Lost souls

I came across these words in a book by Rob Bell, Love Wins: "My wife, Kristen, and I often talk about raising our kids in such a way that they have as little as possible to unlearn later in life."

One has much to learn in life, but there is considerable to unlearn in life also. Is anyone so lucky that all of their major precepts turn out to be correct? I doubt it. You may walk down a path and come to a conclusion that it only leads to a dead end. When you reach that realization, you have to backtrack. Most likely you will have several things to unlearn.

I think we all know what I am talking about. However there are some people who for whatever reason swallow everything they have been taught in an uncritical way. These are the true lost souls.

Mid-week summary

Earlier this week, on Monday to be exact, we took Luke to Incredible Pizza near Memorial and 71st. We spent about three hours there. First we ate lunch. They have many kinds of pizza there out on a serving line. You help yourself when you want something to eat. There are three large seating areas for dining. Once we had eaten, we went to the games area. The previous time we were there, you would receive tickets based upon how well you played a game. This time, the tickets had been replaced by eTickets, or electronic tickets. As you pay to enter, you are given a plastic card the size of a credit card. You swipe the card to play a game. A computer keeps track of your score and how many tickets you won. Before you leave, you can redeem your tickets for prizes.

In addition to all the games inside the store, there is a nine-hole miniature golf course, a race track for small cars (which you actually get in and drive), and bowling. I think the building was formerly a Venture or Target store. Luke appeared to have a good time there.

Today we expect to have both grandkids while the two parents visit the doctors.

Weekend Roundup

Last Friday, J and I went to the dentist for a sixth-month checkup. Everything checked out OK for the two of us.

The next day we had a Humanism and the Arts program at Restoration. Vanessa called me around 5 pm and said I could come by her house to pick up the key. Vanessa lives on the north side of Sand Springs, not far from my son Nick. I left the house and drove to Vanessa's. She was working out in her front year.

When I arrived at the church the SOS group was still meeting there. SOS is an alcohol recovery group led by Larry Hochhaus. Larry is also a member of the church. I brought the refreshments inside. Although eight members had signed up to perform, three were no shows. Only five people performed. The first two people on the program were no shows. Joy had called me hours earlier to let me know she would not be able to be there. Vanessa was supposed to come later but never did. I led off the show playing a piece by a Russian composer with a title something like "Pioneer Campfire." It is a piece I found in a book I bought some forty years ago when Russia was at that time known as the Soviet Union. The book has some twenty songs in it. I enjoy playing them. The book is written in the Russian language. Next Barbara Frey read a poem she had written a few decades ago. She spoke of her time as a teacher. Barbara is now 84 years old.

Next was Marilyn Clarke. She read three poems by Billy Collins. Collins is one of my favorite poets. I always enjoy hearing his work read aloud. Following the Collins verse, Gail and I performed a duet at the piano. We played "Heliotrope Bouquet" by Scott Joplin. Larry Roth, usually a reliable performer, was to finish reading his ghost story, but he did not show.

Today I attended the service at Restoration. The were nine of us there. The number in attendance is much smaller than some Sunday School classes at other churches, but that does not slow us down. We keep plugging right along.

This evening we attended a gathering of the Methodist Church at their new Family Life Center in south Sand Springs. The church has a new minister. The Methodists rotate ministers every few years. Now was the time for a new minister. He preached his first sermon in Sand Springs today. He comes from Mangum, OK. It is in the far southwest of the state .

Luke is spending the night with us tonight. We will have him with us for much of the day tomorrow.

Two events today

The alarm went off around 7 am this morning. Normally we don't set an alarm, but this morning we wanted to go on a volkswalk in downtown Tulsa. The start point was near the old Union Station (now the Jazz Hall of Fame) on 1st Street. After registering, we struck out on the downtown 3.1 mile walk. The walk was billed as an Art Deco walk. The walk passed by many buildings noted for their use of the Art Deco style. Many of the buildings in downtown Tulsa were built during the heyday of Art Deco. After finishing the walk, we went to a McDonald's for a sausage and egg McMuffin.

