I worked on MARS once and eating Crow

Photo of the day: 

Yep, I worked on MARS once!

 

So for today:

My typing is terrible.  I taught myself to type when I was in the USAF, and I was assigned to the MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) network. THAT was long before cell phones. Back when an international phone call of 10 minutes could take a month’s pay. We relayed phone ‘patches’ from overseas via radio to local phone numbers.

 The only problem was people receiving the calls SELDOM knew of radio communications (long before Ham Radio became common knowledge) where, when you get your sentence finished you must say ‘over’ and we radio operators would automatically manually switch from transmit to receive for the caller. It was fun teaching family members to talk with loved ones using ‘over and out.’  Did you ever receive such a call?

 

We also took verbal messages where we had to type on to a teletypewriter. You can see where this would be tough with the two-finger method I used. LOL

MARS operator from the net

This come up because I finally got used to typing on my PC keyboard, now with this small laptop I add letters constantly and must go back and FIX my errors.  I have done that twice in the last two lines, LOL

My Sherry could type 80+ words a minute in school and used that in her work.  I would guess that some of you reading used typing in your occupations.

Funny that! Classmates, Sherry and Evelyn, were talking at our camping site in Florida a few years back. Both were in the same typing class in HS.  Evelyn was one of the fastest typists in the class but during final competitions was beaten out by another girl in the class. Evelyn was telling Sherry that many years after graduation the other girl admitted cheating to win.

 

Too bad one cannot go back and fix something like that, but the confession at least helps. J

In my youth a buddy and I stole some tires off a wrecked car in a junk yard.  I went back later and paid for them.        Crow is tough to eat.  LOL

Okay, I just asked my girl what the ‘cheaters’ name was, “Doris Harvey! You know the same girl that gave me a bloody nose in a fight, when we were kids!”  WHAT? My sweet passive girl in a fight???? (Of course, she has told me this before but I did forget), I just wanted you all to know.  LOL  (Sorry Sherry! J)

 Nite Shipslog

PS:  God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet; in person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here… and being YOU!

Things change, buttons for instance

 Photo of the day: 

So for today:

In our travels we spent a lot of time in Maine. In the city of Bangor is purported to be the largest wooden statue in the world, or is the largest statue of Paul in the world?  Not sure.  But it is 31 ft tall and hard to miss.  I took several pictures of it. Note how the jacket is fashioned.  I never noticed the 'buttons' until today.

The one thing I did notice is that it is so realistic.  The  hands I looked so real to me with the strength showing and the ‘just right’ wrinkles.

It is something to behold. Not all man-made things ‘amaze’ me, but you sometimes have to let your mind wrap around things like Mt Rushmore,

 Crazy Horse (will it ever be finished?) 

even the Great Arch in St. Louis.

I must admit I appreciate nature  more than the manmade but some hold a great big second place.

The USAF Academy near Colorado Springs. made from scrap aluminum

Now beauty is not the same to all, Margaret Hungerford coined the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder is very correct.” That is so true.  

I follow https://sparepartsandpics.blogspot.com/ . He has fantastic pictures of the desert. He catches some GREAT natural phenomenon. But funny that, today he shot a picture of a piece of junk, just an old water pipe and faucet that was discarded. I thought it was beautiful. His pics are unddefr copywrite so I will not show that, but this is an example of what I say is beautiful ;-), and he Has caught some like this too:

Enjoy yourself and find beauty where you can..

I did, even at a windy airport in Cuba:

(That is jack Jr in background with a bongo Drum he is bringing back from Haiti.)

Nite Shipslog

PS:  God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet; in person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here… and being YOU!

 

What’s it worth?

 Photo of the day: 

 My mama could laugh!

So for today:

That good laugh?  Remember what it was truly worth? Laughter is good for the soul. If you have aged, you will at least snicker. One of my BD Cards:

    And on the inside it continued:

.....Cards like this start showing up on your

                 Birthday!

 

You appreciate a good laugh, especially when you need one, and I have needed one.

Remember the advice from that wise parent or friend? Remember friendly advice and laughs?  There is no price on the results, the riches in love and peace of mind cannot be measured.

I just received a note from my nephew Steve that I appreciate as much as anything I have heard in a long time. Steve's dad became my best friend.  I told Steve many times how I missed his dad, now to this day not a day goes by that I do not think of Sonny. I just got a note: "I never understood what you really meant when you said you missed my dad, Now I know what you mean."  (Steve lost his best friend last year, and he misses Hank more than he can express.)

..... remember  some advice, I do......

