Scripture thoughts

Some time ago I said I was going to read through the gospels, looking specifically at the things that Jesus taught. I got started on that project, but like most things, it got set aside for reading that required less work and study. For whatever reason, I feel compelled to resume that work and continue where I left off.
Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not, the man Jesus taught us some pretty good stuff -- stuff you can live by and have a full and meaningful life.

Meditating on the words of Jesus is complicated for me. Knowing that the gospels were written many years after the death of Jesus concerns me. Because of the practice of teaching disciples by repetition, storytelling, and memorization it is possible that the quotes attributed to Jesus are accurate. Plus the message is consistent throughout the memories and writings of the different authors.
Perhaps it is my own experiences with men using scripture as a weapon to control others that concerns me. I am not convinced that today's religious leaders care about the eternal life of people as much as they care about attaining their loyalty and their money. 

Personally, I would like to be thought of as a good person. For some people, being a good Christian is a prerequisite for being a good person. I don't agree with that, but I am okay if that's the standard used to judge me because I wouldn't mind being thought of as a good Christian, as well.
You don't really get much say in what others think of you. And to be honest, it isn't a big deal. I know there are many that will see me as a heretic that left the church because I pushed back by questioning some un-Christlike policies. I'm okay with that, too. 

I would be sad to know that I had done something to cause somebody to hate me or to think I'm an asshole or really bad person. I am sure that I have done and said things that poorly represent the Jesus that I claim to follow. 
I'm still working on it. 

These are my thoughts on this Monday morning.
Have a wonderful week.

John

June 29: Day 180

It's difficult to believe that the year 2025 is almost half over. July 2nd is the 183rd day of the year, making noon of that day the halfway point. I can't say that I've accomplished anything significant in the first half of the year, nor do I have any great plans to achieve greatness of any kind in the second half of the year.
Unfortunately, I am happy to enjoy each day as it comes and I tend to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of the small world around me.

Although I truly have very few people encounters throughout the week, I did manage a few good conversations last week. Reflecting on how much I've changed over the past few decades is interesting. Going from Southern Baptist Evangelist and doing revivals and kid camps that were complete with altar calls and encouragement for repentance and surrender to the religion of Jesus is pretty far from the seldom going to church, anti-religion, to each their own, but still a Christ follower that I am now.

In my few conversations with people, I find that many are searching for a community in an otherwise chaotic world. A trusted community seems to be an elusive thing for many adults in the US. It may be so in other cultures, as well, but I think that the competitive way of life in the US has destroyed community as a culture here. We would rather get ahead of our neighbor as individuals than to help the community be better as a whole. We seem to be far more concerned with getting more for me than doing better for all of us. 

Even as I recognize this need for community in our culture, I am not likely to be the one that ushers in the changes necessary to bring about the cultural shift. Community building requires far more people skills than I have in my limited toolbox. Plus, many of the community seekers are from younger generations and have community needs that I am unaware of. 

Perhaps something like the new cell phone restrictions in Missouri schools will help change the culture from the head down, eyes on the screen behavior to actual face to face communication with peers and teachers. The restrictions may provide more than eliminating learning distractions. It may bring cultural changes to how and when we use certain technologies.

Have we replaced our community with technology?
Have we taken technology that could give us more free time and used it to give us more time to work harder to make more money, accumulate more power, and achieve a higher status?
Has social media replaced personal friendships and interactions?
I think that is true for many people.

Honestly, I don't have much of a community. 
And that's okay with me.
I am fine with going to the ballgame alone, or going to watch the fights by myself. My only real hobbies are reading and working in the yard -- both are things that I do solo. 
Maybe I need a community more than I think I do.

Tell me about your communities.
How do you cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with groups of people?
Is it something that is teachable or easy to replicate?
Is community a basic human need?
Are we better off as a species when we work together?
If so, how have we gotten so far away from building and being cooperative communities?

Those are my thoughts.
What are yours?

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 Definitely a worthwhile goal

Have a grand day!

John

Monday Motivation

No Meditation for this morning. I am out at the Ozark Starbucks using a gift card for my quad breve latte. I have an outdoor table that is in the shade which avoids the inside coffee shop chatter. 

Going out for coffee this morning is my method for getting an early start on the work portion of my day. I figure that I will take less time for coffee, I'm close to Lowes and can pick up some plants and mulch for my work, and then the work can begin. 

