The Muse is Loose

You would not believe the list of musicians who have sung and recorded "September Song". When it was introduced in 1930 it was through a Broadway musical called, "Knickerbocker Holiday". The musical was written by Maxwell Anderson and Kurt Weill. It only lasted six months. This one song, "September Song", however, is still around. It is like "White Christmas" in that we do not always hear all the verses. Few people even know there are other verses of either song.

"September Song" is a love song. You can get that when you read all the verses. The one verse which grips us the most goes far beyond a love song. It makes many of us wonder, as we age, if we are still in September or are we near December 31 of life? Here is the last verse of that plaintive song:

Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December
But the days grow short when you reach September
When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
One hasn't got time for the waiting game.

Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few
September, November,
And these few precious days I'll spend with you.
These precious days I'll spend with you.

How popular has it been? Here are some who have recorded it through the years:

Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, Willie Nelson, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Martin, Jo Stafford, Tex Ritter , Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Mills Brothers, Sarah Vaughn, Harry James, Andy Williams....and many, many more.

I bet you are singing it right now! "Da dee dee da, da da. Da da de dee, da, da...."

The rap on our front door here in Dallas was a firm one. I knew who it was and I dreaded opening. I had just allowed the worst possible thing to happen with the burglar alarm system. I had sent out a false alarm. It was a real alarm, however, that reverberated through this huge home we are "house-sitting" for family. I had set it for "interior", then promply became the intruder as I walked through the den and created motion before a sensor. The panic I felt was surely worse than if someone breaking in had caused it.

Ann came running to where I was, thinking the worse. Finally, we gathered enough composure to shut the thing off. We then tried to call security and could not get through. After a few tense moments it was decided the crisis was over....wrong. The rap on our door was from two Dallas men in blue. They had badges and guns and handcuffs. Would they take Ann as well? She had been involved, (abetting I think is the word). I invited them in and tried to explain what had happened though I really didn't know. Finally, one of them smiled and said, "May I see your driver's license please?" I hadn't even been driving and was going to get a ticket! That's how nervous I was. He simply wanted to confirm my identity. Now, the bright orange slip was handed to me and they were out the door and gone. Badge 9360 had given me a false alarm notification. It may or may not have a charge with it. We shall find out in days ahead.

False alarms will never mean the same to me. I will not casually say, " O it was just a false alarm." I look at that little box with it's green light on and dread seeing it turn from green to red. I know the code to turn it off better than my birth date. I check all doors to make certain they are locked so as not to set this monster off. I may simply leave it off and set with a baseball bat by one of the doors. False alarm? Don't believe it!

We are doing great in Dallas. The weather is near perfect, except for no rain. My flowers are faring well. The "yard men" came yesterday, leaving the place in pristine condition. The maid came for half day and left everything spotless. Tough life, but we are managing. I have hung hummer feeders and already have a couple of ruby throats. Other yardbirds at the feeder are Jays, Titmice (no black caps), Chickadee, House Wren, Grackles, Cardinals, Finches, and a UFO or two. There are three squirrels I am tolerating, but not loving.

I will not say I have conquered the alarm system, but at least no more visits from "the men in blue". I am fascinated by the automobiles in this area of Dallas. I believe Lexus is the more popular, followed by Mercedes, BMW, and Toyota. Some exotics mingle with those at the small Malls at major intersections. Predominate grocery stores are Tom Thumb and Krogers. Folks are excited about the Rangers and a new season for the Cowboys. They drive more sensibly than the Corpus Christians. I think it is because they make an effort to enforce speed limits.

Sunday we attended Park Cities Baptist Church. They are quite affluent but don't flaunt it. They were very friendly to us. The service we attended was of a traditional sort, which we enjoyed. Other choices were avaliable. They have a three-level parking garage UNDER their buildings.

Today, I filled a prescription for new glasses. Wow! I could almost have bought a ticket to a Cowboy's game. "Welcome to North Dallas, Mr. Pogue."

Tomorrow we plan to drive to near Corsicana for Dempsey's JV game. James is now his coach! He also coaches the Varsity special teams. Friday we plan to attend the varsity game at Justin Northwest. This team played Allen last week and lost 64-0. Allen is number ONE in the state and number THREE in the nation. Justin might be in a bad mood.

That's our Dallas report. No rain in sight here. I know Rockport is in the same pattern. It will come in God's good time.....then there may be more than "showers of blessing".

