So Near, Yet So Far.

I'd completely forgotten about this. I'm taken back to my childhood and Grover on Sesame Street with this video---fun times!!!!!

Some of the things we leave behind when we "grow up" are too precious...

---Jeff

The Revenge Deer Cometh!

The Revenge Deer Cometh!

This is crazy.

I was riding my bicycle home from the County Jail last night. Nothing major. I do it quite a bit, actually. I'm a jail chaplain, and I'm out there twice a week, and I often ride my bike out there on accounta' I need to lose weight. But I digress.

It was around midnight, and my headlight and tail light were both on as I took the bike trail home. For those who don't know, I usually come from the White County Law Enforcement Center where the jail is housed down Queensway to just past the gymnastics place on the right. The entrance to the bike trail is really close by.

I made my right hand turn and realized exactly how dark it is when there are no street lights.

Really dark.

There's somewhat of a long bend to the left after a couple of early turns in both directions. This is where the deer hit me and I went horizontal. Of course, I had no idea that it was a deer. All I knew was that something heavy had hit me and my bike frame at the same time from the left. I was conscious of the fact that I should've hit the ground immediately, but something was keeping me from hitting the ground. As I look back on it, the deer was supporting all of my weight for a short distance. Ride 'em, cowboy! Yee, haw!!!!!!

Then I hit the ground. Hard.

My knuckles curled under the handlebars, and my shoulder hit the pavement while I skidded toward the dirt. When I came to a stop, whatever it was that had been under me wasn't there anymore, and I was curled up over the handlebars with my feet just under the seat.

I looked up to my left, and there was a short period of scuffling (I imagine this was the deer getting to its feet), and then the deer and I were looking each other dead in the face. I'm pretty sure it was laughing at me, having gained revenge on a 12 year old offense—my first deer hunt back in about 1997 or so. It stayed there for about maybe a second and a half and ran off the trail in front of me and to my right.

I extricated myself from the bicycle mess and stood up, carefully taking inventory of my prized extremities that had inadvertently been ground into pastrami upon landing. Just a li'l bit of road rash, bruises and oozing skin. No biggie. The bike was fine—just a bit of straightening the gooseneck and the seat was in order. I was worried about my iPod Classic Video that was clipped to my backpack strap on the same shoulder that I landed on—I've had to fix a shattered screen on it before—but it was none the worse for wear.

As I got back on the bike with slightly elevated respiration and blood pressure, I thought back on the deer's assassination attempt with a bit of sarcasm. No, really. Anything worth doing is worth doing sarcastically. I thought that this deer could bring back my Oakland Raiders' playoff hopes by being hired on as the tackling coach. Maybe playing at Linebacker or Strong Safety.

Oh yeah, this deer is gonna' be an NFL tackling coach. Perfect pursuit angle. Perfect form tackling. Perfect hitting motion. Perfect blind side anticipation.

Come to think of it, I'm calling Al Davis right now...

---Jeff

First Day Practice (July 18, 2009)

We had an all-day practice with sound gear and groupies. Someone actually took pictures this time.

This is I think my first attempt at a slide show with Photobucket.

Enjoy.

---Jeff

Rain On The Roses

We had a pretty good rainstorm here in Searcy, Arkansas the other night. The next morning, while surveying the effects, I happened upon my roses out front.

Opportunity!

Here's a couple of the shots I took. I kinda' like the water glistening off of the roses and the droplets on the leaves.

Thank you Lord for simple pleasures.

---Jeff

Blueberries!

I bought this Blueberry plant back in March of this year. It took about a month and a half to show any positive signs--primarily, I think, due to the unseasonably cold weather snaps.

It has proven to be fairly hardy since then, but the berries would get to a certain point and shrivel up and fall off. These berries are the first that have actually gotten to the edible stage.

Oh, and...

They're pretty good. ;^)

---Jeff

True Bravery

Today is the 67th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Midway. It was true bravery on display. As I am not a historian, There is a link to a well-written summary of the battle here. Please read it and think about the men who gave their lives, not only in this battle on 4-6 June 1942, but for all of the men and women who've made the ultimate sacrifice for our country before and since.



Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests of June 5th, 1989. Below is the "Tank Man." He stood in the path of an oncoming tank. When it stopped, he spoke with the tank driver and was ultimately taken away by two Chinese officials. We don't know what eventually became of him, but he is remembered as one who helped change history.


There are lessons to be learned here.

A group working together, focused on one goal can accomplish great things. Jesus plead for His church to have unity, to be as one body. This body changed the world.

However, one man can change the world through his example. I believe Jesus taught that, as well.

A little faith, a little bravery, and great things happen.

---Jeff

God Is Good

God is good.

I can slander Him.
I can question His authority.
I can give His credit to someone else.
But none of that changes the fact that

God is good.

And He doesn't change.
His love, His grace, His peace, His joy,
His kingdom, His Shalom is not a moving target.
If I miss the mark, it's not His fault.
It is I who need to adjust my windage,
my sight alignment, and point of impact.

God is good.


---Jeff