazing to me that someone would seek us out after all those years. I could not help but think of those words we have sung through the years:
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

There is nothing quite like Christian fellowship. It is one of kinship, for we are brothers and sisters in Christ. It is only a touch of what it will be when we are joined together in the eternal presence of God. Judy's visit really made our day!

Our Pastor brought his sermon from I Samuel 4 this morning. A lot happened in chapter four. Most of it bad... for the Israelites. Trouble began when they took on the Philistines. The battle did not go well and four thousand men were killed. Their leaders decided they lost because they did not have the Ark of The Covenant with them. Men were sent to Shiloh to bring the Ark. When the people saw the Ark they shouted so loudly the Philistines heard it. They heard the Ark was there and it scared them. One said: "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us!" . One of their leaders stepped forward and said: "Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews. Be men and fight!". Fight they did. This idol -worshiping group of warriors fought so hard they won the battle. Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The Ark was captured, and Eli the prophet lost his two evil sons. When the word was brought to Eli of his sons death, and of the terrible defeat; and most of all, the Ark being captured, the old man toppled over backward in his chair and broke his neck and died. He had led Israel forty years! His daughter-in-law, who had just heard of her husbands death, was in labor. She had the baby but died in childbirth. Just before she died she was told it was a boy. She said for them to name him Ichabod. She said: " The glory has departed from Israel" ,because of the capture of the Ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.

There it is. A worst possible scenario of events. Being Israelites did not help them. Having the Ark of God did not help them. They were defeated and devastated.

Sometimes things do not go well with God's people. It may be their fault, as it was in this story. It may NOT be, as is told in the story of Job and many others. We cannot depend on our faith and service for the Lord to exempt us from difficult times. It simply doesn't work that way. God's great gift in times of trouble is simply Himself.

Thirteen years after the start of the American Revolution was the French Revolution. It began July 14, 1789 when militant workers stormed the royal fortress in Paris called Bastille. They went there for arms and ammunition. When it was refused they took the place over. There were seven prisoners at the time who were freed. Their revolution lasted three years. Ultimately, King Louis XVI was overthrown, and about one thousand people went to the guillotine. Among those were the king and his wife, Marie Antoinette. They demolished Bastille. Today the French celebrate Bastille Day as a national holiday. Their riders at the Tour De France are supposed to ride harder today.

In Germany on this day in 1933 the Nazi party abolished all other political parties. This was a giant step toward dictatorship and the downfall of the country led by Adolph Hitler.

The word REVOLUTION has several meanings. It can refer to movement of a star or planet. It can be the movement of any body around an axis. It defines a cycle of events, like the seasons. Another definition is "a complete or radical change of any kind". Finally, it refers to an overthrow of a government, usually by force.

One word can say so much! Hidden away in those definitions is one that defines Christians. Did you catch it? The early followers of Christ were revolutionaries in a sense. The Apostle Paul reflected this in his life. We should in ours. Our Bastille Day could be Easter, or it could be the day when we made the life-changing decision to follow Jesus. As Believers we could celebrate our "revolutionary" action each day in becoming a follower of The Prince of Peace. "And of His kingdom there shall be no end".

She is the most famous painting in the world. Her name is Lisa Gherardini. We know her as Mona Lisa. This world famous piece of art was a portrait in oil painted on a poplar (wood) panel. The artist was Leonardo de Vinci. The artwork was done in 1503-1506. It is not a large piece of artwork, measuring 30 x 21 inches. The portrait hangs in the Musee du Louvre in Paris. No painting has ever been studied, stared at, parodied or mythologized like Mona Lisa. When I was a High School student in the late forties one of the most popular songs of the day was "Mona Lisa".

Mona Lisa wasn't always famous. It took many years for her to become an object of attention. Through it all she kept that mysterious little grin. It was almost wiped off her gentle face in 1911 when an Italian "patriot" who had once worked in the museum in Paris, and was also an artist, decided to steal Mona and take her to Italy where she really belonged, he thought. In a daring theft he carted her away under his artist's coat. She spent the next two years in a suitcase under his bed. When he attempted to sell her to an Italian art dealer who promised she would make her future home in Italy, he was caught, and after a whirlwind tour of Italy, she was taken back to Paris. Just a few years ago a crazed man threw acid on Mona. After months of treatment she survived. A slasher struck and gashed poor Mona. Being the survivor she is, Mona Lisa once again made it back to her place on the wall in the Louvre in Paris. Through it all she is still flashing that gentle smile to the faces of those who come to stare, and gasp, and nod their heads in quiet approval.

