PETUNIAS AND PEONIES

The Survivor Sagas

We look forward every April to the supermarkets, discount retailers, hardware stores, et al, to their massive displays of young plants, top soil and potting soils, and lots of garden fixtures and decorations - very tempting.

However, because it has been so cool and rainy - and "tornadoey" petunias were held off until the middle of May. And that's so very sad because petunias are Helen's specialty. In fact, if Helen doesn't have her usual fence display of showy petunias, she'll hear about from other residents in our apartment complex.

So off to W_ _ _ M_ _ _ we went, where in a short time we acquired enough petunias and geraniums to decorate the state house in Topeka, and four bags of potting soil - yeah, four bags!

It didn't take long for Helen to plant the petunias in containers, which were placed on a ledge lining the length of the outer board fence of our apartment patio. But back for more potting soil we went and I resisted telling my "girl friend," "I told you so."

And the little transplants began to grow and their pretty little blooms were smiling at passers-by - until more storm alerts and soaking rains came. They could not stand up under a pelting rain. Oh - they looked so pitiful bent over with withered blooms. We had to pick almost all of them until tney were back to "ground zero."

They were not the only flowers that suffered. Across the courtyard there were banks of peonies that had fallen in a tangled mess like party-goers with "too much libation at the ball." (I see a theme for a fable developing here with a moral that would make Aesop proud.)

Peonies give the appearance of being strong with tall sturdy stems and the blooms are amazingly spectacular. They seem to bloom overnight but their season is short. But from the latest deluge, they gave up - they just drooped over and died. They had no stamina. No amount of plant food could heal those sick plants. They just gave up and accepted their fate.

Ah, but then there's Helen's petunias. They droop in the heat, but water strengthens them and they snap back with their heads held high. They may be bedraggled from the rain, but gloom turns to bloom when they look to the sun. When petunias wilt in the hot part of the summer, they can be cut back almost to the roots but water and sun gives them new life - they become spectacular again even up into September.

Petunias are survivors, but peonies will never bloom again this year.

What spiritual moral can you draw from the last two paragraphs?

HAVE A BLESSED MEMORIAL DAY

Today in the first service, the Pastor paused to recognize those who served our nation in Military Service. I was proud to stand as the congregation applauded us.

It used to be that it was a proud honor to be recognized as having an ancestor who served in the Continental Army of the Revolution. My mother's body rests in a beautiful cemetary in Missouri. It used to be that the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) would place a marker on the graves of their members. It was a nice commemoration of our nation's proud heritage under God.

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled; Here once the embattled farmers stood; And fired the shot heard round the world.

On this green bank, by this soft stream, We place with joy a votive stone, That memory may their deeds redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

O Thou who made those heroes dare, To die, and leave their children free, -Bid Time and Nature gently spare, The shaft we raised to them and Thee."
The Concord Hymn (edited), by Ralph Waldo Emerson (25 May 1803 – 27 April 1882)

I always looked forward to "Decoration Day" and stopping by Moncrief's Nursery, with my mother and grandmother, to pick up flowers to decorate the family graves in Riverview Cemetary. In the center of the Cemetary there is a statue of a Civil War soldier on a high lilmestone pedastal. It always fascinated me, but I never knew if he was a Yank or a Reb, a Blue or a Gray. He had no distinctive sign or symbol, just a neutral color. The pathos is that he represented brother against brother. But as the anthem says, " . . . when our cause, it is just."

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on.

(Chorus) His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps, They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps: His day is marching on.

(Chorus) His day is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat: Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on.

(Chorus) Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me: As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on.

(Chorus) While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave, He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave, So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave, Our God is marching on.

(Chorus) Our God is marching on.
Battle Hymn of the Republic - Julia Ward Howe (May 27, 1819 – October 17, 1910)

Our Prayers for our nation and military forces should be strong and with confidence as we approach the throne of grace. We will not forget those who have volunteered to take up arms to protect our way of life - and may it continue to please God for grace to preserve the principles of our heritage and to escape the pollution of godlessness, for it is your cause in which we glory by serving you, Lord Jesus, And we know that what we may not understand will be revealed to us in a different time and place, for you are God, and to you belong glory and dominion forever. Amen.

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)

INTRODUCING JOHN SCHELL

John is one of our team authors who has quite a testimony of how the Lord brought him through a quadruple by-pass surgery.John and his charming wife, Sharon live in Lee's Summit, Missouri. They have two high-achiever children. Jeremy, married to Stacey, is an accomplished concert pianist and Worship Director for the Kansas City Baptist Temple. Jenny is also an accomplished pianist and is Pipeline Association Coordinator for the same company as her father works for.

John, besides doing marketing and training for the Celeritas company, serves the K. C. Baptist Temple on the Board of Directors, Finance Committee, assists in teaching in the Way of Life Ministry Fellowship, and he and Sharon lead a home Bible study in their home.

John was born at Scholfield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father was in the Army Air Force befor it became a separate military arm.They moved to Scott AFB, Illinois and Torrington, Wyoming. He majored in English and Journalism at the University of Wyoming and graduated from the Shepherd's School of the Ministry.