To many of you he was simply, Dick Baker. To many of us older folks he was the man who filled our hearts and minds with music; many of his songs simply called, "choruses". With brother, Bo, this musician wrote over three hundred songs. He sang in hundreds of churches and at Crusades around the world, including three Billy Graham Crusades. Dick Baker began the Baptist Religious Hour choir at Baylor, active today after sixty-two years. He was co-writer of the Baylor Fight Song,still sung today.

Dick Baker was a vital part of the Youth Revival Movement of the late forties/early fifties. I was influenced by that movement. In later years Ann and I heard he and Bo at a senior adult gathering at Glorieta. Both were wonderful musicians and Bo was a great preacher. I weep now as I remember him at the piano playing and singing in his rich baritone voice, "Longing For Jesus". One man using his gifted talents for God....that was Dick Baker.

If you would like to read more go to www.HisWayMine.com

We worshiped today at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. The pastor, Dr. Blair Monie, brought a significant message for the day. He has been with them for seventeen years and loves the church. He was a wonderful deliverer of the Word.

We read the prayer I am printing for you. I thought it important enough to pass on to all my friends and readers:

" Holy and loving God, we come to worship you today with old wounds that need your healing touch. We remember the events that happened a decade ago, It seems like yesterday, for old wounds die hard. We remember the acts of terrorism that seemed to shatter our securities and shake our confidence. We remember our outrage at the death of people much like us, who were going about their lives and their work. We remember how mystified we were that such violence and hatred were possible.As we remember these things, we confess to you that the fear and the hatred were possible.As we remember these things we confess to you that the fear and the anger have shaped us too much. We have trusted less and feared more, and we have allowed our fear to influence our attitudes toward people of other faiths and other cultures. We have grown distrustful. We confess that we have not trusted you to hold our times and seasons in your hand. Open us, by your grace, to believe in a new day of peace, justice, and harmony. Forgive us, we pray, in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord. A-men."

Perhaps you do not need this prayer as much as I do. I am grateful if that is so, if it is. However, I know if we allow ourselves to fight hate with hate we will be no better than those who hate us. That is not the Christian way.

We had my friend from High School days, Gene ONeal, and his wife, over for lunch and visiting yesterday, here in Dallas. In turn, they invited us to choir rehearsal at 6:30 at their church, First Baptist in Richardson. Gene said, "It's the largest senior adult choir in the world". This I had to see!

When we arrived choir members were coming from all directions. The men had already been there for almost an hour. They would rehearse an additional hour after the women were in place. Rehearsal for the entire group began promptly at 6:30.

They are called "The Goldenaires", ages fifty-five and up. Way up! Their director is a wonderful, demanding but enjoyable kind of guy. We were singing arrangements that are challenging, yet beautiful. Oh, I failed to mention there were ONE HUNDRED TWENTY there for rehearsal. They are preparing for a concert in October.

The choir has to be selective as to places where they sing. Most choir lofts will not hold that many! They had two wonderful accompanists of the senior vintage. It was an amazing group of talented people. We felt privileged to rehearse with such a group.

No, Rachel Ray hasn't dropped by to whisk some culinary delights. I am talking about
"ole' sol, o me o". It was super hot in Dallas yesterday! Some recorded 106. I noticed 102 was the temp in "The Sparkling Heater By the Sea, Corpus Christi". There has not been a single drop of rain here. The same can be said in hundreds of other places.

Cooler weather is in sight! Temps will drop a bit as a not-so-blue norther tries to meander through the state. Not yet time to unmoth the heavy coats. Has it ever been this hot before in Texas? Sure! Record keeping only goes back a few years in comparison with the age of God's earth. The desert lands of western Texas were spawned by such times. Native Americans lived through like periods. How do I know this? I read it in my favorite History Book! Here, let me share some of it's words with you:

"What has been will be again. What has been done will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun."

Have a nice day! (Oops, I think someone has said that already).

I think I may be a Ranger fan. For sure I am not an Astro, since they traded away their team one by one to create the worst team in baseball...maybe ever.

Watching the Ranger game here in Dallas last night, I saw THREE unusual events. Even if you are not a baseball person you would have been interested. The first was a three-way event: Cleveland Indian outfielder, Shelley Duncan, made three leaping catches against the outfield wall in virtually the same spot! After the third one he sat on the ground smiling in unbelief. Even the Ranger he robbed of an extra-base hit was smiling. These were consecutive.