Were I offered any painting in the world to hang on my living room wall would it be Mona Lisa? Not hardly. She has had enough trouble. After seeing the antics of Calvin the poor lady would be laughing out loud. That would destroy her mystique forever. I would prefer a Norman Rockwell, or a Barnes or Cowen. Keep that smile Mona!

It came as no surprise to read the headline this morning in the Caller Times: "Least Rain Since 1925". I wasn't here then, but I believe them. They stated Texas was the only place with "extreme and exceptional drought". The drought does not extend all across the state. About fourteen percent of Texas is having exceptional drought. Here in Rockport we are in that number. This area is NINETEEN INCHES below normal. This is a severe drought.

Droughts are nothing new for Texas. In his book, "Rawhide Texas", Wayne Gard researched the drought of 1886. Texan humor never disappeared, even in the face of desperation. "Some said that Texas crows had to fly backward to keep the sand out of their eyes". A man in Anson was arrested for disturbing the peace. He had simply worn a rain slicker down main street. They let him go when he told them he would buy cigars for the crowd. Some said it was so dry the potatoes were cooking in the ground. You only had to dig them up and eat them. Others joked it was so dry the Baptists and Campbellites (Church of Christ) were beginning to favor sprinkling." With all the vegetation gone the birds were building nests with barbed wire." It never hurts to laugh when you can, right into the face of hard times. Was it old William S who penned, "sweet are the uses of adversity". I think I have had enough sugar for now.

" Zac! Zac! Now where is that boy? I need him to help clean out the garage. What is he up to now?". "Mom, Zac is not here. He said he was taking the boat and going sailing." "Again? I do declare that's all the boy wants to do. At seventeen a young man ought to be looking for a job, or hanging out with his friends, instead of sailing all the time. When did he say he would be back?". "He didn't Mom. He is sailing around the world. He wants to be the youngest to ever do it." "That boy is going to get himself killed! He will do anything to get out of normal work."

On June 14, 2008, Zac Sunderland did sail from California, with a goal of sailing around the world...alone. He wanted to become the youngest person to ever accomplish that feat. He crossed three oceans and five seas, sailing more than 25,000 miles. He had a scare from pirates, broken equipment, being washed overboard by a giant wave; but on July 16, 2009, Zac sailed in to port having accomplished an "impossible" goal of taking a sailboat trip around the world. He said: "The hardest thing to get used to is that there's no normalcy. Every day is different. Never being anywhere at a certain time is hard to get used to."

So what do you have planned for today?

Yesterday I wrote of Zac Sunderland's amazing adventure of sailing around the world alone as a seventeen year old boy. He sailed through five seas on that journey. Wow! All but two! Right? Wrong! We have always thought of there being seven seas. In fact they have been named at times: Indian, Black, Caspian, Adriatic, Persian, Mediterranean, and Red. You recognized one is called an "ocean" and another a "gulf". They are thought to be salty. The Sea of Galilee is fresh, and is what we call a lake. Some of the Great Lakes are often called seas. Bottom line is that there is no clearly defined designations for seas. Technically, the Gulf of Mexico is a sea. In fact, there are now cataloged more than fifty seas around the world!

So, you see, to see all the seas would be a challenge to see. I see a sea most every day. As far as I can see there is nothing but sea. Comprende? Si!

The golfing world is in shock! At the British Open (they simply call it the Open) Tiger Woods has already boarded his plane and flown to places unknown. Other golfers with less means have also left, not having made the cut. At the top of the heap on the last day of competition is a fifty-nine year old golfer, twice as old as some of his competitors. It is Tom Watson. He is no novice at the game, to be sure. He has won this prestigious championship five times before, and beaten folks like Jack Nicklaus, thirty-two years ago, but the one they call "the old geezer" is not supposed to be doing this sort of thing now. With eighteen holes to go he has a one-stroke lead. By the time you read this it will probably be over. He may be many strokes behind. Golf can be cruel. One hole and one swing of a club can wipe out seventy-one holes of near perfection. It would be great for Watson to win, but no surprise if he doesn't. He has already DONE what most would have said could not be done. He has done it with style and class and with a controlled game on the fairway and green. It has been a grand three days for the Geratol set.

