When I was a kid growing up in Shawnee Oklahoma, we spent many hours in the school cellar during tornado season. The men would line up on the stairs and pass the children down in assembly line fashion. Many of us children were too young to realize the seriousness of the situation.

One such evening daddy had a hard time convincing mom we needed to “get to the cellar.” She hated going into that cellar. Daddy had to threaten to pick her up and put her in the car and she finally gave in. That night, someone decided I was old enough to hold one of the candles. (If my memory is correct, I was 8). I thought I was “big stuff” to be holding the candle. One of my school chums was sitting next to me and we were squirming around on the wooden bench where we were sitting. Next thing I know all of the grown-ups are moaning in disgust and uneasiness, then I smelled it too. I had caught Bobbie T’s hair on fire with my candle. Singed hair is one unpleasant smell. I was properly scolded, and embarrassed at all the fuss, and made my apologies to Bobbie. She wasn’t too thrilled with me but we remained friends. Too add insult to injury about 15 minutes later I felt the most agonizing pain in the pinky finger of my right hand. As I was screaming and holding onto my aching finger someone grabbed a flashlight and found the reason for my hysteria. I had been stung by a scorpion. It felt like liquid fire. What a night!

On another stormy night we went to the cellar of some friends of my parent’s, Curly and Liz. I never understood why he was called Curly, what little bit of hair he had was short, semi-burr and semi-flat top. They were fantastic people, my brothers and I loved being with them. Curly was a big man. We were all in the cellar, mom, dad, my brothers and Curly and Liz. This was another instance of waiting to long to take shelter.

Curly had barely pulled the door shut with that old long rope and the tornado passed right over the top of that cellar. Curly, daddy and my oldest brother Tony were hanging onto the rope of that door with all their might. I remember the fear on their faces and the fear all of us were feeling. The noise was deafening and I just knew we were going to get sucked out of there, never to be seen again. We waited a good 10 or 15 minutes after the storm passed before the men peeked out to see if it was safe to come out. I could tell from the looks on their faces and their groans of disbelief that whatever they saw wasn’t good…and it wasn’t. Part of the roof on their barn was missing and the roof of their house had been picked up, turned sideways and set back on the house. It was a very odd sight. They also had a couple dozen sheep. The sheep were walking single file, slow and dazed and the wool was completely stripped from the middle of their backs. There were uprooted trees and mangled lumber and other wreckage scattered everywhere. It was very eerie.

We had another close encounter on a Saturday afternoon. Mom had picked up Tony and Stan, (my brothers) one of the Bowden boys and me, (I got to tag along) from the afternoon matinee. We were driving up to the Bowden house; they had a long drive way, basically cut through their pasture land to reach their house. Suddenly mom stops the car and tells us all to be quite. She is staring straight ahead, gripping the steering wheel and probably praying. I heard Tony say “it’s headed straight for us.” The “it” was a tornado, and it was literally on the ground making a straight path for our car. Stan and I were the youngest and we stared crying and screaming. Mom told all of us to get in the floorboard. There was nothing else to do, we were literally in the middle of open fields, no where to go and no time to do anything else. No one said it out loud, yet we all knew we were doomed. The next thing we knew, the tornado just completely lifted up and changed directions. I didn’t know it then…I do now, that was absolutely a God moment. My mom was shaking so badly she could barely drive the rest of the way to the Bowden’s house. We were all in shock for a while after that, and you would think that would cure mom from procrastinating when it was time to head for shelter. It didn’t!!

Ps 107:29-30 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Yesterday I attended yet another funeral, this one a young woman only twenty-eight. I didn’t know her. She was the granddaughter of a friend of mine.

The funeral was a two hour drive from our little town. Russell drove the C of C Van and several of us went to support our friend/sister. We took one route to get there and another to get home. Both ways took us through small rural towns. We live in an area identified as Green Country. I’m not sure exactly how it came to be named this. I assume it is because we are blessed with so much rain. Green Country covers many counties in Oklahoma. The place I live has an average rainfall of 42 inches per year.

Rural Oklahoma is stunningly beautiful and inviting to me. A landscape lush and green as far as the eye can see. The beauty stirs something inside me which I really can’t explain. Small and large houses dot the landscape, farms and ranches, ponds and lakes. Even the sky and the clouds are exceptional here and mostly smog free. Each place has its own uniqueness; each place shares a glimpse of likes and dislikes. A strange sense of familiarity overwhelms me, and I wish I could just stop and drink in what my eyes see and try to understand what it is about these places that stir me in such an indescribable way. We traveled highways and two-lane roads, some narrow, some wide and we paid the tolls along the way.

