The Rocky Road to Romance
 

In the article above, I reported on my recent marriage; however, I did not report on the hazards and pitfalls one may encounter on the road of courtship.  My personal experiences proved that the road of courtship is fraught with all kinds of hazards and pitfalls. 

For example, as I planned to take Susie out for the very first time, I selected the finest restaurant in our city: Braum's.  We each had a salad, and when it was time to check out, we approached the cashier.  I reached back for my wallet and, yep, it was not there.  I had forgotten to pick it up before leaving home.  Susie had to pay the bill.  You could have lit a cigar on my face.  But now Susie won't let me pay her back.  She says she is going to hold it over my head. 

I will admit that in taking Susie out on our first "date," I was nervous.  I considered the likelihood that someone who knew me might see me with a woman and not know that my wife had died.  I told Susie that if anyone came up to greet us, I was going to introduce her as my piano teacher. 

Each morning, we began the day with a phone call around 7:30 AM.  Either she would call me or I would call her.  Our excuse: at least one person would know if we were still among the ranks of the living. 

Now, no one else ever calls me before 8:00 AM.  So, one morning when the phone rang about 7:15 AM, I never once doubted it was Susie calling.  I picked up the phone and said, "Hi, Honey!" 

A long pause ensued and then a very masculine voice said, "Hel-lo?"  I recognized the voice of a doctor friend of mine.  At a loss for words, I finally managed to say, "Well, I'll bet it's been a long time since you were called ‘honey.’"   <MORE>

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Star of Mine

Donna Smith 

“God set them [stars] in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness” (Genesis 1:17-18a). 

Having been twice widowed and having lost two wonderful step-sons, over the years, I have had a tendency to wish for family holidays to come and go. Strangely, any time other than special holidays—Thanksgiving…Christmas…birthday—are good times of togetherness.  

As usual, this year, as Christmas drew nearer, depression weighed heavier. Practicing my happy face and high-pitched laughter, I thought surely I would achieve Actress of the Year Award. And then…Sunday evening, after church services, I opened a Christmas card from a dear friend and read “Merry Christmas, Donna! You’re depressed; go outside and look up. Let the stars shine on you.”

I brushed away tears, yanked off the AYA tiara, went outside, and looked up. I stood, gasping at the awesomeness of the jeweled heaven, stars as diamonds sparkling among the folds of the black velvet robe of the Lord.  

I stood, my hands clasped over my heart, whispering, “Thank You, God. Thank You for speaking to me through Your Son, the Star of David.”  <MORE>

 

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 The following letter by Glenn Peck, was published January 1, 2010, in the Shawnee News-Star”

 

Letters To Shawnee News-Star Editor:

Even casual readers of the Bible are familiar with two accounts that have strikingly similar contemporary counterparts.

The first involves Esau who sold his birthright to his twin brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. Esau forfeited his invaluable tomorrows for a short-term immediate satisfaction today.

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson’s vote for the President’s Health Care Program was purchased with promises of additional spending for his state. What is inexplicable here is that Senator Nelson had expressed strong opposition on the basis of deeply held moral convictions just hours before reversing field and announcing his support.

The second account involves Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Inflation over the past two thousand has obviously skyrocketed to 300 million dollars of additional state aid. That is the amount Senator Mary Laridrieu of Louisiana received in exchange for her vote of support. What is shocking, in addition to the process, is the senator’s immediate correction of an earlier story that listed the amount as only 100 million dollars.

The President has threatened his own party’s House Caucus by reminding them, “Don’t think we’re not keeping score, brother.”Hopefully, the voters in Nebraska and Louisiana are also keeping score which will be reflected when Senator Nelson and Senator Laridrieu are up for reelection.

Glenn C. Peck

Glenn is pastor of First Baptist Church, St. Louis, OK.