Golf really is a sport one can play through most of life, if health permits. The goal of older golfers is to shoot their age. That is, to have a score after eighteen holes that matches or is below their age. I have some friends who have done this. If statistics are trustworthy I would have to live to be one hundred ten and have a good day on the links to accomplish this goal.

Will Tom Watson win the big one today? I have no idea. At least they won't be testing him for steroids. If his putts continue to fall as they have he could have another claret for his trophy room. I am pulling for the old Geezer!

How's that for a title? It is really true. Let me tell you about it. I was in Germany in 1955-1956 as a part of the Second Armored Division. This Division was organized by the famous General Patton, during World War II. He was it's first commander, though not for very long, for he would be promoted to a larger assignment. Patton's mystique still hung over our Division. We had many war pennants waving from our Division flag. Patton had fondly named the Division,"Hell On Wheels".

We were having the Division rifle matches with the M1 rifle. The man who won would receive a trip back to the states to participate in the huge match at Camp Perry, Ohio. I really wanted to go. By noon we had fired at 100, 200, 300 yards. I was leading all firers! The man nearest me was Sgt. Stafford, a Master Sergent, and really good marksman. We were friends. Since the match was taking place at his base Sergent Stafford invited me to have lunch with him at his house. His wife was overseas with him. I was surprised but delighted. She had a delicious, home-cooked meal. I hadn't had one since leaving Arkansas! It was wonderful. I ate until I was about to pop. Time ran out and we hurried back to the firing range. Nothing left but the 500 yard targets. If I could do well I would be champion of Patton's famed Division, and be on my way to the United States for a break! We fired from the prone position. As I lay there to begin my firing it became quickly apparent that I couldn't hold the rifle as still as I should. My heart was pumping and my stomach was full. I would take a breath and hold it before I fired but the body would not be still. A bulls-eye at 500 yards is small. There were no scopes, only an open sight.
When I finished my score was not good. I dropped from first place to fourth. No trip back to the states! The winner? Sergent Stafford! This wily old veteran of many matches had eaten lightly at lunch.He had taken me home and fattened me for the kill! His aim was accurate and he taught this young officer a lesson. I had eaten myself right out of the championship. I would be assigned the position of coaching our Division team. Sergent Stafford turned down the trip to Ohio and fired on the team I coached. We won all our matches and were Seventh Army champs.

Did you ever hear,"he ate himself out of house and home"? I don't know exactly what that means. I do know what it means to eat onseself out of a rifle championship. Solomon wrote: "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up; a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress." One of those four fit me perfectly that day long past.

Her face was almost pressed against the glass of our front window pane. We didn't know she was standing there until Ann opened the blinds late in the afternoon. Ann called for me to see.
She was eating on a large plant by the door. I gently tapped on the window. She cast me a doleful glance but continued to feast on the leaves. It was only when I opened the door that the young doe trotted away from the window. She didn't go far. Her hunger was evident as she showed ribs and flanks with little or no fat on them. Drought is stressing the animals. Their normal food supplies have diminished or disappeared. Birds seek out water to drink and bathe in. Seeds left for them are quickly eaten. Young hatchlings are everywhere trying to survive.

In the fields nearby there is little activity. Grain and cotton which would usually be getting harvested is almost non-existent. What cattle there are seek tiny tidbits among the dead weeds and grasses, dried to a crunchy brown. Unless rain comes soon the record loss in Texas for crops and livestock of 2006 will be surpassed. An estimate is 3.6 billion dollars in losses. Add to this the hundreds and even thousands of people who rely on the harvesting and animal raising for their income, this drought is devastating for Texas. There are future losses not even figured in involving selling calves. Texas is the second largest agricultural state. California is first. Not everyone is having a problem. It is the old story of one area enjoying prosperity while another area hurts. It is a rather harsh and cruel business. Texas has enjoyed years of prosperity. We learned to simply shake our heads at others misfortune from floods and freezes and say, "Well, that's farming. That's ranching.". And it is. We must do what we can to help ourselves. Times are hard for the South Texas rancher and farmer. Rain would help.

You who happen to read my blog on occasion perhaps noticed I stopped blogging and tried my luck at selling athletic wear. Even with the pretty model helping me it went no where. I have given up that business enterprise. I am trying to get some federal money to bail me out of my losses but it isn't looking good. So... back to blogging.

