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What a New Year's day

The Words of the Preacher

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; … A time to weep, and a time to laugh;” [Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2 & 4]. I first heard these words in 1965 when they were sung by a rock & roll group called the Byrds. The song, called Turn, Turn, Turn, was a number one hit. Since these words are credited to “the Preacher”, that is King Solomon, Turn, Turn, Turn contains the oldest lyrics which ever appeared in a number one pop song. At 3000 years old, they even pre-date the song lyrics of Bing Crosby.

These words of the Byrds and of King Solomon retuned to my memory on New Year’s Day. I had just fallen asleep after some minor celebrating on New Year’s Eve. The year of 2010 was only three hours old, when the telephone rang. Steve told me that his sister, Jual Lynn, had just passed away a short time earlier. The death of this faithful church member came as a surprise to me, though not so much as a shock. As the song goes, there is “a time to be born, and a time to die”. January 1, 2010, proved to be Jual Lynn’s time. The church held a memorial service for her on January 9.

By a strange coincidence, I officiated at a wedding fourteen hours later. This was all planned months in advance, so at five PM, I pronounced the words, “what God has joined together, let no man put asunder”. After this solemn occasion, Kim and I sat down to a reception and a meal. There was dancing, celebrating, and an abundance of joy. My mind returned to the early morning phone call and I thought, “a time to weep and a time to laugh” both on the same day – both on the first day of the year.

Ecclesiastes is an odd book of the Bible, responding to the mysteries of life. The words are philosophical and, to many, overly pessimistic. But let’s not neglect the final words of the Ecclesiastical Preacher: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” [Ecclesiastes 12:13 & 14].

Caryl in the office

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At the Valentine party on February 13 at church

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A picture of the four deacons

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Kim with her friend
 

Click for 63 pictures and 4 videos

Visit to see faithful Annabell

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Simon sends a video on Palm Sunday

Click to see the short video

Kim at a Christian Writer's Conference at Mt. Hermon / March 26 to 30

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.. and Chris at Prayer Mountain / March 29

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Visiting at the home of Gary and Susan Axelson on March 31
 

Easter on April 4

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Skype with Lorenzo on April 24

Article in the EBBA newsletter

See more skyped pix of Lorencito from May

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At the Memorial Day BBQ on May 31

At Pismo beach on the way to Disaster Relief training on November 5

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Zac visited me from November 19 to 29

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Jody Teardrop came home with me on November 22.

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I saw these persimmons at the outdoor market and I wept remembering Kim.
At her grave, I placed one for me, one for Zachary and one for Simon.

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A Thanksgiving Phone Call A distant relative of my wife called on Thanksgiving evening. She wanted to wish us a happy holiday.    I thought she knew. She asked me how I was doing. I said, “Under the circumstances, I’m OK”. Then I added quickly, “My son Zachary is here with me and that’s good”    I thought she knew. She asked again how I was doing. I told her, “Zachary and I will be in Virginia at the first of the year. Maybe we can visit you.”    I thought she knew. I said, “Give me your phone number, so I can contact you when we arrive in Virginia.”    I thought she knew. She spoke out the numbers and I wrote them down on note paper.    I thought she knew. Then she said with laugh, “But Kim has my email. Just ask her to send me your travel plans.”    I thought she knew. I said with a pause, “What do you mean?”    She didn't know. I removed the phone from my ear and handed it to my son sitting across from me. I managed to say, “Answer her questions”. I walked quickly to our bedroom, dived face-first onto our bed, and burst into tears until our phone call ended.

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Simon, Delia, and Lorenzo vacationed in Europe in November.
These are some pictures