That time we went to a Chaplain for advice on our marriage, he asked Sherry to leave the room.  Then he said, “What the hell is wrong with you Chief?  You have a wonderful wife. You had better pay attention and get you ass in gear!” It wasn’t that short, but about the same words.  I took his advice. I have NEVER regretted it.

There are things in life worth more than money, Peace of Mind. We have endured something in the past two years ; alone? I am not sure how it would have played out. But having a shoulder to lean on has made all the difference. 

I am getting to the point I can laugh again. Feels GOOD!

 

Nite Shipslog

PS:  God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet; in person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here, the prayers, the comments … and being YOU!

 

Title  

 

 A picture from the Trail.

 

 

For Today:

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thanks for listening

 Photo of the day: 

You chocolate lovers can appreciate the street lights in Hershey, PA!

So for today:

We all have unique lives.  Every life with the right producer would make a great book or a movie. Lives are directed by our surroundings.  I was blessed with a wonderful family and friends.

January 17^th  1939 was my birthday. (the youngest of the 5 kids that survived)  it is 2024 and I am now officially 85 years old.  It doesn’t really seem that long.

Many of you have moved a lot over the years. We have lived in 6 states (I think, not counting a short stay at Pleasure Island, SC).  I have mentioned many times that we lived at Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) for almost 4 years. Those were some of the best years of our lives. The family loved it. It was like going back in time, and the weather was perfect.

I would really like to make one more trip around the USA, together we have visited about 26 countries, but for me, nothing compares to the beauty of this country.  Great country and as a whole good people who work love and live here. You and I have some good kids and grandkids.  They will use their heads and run this country; I am proud of the younger generation. 

When I was a teenager I kept hearing from OLD people that the country was going to hell in a hand basket and  these long haired hippies, duck tails, pegged pants people will ruin the USA. It didn’t happen. (Some people say, yeah, it didn’t happen YET!)

This is one OLD man who still believes in this country. I believe the majority of our congressmen (and salesmen) are good folk and want good for the country.  One day we will have another statesman rise up and help heal the wounds that bother a lot of folks.

(It pays to follow some directions)

You see, I remember a HS drop out, the 17 yr old boy who had dreams like everyone else, I took a lot of roads to get here but with the help of a sweet wife we own two homes and owe no one but the tax man and have the finances to pay him.

I am now a happy God loving man and fortunately still have that lovely girl I married when I was 17. I received a BD card from Marian and Corporal Dallas, we have been friends since USMC boot camp. Sherry and I have been married 3 weeks longer than those two.

Some signs in this world will confuse you. They might have used a mirror to paint this.

Thanks for stopping by the Shipslog.

Nite Shipslog

PS:  God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet; in person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here… and being YOU!

I have probably told this. When we started seeing each other I asked, "When is your birthday?"

She, "Nov. 6th."

ME: What year?

She:  "Every year."  "Nuff said"""""  LOL

The End ........but a continuation.

  A picture from life.

 My last program was at a Nursing home.  for a dear friend. The main picture was using the S.W. Foss Poem, The House By The Side of The Road.  Notice my frog on the smaller easel. 

I talk about riding this guy as a kid.

 Then when folks are wondering why I rode a frog I say, "Oh I am sorry, I had him drawn sideways!

For Today:

My doubts persisted; I prayed and remembered I had men of God over me. I knew If I told them I had a problem they will pray with me of course, BUT  I TOLD GOD if He was real YOU  tell them, So that When I talk to my Overseers and they will look at me and say, ‘Bro Jack you have a problem don’t you?’ I will give YOU all I have, I will work harder than I ever have, BUT if YOU, GOD, don’t show them this, I give up!”

At the meetings, Both Overseers just looked at me as we talked and bragged on me saying how well I was doing at New Hope, etc.

My fleece proved to me there was no God.  I became an Atheist, Oh yeah, in hindsight I was VERY STUPID and INMATURE.  BUT THAT IS HINDSIGHT.

This was out of the blue to Sherry.  That was mid-week. I told Sherry I was resigning Sunday and turning in my license. There was no God and I Refuse to preach what I do not believe. Unlike many things I have done in our lives she could not believe this one. She said, “You really don’t mean what you just said.”  BUT I DID! I resigned.

In a week or so we bought a house from Sherry’s Brother for $3000.   

I did not want to hurt my dad and the people in our church whom I loved. So I made up this story I was going to follow for awhile. “I’m resigning to go back to School,”  I attended college and studied Civil Engineering; all the time feeling that I would return to the military. Sherry was still working, The VA was paying for the schooling and I was doing odd jobs.

I continued to attend church with Sherry regularly. Because She is a patient dedicated lady WE continued to support the church with Tithe and offerings, even though I did not believe a word I heard.