I noticed yesterday that the moon flowers were about to open, but then forgot to check them when we got home last night. This is what I saw this morning!

 

Seeing flowers bloom is good motivation for working in the garden!
Our gladiolas are close, so are the hibiscus. Dahlias are also budding and about to open.
Yeah, it's summer and life is good!

Some Monday morning coffee shop observations --
Although Starbucks has both a steady stream of customers that are using the drive-through, and a good number of people that order on the app and then just park and pick-up, there seems to be fewer people that use this as a meeting place than at other area coffee shops.

I like that the local shops get more of the morning meeting business. Personally, I think that may have as much to do with the ambiance as with the coffee or anything else. Starbucks has a pretty sterile kind of atmosphere. It seems more suited to the drive though or pick-up kind of traffic.

If I am going to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures, I'd better get to it.
I hope that you find some flowers or pretty colors to brighten your day.

John

Summer!

Well, almost.
A little more than an hour past sunset in the Midwest the earth and sun will reach the summer solstice point for the northern hemisphere. That makes this the longest day (daylight) of the year. 

Summer is my season.
I'm not particularly outdoorsy, and I don't do anything special to celebrate or enjoy summer. Mostly I just sit on my butt and enjoy the warm, sunny days. It's weird that I enjoy being outdoors without really doing anything outdoorsy.

I won't lie -- sometimes mowing and caring for our yard and flower beds can be a pain in the arse, but I do love my quiet morning coffee or evening cigar while looking out at this view.

I'll be out watering and weed-eating in a little bit. I am going to try to get work finished in the mornings before it gets too hot. I'm not usually successful because I do enjoy my morning coffee and quiet time a bit too much. 
Enjoy the Summer Solstice.
Enjoy the summer season.

Here's an old favorite of mine to usher in summer.

John

A day at the ballpark

Yesterday I took in a rare day game of the Springfield Cardinals (the AA team for the St Louis Cardinals). Typically they only have day games on Sundays or an occasional weekday during May. The May day games are full of school kids that are on end of the school year field trips.
The mid-June day game caught me by surprise, but I managed my busy retirement schedule and made it to the game.
Buses of summer school kids and summer day camps were in attendance, as well as a couple of corporate groups that were taking an afternoon off from work. 

I had forgotten how shrill the screams and yells of middle school girls can be!
The kids definitely brought some life to the game. They danced and sang along to the popular songs they recognized in the players' walk-up music and they got very excited every time a Cardinal player hit a fly ball into the outfield.
A number of kids never really sat down, but were up and about and making good use of the opportunity to be more social than school might normally provide.

I also witnessed a couple of adult workers that provided such great care and compassion to a small group of both physically and mentally handicapped adults. The caregivers were definitely working and rarely had time to enjoy the game. They helped their charges by physically lifting some of them to their seats, making several trips helping them to the nearby restrooms, getting them food and drinks, and generally making sure they had an enjoyable day at the ballpark.
I was impressed by the genuine care that was shown. It was obvious that this was so much more than a job for these care givers.

Since I generally go to the games by myself and usually enter with a General Admission pass, I rarely stay in one place for the entire game. I was able to find a couple of different vantage points and switched seats or found comfortable places to stand and watch the game and the crowd.

A thought occurred to me during the game --
The Springfield team has several Latino players that I figure are here on visas of some kind. They are from Mexico, Venezuela, and Panama. Other minor league teams also have MLB hopefuls from other countries on their teams. 
I'm sure they have the monetary protection of the MLB to protect them from having their visas revoked and being deported, but I wonder how our current administration and Sec. Noem feel about this particular set of migrants that are taking our US jobs.

I didn't mean to go there when I started this post, but the effects of the corruption and bigotry of our current political system invades our everyday lives -- even as we go to ballgames or out to eat at a favorite Latino restaurant.

It's still early in the season (about midway) and there are plenty of games to go to. I've been to a few games each home stand and will likely continue that pattern. I enjoy my solo trips to the ballpark, but have also enjoyed seeing a few friends at a game. If you are in the area and are planning on going to a game, drop me a message and maybe we can connect at the ballpark. 

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 

Just another day ...

It looks like another beautiful day in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri (SWMO).
Yesterday I started on a project that will take some time to finish -- weeding and mulching the front landscaped area. I suppose it could easily be finished in a day or two, but I have no desire to work that much at a time and prefer to use 2-3 hour workdays. That makes it a week-long project, even if I work at it every day.
And I probably won't.

