Where in the World

are Vanilla and BBBH? It is quite cold this morning, but if the weather reports are accurate (insert laughter) there should be a window of opportunity opening Friday morning. If you are reading this, which I wrote Thursday and put on schedule to post Friday, we are somewhere on the road headed for warmer climes.


We'll let you know where the wheels roll.

(If the entry seems familiar, you are a faithful reader. It is a retread.)

Update

This morning just before eight o'clock EST, earthquake 4.2 magnitude, epicenter about 12 miles NE of the house. I was a bit startled. Dateline noon: USGS has revised quake to 3.8. All I know is, it shook things up! Including me.

Don't miss Dundee's story below.

Dundee

As the tale of Spot progressed, we encountered a beast named "Dundee." Dundee was described as an out-sized golden retriever. This good dog deserves a post of his own.

Dundee was acquired as a pup by a young officer in the United States Air Force. The young man worked assiduously with the pup and thereby insured that the animal would grow into a fine and obedient beast, a wonderful companion. Then there came the day that the officer was posted to an Air Base in England. What to do? Neil was by this time quite attached to Dundee, but to take him to the UK would require that the animal spend six (6) months in quarantine. Alternatively, he could find a loving home for him here and leave him behind. Neil's mother to the rescue! She agreed to take the dog, presumably under the proviso that he would return to his master when the time was right. That time never came, inasmuch as the officer's career took him to Iceland, to Germany and, well, transporting a dog all over the world was not in the cards.

Besides, Dundee was now Ellie's dog.

Things you might like to know about Dundee.

1) One clipped an 18 inch leash to his collar, handed the leash to the dog, which he took gently in his mouth, and then proceeded to companion's heel for the journey.
2) Dundee's natural gait was a pace. It was a rollicking joy to watch him roll as he got into second and third gear! I believe I've never seen another dog with such a gait.
3) When the newspaper was thrown onto the porch, one opened the door and the dog retrieved the paper and brought it in.
4) Water! The one time that no amount of yelling could deter the dog was the arrival at the lake and the opening of the car door. Off he flew, into the water! Oh, how he loved to swim.











Dundee with Uncle Doug, 1982.

Middle of the Night

There are many truths, but only one set of facts. (3:04 a.m.)

Turn, toss.

oh, wait. (4:17 a.m.)

Slap pillow. Twice.

There are many facts, but only one Truth. (6:29 a.m.)

Feet on floor. Shower. Dress.

(I have to get the mind shut down before three ay em. It all seems so clear, then daylight comes.)

Another New Home for Spot

Spot had been a member of the family about four years. Then everything changed. Except for his boy and his man. The man was widowed. Some time later, he remarried. He and the new bride along with the boy established a domicile together, which meant that Spot moved from his accustomed environs. This in itself might have been sufficiently traumatic, but the bride had a dog of her own. Thus it was to be determined who was "top dog."

I mentioned that Spot was a feisty 55-pound creature of indeterminate origin (read: found in a barrow pit). His new roomie was Dundee, a golden retriever who at 110 pounds was exactly twice his avoirdupois. Dundee was not obese; he was simply an out-sized retriever, taller and larger than the standard golden. How these animals came to an accomodation isn't exactly clear to me, as I never observed the ritual by which it was reached. But since I never observed any bloody fur clumps, I suspect it may have developed in this fashion.

Dundee: (sniff, sniff) What are you, and what are you doing at my place?

Spot: (sniff, sniff, sniff) I am your worst nightmare!

Dundee: Don't be bluffin' on me, boy. I could swallow you in two bites.

Spot: Oh, yeah. I'm small, but I'm mighty.

Dundee: (sniff) Sure.

Spot: (sniff) How about we just get along?

Dundee: All right, then. (Sniff, sniff, lifts leg)

Spot reciprocates, and thus begins a love affair that lasts so long as Dundee lives. And love affair it was. Spot doted on Dundee, cuddled with him, groomed him, and was a constant companion to him. They walked together; they played together. They hunted together, sometimes successfully. They did not swim together. Another story for another time.

Image: Spot with friends, 1983.

For the Children

Seems as though every time some denizen of Foggy Bottom proposes another Boondoggle or Power Grab, he invokes "the children." "We must do this for the children," intoned sanctimoniously, and perhaps even with a tear at the corner of the eye. Booshwa.

If they really cared about the children, they'd quit stealing from them.

Pastor Mark's scripture reading is Isaiah 9:1-6.

Consider the phrase "unto us." Jesus Christ is a personal God, a personal Savior. See Zechariah 14:9. "The Lord shall be King over all the earth..."

1. Everlasting Father is not a reference to the First Person of the Trinity. God is our Father who cares for us. "Everlasting Father" is a quality of Messiah. God does not abandon His people. He is Father forever. (Here Psalm 103 was read in its entirety.)

His love for us is everlasting. God does not stop loving us when we disappoint him, when we sin. He loves the lost, He loves the saved. The love of God is rich, and strong, and sure. (Psalm 103:2)

2. His salvation for all is everlasting. (Ps.103:3) He redeems, He is merciful (v.17) Salvation is for all generations.

3. His grace is everlasting. (v.8) He is gracious, slow to anger, plenteous in mercy.

4. His truth for the world is everlasting. (v.20) Hearken to the voice of His Word.

God became man (one of us) that we might find haven in His Rest.

Christmas Story by John the Apostle

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not ...

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth ...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.