Good Sam Is Still on the Job

First posted on Fortitude!

My wife and I had not had much time together in a couple of months, so we decide to take a couple of days last week to meander through Central Texas. We planned to see a few sites along the way, but with no real agenda other than being together.

So last Thursday morning we left our home on the Gulf Coast and headed north. Our intended destination was the Dr. Pepper Bottling plant in Dublin. That is the only DP operation that still uses Imperial Pure Cane Sugar, as it has since 1891. We stopped a couple of times to read historical markers, but arrived shortly after noon.

After taking the tour of the plant and the adjacent museum, we headed toward Waco, where we planned to spend the night. On the way, we saw a sign that indicated that Crawford was only 9 miles off our route. So we decided to drive through to see if we could catch a glimpse of the George Bush ranch that was a getaway for the President during his eight years in Washington. We were a bit disappointed in that we were not able to see anything interesting. But, of course, our enjoyment for the day was not diminished in the least, since we were doing exactly what we had planned, meandering through Central Texas together. When we were finished with that little side trip, we once again headed toward Waco, this time on a two lane Farm to Market road. All at once our right front tire started making quite a bit of noise and became a bit hard to handle. I pulled over, expecting to find the tire flat. But it was not. There was no apparent damage, so I got back in the car, intending to proceed. But the tire got even louder and harder to control. I pulled into the driveway of a used car sales lot and got out to check things again.

As I was making the inspection, I must have looked perplexed because a fellow came from the garage area and asked if we were having a problem. I described the noise and handling situation. He immediately said that the tire had a broken steel belt. He bent down to study the tire, and very quickly discovered what he was seeking. He pointed out the crack that I had not noticed. I asked him if the tire would get us into Waco, which was six miles away. He said it should.

I asked him if there was a Discount Tire Center in Waco. He said there was and began to tell me how to find it. I said I needed to write down the instructions, and I turned to get paper and pen from the car. He stopped me and said he was about to leave, and that he was going in that direction. He said that if I would follow him, he would lead me right to the store. I agreed and thanked him.

On our way, the tire got steadily worse. We were still a couple of miles outside Waco when it blew out. I was a magnificent explosion. I pulled off the road and was preparing to change the tire. Our Good Samaritan guide was not finished with his good deeds. He backed his pick-up down the side of the highway and helped me make the change.

Maybe I should say I helped him make the change. He said he was already dirty and sweaty and there was no cause for me to get that way. He had the tire changed in no time and then completed his charity by leading us the rest of the way in to the tire center.

I am very grateful to our White Knight. I am also gratified to know that there are still such folks around. I hope to get to reciprocate the kindness we were shown by this stranger, whose name we found out was Thomas Jefferson. But if I don’t get to repay him, perhaps I can make a difference for some other traveler who needs a hand.

Alternative Ending!!!!!

In order to keep the boys minds sharp during the summer vacation from school, as well as to keep them from being bored, my wife gave them a writing exercise this morning. They were each to write an alternative ending to the story of the Princess and the Frog.

They both moaned and groaned, saying "school is out for the summer.", but they ended up having fun with assignment. I especially enjoyed the work of our ten year old. He wrote, "The Princess kissed the frog. The dog ate the frog. The dog lived happily ever after."

A Case of Mistaken Identity?

A couple of days ago, I received a phone call from a man I could hardly understand. I asked that he email his request so I could study it. Here is what I received:

Dear Rev.Bryant ,

Nice to speak to you this morning .
I am working for a Japanese Television called " TV Asahi " .
My name is Hideyuki MIyauchi .
TV Asahi has a weekly informational program called " Shiru Shiru MIshiru "( literally translated " To see is to know ") .

Their next subject is " What is the better ball to fly further by a baseball bat ? "
This is a kind of scientific research .
They like to invite you to Japan to hit various balls at s studio if you can .

They offer the cost of staying in Japan : trip , meeting , shooting , trip back .
The date they will shoot up to you soon as possible .

About your guarantee or donation to your church is up to you .
Please let us know .

I am sorry to bother you by a strange offer .
We have still a lot of your fans in Japan .

If you are willing to accept this offer , please let me know soon as possible .

Thank you so much for your time .

Best ,

HIdeyuki MIyauchi

Upon reading the missive, I realized that this executive thought he was speaking to the former Major League and Japanese League home run hitting star, not some old hotcornerhasbeen. I replied that I would be happy to accept his offer, but I thought he would be disappointed to discover he had found the wrong Ralph Bryant.