As I ponder all of this my mind wanders to the scripture in Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The narrow way requires that I make a choice, I can choose righteousness or I can choose sin. Matt 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

The wide road leads to death, the narrow leads to everlasting life. Seems simple enough that one would automatically choose the narrow road, yet much too often, our choices find us following the crowds to the broad road.

One writer comments this way…Those who enter neither make nor open the gate; they only find it. Men cannot make ways of peace for themselves; they cannot force, but find the way.

I pray my journey will keep me and you on the narrow road. I know we will not like the penalty of the broad one.

Larry is taking me and mom out for our Mother’s Day Dinner today. Mom and I don’t like crowded restaurants, so we opted for today.  Before lunch the three of us are going shopping to try and find a new loveseat for my mom. So I’m taking the day off today. Okay…you can at least pretend to be disappointed.

You are aware by now that I love humor, so I’m sharing a couple that tickled my funny bone and I hope they put a smile on your face too.

Tick Warning

I dislike it when people forward bogus warnings, and I have even done it myself a couple times unintentionally…but this one is real, and it’s important. So please, send this warning to everyone on your e-mail list

This is the time of year to think of ticks once again. If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks due to the warm weather and they ask you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up…

DO NOT DO IT!!  THIS IS A SCAM!! They only want to see you naked…I wish I’d gotten this yesterday…I feel SO stupid.

Red Skelton’s Recipe for a Perfect Marriage

Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.

 We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.

 I take my wife everywhere…..but she keeps finding her way back.

 I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. “Somewhere I haven’t been in a long time!” she said. So I suggested the kitchen.

 We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

 She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said “There are too many gadgets and no place to sit down!” So I bought her an electric chair.

 My wife told me the car wasn’t running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was; she told me “In the lake.”

 She got a mud pack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.

 She ran after the garbage truck, yelling “Am I too late for the garbage?” The driver said “No, jump in!”

 I married Miss Right. I just didn’t know her first name was Always.

 I haven’t spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don’t like to interrupt her.

 The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked “What’s on the TV?” I said “Dust!”

Luke 14:26-27  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Hate in the above verse means to love less.

Do I love my family less than I love Christ? The text above tells me I can’t be his disciple if I don’t love them less than him. Am I living for God no matter what the cost? Am I carrying my own Cross and following Jesus? These are hard questions. I admit I have to exert a lot of mental effort to converse with members of my family who are not Christians about Jesus. I suppose the reason being is that I don’t want them to be upset with me for crossing the boundaries put in place years ago. I don’t want to be rejected. Instead I just carry on like everything is okay. It isn’t that I never try to teach my family or others who are not Christians; I essentially have not been persistent in my efforts.

Jesus gives three examples of carrying our cross in Luke 14:28-31. The essence of those verses is that before taking up our cross we need to count the cost. We have to do whatever it takes, in good times and in bad. If we are weak in our Christian walk, we will not be effective in bringing others to Christ. Our devotion must be to Christ.

It makes sense to me why “churches” aren’t growing and why people aren’t standing in line to get in. You may wonder why I would make such a statement. If I live in fear of telling others why I love Jesus and if I don’t live my life sharing him with everyone I can…well…that’s not very convincing is it? If he is so great (and he is) why am I not shouting it from the top of my roof? Why??? The truthful answer for me is as I mentioned above. Fear of rejection, fear of being shut out of their life. Fear of not having all the answers. I could come up with a list as long as my arm. It really adds up to how it makes me feel. I don’t want to be uncomfortable. I better learn to get over my ‘wants’ if I say I am a disciple.

Someone sent me a video of Penn Jillette of  “Penn & Tell” a while back. I guess I live under a rock as I had never heard of him. I have learned since watching the video that he is an atheist. On the video, he told of a man who had been to one of his shows and had waited around after the show to give him a small bible of the Psalms and New Testament. He felt the man was very sincere in giving the gift and he was obviously emotional relating the encounter. One thing he said that caught my attention was the question he posed. He said “How much do you have to hate a person not to proselytize?” That question was like someone throwing cold water in my face! It deserves some serious soul searching. And it was just the question I needed for my “wake up call.” I don’t want my family and friends to be lost because I find it socially awkward to talk to them about Jesus and I certainly don’t want Jesus to say to me…”depart from me, I never knew you.”