The truth is that a snafu occured. Patty at the church knew what to do and set me on the blog trail again. Thanks for being patient. A poem tomorrow.

" Grandpa', can I ask without being too bold?
what's it really like to be....well... old?
I read lots' of stuff that makes it look great,
and although I'm thirteen, I can hardly wait!

You don't have to work! You watch lots of TV.
You can travel the world. There's so much you can see.
You don't have to raise kids, or mow your front yard.
You can hire lots of folks for things that are hard.

So, please tell me, Grandpa, I'd like to be told
what it's really like to be.....well..... old."

"Grandson, I don't mind any thing that you ask,
but to tell it all right will be quite a task.
The work part is wrong, for there's still much to do,
but how much, or when, is all up to you.

On seeing the world? We don't even like traffic,
so we see all the places on Geographic.
We can't hire a person to vacuum or mow;
calling a plumber is as far as we go.

I can no longer climb to the roof of our house.
If I'm caught up there I've got one upset spouse!
Things as simple as walking at night down a hall
calls for extra care to avoid a bad fall.

Prescriptions keep growing, along with their price,
and a raise in our income sure would be nice,
but our income is "fixed" so it stays just the same,
so, we're IN a fix in this fixed income game.

We don't last too long with a child in our laps.
The best part of day is our afternoon naps.
Our faith in the Lord means more every day,
and we'll go to meet Him when we go away.

So, it's not so much fun, but this is our lot,
to grow old outside, while inside we're not.
Don't fall for the stories you may have been told.
The old only know what it's like to be old.

Dale Pogue
July 22, 2009

This is a difficult question to answer. "What time is it?". The question to follow could be, "Where?". Country singer Alan Jackson had a hit song called, "It's Five O'clock Somewhere". That is true. Not everywhere...but somewhere.

Keeping time with clocks and watches is relatively new. The sun has always been the master timepiece made by the Master Timekeeper. Men have always been fascinated by time. It is an intricate and difficult study. There were water clocks. They were not dependable. Certainly water clocks were not portable. Sundials worked, but only when the sun was shining. It was in the 1600's that mechanical clocks began to appear. Quartz watches and clocks have come in recent years. Atomic clocks are out there. Greenwich Mean Time has been a source for use in setting our clocks. Twelve time zones around the world are complicated by "summer" time or, as we call it, "daylight savings time". Today, one can purchases a $5.00 watch or a $5,000. watch (or much more). What we pay for the timepiece changes nothing about time itself.

There are many references to time in the Bible. God sees time as a valuable commodity. My favorite is found in Ecclesiastes 3. Take a moment to read this treatise on time.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven;
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What time is it in your life?

We drove rather early to Goliad this morning to get our grandchildren for a day or so. I saw a large black animal cross the highway about a half mile in front of me. It was about the heighth of a small calf. It was a huge feral hog. A black one. We were driving through the O'Conner Ranch. A few miles later wild hogs began to cross the road in front of me. I could not count them but estimated at least twenty. They were all black. Feral hogs. Feral (wild) hogs roam most of Texas today. Estimates are they number more than one and a half million. They can be very destructive as they search out food. They root and dig into the earth. They also can be hard on feeders of all kinds. They are a big problem.

Hogs are not too popular in the Bible. Their meat is a forbidden one in the Old Testament for the Jew. That continues into the New. You will probably remember that Jesus sent a group of demons into a herd of hogs and they plunged into the sea. There was no apology to the hog owner.

I am a pork lover. I like bacon and loin and chops as much as beef. The pork I eat, however, comes from the domestic animals fattened for market. Some feral hogs are delicious and some are awful. I killed an awful one a few years ago. Had it made into sausage. Couldn't even stand to cook it for the odor, and it wasn't spoiled. I guess the feral hogs are here to stay. Watch out for them at night between Rockport and Tivoli. They can wreck a car or motorcycle.

To some of you it is Michael who? You could care less. To others who are big pro football fans you know the name. You know he was a super star at Atlanta, running and passing. He was also running a dog show. This was not one sponsored by some kennel. It was pure gambling on which vicious dog would kill or maim another. It was,and is, a terrible sport, but played out in a lot of places. Vick got caught. He was tried and sent to prison. He actually served a couple of years, but is now out. He is also reinstated to play in the NFL. No surprise there. He has no team to play for at this time. That will come. Be assured he will find a home on some NFL roster and will enter a game to the sound of dog yelps, etc.