I am excited that my moon flowers and hibiscus will be blooming soon. 
And I am super thrilled that our dwarf hydrangeas are flowering nicely this year.
I am not thrilled with how the Rugosa rose is spreading. I am going to have to do some serious pruning when it goes dormant this fall.


I don't typically do my own maintenance on things, but my mower needs some adjustments that I think I can handle. I replaced a couple of front wheel bearings on a mower last year. YouTube is a big help. Maybe I will learn to do more of that kind of stuff. It kind of sucks when the thing that poses the biggest obstacle to doing stuff is having to get this fat, old body down to the ground and then eventually having to get back up!
When did the ground get so damn far away?

That is pretty much my life these days -- work in the yard or garden until I get tired of it and then enjoy looking at my work while smoking a cigar and sipping on something cool and refreshing. I might read a book, listen to music, or just bask in the energy of nature.
I'll probably take in a baseball game tonight.

I know that many would be bored with my simple life, but it works well for me.
More nature; fewer people.

John

The Next Go 'round.

Having completed my 65th trip around the sun, today marks the beginning of trip #66 and my 23,741st day on planet earth.

I am wondering what the coming year holds for me. 

Truthfully, I am not one to overthink it. I typically let life happen and try to recognize and enjoy the moments as they come. Although today looks to be an overcast, drizzling, rainy type of day, I am going to enjoy my morning coffee on the deck, listen to the crowing rooster and the chatter of birds, and just look forward to another simple day in the life of John.

I'm not a big goal setter so I don't really have anything I want to accomplish in the next 365 days. 
Yeah, I know I need to lose some weight and get more exercise, but somehow that seems small and insignificant -- more like a daily thing than a yearly goal. I suppose that speaks to my whole attitude towards living the retired life -- it's more of a daily thing.

It might be that I need to approach it from the perspective of -- What habits do I need to make a part of my daily life?
Eating better (and less) and regular exercise are a given. I just need to work it into my daily routine.
I struggle a little about getting more people time. I typically enjoy myself when I am out with people; it's just never something that I plan on nor really look forward to. I don't really believe it is necessary to have more interaction with people, but I do often wonder if my preferred solitude is abnormal. 

I do need to learn a few things -- speaking Spanish, playing the ukulele, maybe doing a little magic again.
I'm thinking need to instead of want to might be the perspective more likely to get things done. I'm sure I'll figure it out -- one day at a time.

John

Wednesday Wisdom: baseball and life

Here's my Wednesday Wisdom take for today -- Have Recognize a good day!

I guess you can really do it either way. 
Have a good day - seems like a purposeful way to approach the day. It implies that you will do something to facilitate having a good day.
Recognizing that it is a good without having to do anything to achieve it is more of an awareness of the good that surrounds us.

It is an unfortunate reality that recognizing the good around us often means that we have to recognize and dismiss the bullshit that also demands light in our world -- at least when people are concerned.
Much of the good and beauty in my world rarely involves other people. Mostly I get to recognize the beauty around me in the chatter of the birds and the colors and scents of the flowers.

Last night I got to experience a good people moment that was mostly observation with only minimal interaction.
I did go to the AA Springfield Cardinal game. It was a well attended night with the reserved areas booked to small groups instead of set aside for Red Access Members. I took my $2 brats and cheap beer down to the tables in the General Admissions family area. It was pregame so there weren't many people there yet.

I noticed a young boy (maybe 8 or 9 years old) come up to the rail in front of me to watch the players warming up. His family was sitting at a table behind me -- Mom, Dad, teenage sister. 
Soon it was picture time. Mom took a pic of the kids together, which was cool since the younger brother obviously thought the world of his big sister. Then Dad took a pic of Mom and kids, followed by Mom taking a pic of Dad and kids. As they passed by me to return to their table I asked the dad if he wanted me to take a pic of the four of them and he politely declined.

I think he got overruled.
A moment later I felt a tap on my shoulder and he asked if they could still take me up on the offer as Mom handed me her phone. 
After the pic, Mom and young son headed off somewhere and Dad and daughter remained at the table with the food and drinks and they were talking to each other! When Mom and son returned the conversation expanded to the four of them. No phones were out. They were just a young family enjoying being together at a baseball game.
Sometimes, just being aware of what is happening around you can make for a good day.