The second unusual catch involved a rotund, middle-aged fan with a glove and cell phone. He was on the phone as he casually stuck the glove out and caught a ball. The guy never missed a beat as fans were patting him on the back. What was that phone call all about???

The third event I saw, but didn't know how big a deal it was until I read the paper this morning. A flooring company, CC Carpet, was running a promotion: If Josh Hamilton hit a grand-slam home run between August 29-September 28 all customers who purchased flooring or countertops during that time would get them FREE! When his home run cleared center field the company's website crashed. The owner was very pleased. The insurance company was not! He had taken out a policy on the promotion. It was now costing them $500,000.00!

Now that was an interesting night of baseball. The Rangers won 9-1 and are three games ahead with thirteen to go in their division. They are really good. They have hitting, pitching, and enthusiasm. Winning will do that for you.

Our long-time friend in Taft, Lynne Lavender, made it big this week on "Good Morning, America". With her poster board sign and excited smile she actually got interviewed by the "star" weather guy. I watched it all yesterday afternoon. My daughter-in-law, Ranell Pogue, taped it when she heard the lady was from Taft. She does not know Lynne.

Lynne had gone to New York City for the 9-11 events. Of course she did not know she would get interviewed,or even get a front row place outside the studio. We are pleased for her. She had her exciting moment in the spotlight. Now, she can cancel her airline ticket home and just soar home, flapping her arms!

Lynne was a member of my Junior Choir in Taft in the sixties. She was serving as pianist when we left the church there in June. Ann and I are so happy for Lynne and her "thirty seconds of fame". We will hear about it forever!

I saw them yesterday at the Dallas Arboretum. They were every conceivable shape and size. There were even variations in color. FIFTY THOUSAND.......pumpkins!

Today there will be an expected crowd of ten thousand plus. There may be some more wonderful rain showers like we enjoyed last night. Folks can take a pumpkin home with them if they wish...for a price. It is an amazing Fall extravaganza held each year. Laura, Ann, Calvin and I toured the place, mostly in an oversized golf cart, and saw the elaborate displays.

In that gigantic display of pumpkins there was not a single Jack-O-Lantern! Not one! After seeing so many pumpkins I began to imagine faces on these orange globes. I thought of the folks who would take them home and in a few days add the triangular or square eyes, and gapped teeth. There would be a nose of some shape. A light of candle or battery would be placed inside the scooped out pumpkin and it would have life and personality, and set in a prominent place for all to see and enjoy. It would become a Jack-O-Lantern!

You may be thinking the best purpose for a pumpkin is to furnish what is needed for a delicious pie. I think, however, a pumpkin is at it's best when it's master and owner carves a face and adds character with a smile. It becomes a joy to all who see it, day or night.

Far beyond this simple punkin' illustration is that which Maker/Creator/ God does. He breathes into each of our lives the "breath of life" and we become "a living soul". We become more than a simple decoration for a season, but a living breathing person for a lifetime. It is more amazing than the pumpkin carver's work, to see the creative genius of the Great Carver. I hope he has put a great big toothy grin on you today. "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

there's no place like home! We arrived back to ours Sunday evening about 8:30. After more than two weeks away many things had changed.

1. FIRE ANTS - They summoned all their friends and neighbors and invaded the yard. They are everywhere! It will take some time but we will send them packing...maybe to your yard.

2. MOLES - They were here when we left. They have multiplied and have as a project plowing the yard, front and back. I am hoping they might be confronted by the fire ants and have a miniscule Armageddon!

3. SQUIRRELS - These prolific bushy-tailed rodents are running free. They have not been taught family history, or else have forgotten that our yard is more risky that Mr. McGregor's garden.

4. MOSQUITOES - I had forgotten just how wonderful the world is without these blood suckers. Like a bad penny, they are back. We will survive them. It is a reminder some prayed-for rain has come.

I see all these little "problems" then read a letter from dear friends, Clyde and Carol Schulz, serving in Brazil as Baptist missionaries. They are separated by thousands of miles from Christina, Carl, Catherine, and Curtis. They are working to reach a miniscule of 258 tribes of some 470,000 people without the Gospel. For most of them there is no Bible to be read in their own tongue. This couple is seeking to visit, tribe by tribe, where they can, to share the Word.

See how Fire Ants, Moles, Squirrels, Mosquitoes, and other little bothers can so quickly become unimportant in light of that which is? Bring on the wharf rats!