Matt 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

How about you? Had you ever thought of your silence in sharing the good news as hating someone?

Note: the  Penn Jillette Video can be viewed at You Tube. Search for ‘Penn Says: A Gift of the Bible’

Is yielding hard for you? What areas do you find it most difficult to yield, surrender, resist? Is it in big things, little things or both?

For me, I suppose it’s usually all or nothing. This is generally the case in people with addictive behavior. When I stopped drinking, using drugs, smoking cigarettes, popping pills and even eating, I stopped everything, all at the same time, cold turkey. (I don’t recommend my method. I was very, very sick for a week during the withdrawal period, as well as physically and emotionally drained.) I was also stubbornly determined and fully trusting God. My caution is that it can be dangerous stopping certain addictions without medical assistance.

Merely days before I had turned my life over to God. I was a pitiful mess; yet my faith and my determination have probably never been stronger than during that time. I was in complete surrender to God at that moment in time. I became “as a little child.” With God…I was victorious, I overcame. In a little less than a year I lost 100 pounds. Understand, not only did I try to forget all my problems with the alcohol and drugs, I used food as comfort. I learned (subconsciously) as a child, during the years of abuse that food made me feel better. I was 100 pounds overweight!

That was 30 some years ago and praise be to God, I have left most of those sins in his hands. I have not drank, smoked, or used illegal drugs since. I do still struggle with my weight. I haven’t put 100 pounds back on and I’m thankful for that, but I do need to shed some very unwanted pounds. This is where my ‘yielding’ problems come in. I love to cook and people always tell me they love my cooking. It doesn’t stop there though, I love my own cooking too and I love eating my own cooking. I don’t love exercise; I jokingly say I’m allergic to it.

It’s easy to give things to God; the hard part is leaving them with him trusting in him and his promises. I give my cares/concerns/worries to him. Then, too often I take them back and try to handle them myself.

I know, when I yield myself and my wants, when I surrender my eating issues to Jesus, I will once again be victorious. I’m just starting to wrap my head around doing it and not just talking about it. And believe me; it’s just as scary as it was the first time. Scary because I have to give up my control.

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

When I was younger I used to dream a lot. My dreams have always been in color and I thought all dreams were in color. I found out differently. Many people have told me they only dream in black and white and have never dreamed in color. For someone who has only dreamed in color that seems so odd to me.

Several years ago, Larry and I were at a potluck with some of our friends and the conversation turned to dreams. It was fascinating listening to several of the men. Three or four of them stated that they often dreamed they could fly, not in an airplane but like a bird. Not one of the women had ever dreamed they could fly.

The following are three dreams I have dreamed over and over, always precisely the same.

My first day of first grade, an old man tried to kidnap me. We lived in Shawnee at the time in a small flat-top house. Shortly after that incident I began dreaming that I would be on top of our house, running from corner to corner and the man was always chasing me and he was always only one corner behind me. I would wake up terrified. I have always been afraid of heights and so it compounded my panic. I was afraid of falling off the house and afraid of him catching me.

Another reoccurring dream is that as a pre-teen, I would be sitting in the darkness of a movie theater with my shoes off. The movie ended and as I attempted to put my shoes on, one shoe is always missing and my bare foot would touch the floor and it would be very sticky and yucky feeling. When I would look around for someone to help me I realized I was always alone in the dark theater. Everyone had left me!

One other dream is less clear and I definitely don’t know what to make of it. I am in an unknown place; nothing at all is familiar to me. There are hundreds of men, women and children. Some are in riding in covered wagons, most people are walking and I am walking. I see myself as about 12 years old. I don’t recognize a single face, everyone is unhappy, all of the women are dressed in long black, pioneer looking dresses and some have bonnets on. Rain is hammering down making it almost impossible to see and the ground was a muddy, slippery mess. Everyone is soaking wet and miserable. I’m become more frightened by the minute. I try to get closer to some of the women and they look at me harshly and push me away. The dream always ends there.

What are some reoccurring dreams you have had and are your dreams in color or black and white? Feel free to analyze mine.

Note: I wrote about the kidnapping incident on my previous blog: http://gatheringrubiesblogspot.com

Look for Red Buckle Shoes.

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. Gen 3:20

Mothers in the bible often occupied public positions. Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah were prophetess. The woman of Proverbs 31 is highly esteemed. Mothers loved deeply and were respected. Children were taught to honor, respect and obey their parents. God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. I can’t imagine a greater honor.