After finishing my brats and beer and as the pregame festivities and National Anthem ended, I moved to a better vantage point to watch the ballgame. But I am glad I got to observe the moment and take a pic to help them remember the night.
I know it's just a small thing, but it is not at all an insignificant thing in today's chaotic world. 
There is just something right and beautiful about going to a baseball game. 

John

Two Dollar Tuesday

Two Dollar Tuesday is the promo at the Springfield Cardinal's Tuesday home games. 
No, you don't get in for a $2 ticket, but brats and hots (hotdogs) can be had for the low, low price of just $2 each.
Between the rain and my being out of town for a few days, I didn't make any of the games during the last home stand. I am looking forward to taking in the game tonight. I've been using my Red Access Membership this season and have enjoyed going to a number of games. We will be back at the ballpark on Friday (the 13th). Friday will be a double celebration as 1) it is my birthday, and 2) it is Cancer Survivor Night.
Chris will be there and cancer survivors will be recognized as a part of the evening festivities.
Friday night Fireworks are a thing for Friday home games. I haven't stayed for them yet this season. Whether we stay this week or not will be up to Chris.

That's summer.
I don't have a very productive nor active life.
I mow my big yard, tend to my flowers, smoke cigars, sip bourbon or tequila, read books, and follow a little baseball. 

I did try something new last Saturday night. I watched the UFC PPV event at a theater. 
Honestly, it was better than watching it at a sports bar, and it was also less expensive. Even adding concessions to the $20 ticket was less than I would have spent at a sports bar. Plus I had a nice comfortable reclining theater seat and was easily able to hear the broadcast. I will probably do that again for future PPV events.

Like I said -- I don't have a very productive nor active life.
Time to tend to the flower beds.

Just another day in the life of John

John

Monday Morning Contemplations

June is the time of year when Facebook reminds me of all of the summer church camps that are a part of my past. I have had inquiries about doing magic since then, but I really haven't done any practice for a very long time. I may have done a little more preaching/teaching since those long ago days, but not too much more and not for a couple of years now.

Yesterday I was asked if I am still religious.
It's interesting when you have to examine who you are and how you have grown over the years to answer such a question. 
In truth, I have never really considered myself to be religious.

Side story:
Maybe 20 yrs ago
I remember walking in DC with members of NATCA's National Constitution Committee. One member that was a pretty vocal atheist prefaced a question by saying, "Hey, you're a religious guy..."
I interrupted by saying, "I am not!"
He paused, looked at me for a moment, and said, "Yeah, I get that, but..." and then went on to ask his question.

I'm actually more anti-religion than I have ever been.
That is not to say that I think churches or church camps are bad things.
I don't.
There are even parts of that previous life that I miss and think were beneficial -- both for me and for the kids that got to experience those weeks at summer camp. Sometimes I wonder what it would look like today if I were to step into a reconstructed Pastor John role. 
What would an anti-church camp be like?

I believe there is so much good stuff found in the teaching of Jesus that I don't ever see myself setting it aside and turning away from it. 
I also believe that there has been so much harm and destruction caused by churches (and religion) of all kinds that I find embracing a regular practice of religion to be a bit repulsive.

So -- 
No, I don't consider myself to be religious.
I do believe that I have become more spiritual. If I were going to assume a role similar to that of my past I might strive for something more like a modern day mystic than that of a preacher. 
Mystic, sage, mage...
Mage! Magic! Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

No.
Not really.
I am happy in my quiet, isolated life.
No shows.
No stage.
No platform for preaching or teaching other than this little read blog.
I'll occasionally toss a few insignificant words into the cyber world and be happy if anybody reads or comments on them. And I'll be okay if nobody does.

Today (like most days) I will connect to God and nature by doing a little yard work and trying to coax a few flowers to bloom.

John 

Sunday Summer Thoughts

I know that we are still a couple of weeks from the astronomic beginning of summer, but just as I cling to summer past its celestial end in September, I choose to observe its beginning with the beginning of June. Today I am realizing that it is time to alter my daily routine to begin my outside work before the sun gets high in the sky and the day turns too warm for hard outdoor work.

It is nearing noon and I have decided that I am going to skip the yard work, smoke a cigar, sip a paloma, listen to music, and read a book while sitting in the shade of the deck and under the deck ceiling fan. I may try to get a little work done when the sun gets lower in the sky and the temp drops this evening.
Either way, it's a good day.