This evening was "Humanism and the Arts" at Restoration. There were just five of us there. I played a Russian song at the piano. Gail and I played a duet by Scott Joplin, "Heliotrope Bouquet."

This week I learned that a good friend of mine has lung cancer. She is just 60 years old and has never smoked. What a blow!

Chautauqua this week

We went to two presentations of Chautauqua this week. On Monday night we saw a portrayal of D. W. Griffith, the founder of Hollywood, and last night we saw a portrayal of Paul Robeson. Robeson is best known for singing "Old Man River" in the musical Showboat. The theme this year is the early days of Hollywood. "Louella Parsons," gossip columnist, spoke on Wednesday night. Tonight the speaker will be "W. C. Fields." "Walt Disney" will speak Saturday night. I have other obligations for the reminder of this week and will not get to hear additional talks. Attendance is down this year from past years.

"The most interesting parts of your life, you can't write about" is a comment I hear often from Mrs. N. That is true. There is a lot happening that I cannot mention in this blog. So for the time being, I will just have to sit on this information.

Strange religion

The following quotation comes from an article titled “Texas Gov. Rick Perry Partnering with New Apostolic Groups for Houston “Call to Prayer” written by Rachel Tabachnick.

If readers are tempted to laugh or snicker at groups forming 24/7 prayer vigils to protect the interstates of America or hold ceremonies divorcing Baal, please think again. The apostles and prophets have become a major force in American politics and both Republican and Democratic political candidates are rushing to curry their favor. They will undoubtedly play a role in the selection of the Republican candidate for president.

You can read about the New Apostolic training in prophecy, strategic level spiritual warfare, and demon deliverance as well as other scary concepts by reading this article.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/6/6/112828/5087/Front_Page/Texas_Gov_Rick_Perry_Partnering_with_New_Apostolic_Groups_for_Houston_quot_Call_to_Prayer_quot

Saturday Night Live

Tonight we went to a live performance of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew on the grounds of the Philbrook Museum. We had a picnic dinner which we brought with us. We met Marilyn of the Humanist group there. We left at intermission in order to get back and get some rest before church tomorrow. As we were leaving I was unable to see the curb, and I took a spill. Fortunately, there were no broken bones -- just skinned knees. My night vision is getting worse.

Luke and Ayla

This morning we got up early and drove over to Nick's and got Luke and Ayla. We went to a donut shop for breakfast. Luke was pretty well behaved, but Ayla threw a fit. Jen has an appointment with her doctor at St. John Medical Center. Nick called a few minutes ago and said they had finished the meeting and would be eating next.

Garden report

Tonight I printed my talk for this coming Sunday at Restoration. Gail and I will be playing "Plymouth Pride," and I will be delivering the message. Barbara Frye will be reading the children's story.

In my garden, my squash plants are looking good. My tomato plants also look good, but my two topsy turvy plants (tomato) are just so so. I also have some cucumber plants which seem to be doing fine. The beans are doing well also.

Luke and Ayla spent the night here a few days ago. We will have them again tomorrow.

Recent news

Yesterday, I went to an eye surgery center to have my cataracts evaluated. I went to the place recommended by my optomitrist. It is on Harvard Avenue in Tulsa.

The center did a thorough test of my vision. They concluded that I did not need to have surgery at this time. I was told that if I noticed any degeneration in my vision, I should come back. So I will bide my time until I notice some vision impairment.

Today was Ayla's eighth birthday party. Her party was held at a roller skating rink in Sand Springs. Her parents had reserved the rink from 5 to 7. She had presents and a cake.

Back on Tuesday, we had more storms roll through. Our neighbor on the south side of us has a storm shelter in his back yard. We went over there and rode out the storm underground. The storm missed Sand Springs. I hope that was the last storm for this season.

