QUARANTINE BLOG # 332

February 25, 2021

For all of you math students who want to check your answer to yesterday’s math problem which stumped Peppermint Patty, the answer is: 13 dimes and 7 quarters.  Raise your hand if you got the correct answer.  One-half point if you followed the proper procedure but your solution doesn’t match.

👉  Continuing where we left off yesterday, let’s look today at another individual from the old West – a black cowboy – and Monday black cowgirl Mary Fields, and Tuesday, the town of Nicodemus, Kansas.

Bill Pickett was one of the most famous African American cowpokes.  He learned cowboying as a ranch hand in Texas and eventually used his skills to star in Wild West shows and even performed for British royalty.

Pickett was also the subject of a 1922 silent western film, The Bull-Dogger (the poster above is from that film).  Filmmaker Richard Norman was impressed not only with Pickett’s skills, but also with his ability to please the crowds.  Inspired by the Black cowboy’s journey to fame, Norman directed a film about the rodeo legend.  Named after the rodeo trick Pickett became known for, the film depicts Pickett on horseback, lassoing and wrestling a steer. 

Pickett grew up in Texas in the 1880’s, the child of former slaves, to become nationally famous as the star of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show.

Pickett was associated with such western figures as Tom Mix and Will Rogers, and earned a reputation as an all around cowboy of legendary abilities.  His greatest claim to fame is as the originator of steer wrestling, the only rodeo event to the traced to one individual.  In spite of a life of incredible physical daring – afoot and unarmed he once took on an enraged fighting bull in a Mexico City arena – he lived to age sixty, and died with his boots on.  In recognition of his many achievements Pickett was elected to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1971, the first black cowboy to be so honored.

👉  I really like the following comic:

👉  And one from 9 Chickweed Lane:

👉  And Calvin and Hobbes:

👉  Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine offers strong protection against severe COVID-19, according to an analysis by U.S. regulators Wednesday that sets the stage for a final decision on a new and easier-to-use shot to help tame the pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration’s scientists confirmed that overall the vaccine is about 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, and about 85% effective against the most serious illness.  The agency also said J&J’s shot – one that could help speed vaccinations by requiring just one dose instead of two – is safe to use.

While the overall effectiveness data may suggest the J&J candidate isn’t quite as strong as the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna options, all of the world’s COVID-19 vaccines have been tested differently, making comparisons nearly impossible.  It wouldn’t be surprising if one dose turns out to be a little weaker than two doses and policymakers will decide if that’s an acceptable trade-off to get more people vaccinated faster.

👉  China says its Tianwen-1 spacecraft has entered a temporary parking orbit around Mars in anticipation of landing a rover on the red planet in the coming months.  The China National Space Administration said the spacecraft executed a maneuver to adjust its orbit early Wednesday morning and will remain in the new orbit for the next three months before attempting to land.  During that time, it will be mapping the surface of Mars and using its cameras and other sensors to collect further data, particularly about its prospective landing site.  It is getting crowded on Mars.

👉  Have Thine Own Way, Lord

“Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5 – NKJV)

I used to tell the folks at Macedonia UMC that there were some dangerous hymns, and cautioned against them being selected for the morning’s worship service.  Those hymns, while beautiful melodies, were very demanding on the singer – not the singer’s vocal range, but the singer’s devotional life.

For instance, “Have Thine Own Way Lord.”  Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way.  Thou art the potter I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still.  What if the vessel God wishes to make us into is contrary than the one we want to be?  Can you still sing it?

Or, “I Surrender All”  All to Jesus I surrender; all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.  I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.  What if there is some part of our life that we want to control?  Can you still sing it?

David’s requests of the Lord – that he be shown God’s ways, taught His paths, and led in His truth are requests that can only be made by a heart yielded to the Lord.  It is a “Not my will, but Thine be done” prayer.

If you can’t say, “Have thine own way, Lord,” or “All to Jesus, I surrender,” then commit as much as you know about yourself to as much as you know about Jesus.  Surrender takes a starting place.

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