QUARANTINE BLOG # 589

November 9, 2021

It was early in the morning, 51 years ago today, when Bonnie said, “It’s time.”  I loaded her and her “delivery suitcase” into the car and drove to the hospital – very fast.  All the traffic lights were red.  I ran them all (it was early in the morning).  And at 7:15 a.m. we welcomed Jennifer Darlyn!

Jennifer and her babies, posing for Random Family Selfie Time (at the bottom is "Small Jennifer," a.k.a. Rachel Bryn, and "Miss Hollywood" in the pink shades is Maggie Rose).

👉  In giving you insights into state nicknames, I have exhausted the states where Bonnie and I and the JAMM Kids were born – Jennifer in Hagerstown, Maryland, Amy in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Michael and Matthew in Cleveland, Tennessee.  The next three are places all of us have lived (and for the last one, are firmly entrenched).

After leaving Cleveland, we headed for The Mountain State, and Beckley, West Virginia – and one of the best churches we were ever privileged to serve, and for all too short a time.  West Virginia is called The Mountain State because it’s the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain region, and its average elevation is higher than any other state east of the Mississippi River. 

West Virginia became a state after the Wheeling Conventions of 1861, at the start of the Civil War.  Delegates from northwestern Virginia’s Unionist counties decided to break away from Virginia.  West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, the 35th state to join the Union.  It was the only state to form by separating from a Confederate state, the second to separate from a state after Maine separated from Massachusetts, and one of two states (along with Nevada) admitted to the Union during the Civil War.

“Take Me Home, Country Roads,” by John Denver is one of West Virginia’s four official state songs – and the best.

👉  Speaking of mountains, take a listen to Ray Stevens and “Smokey Mountain Rattlesnake Retreat,” his misadventures while trying to find a Bible camp retreat.

👉  Today’s Blackout: 

👉  Today’s Apiwats (pronounced “Ah-pie-wahts” – a picture is worth a thousand words): 

👉  And a Sign for the Times: 

👉  I know you saw this one last Thursday, but I needed a place to start this piece:

As you know, I have very little good to say about social media, but here’s a good one from Tik Tok (sent to me by Amy) and it’s the first thing I’ve seen on that medium that is blog worthy (I edited the clip and uploaded it to my YouTube channel).  Enjoy the “Mozart Group and How to Impress a Woman with a Ping Pong Ball.”

👉  2021 inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame have been announced.  The National Toy Hall of Fame was established in 1998 and “recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period.”  Those that missed out this year were: Battleship, Billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Mahjong, Masters of the Universe, Piñata, The Settlers of Catan, and Toy fire engine.

And the winners are:

American Girl Dolls: Created in 1986 by educator Pleasant Rowland, the 18-inch American Girl dolls – and their accompanying books – explore America’s social and cultural history.  Each historical doll comes with a unique narrative that fits her era, such as Molly McIntire, who is waiting for her father to return home from World War II.

Risk: Based on the French game Le Conquete du Monde, Risk translates the hobby of wargaming with miniature figures into a mass-produced war and strategy board game.  First published in the United States in 1959, Risk challenges players to control armies and conquer the world. 

Sand: Created by the Lord God Almighty on the third day – “and it was good.”  Sand may be the most universal and oldest toy in the world (along with sticks and rocks).  Toy Museum Chief Curator Christopher Bensch says, “Although some playthings can only be found online or in certain stores, sand has a global reach that most toy manufacturers would envy.  It’s been a vehicle for play since prehistory, and anyone who has spent the day at the beach can understand the allure of this toy.”

👉  Today’s close is from crosswalk.com:

“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge” (1 Corinthians 1:45).

The apostle Paul was amazing.  He is writing to one of the most problematic churches and yet finds reasons to give thanks for them.  He is thankful for them because Jesus died for them. When God extends his grace to others, how can we not do the same?  Even though he has tough words to follow, Paul’s example reminds us that a child of God is something to be cherished, even if they have problems.

Prayer: Gracious Father, give me the heart to see reasons to be thankful for all of your children.  I confess that it is often so easy for me to view others based on how they view me, share my theological opinions, or how much trouble they cause me.  Forgive me, for I know if you had done the same with me, I would have never been one of your children.  Please help me rejoice in your children.  Through Jesus I pray.  Amen.

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