OF ALL THINGS

I wonder.

Why only people older than us seem old? I wonder if a 90 year-old refers to those 92, 94, 95 year-olds as elderly, ancient, or over-the-hill.

Why those who practice are paid more than those who labor? That is, a doctor and lawyer are paid substantially more than a day laborer. I mean, there's even a day named for the laborer but there's nothing for the practicer.

Why do who live in the North and East seem to think they are superior to those who live in the South and West? And since I live in the Southwest does that make me low man on the totem pole? Does it even carry over to states? I think so.

Why do those who seem to have no belief in God think they are superior to the religious followers of Jesus Christ? Why are the Big Bangers more intellectual than the believers in Creationism? And, once again, since I'm a believer in the Holy Bible as a God-breathed document, then does that make me again low man?

Why do the followers of the Democratic Party think they are superior to staunch Republicans? And, yet once again, since I contribute to the Republican Party and mostly vote straight ticket, then am I low, low, low man?

Why do I even bother to write a blog? What I have to say is inferior. It must be. Thank goodness for spell check. At least my stupid notions can be expressed clearly.

REDS

"Better dead than Red."
"Get your red hots."
"Red dog, red dog,"
"The hunt for red October."

A veritable sea of red. Cardinal red.

Why does red represent the most arduous color? Why does red inflame? Why is the color red so malused, distorted? That is, why is a redskin not really red, but closer to dark brown. Until recent popularity in hair dye, red was not really red but closer to orange or auburn.

Why does red mean stop? Is it because of danger? Of code red? Why are red streaks in eyes unattractive? They're beautiful in the skies but not in the eyes. And combined, a red eye flight is not preferred.

Why is in the red bad? Why do teachers use red ink for criticism? But then again, red-blooded is good. Red, white and blue are good.

Rednecks are not. Beet red can be good or bad.

I just don't know. Red is ambivalent, and that's all I'm saying.

THE CHURCH

That's the title of this photo. Without the title, I don't believe I would have recognized it as such. But architecturally and modernly, there was probably a purpose for its design.

Without a steeple, without a cross, well it doesn't look much like a church. But that's the way of the modern world. We don't much seem to like traditional churches.

Trying to grow our church, many of us have done much research, attended conferences, relied on our association and have found a few commonalities.

Most in the post-modern era do not want to be identified as Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, etc. Many of the new churches are non-denominational with names such as Journey, Silver Lakes, or By His Grace. That seems to attract.

Many don't feel comfortable in a church. They'd rather meet in homes, restaurants, or community buildings. Plus, most do not want to go to church for anything rather than Sunday worship.

Most want to dress so casually that upon appearances others couldn't tell if they were going to church or out to mow the yard. Blue jeans, flip flops are not just reserved for the congregation either. "Putting on your Sunday best" is archaic.

But you know what? That may not be my preference, old school as I am. I like a church that looks like one. I have attended many churches with denominational names and not and it doesn't bother me in the least to be identified as a Conservative Baptist. I have always felt good, felt at home in a church whether it was Sunday or any other day of the week. And, though I don't wear a tie to Sunday services anymore, I wouldn't mind.

But none of that is as important as wanting to know the Lord. Wanting to worship Him. Wanting to study the Bible. Wanting to be a follower of Jesus. The rest is all fluff.

BAD PEOPLE

Sure are more definable, more recognizable in the comics and movies. With names and personalities to match often times, they are more than colorful: they're likable.

Who doesn't at least partially like The Joker? Even The Penguin played by Burgess Meridith held a certain charm.

But the bad in society are not good--they're only ugly. They are all too often behind the scenes. Madoff has the name for a comic book character, but until very recently most had never heard of The Swindler. Some would also include Barney Frank and Chris Dodd as well. Along with various CEO's and CFO's of corporations such as AIG, GM, and even the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs? Darn tootin'. How in the world can that sorry sports franchise (at least on their playing field record) even consider filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy? And how can the bankruptcy laws allow? I mean if a desperate team can spend over $500 million dollars in salary, some accrued for future contracts, then how can they now expect to sell the team and leave it clear with no debt? When the selling price is $900 million?

Cubby bears may be cute. Their team may be lovable losers. But it's the taxpayer who pays for their ugliness. And, yes, the current owners are bad people.

BLUETOOTH

Many states are requiring drivers to use cell phones that are not hand held. And I think it's great.

How many times have you waited for someone to drive or turn and when they do, you see a phone attached to their ear? Maddening.

How many times have you heard a song on the radio and wanted to sing along? But feared you would be detected? No more. Now you can sing and people will think you're simply talking into your beetle deposited in your ear or you're on your Bluetooth with hands free as well.

So the two advantages I see are not upsetting other drivers because of your phone usage. You may still lag behind or not use a turn signal, but your phone won't be the dead giveaway reason. And sing all you want now. Your only chance of getting caught is to have your windows down or be singing to a popular station that others drivers are tuned to, so if they read lips, you're still caught in the act.

"she tripped the light fandango"

And "turned a whiter shade of pale", the old song goes. Another I never understood.

But at least I got the lyrics right. Far too many times going back to my early childhood when I thought Mr. Sandman was going to bring me a drink rather than a dream, I've unheard lyrics. Or wrong heard them.

"Four letter woman" is what I thought the Bee Gees were singing when it was actually "more than a woman". Now what I thought a four letter woman was, I have no clue.

As we were driving to Louisville one time with two young children in the car, one becoming quite fussy and tired, a Manilow song came on and "somewhere down the road" played over the speakers of our Trans Am. When I informed our daughter that the song lyrics were "some monkey down the road", she quieted and listen closely as I sang along with the substitionary addition.

Lyrics. There's even a show about them. The few times I've watched, well, you can imagine I haven't been very successful. I know there's a term for tone deaf; I'm not sure what's it called when you're lyrically impaired.

LITTLE CAT FEET

Why does fog come in on little cat feet? How is that a good image? I never got it.

I understood ee cummings better. My Sweet Etcetera, for instance. Or "Anyone lived in a pretty how town".

But back to the fog. I never liked it much. I guess I saw too many scary movies about bad guys lurking there under the street lights, surreal in their basking glow.

But I do like foghorns. (Even Foghorn Leghorn--now there's a cool rooster, I say, I say, there's a cool rooster.) And train horns. Why would people like to run with the bulls? I saw where a spectator was killed on Friday after the bull's horn pierced his neck.

I don't like air horns. But I liked the buzzers at the end of quarters. At Casey Junior High, they had the coolest old non-digital game clock whose hands moved like a regular wrist watch. Only when there was one minute to go, it would turn red. I liked that.

I liked Froggy on The Little Rascals and tried to imitate him. With little success. But it may have helped secure my alto spot in the grade school chorus.

From cat's feet to Froggy, I guess I've stream-of -conscioused enough. I should have given my reader(s) a one minute warning and typed in red, but I'm not that techy today.