Surely the word "religious" can be found all through the Bible? It is a favorite word in our society. To my shock I found it only twice in the entire Bible. One of those times, Acts 13:43, uses the word "devout" in NIV. The second time I find it is in James 1:26. "If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religious is useless." A useless religion?

Websters New Dictionary Of The English Language gives this definition: "related or devoted to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity. scrupulously and conscientiously faithful. devout".

With that generic definition it seems one can be religious to most anyone or any thing! We have a world of religious people. So, is being "religious" enough? You know in your heart it is not. If one's goal is being a religious person or faithful devotee of a religion he or she can fall woefully short.

I remember on my only visit to Rome many years ago, seeing an older woman wrapped in a black shawl, slowly climbing on her knees, step by step, a huge stone stairway. She was pausing on each step briefly to bow lower and kiss the step before going on. I have always had this little un-named old lady in my memory as one who was deeply "religious". Today, we live among peoples who are devoted to beliefs they will kill for. They do. You may be on their list. Their targets are other peoples who also are religious, but in a different way than their own.

If being religious is one's goal he or she can be left woefully empty at the end of their religious quest.

James took the subject one small step more. He was not building a religion in this statement. We know that. He was, however, adding a positive challenge to those seeking to be religious. Here are his further words: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

Take a good look at those who claim to be religious....and ask....."To what? To whom?"

I had a song start singing itself in my mind this morning. It may have been inspired by reading the sports page. It could have been there before that. You will have to be older to even recognize these words:

From o-ver hill and plain
There comes the signal strain,
'Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ.
It's music rolls along,
The hills take up the song
Of loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ

Come join our loy-al throng
We'll rout the giant wrong
Where Satan's banners float
We'll sound the bugle note

The strength of youth we lay
At Jesus' feet to-day
His gos-pel we'll pro-claim
Thro'out the world's domain

CHORUS
On to victory! On to victory!
Cries our great Commander, "On!"
We'll move at His command.
We'll soon possess the land
Through loyalty, loyalty
Yes loyalty to Christ.

E Taylor Cassel Flora H Cassell

Obviously, a youth-oriented "rally song" from an earlier day and time. I know songs like this are not in "vogue" these days. Neither is LOYALTY.

Athletics are a prime example. Loyalty to schools, coaches, athletes, conferences, teachers, and even students is hard to find. There is little loyalty shown in the business world. The town grocer and druggist can attest to that. The loyal bank customer learns quickly that business is not conducted as it was when he knew the president by name. There may not even be one!

Loyalty is simply defined this way: "faithful to a cause or ideal". In that light it narrows loyalty down quite a bit. We seek it in marriages and friendships. We cherish it in the medical world. We love and appreciate it in our kids and parents. We MUST have it in our devotion to the Lord.

What song did you wake up singing in your mind?

It is one of the most popular songs ever written. You can get it as your ring phone today. It was first recorded back in the forties by Jo Stafford. Frank Sinatra and most of the other notable singers have sung or played it. Perhaps it is better known as "Autumn Leaves". Two Frenchmen wrote it in 1946 for a movie, "Les Portes de la Nuit". (I hope those aren't bad words) They were Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prevert. Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics we know in 1947 and it took off. A movie "Autumn Leaves, came out in 1956, starring Joan Crawford.

I have written a revised standard version to fit our times. Hope Jacque and Joe don't mind.

The falling leaves drift by my window,
They're every shade of brown and brown.
I fear that more than leaves are falling
The tree may also soon come down

The days have been both dry and hot,
Our ponds are cracked for they have not
A drop to spare for beast or grass.
Do we dare sing, "This too shall pass"?

The summer's gone away. It took too long.
"How Dry I Am" is now our song!
But, we must trust the Lord. On Him we call.
for waters deep, "Lord, let them fall!".

Today my friend Charles Fake becomes something he has never been before. He is now an octogenarian. He is scheduled to be one for the next ten years, like it or not. I hope he makes it.

As most of my readers know (all five of you) Charles was pastor here in Rockport for more than thirty years. He has retired more times than I can remember. Something is always happening on his way to retirement.....like another church needing his great preaching, gentle spirit, and keen wit. He is at present interim pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Ingleside. Lucky them!

What words of wisdom can be imparted to a man of eighty whose mind is sharp? I guess you can try some George Burns. George said: "By the time you are eighty years old you've learned everything.You only have to remember it."