Read John's Blog page. Click on "Survivor Story." He will contribute inspirational Bible studies, which are helpful, inspirational, and pertinent to our Mission Statement. Sharon has promised to "piggy back" on his page whenever she has an opportunity. Sharon's very interesting story is on "Women's Work." Click on their blog pages on the side bar to the right.

I HAVE SEEN BETTER WINTERS

I just completed my in-home re-hab sessions. I am very pleased that I have a series of simple exercises that are easy and kind of fun. My physical therepist, Jackie, shown here completing my final report, gave me a series of exercises for the lower body and is seen here completing my graduation papers.

My exercise equipment is the back of a dining room chair and two cans of soup - one for each hand - cream of asparagus, chicken and noodles, and/or mix or match. Tina suggested that you can start out slow by making it cans of tuna instead.

Jackie is shown supervising my "ballet exercises" of kicking legs to theI front, side, back and a cool sliding dip with deep knee bends. So Helen took this photo of the action - one of her few chances of revenge.

When I saw the photo, I went into severe shock and trauma. I wanted to hide with the cats under the bed. For the first time, I realized that the illnesses that have overcome me are not to blame - I'm just OLD! Where did the years between 40 and 80 go?

Anyway, I am making a major concession in letting you see this image of me - Ayyyyyyeeeeee! It's the least I can do to show you that physical conditions of the aged can be somewhat corrected by the discipline of simple and easy exercises.

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1Timothy 4:8)

Paul is saying that exercise should not be an obsession over godliness, which pertains to the wellness of the soul and spirit. But it is no less important to the body. So - pick up those cans of soup, grab ahold of that chair and kick.

MEET OUR AUTHORS

The calendar told us that it is Spring - glad to know that. Suddenly blossoms pushed out the cold weather here in Misson. Helen and I are reminded that it is time to plant a new batch of petunias in the planters lining the front fence of our patio.

The photo image is of a former time for our petunias. It also features one of our contributing authors, Tina Lewis Rowe, seen to the right in this photo taken by her daughter, Shannon.

Tina and our oldest son, Jeff, were on the same high school champion debate team. She is a good friend with a good heart.

Tina had a 34 year career in law enforcement—25 years with the Denver Police Department where she retired as a patrol commander, and eight years as the Presidential appointee to the position of United States Marshal for Colorado. In that role she was responsible for the development and implementation of security plans for the Oklahoma City bombing trials held in Denver, as well as coordinating federal responses at Colorado airports following the events of September 11, 2001. She has been a trainer, speaker and consultant for over thirty years and focuses on personal and professional development for private sector and government work groups.

Tina is one of the Workplace Doctors on the Ask The Workplace Doctors website. (http://www.workplacedoctors.com/) and also has her own online training journal (http://www.tinalewisrowe.com/).

Tina’s interest in wellness results from her own personal efforts to stay fit, energized and positive in her life and work. She helped develop the original fitness program for the Denver Police Department, using the Cooper Aerobics model, and teaches and writes about a balanced, realistic approach to high quality living, using both personal efforts and medical science and without relying on expensive “magical” non-medical supplements or treatments.

Click on Tina's link in the right side bar. She always has something helpful, interesting, and written in a sparkling manner. You will be blessed.

Pastor Bulldog's Survivor Axiom

If you "walk on eggs" of affliction

don't give in to fright.

If you walk with the Lord with conviction,

You'll not crunch shells in the night.

"Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely,

and thy foot shall not stumble." (Proverbs 3:23)

Miracle Medicine

Jackie came yesterday morning. She really put me through the paces.
But then, Bonnie showed up after lunch and took all the information she needed.
And that's not all. At 2:15 p.m., here came Krista.

Oh, I tell you. It's not so bad growing old when you are surrounded by so much beauty - my dear wife, Helen, especially included!!!

Here's the thing. I checked out of the hospital after spending five days in Critical Care. That morning my admitting internist came by and I asked him when I was good to go home.

"We'll see, perhaps in a day or two". "A DAY OR TWO? - NO, DOCTOR, TODAY!" Well, he was as surprised as I was at my audacity. But he grinned and walked out. He woold not approve unless he thought I would do just as well improving at home. And they needed my room.

My release was contingent upon my earlier request to the pulmonary specialist to set up home care professionals to do rehab - at home - in my chair by my computer - YES!!!

So that is the reason for my bevy of angels who have taken charge of me and Helen said, "Whew!"

• Bonnie, RN, is project boss and checks on progress, while taking my vitals and collecting our co-pay.
• Jackie, physical therapist. has given me an exercise routine that would make a member of the Ballet Russe proud.
• And cute little Krista, my occupational therapist who makes sure I don't fall down in the shower or trip on rugs or am able to lift myself out of my chair (kind of humiliating in a way).

And - they will be back twice a week for eight weeks, to make me a new man. Again, Helen says, "Whew!" But together, we are all determined that being an octagenarian is no hindrance to good health and posture, the term simply suggests HIGHER OCTANE - Get it?.

Thank you all for your prayers.
And a special thanks to Enrique Chi who visited me on his lunch hour and had prayer with me. It's called "Body Ministry" of Christ.
Enrique, electical engineer, certified translator, is a prominent member of the Ministerio Hispano of our church, Marco Castro, Pastor.