It’s always amazing to me how words that I’ve seen before can strike me so differently upon reading them again from a different point and perspective in my life. These are exactly those sorts of words.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableóif anything is excellent or praiseworthyóthink about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in meóput it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

–Philippians 4:4-23

Rejoice in the Lord always
And again I say rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord always
And again I say rejoice.
Rejoice, rejoice,
And again I say rejoice,
Rejoice, rejoice,
And again I say rejoice.

A deep question arose today at work… “Who invented the FunNoodle?”

I found the answer here under the title of Noodle Ode.

I just ate a fortune cookie. It tasted like Froot Loops. I’m slightly disturbed.

“Your happiness is intertwined with your outlook on life.”

This past Saturday, I saw a man spit a watermelon seed out of his mouth to a distance of 49 feet. I was actually amazed at the sight of such a thing. God bless Texas. God bless Merica.

This weekend’s small town festival: Watermelon Thump in Luling, Texas.

One of the major events of the Thump is the watermelon seed spitting contest. The distance to beat for a new Guiness Book Record? 68 feet, 9 1/8 inches!

I mentioned in Friday’s post that I would be venturing off to the Stonewall Peach Jamboree over the weekend with the lovely girlfriend and the lovely girlfriend’s parents. Well, I ventured and I promised an update.

On Saturday morning, we headed out on a short country drive to the small town of Stonewall, Texas. The town sits in the middle of the Texas Hill Country immediately between the towns of Johnson City and Fredericksburg. Johnson City is the childhood hometown of President Lyndon Johnson. Stonewall is quite near the LBJ Ranch.

We missed the parade at Stonewall by about 30 minutes or so. As we parked near the fairgrounds, I noticed a significant number of trucks towing flatbed trailers filled with smiling people sitting on top of hay bales. I assumed (and I believe correctly) that this was the remnants of the parade which apparently involved much in the way of smiling people, hay bales, trucks, and flatbed trailers–all are things which I’ve seen before so I don’t feel that I missed too much.

The jamboree itself proved to be much smaller than my expectations
had otherwise hoped, but it was fun nonetheless. There were approximately 7 or 8 booths selling food and assorted hats, bobbles, and such. A lively band played while the crowd ate such things as peach ice cream, peach freezes, and just plain peaches.

We wandered over to a picnic table near the rodeo arena to rest in the shade for awhile. The temperature was already in the 90s and it wasn’t even noon yet. We watched a demonstration event called calf sorting which had been scheduled in the arena. Calf sorting involves ten numbered calves, two people on horses, and two separate pens. The object is to get the calves from one pen to the other in numerical order. Each team was given 90 seconds to complete what seemed like quite an impossible task. One team, a father and son, finished in a minute and two seconds!

It is getting late, so I’ll add more about the day in another post.

In Texas, every town worth anything has at least one major festival each year.

This weekend, I’m heading to the 44th Annual Stonewall Peach Jamboree with lovely girlfriend and the lovely girlfriend’s parents.

More to come later!

While I’m on the topic of random mixed breeds of dogs… here’s a funny joke.

Once there three male dogs — a lab, a rotweiler, and a chihuahua — who all saw a beautiful girl poodle at the same time.

They all ran up to her to see if they could get a date.

Aware of her charms, the poodle said,”I will go out with the first one of you who can use the words ‘liver’ and ‘cheese’ together in a creative way.”

Immediately without thinking the Lab said, “I like liver and cheese.”

“No imagination at all,” said the poodle.

Next was the muscular Rottweiler, who stammered out, “I hate liver and cheese.”

“That’s worse than the Lab,” she replied.

Finally the tiny Chihuahua smiled at his opponents, gave the poodle a knowing wink, and said “Liver alone, cheese mine.”

And they lived happily ever after.

(And had a kid that looked like this.)

I’m posting this link with no comment.

Chiweenie = Chihuahua-Dachshund mix

Curt has a great post with a variety of linked posts on the topic of Ministering to Ministers.