Barzillai, the Gileadite, who had hosted Mephibosheth while he was in Mahanaim, and was quite wealthy, said to the king, "How many more years will I live that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not?Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord, the king? (Sounded like he was ready to retire.)

On the other hand, there is the case of Moses and Aaron: "Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. Moses was EIGHTY YEARS OLD and Aaron EIGHTY THREE when they spoke to Pharaoh." (Exodus 7:6)

Barzillai or Moses? What will it be? Brother Charles Fake has surely taken the Moses trail. We hope it will be a long one.

(That word at the top is "eighty years of age" in Japanese. I learned it about......fifteen minutes ago....I think.)

That is a well-worn but true slogan. It does pay. The pay goes to the advertising entity. Today advertising is everywhere, from pop-ups on the computer to gimme' caps and pens. I was sending off a bill this morning to some gas company and saw their envelope was plastered with an ad attempting to sell me jewelry. I am well stocked in jewelry. I have some cuff links and tie clasps that haven't been worn for years. There are even a few old fob watches lying about. I do not need jewelry.

I get a slick magazine that costs almost nothing, for the size of it. This month it has 348 pages. They MUST have a bit of advertising in those pages. I set out to count the pages. I could been off a few pages because of half and quarter-page ads but I counted TWO HUNDRED SIXTY PAGES of advertising in that one copy. Some of it is quite discreetly appearing to be a news article. In a faded grey print one can see the word "advertisement" at times, but not always. There is nothing illegal about all this. It is the way the advertising game is played. It DOES call on the reader or viewer to be on guard and not be taken in by appearance.

Beer commercials are an example. They show people laughing and having fun. Comments about their product are like "light" and filled with "gusto". Just once I would like to see one of their ads say something like this: " Hit this good stuff for a few bottles and you won't be able to find your car in the parking lot!".

Advertising is the "life blood" of newspapers, magazine, TV, and business. It is a vital and usable industry. It can be a great help to all of us, from the yellow pages of a phone book to garage sales on Saturday. I am simply cautioning readers so you not be "taken in" by some slick ad or phone call from Africa offering shares in a diamond mine.

Some day you may see commercials in your Bible. Example: "Read chapter three of John then call us for your exclusive, finely tailored baptismal robe. Ceremonies conducted by Reverend Loudin Long. Cell 777-666" Have a great day.

It was getting warm Monday morning, so Christy was packing away her artistry tools, preparing to head for Houston and some family duties there. I was out for a much-needed walk, but liked it when an opportunity came to chat with a new person. She was gracious enough to have a moment for this old coot.

She is artist Christy Kidwell. Some of her works are here in South Texas at Felder Gallery in Port Aransas. She also has paintings in Missoula, Montana. She is a signature member of the Outdoor Painters Society. She has won awards in many local and national competitions.

The thing I quickly noticed in visiting with Christy was that she LOVES what she is doing. Art has absorbed her since she was a teen-ager. Finally, she saw how it could be her life's work.

Seeing someone really loving what they are doing is a treat. Many others in life are seeing their assignment as a chore. They get little pleasure from it all. Some simply count the days when retirement can bring an end to their joyless labor. How do we keep that from happening? When possible we find a vocation that is liked and which brings out the best skills God has given. To be sure, He often has to work us through other assignments, less to our liking. God can bring for us success and accomplishment for the Kingdom wherever we seek to serve Him, but I believe we are at our best for Him and others when we find that God-given talent and use it to the utmost.

My artistry skills are on a third-grade level. It is not my calling or talent. Neither can I ride horses in rodeos or win marathons. I cannot preach down the heavens. I am no good in investments or amassing fortunes. I could not be a mechanic if it meant I had to fix something. Somewhere within me God did place a tiny talent and He said, "Try that. I think you can be that kind of person." . So here I am, almost eighty-years from my birth at Liberty Hill, Oklahoma, still "Trying that" . Often it is not accompanied with remuneration. I am not bothered by that. Just let me serve in my own way, Lord.

Christy paints a scene not knowing or even caring if it attracts a buyer. Her goal in artistry is far beyond that. It is for her pleasure of accomplishment. The rest will take care of itself.

We have had a lot of Orioles in this Fall migration. I have heard the same from other bird-watchers. Most of them appear to be first-year birds by size and color. There have been, however, a few males with full plumage of the Baltimore Oriole.