Parenting By The Book

Over a period of years, maybe beginning in the mid-1990s, Jo and I did not spend as much time reading books about parenting as we had previous the decade or two. But in the last few years circumstances have caused us to revert back to old reading patterns. In our raising two grandsons, one of the things that we've discovered is that boys are different from girls. So we thought we might need a few pointers on ways to raise them.

We went first to some of our old favorite authors like Gary Smalley and James Dobson. Most recently we have both read a book by an author we did not know until the book was recommended (by Billy Mack). He is John Rosemond, and apparently he has been well-respected for quite a number of years by some of those that we've held in high esteem. The title of the book is Parenting by the Book.

Dr. Rosemond is very pointed in his holding that the best approach to raising children, boys or girls, is to raise them using the wisdom of Scripture. Rosemond was trained in what he now calls postmodern psychological parenting. The book does a good job pointing out the damage that has been done to our culture by those methods and ideologies. I found some of his points eye-opening. It is very easy to see some of his conclusions all around us today, even among Christian parents.

Rosemond also provide some thoughts about the ways to extract and apply biblical wisdom to our parenting methods. He is very practical even as he is very certain that biblical wisdom cannot be surpassed for successful child rearing. I was so impressed with this book that, even before I finished it, I had ordered several copies. I believe it is the kind of book that I will want to share with others in the days to come. I'm going to donate one to our church library in the name of my grandmother Marie Bryant. I believe she would approve of the common sense that Rosemond expounds. She would never have written it in a book, but I believe her methods are exactly what Rosemond wishes all of us would use to bring up our children.

A Forgetable Memorial Day!

I really don't like complainers, especially when it is me complaining. But there was lots to complain about or visit to Minute Maid Park this afternoon. First, the advertised holiday version of the Astros caps that were to be given away as promos were not provided. Not even the little American flags that we have received at games on Memorial Day were handed out this year. Can you say, "cost-cutting?"

Then when we got to the kids play area, that the Astros promote in an effort to attract families to the games, most of the activities were not open. We were told that they did not have enough staff to man all them. We had heard that the last three times we had taken to boys to a game, but those were on week nights/school nights. Today was a holiday and there should have been max staff on the job. More budget trimming?

Then the home plate umpire, Bill Hohn, decided he was the center of attention. He had, from our seats right behind the plate, squeezed the strike zone on Astros' pitcher Roy Oswalt. In the third inning Oswalt threw what both he and I thought was strike three to Adam Dunn. Hohn called it a ball, and on the next pitch, Dunn hit a bases loaded double, driving in three runs.

The next batter, Josh Willingham, had a 1-2 count. The next pitch was a fantastic pitch--I saw the replay when I got home and was right about my original opinion--but Hohn called it ball 2. Oswalt turned toward right field and raised his head and shouted. I don't know what word he said, but he was not shouting at the umpire, just expressing frustration.

But Hohn came out from behind the plate and walked toward the mound. He called Roy to attention, and Roy responded by pointing to the umpire. Hohn promptly ejected Oswalt. From there the pitching unraveled and the game got really ugly. The final score was 14-4. Most of the fans had left the building before the last out.

To add to the insanity, twice during the game, idiotic fans jumped the rails and ran across the diamond. Each time security captured the fan and led them away, one in hand cuffs. They will each pay a thousand dollar fine and spend the night in jail. Some fans find the trespassers amusing, but I am not one of those. I enjoy a baseball game, not jerks, whether they are behind the plate or trespassing on the field.

A thoroughly forgettable Memorial Day!

Requested Quote From 5-23-10

Yesterday in the lesson from 1 Chronicles 22, I presented a portion of the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy in 1961. Afterward I presented a reword of his statement, trying to embrace our spiritual commitment. I received requests for copies, so I am posting it here. The reword was done by a preacher named Dave Owens.

I want us to be able to declare…“Let the word go forth from this time and place…to friend and foe alike…that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Christians living in our secular society…Let it be known that we are proud of our Lord Jesus and His Word and His body, the church…let every person know that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of the church. This much we pledge and more!”

Fortitude Writers!!!!!!!

For several years I have been writing for a website called Qonido, formerly Qassia, to help promote a blog site or two. There is a new launch taking place that allows writers to make money for submissions. It is called Fortitude. I hope some of my writer friends, as well as any reader of this post will take a look at the possibilities Fortitude offers. There is an annual fee of $23.88 to join, but I believe it could be very worthwhile for good and prolific writers.

If you would do me the honor and use my referral link below, I would appreciate it.