Surely no one teaches their kids to see role models in sports today. There are a few. There are also some sorry individuals whose only claim to fame is playing with some ball. Michael Vick won't be the first or last.

Maybe the NFL ought to plan another Bowl for the entertainment of their fans. How about the PEN BOWL! You are only qualified to play if you have been arrested or done time. It wouldn't be hard to field a couple of teams. Escaped convicts would be ineligible. Pete Rose could come over from baseball and do the coin toss. Referees could wear solid colors and the two teams could wear stripes. Sponsors? There are some good ones out there. Is Martha into football?

The Native Americans learned it long ago. Buffalo meat is good, and good for you. It was a staple in their life on the Plains. Being the conservationists we have been, we nearly made the buffalo extinct by 1900. The buffalo is back, thanks to Ted Turner who owns more than two million acres of land in our country. Ted is raising buffalo for meat. Last year 31 million pounds of bison were sold in the U. S.. That is double from five years ago. Ted Turner has the largest bison herd in the country, so is trying to put this meat back on the menu.

Why should we purchase and eat buffalo meat? To help poor Ted survive? Don't worry about this guy. There are better reasons. The taste is similar to beef. It is leaner and has fewer grams of fat. Because of that it is also harder to prepare for one can overcook it. The Caller Times has a full page spread on buffalo meat in Wednesday's paper. It is to be cooked at lower temperatures, rare or medium rare. You can make burgers or have steak. I had buffalo burgers while traveling in the West a few years ago. It was good. The American Heart Association includes lean cuts as a part of a heart-healthy diet. I am sure it can be purchased in our area. Not sure about HEB. Those "chickin" ads will have to start including the buffalo in future ads.

O give me a home where the buf-fa-lo roam with beef and chick-en I buy.
Though we never have heard a thundering herd, A nice bison steak I will try.

I hope you enjoyed your buffalo burger today at lunch. I thank you, and Ted Turner thanks you! It is good to know this critter has found it's way from the nickel to the bun.

To really see buffalo up close and personal take a trip to Yellowstone National Park. There are several herds of them. They are not contained by fences or barricades. They go where they wish and you best get out of the way. I remember sitting in a vehicle while they walked behind and in front of us. We hoped they would not panic or decide to take a short-cut across the hood. They weigh about a ton! They are fast, if need be, and are not too bright. Buffalo injure more people than any other animal in the Park, including grizzlies! Some of the tourists are not too bright either. You can see them get out with their kids and cameras to get that once-in-a-lifetime photo op. Sometimes it is their last.

We saw one day in Canada, as we traveled, a Park called "Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump". The name led us there. It was a great plain, with cliffs suddenly dropping over a hundred feet or so down to a lower level. The indians, needing buffalo for everything from food to clothing, had learned to drive the buffalo over these cliffs to be killed by the fall, or by the indians waiting below. They would have to finally scare the buffalo so they wouldn't ALL go over the jump! One not so bright young brave decided he would watch the event from directly beneath the cliff in a cave-like area. That is where the name comes from. Need I say more.

"O give me a home where the buffalo roam...." (Just remembered I have already sung that for you)

After two straight buffalo stories I need a change of pace. I think I will write about bears! When we were traveling in the summer a few years ago we always wanted to see a bear. It was not easy. The few we saw were mostly at a long distance. We did see one in Big Bend on one trip. It had climbed a tree by the rental cabins. Game wardens tranquilized it and hauled it to another location.
This week my niece and her son were working in their yard in a Little Rock suburb. The back yard opens to a wooded area. Stephen said, "Look, mom, there's a bear!". A black bear had casually strolled into the yard. He was heading for one of their bird feeders. He soon had it on the ground. Stephen ran for his camera. His mom just ran. They called a game warden friend. The bear left for a little while but came back for more food. The edge of the yard soon filled with neighbors and family. One woman who had returned from Alaska, hoping to see bears, but had not seen one; raced across Little Rock to see this young guy or gal. He was finally tranquilized and taken to the woods somewhere. It made the evening news and added a new thrill to working flower beds. This was a rare event for Little Rock, although the bear population has slowly made a comeback. There are a few in Texas. They used to be everywhere. We only have gaters and mountain lions and feral hogs..... and rattlesnakes!