Those were the days!

One of these things is not like the other

(the photo goes with the title, not nessessarily the journal)

I was thinking about the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector this morning, in Luke 18:9-14. Which character do you think would be better to play the part of the Pharisee, Bert or Ernie? Bert, I think, cause he's a stickler for keeping the rules,...though I could also see him as a miser-type taxcollector.You may know the story. The Pharisee would be someone who was a member of "the religious right" of the day. As he prayed to God he said that he was glad he was above the evil actions of other men and then he went on to list for God all the good deeds that he had done. Then the lowly tax collector, who is perceived by the public as the scum of the earth for stealing to make a profit, didn't even look into heaven(as was the customary posture for prayer during that day, at least for those in the "religious right") and his prayer was short, and to the point,...."God have mercy on me, a sinner." This guy would be the permanent closing prayer leader at my church! God acknowledges one of the two prayers,...but it isn't the prayer of the one that most people living then would typically think God would hear. It's an earnest, heartfelt prayer of a contrite heart, though sinful. God hears the prayer of the taxcollector! Now, no one during that time would ever have looked at the two men and said that the Taxcollector seemed to be closer to God. The way the two men live their lives is blatantly different. It was a "no brainer". The Pharisee was "at church" every time the doors were open, but the Taxcollector was most likely NOT there. The Pharisee probably knew the scriptures backwards and forwards, the Taxcollector most likely did not. One had an honorable profession, the other didn't. One did many good deeds, the other fleeced citizens for all he could when gathering taxes just to line his own pockets. Everyone, including us, would have selected the one whom outwardly seems very holy and spiritual. I think one important lesson for us here is that we don't think like God(Isaiah 55:8-9),...and we never will. So, those who seem to us to be the furthest from God, may, in all actuallity, be the closest to God,....and those who seem closest to Him, may actually be the farthest away. What a shocking lesson. What an eye-opening and different perspective this simple story gives us. Jesus is good at that, giving us radical teachings in a simple lesson. Think about how this parable would translate in our American culture today. The people whom we regard as very holy, very Bible knowledgeable, full of good deeds, might not be close to God at all and those who seem far away from God may be closer than we know or suspect. God knows our hearts. So, "judge not, that ye be not judged". For what seems like goodness to us, God may see as a case of doing the right thing for the wrong reason. Altruism is a 50 dollar word that I don't hear too often, maybe because it's scarce. Doing the right thing for the right reason. Be real with your neighbor, and especially God, cause he and Paul Harvey know "the rest of the story". As we stand and as we sing 25 verses of "Just as I Am".

The 'W' above all other 'W's

If I can't have a Krystal hamburger, this is the next best thing(though some might say it's apples to oranges). In Dallas/Fort Worth we only have one Krystal(way up in Carrollton) which only recently opened. I heard people would wait hours for the one-of-a-kind taste of a "GREASEtal", as we have come to acknowledge them. Guess that's better than a six hour drive on I-20 to Vicksburg, MS, the next closest Krystal. I remember growing up in Memphis in the late 60's/early 70's, going midnight bowling with kids from church and afterwards, about 6 AM, hitting the Krystal for breakfast near the intersection of Getwell Road and Park. The waffles were great! I don't think they serve breakfast anymore. Remember that before you "set your mouth" for a Krystal breakfast after midnight bowling in Memphis. Now, Whataburger serves breakfast, but no waffles, and not in Memphis(go west my son, go west!). Krystals or no, waffles or no, in Texas, the Whataburger 'W' is the ONLY 'W' fit for the bumper of my SUV.

CALM IN THE STORM

That title makes one think they are about to read an inspirational message. Well, probably not here, from me, but maybe the photo is inspiring? I like it. What do you feel, sense? I think someone sent it to me a year or two ago during a dry season in the west. Right now New Orleans and the vicinity are being pounded by Hurricane Katrina. 7,000 have entered the safety of the Superdome, "the steel doors have been closed" is what Brian Williams at NBC news stated this morning about 8 AM. All who are in are safe and the others who have stayed outside the dome are on their own. They have made the choice to do it themselves, without aide or assistance from others. Back to the photo. The deer or elk in the photo seem to instinctively know the path of safety, the escape route running right through the middle of all the destruction. I think I sometimes need to see the way out, to know when to stop, when I have met my match, and know when it's time to flee and not fight. To find the stream of redemption provided for me,...the redemption that is not of my doing, lest I should boast. Sorry if this turned into an inspirational message. Enjoy the photo.

Oh, my bright and fair haired child,
I want so much for you,...
so much that fear obsesses me, wild
and clouds my love from view.

And when the billows roll back neatly
yet another fear shines through,
That your love fills my heart completely,
with no vacancy for any, but you.

My fear continues in this vicious cycle,
to love and love, till I know
that my love for you has no rival,
then I fear I can never let you go.

jgf '93

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

This is one of my favorites works of art,....from my favorite artist,....my son, Holden. This is circa 2001,...so he was about nine or ten. I believe this piece may be a good summary of life,...at least mine.

MATCHBOX WORLD

Peer pressure is still strong at 43. That is partially why I began this blog(everybody's doing it!),....But even greater is the fantasy of being my own publisher and the remote possibility that someone besides me may read and like my stuff. It's sort of the same feeling I got when I was a boy in Memphis, creating my own world in a patch of dirt under a tree in my front yard with just a couple of Matchbox cars. On any muggy summer day in the late 60's, my best friend, Bill Gibson would venture across the street with a few of his best Matchbox cars, possibly a Hot Wheels car or two, and we would begin our roles as creators of universes. Whether we started early in the morning or late in the afternoon,...it didn't really matter, we were always able to incorporate everything that any good blockbuster action movie could offer,....shootouts, fast cars, a police chase, big explosions(we didn't really venture into lasciviousness at that age),....but anything could happen in a few hours. We could begin and finish whole worlds in hours or sometimes they could last a week or two. We created characters with names and personalities and preferences in life. We came up with dialogue for each character and scenarios in which their lives occured,.....all on the spot,...from the top of our heads,....improvised. But as quickly and easily as we created our universes, they would all dissolve in an instant at a simple ring of the popsicleman's bells. I guess this blogging stuff could be a close replica of sorts. One day I could be seriously into keeping this blog going, making improvements, adding photos, graphics, etc, and the next I could be running out the door chasing a "bomb pop". Welcome guests. My world may appeal to you, or it may not,....but the beautiful thing is that if you don't like my world you can create your own.