They LOVE sugar water! They want the same potion hummingbirds are drinking in preparation for their long trip to Central and South American wintering places. There is a problem; the beak of an Oriole doesn't work like the long thin one of the hummer with it's equally lengthy tongue. They keep trying, however, for any drop they can get. When a bee guard can be knocked off they have a shot at that sugary stuff. That happens, and I see one happy oriole.

Orioles love oranges. Cut in halves an orange is a delicious and healthy dosage of vitamin c and other good things. I bought some small valencias yesterday. They were four for a dollar. It was worth it to give these guys a bit of a treat. Trouble is that these sugar-water junkies don't care for vitamin c. They want the good stuff. I watched one experiment with a nip at the half-orange. This is true....he headed straight for the water for a drink! It was like I felt about orange juice as a boy when Mother mixed it with castor oil!!! The oriole came back to the hummer feeder near the sliced orange but never had another sip of orange juice! What does that remind you of? That's a bit like we are. We go for the sweet stuff. We want our spiritual taste buds to be soothed by the sugary words." Don't dish out the tangy stuff, even if it is healthier to my soul. I want the sugar-water." That is my lesson for the day taught by a transient hanging out in the back yard.

This is a probing question for us today. Jensen Farms in Holly, Colorado, has had the worst possible nightmare come down on them. They have shipped out 300,000 cases of cantaloupes to markets across the country, and even in foreign countries. Riding on the outside rough skin of some of them is a deadly bacteria called listeria. It has caused eighteen deaths already. It may take a month or more to show itself. The elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems are at greater risk. Ann prepared a beautiful cantaloupe yesterday. It was the sweetest and best we have had this year! This morning it is in the trash. HEB assures customers they have no cantaloupes from these farms, but trades are made in that marketplace. We are taking no chances with cantaloupes.

Over in Ohio, Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. has recalled 131,300 pounds of ground beef. A family became ill from E-coli found in some of the meat. That is sixty-five TONS of ground beef. A lot of burgers could be made from that. Instead it goes in the garbage.

Here in Texas, water is in the spotlight. We are running out of it, slowly but surely. Last week a session was held called, "The Coming Crisis Over Water". Surely to come in years ahead will be water restrictions and rights like one finds in Colorado. Along with that issue is a concern about frac drilling and how it might affect our drinking water.

So.....what shall we eat? What shall we drink? I have found the answer! It came from Jesus, so it won't be an acceptable one for some Center for Disease Control or Committee on Water Issues, but it should be acceptable for Believers........"Do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' . Your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble." (Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV)

( I think that cantaloupe is in a zip-lock bag close to the top....let me see.)

This Sunday, the Lord willing, I will be preaching in First Baptist Church, Refugio. Currently, their football team is ranked # 1 in 2AA in Texas. This is nothing new for the Bobcats.

Refugio has about 3,000 residents. They are the County seat of Refugio County. That area is steeped in Texas History. Before the coming of other peoples the Karankawa Indians had a permanent village there. Spanish explorers heard of the village and in 1795 the Nuestra Senora del Refugio Mission was built, It operated until 1830. In 1831 James Power and James Hewetson acquired the rights to the old mission building and the villa of Refugio was established.

It went through growing pains, like many other struggling villages in those days. The Civil War brought a decline when the town almost disappeared. In 1869 the county seat was moved to St. Mary's and then on to Rockport. In 1871 Aransas County was separated from Refugio County so the county seat came back to Refugio.

By 1884 the population had grown to 1,000. There was a Catholic and Baptist church, a convent, a parochial school, two public schools, (one for whites one for blacks) and two hotels. They desperately needed a railroad. They paid a $30,000.00 "bonus" to get the Saint Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway to come through the city.

Like other places in Texas the discovery of oil in 1928 brought another boom. By 1930 the population had grown to more than 2,000. In 1950 they had more than 4500. Even the city had oil wells, bringing in much needed revenue.

Today Refugio and the county are experiencing another boom from the oil and gas industry. When we have rains there is cattle raising and some farming.

To drive about the old city you can see some homes that were elegant in their day. Some of them are sitting empty and falling apart as forgotten history.

Towns are a reflection of people. Some live and grow and thrive. They have vision and hope and goals and purpose. Others lack those things and shrivel up and die. Some folks live like that, leaving little to mark the land that they were ever here.

What permanent mark on God's landscape have you etched out or are carving on each day? Paul had a deep and abiding goal through his faith He said it this way: "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain". That is a challenging goal for Believers to seek.