The world is filled with many wonderful and marvelous mothers. Some are biological mothers, others are step-mothers and some are adoptive mothers. Some women fill the roll and have the honor of being mothers just by the way they treat others. I call Russell, our minister “son”. I don’t have any boys; if I did I would want him to be like Russell. He calls me “mom”.

I love my mother with all my heart. I treasure each moment with her. Regrettably that hasn’t always been the case. She is now 86, tiny and sometimes frail. It’s only in the last few years that we have began building a real relationship and most notably this past year has been the best ever. Much of the blame falls on my shoulders. My mom had her own battles to fight when I was a child and I was often left in the background. In later years though, our lack of relationship was largely my fault as I wasn’t willing to ‘forgive or forget’. We both wasted a lot of years in our physical and spiritual immaturity. Regrets are so many…and even though I tried to do things differently with my own children I made many of the same mistakes.

It isn’t easy being “grown up” or being a mom. The same can be said for being a wife, sister, or friend. We learn so much by example, we just don’t always search in the best places for the examples we follow.

I have been blessed to have very loving grandmothers (and grandfathers), although one lived in Texas and I grew up in Oklahoma, so I rarely got to be with my Texas grandmother. My Oklahoma grandmother was absolutely an angel in my eyes. I also have been blessed with some incredible aunts, sister-in-laws, mother-in-law, and women of faith who have been marvelous examples. These wonderful women loved me when I was unlovable. I’m sure there were many times they wanted to give up on me and file me away under “hopeless case”, yet they didn’t. I thank God over and over that they didn’t.

This Sunday we have the opportunity to honor our mothers. It’s a lovely sentiment, yet I hope we honor them each day and not just once a year. Me…I’m making up for lost time. I love you Mom!!

“Honor your father and mother”-which is the first commandment with a promise- “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Eph 6:2-3

Mommy, please do not cry over me;

Take comfort in knowing that my soul is free.

I know it’s hard for you to understand

That I can’t walk by your side; nor hold your hand.

I can’t tell you that I know when you are near,

And I can’t show you how much I care.

I know you are worried, upset indeed.

Big sister before me is wonderful and fine.

I’m just existing and biding my time.

You prayed I was normal at first sight,

And soon you realized something wasn’t right.

You grieve over things I cannot do.

For I’m unable to learn things which are new.

Mommy, don’t cry when you think of me.

I am God’s child, an innocent babe.

I am pure, untarnished, and unafraid.

I don’t know how long I will be yours;

Or how long I can stay.

God has spared me one more day.

When I leave you mommy, you must be brave.

Remember that there is a place especially for me.

A place without sorrow or heartaches or pain.

A place where my losses shall be my gains.

I used to love watching movies. I remember watching the movie Cool Hand Luke many years ago, Luke was incarcerated when his mother died. When he learned of her death, he picked up his banjo and sang a song about Plastic Jesus. His mother had one on the dashboard of her car. The song goes something like this…

Well, I don’t care if it rains or freezes, Long as I have my plastic Jesus, Riding on the dashboard of my car.

Through all trials and tribulations, We will travel every nation, With my plastic Jesus I’ll go far.

I don’t care if it rains or freeze’s long as I’ve got my Plastic Jesus

Glued to the dashboard of my car, You can buy Him iridescent. Glows in the dark, He’s Pink and Pleasant, Take Him with you when you’re travelling far.

You can buy a Sweet Madonna, Dressed in rhinestones sitting on a Pedestal of abalone shell, Goin’ ninety, I’m not wary‘Cause I’ve got my Virgin Mary, Guaranteeing I won’t go to Hell. 

Regrettably, there may be a lot of people who only have a Plastic Jesus.

These days I seldom watch a movie, there is so much depravity and language that I refuse to go. I can’t bring myself to spend money to listen to someone spew God’s name in vain or other repugnant language, or to watch someone in various stages of undress etc. For that same reason I rarely even rent a movie. It has been over three years since Larry and I have been to the movies. I am reminded of the following question from a lesson I heard…”would you be watching what you’re watching or reading what you are reading if Jesus was in the room with you?” That has stuck with me, we all know even though we can’t see him, he still sees us and everything we do.