Eight days into June and today's high is supposed to be up to 88f (31c). The Ozarks of SWMO have had a cool, wet spring. Today is the first really warm day. I am expecting a hot summer ... and that's okay. Summers are supposed to be hot.
I wouldn't mind living where summers are a little cooler, but I am not willing to trade for colder and longer winters. In fact, I'd trade our moderate winters for no winter and hotter, longer summers near a tropical beach!

The Jimmy Buffett radio is playing Five O'clock Somewhere as I sip my tequila drink at just past noon. It seems appropriate. Maybe the clock doesn't matter on the weekends.
Or when you're retired.
Or when you have a good cigar.
Or when you just don't care. 

Our shaded deck with its ceiling fan is comfortable enough on most summer days and I am looking forward to the many summer hours that I will be spending here. Later this afternoon I will make my way down the steps to the smoker and plan to smoke some wings before finishing them on the grill. 

Just another day in the life of John.

John

Wednesday Wisdom and Fair Warning

"Fools multiply when wise men are silent." --Nelson Mandela

It seems that there are fewer people that are willing to remain politically silent in recent days. Many elected republicans are really hearing it from their constituents as the Big Beautiful Bill threatens to impact lives in varying negative manners. I am surprised at the Congressmen and women that have admitted that they didn't know something was in the bill or that they didn't read the entire bill before voting for it.
I know that they often don't actually read bills before voting on them and rely heavily on their staff to tell them what is in each bill, but it seems weird to actually hear the admissions. 

I don't know if this is really an issue of wise vs foolish as much as it is about informed and ignorant, or maybe kind and cruel, or powerful and oppressed.
One thing is for certain -- there isn't anything godly about the bill as Speaker Johnson wants us to believe. Well, I suppose if you recognize that his god is power...

I know that I often find myself in that silent majority of people that have remained relatively quiet about the fascist takeover of our government. Like many others, I find myself in a deeply red area and there is never a majority (silent or otherwise) that stands against whatever the GOP is doing nationally. 
However, I have to admit that silence is growing tiresome and willful ignorance is starting to really piss me off.
I'm okay with political differences, but this is no longer about politics. It is now about whether or not we remain a constitutional republic or we become something more authoritarian. 

I don't believe there are many (if any at all) far right readers of this blog at this point. Most of my evangelical contacts from the past have long since declared me a heretic and left me to my eternal condemnation.
In any case -- fair warning! 
I may be including more politically triggering posts from time to time.
Also, I have been using my social media less often recently and hope to continue that decline. If you are reading this from a Facebook or Bluesky link, you may want to consider subscribing to this blog or just checking back on a regular basis.

Let's not be silent
Let's end the foolish proliferation of the ignorant.

John

It's Medicare Day

June 1st of the month I turn 65 is my Medicare birthday. 
It's weird.
It's also a bit of an Uh-oh moment as I realize that there is no good end that can come from my current health path and I really need to make some lifestyle changes or look forward to facing some unpleasant consequences. 

I shouldn't need any diet apps or exercise apps to get started on a better way of living -- I know enough to be healthier, but maybe the routine and regular encouragement would help. Our local community center accepts Medicare Silver Sneaker memberships and I could take advantage of that, or I could just decide to begin using the exercise equipment we have at home and walk around the neighborhood regularly.
That and quiet quit eating so damn much crap.

I'm no newbie when it comes to losing weight and getting in shape. I've done it before. I just need the motivation and desire to get going again. Maybe the thought of an early death from heart attack or stroke, or a miserable existence as a diabetic amputee or something would help. 
Personally, I think living on tacos and tequila while sunning daily on a Mexican beach would help, but what do I know?`
Medicare would be of no use in Mexico, but if I'm going to be living better, do I really need it?

I probably just need to focus on today.
And today I am not in Mexico. I'm sitting on a porch in a retirement community in Metamora, IL.
It's 50 (10c) degrees and I'm wearing an effing sweatshirt in June!
Definitely not Mexico!
But -- I can walk. I can eat better. I can make choices to live a longer, more healthy life.

As a timely encouragement to what I just wrote -- one of the senior residents of this community just rode past on the main circle drive on her adult tricycle. She was wearing a big puffy coat with the hood up and bright red gloves, but she was getting her ride in at 7am on a cool Sunday morning in Central Illinois. 

Damn.

Well, 65 in two weeks.
They say it's better than the alternative. 
I'm thinking that's only true if you make it that way.
Wish me luck (and good health).

John