on the rim

This is running both on the Lib, and Here. Te amo Espana. Siempre I served my mission in Andalucia, serving in Almeria, Algeciras, Jerez de la Frontera, y Jaen.  I love the people there.  I did have a chance to go back in 1990, and was there for just a few days, but not a day goes by without wishing for a trip back. In 1861, as a result of a tumultuous Presidential election in the United States, southern states, beginning with South Carolina, voted to break from the Union, and to form their own nation, separate from the United States of America.  The argument over whether states could secede was settled by blood.  A tragic war that probably was payment for the ugliness of slavery.  Of course, many scholars feel today that states did and still have the right to secede.  Or rather that they did.  The Civil War changed many things. Tomorrow. in the Catalonia area of Spain, a referendum will be held as to whether Catalonia should remain a part of S...

I have an excuse.  What is yours, generic retailer? Tonight the Chorale met, to begin rehearsing for our Christmas program.  I have been waiting 9 months for this.  Yes, we did have the pageant in August, and it was wonderful.  But it was the pageant, and not the chorale.  I am too tired to explain the difference. We were few tonight. I am sure there will be more next week.  Lots of music, with more on the way.  How I love to sing praises to God.  I know that I am a broken man.  That I can sing to God is very humbling.  I have faith that He hears my prayers, whether in secret, or sung. As is typical for a group that hasn't met for a while, we did some reminiscing about days past.  So many songs bring back memories of past concerts.  Whether it is The Birthday of a King , or Christmas Child .  We are singing both of these, and many more. This Christmas, the chorale will be providing music for an evening of singing w...

Back to religious themes. This has been rolling around in my head, since I read it a few weeks ago, but it came home to me while teaching last week. Of course, the usual disclaimers, and since there may be new people to read, I will be pulling my thoughts from the Book of Mormon, Another Witness to Jesus Christ.   Don't be scared off by using this scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as it is probably thought that most Christians would recognize. In the Book of Alma, a part of the Book of Mormon, Chapter 22, is the history of the sons of Mosiah teaching the Lamanites.   note- At the time, the Nephites were generally the ones that followed God, and the Lamanites were those who fought against them.  Not sure how to detail more than that.  (other than reading it, of course)  Specifically, Aaron was teaching Lamoni's father, who was king of all the lamanites.  Teaching the idea of a loving God, and His plan of redemption of mank...

I am not sure that anyone from my High School Class will read this.  But it is a good introspection for me, so here goes. Thank you. Thank you to those who worked so hard to put the reunion together.  It was an amazing time.  Yes, I really did have a good time. Thank you to those who actually came up to talk to me.  I hope you didn't do it because you felt like I didn't know anyone, or that I didn't feel part of the group.  I did.  If you did do it for that reason, then thank you, and bless you, for caring enough to do so.  I struggle mightily with initiating conversation.  I think part of it is just my reluctance to intrude on someone's space, or conversation, but more likely, it is just my way. For me, crowds are a challenge. I don't struggle too much with crowds at an event, like a game, or concert, because we are all there to watch, so interaction is limited.  In party situations, it is completely different.  A lot of people ...

Tomorrow night, I will be watching HS football, as is my custom.  But not the normal venue. The last time I attended a game at Barry and Congress, they only played Saturdays, as there were no lights.  And, I watched the game while wearing black wool, and a red glittery overlay.  With a wonderfully large white fiberglass sousa on my shoulder. Or, rather, it seemed large to me, as I was only 5'2" as a Senior. Yup, it is the 35 year reunion.  A time to gather, to remember the old days, to see how people have changed and so on.  It has been a long time.  Of course, I grew upward and outward, but even at 53, I am not giving up.  I walk at least 4 miles a day, (not sundays) and try to minimize the calories (the only real way to lose weight).  And while I don't play regularly, I do have a helicon, which I pick up to practice for Tuba Christmas, if I can make it. (yeah, time to start).  I do like to sing, Of course, if you have read here before, ...

This is one of those types of posts that could easily be over on the Lib. First, let me say that as I have been studying the Book of Mormon, this chapter really struck me this time around.  For those not of my faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I encourage you to read the post, if not the link at the bottom as well.  The Book of Mormon was truly written for our day. Before going into the specifics, though many of my Latter Day Saints friends probably will pick right up on it, Let me describe, in generalities what was going on. The Book of Mormon follows a remnant of God's children as they escape Judea about 600 BC, and are led to the Americas.  It follows their ups and downs, their divisions and wars, and most importantly, the visit of Jesus Christ to the Americas after his resurrection.  The selection is from around 74 BC. They were a nation built on Judeo Christian principles While these principles were followed, there was peace and p...