For Christians, our viewing choices are quite limited. One can scarcely even watch a commercial anymore; much less any program. It seems sponsors think nothing sells unless sex is involved. It further impresses on me the lack of faith in the product they are trying to sell. If something is good, whether good in taste, built well, worth viewing or reading, etc, then the product will sell itself on its own value.

Burger King is really stooping low and I guess getting desperate. Their most recent ad shows images of The King singing “I like square butts and I cannot lie” in front of women shaking their behinds for the camera with images of SpongeBob dancing along. The King even measures the behind of one of the woman who has placed a phone book under her dress. Have these people lost their mind??? Do you really have to do this to sell a burger???

Jer 6:15 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord.

If we willingly equip ourselves with the useless garbage accessible to us from TV and movies, we are in danger of letting our hearts become calloused. I am amazed at the amount of vulgarity, sexuality and disrespect available to us with just the click of a button.

I like the following example a father used to demonstrate to his teens why just a “little bit” of questionable choices can be a bad decision…

A father of some teenage children had the family rule that they could not attend PG-13 or R rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a particular popular movie that was playing at local theaters. It was rated PG-13.

The teens interviewed friends and even some members of their family’s church to find out what was offensive in the movie. The teens made a list of pros and cons about the movie, trying to convince their dad why they should be allowed to see it. The con’s were that it contained ONLY 3 swear words, the ONLY violence was a building exploding (and you see that on TV all the time they said), and you actually did not “see” the couple in the movie having sex – it was just implied sex, off camera.  The pros were that it was a popular movie – a block buster.  Everyone was seeing it.  If the teens saw the movie then they would not feel left out when their friends discussed it. The movie contained a good story and plot. It had some great adventure and suspense in it. There were some fantastic special effects in this movie. The movie’s stars were some of the most talented actors in Hollywood. It probably would be nominated for several awards.

 Many of the members of their Christian church had even seen the movie and said it wasn’t “very bad”.  Therefore, since there were more pros than cons the teens said they were asking their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them have permission to go see it.

The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He could tell his children had spent some time and thought on this request. He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his decision. The teens were thrilled thinking; “Now we’ve got him! Our argument is too good! Dad can’t turn us down!”  So, they happily agreed to let him have a day to think about their request.

The next evening the father called in his three teenagers, who were smiling smugly, into the living room. There on the coffee table he had a plate of brownies. The teens were puzzled. The father told his children he had thought about their request and had decided that if they would eat a brownie then he would let them go to the movie.  But just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons.

The pros were that they were made with the finest chocolate and other good ingredients. They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them. The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on top. He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe. And best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of their own father.

The brownies only had one con. The father had included a little bit of a special ingredient, they contained just a little bit of dog poop. But he had mixed the dough well – they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop and he had baked it at 350 degrees so any bacteria or germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed. 

Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies which included just a “little bit of crap” and not be effected by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie with “just a little bit of smut” and not be effected.

Of course, none of the teens would eat the brownies and the smug smiles had left their faces. Only Dad was smiling smugly as they left the room.

Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he is opposed to, the father just asks, “Would you like me to whip up a batch of my special brownies?” Author Unknown 

Proverbs 4:23-27 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.  Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. 

We serve a risen Savior and not a Plastic Jesus.

Subsequent to being rescued from their enemies they found themselves wandering in a harsh environment, no motels, no roadside rest stops, no Quick Trips or 7-11′s. They were tired, hungry and thirsty. They were greatly distressed because of their situation. They had cried out to the Lord and he saved them from being destroyed. He guided them to a city where they could settle.

Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, suffering while bound in iron chains…because they rebelled against the words of God and despised his counsel. They were subjected to bitter labor, they stumbled around and there wasn’t anyone to help them, then they cried to The Lord and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke their chains.

Some became fools because they hated wisdom and discipline, and even suffered affliction because of their immorality. They despised all food and couldn’t eat.

The preceding three rephrased and summarized paragraphs cover the first 18 verses of Psalm 107.

Our lives can get very busy, and Satan likes it when we add more and more pointless distractions and remember God less and less. It’s easy to become so attentive to the world and to our ‘stuff’ that we forget to Give Thanks to The Lord.

I have found myself in unnecessary circumstances because I too wanted to do things my way. I was stubborn and refused to listen. I turned my back on God, and then I would cry out to him, things would get better and I would basically turn to my own vomit, over and over again.

Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

Getting to know God and being persistent in learning his will have made my trips to the desert less frequent, and it has made my times of rejoicing and giving thanks increasingly more frequent.

Ps 118:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.