Silent Night (new lyrics with an evolutionary perspective)

Click on the link below. Then click on "Music Videos for contemporary church services" in the lower right corner. Click on Connie Barlow. Then select "Silent Night." Have the sound on and click to enlarge the image. Read the new lyrics as you listen to the music and enjoy the visuals.

http://thegreatstory.org/

Weather worries

Again tonight we had some rough weather passing through. I figure it is only a matter of time before a tornado hits Sand Springs. How many times can you dodge the bullet before you lose? There were 116 people in nearby Joplin (100 miles from here) who lost their lives yesterday. We had storms in the area tonight, but fortunately we dodged the bullet again. I heard on the news this evening that we have had more than 1,000 tornadoes in the U.S. so far this year. I suspect global climate change is the source for all the weird weather we have been having.

Our next door neighbor has a storm shelter in his back yard. It might be worth looking into having something like that in our back yard.

Volkswalking in Owasso

Today when I woke up I headed out for Owasso, a suburb of Tulsa about 20 miles away. It had been a while since my last volkswalk. The walk today was only my second of this year. We had walked in Owasso before, but it was probably five years (a guess) since I last walked in Owasso. J did not go with me today.

The walk started in Elm Creek Park and then went around a lake. From it I returned to the park. Although the weatherman said rain showers were likely, we saw not a drop of rain.

This is good

A friend sent me a link to something on the Internet. There is a lot of truth in what this man says.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33qF4LDAXvQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Update

I've got a few minutes before it is time to pick up Luke and Ayla from school.

Here's a quick update on things since my last posting. On Saturday, we had seven members of HAT meeting at the church for a discussion led by Herb. We are now meeting at Church of the Restoration, except for our main meeting which is still held at the Genealogy Center (for the time being).

The service last Sunday at Church of the Restoration was led by Mary Rounds, Rosemary Powell, and Vanessa Adams-Harris, all from the church. The title of the talk was "Freedom Riders, Justice Bound: Are We There Yet."

Monday morning Gail came over for our weekly piano duet practice. Our next performance piece will be "Plymouth Pride" by Melody Bober. We should be playing again at Restoration on Sunday, June 5. I will probably be the speaker for that service.

The last few days

What has happened in the last few days? Last Wednesday I went to my eye doctor, Dr. Riggins. She checked my eyes for cataracts. She said the cataracts had progressed to the point where I should think about having something done about them. We talked about surgery and that appears to be the option I will take. I never realized I had a problem with cataracts and wouldn't know anything about having cataracts had not Dr. Riggins brought it to my attention. I thought my vision was fine.

It is about time for another doctor's appointment -- a follow-up to having pneumonia. I will finish this later.

Try again

The last time I tried to post to this blog, I got a message saying that Blogger was down. That was a couple of days ago. I tried again last night and got a similar message. So instead of writing a lot and not getting it posted, I am going to stop here and see if this will post.

Death of co-worker

Last week, I learned of the death of a woman with whom I had worked at the railroad. She, like me, was a clerk. She was about my age, being born in January of 1948. The last I knew of her, she was in good health. She left the railroad in the mid 90s for other pursuits.

I had intended to go to her funeral, but someting came up and we were needed to take care of our grandchildren. So I am left to wonder what happened to her. I recall that she was something of a free spirit and would on occasion put the pedal to the metal while driving the messager van. May she R.I.P.

Sickness

Last Friday, I saw a doctor for a cough I had been having. She took a couple of chest x-rays of me and then told me I have pneumonia. Since then I have been taking it easy. I skipped church last Sunday and let my meetings go. Tomorrow night we will skip Movie Night. The doctor told me to stay away from people as I am susceptible to catching something from somebody else.

The schola (chant) practice at the cathedral is tomorrow from 10 to 1. I will let that activity go by the wayside. This is my third time to miss. I think I will give up on that. A three-hour rehearsal seems rather lengthy to me.

I need to focus more on getting well at this time.

Just checkin' in

It has been a few days since I last posted on this blog. All I have to say at this time is that last Friday I had a visit with my doctor, and she told me I had pneumonia. I knew I was sick, but did not realize how serious it was. Since that time, I have been perfecting the art of lounging. It is not quite 10 am, but I am already thinking about taking a nap.

Good night.