I completed a couple quarters in school then joined the USN. I enjoyed my jobs in the Navy and Sherry worked Civil Service. That girl never gave up on me but prayed for me daily.  She never fussed at me and loved me like I was still ME.

Years later in church as I sat there, God  broke his silence and said to me, “I have missed you. Don’t you think it is time to come back home?”

In the middle of the service I got up, and started from the pew, my girl thought I was leaving church. I went to the alter knelt and asked God to forgive my ignorance and give me another chance to make it right. HE DID!

Sorry to be so long, but If I don’t finish this I probably won’t. I have done a lot of soul searching. I should never have been a pastoring minister.  I had a gift for children’s ministry to which I returned.  

We were always a team, Sherry with the lights and sound as I did Children’s churches, Youth Camps, Boy Scouts and vacation Bible Schools. We even made it to NY City and Canada. Life is good, God is BETTER!

NiteShipslog

PS:  I never told anyone I had lost my belief in God except Sherry. There were a lot of questions why I left a growing church. The pay was good and getting better but I could NEVER stand behind a pulpit and say some thing I did not believe.  Thank you for your patience.

Building a Church

 Photo of the day: 

Me at 3 or 4 Funny how many turns one takes in a short 85 years.

So for today:

After a year and a half and the church was doing well and Sundays were better with class rooms. I answer another direction changing phone call.

This one  from the NC State Overseer, “WE are proud of your work there in Rutherfordton, but would you consider leaving to organize a new church plant in the New Hope area of Gaston County?”

After some thoughts and prayers Sherry and I agreed to move again.

We found a deserted auto garage and 3 acres of land with an old 3 or 4 room deserted house. We had the house moved into a field behind the garage. Then dug a hole for an outhouse. Our sons still brag about living in a house with an outhouse. LOL.

We then remodeled the garage, making a nice church out of it. It even had toilets with running water that we did not have at the time in the parsonage. LOL A fellow minister who was a REAL builder came down and helped me add space onto the church making it ‘L’ shape.  We used it as a Parsonage; the plans were to make SS rooms there when we built a final parsonage.

 (This is the present New Hope Church of God. The one we built is there on the left, attached to the new one. The first one was just a down scale of this. Same shape same design.) I do have some good picture's of the church I have searched hundreds of them and NADA

The church we built is lined off it has the cross and name as the newer part does now.  IT has grown, huh?

We started with about 15-20 people and gained up toward 80 in attendance.  Wonderful people as in other churches, we were like a family. We had great workers, singers and musicians. We were really enjoying ourselves and serving the Lord, doing His work.

My dad always felt that 30 minutes for a sermon was about all the average person would really hear and learn. My sermons were around 20 to 35 minutes.  It seemed to work.

We had no problems to amount to anything. Jack Jr. had started school; Sherry even got her old job back.  We both had family near, Life was good.......  And then…..  the doubts started invading my mind….. I prayed and fasted to try to keep them back, but they persisted.

I want to suggest that you never Try to Prove God, belief in God is a Faith thing. I became a Thomas, remember him?  He said, “Jesus is alive? You gotta be kidding me, I know he was killed, it was published all over. He was buried, REMEBER? I even witnessed part of it.  UNLESS I SEE THE SCARS, and TOUCH THE NAIL PRINTS I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! 

You have heard of Gideon and the Fleece placed before the Lord. Well it worked for him…

I tried that……..  I will try to end this long story tomorrow.  As you know from my life I did not continue as a minister.  If I continue, the Next part of my life is not all public knowledge and not any fun to write about, but I will try.

Nite Shipslog

PS:  God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet; in person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here… and being YOU!

Life continues

 Photo of the day: 

 My pictures are a mess since changing computers, I did find this faded picture of the New Pastor and his two sons.  That is the rear of the church in the back ground.

So for today:

The church we were sent to in Rutherfordton, NC was an old established church.  Some members were birthing a new church in their community up the road 10-15 miles. Attendance had fallen, but was still solid financially, no debts.

WE were accepted well into the mother church. The parsonage was a nice frame home even had a washer and dryer, LOL. The church had no SS rooms nor fellowship hall after being established over 40 years. We used the parsonage living room as a SS class and the other three were in the church sanctuary, Not ideal to hold attention.

 After a few months there and following the finances, I knew we could build a fellowship hall and Sunday School rooms without borrowing any money, if I could do most of the work. This church also had a great singer, who was also the Pianist. A young man, Kenneth, who also wanted to work on the church building he was still living at home and had no job.

So we started.  Kenneth said his uncle knew how to lay block and would teach us. I squared off the building and we mixed mortar and started laying block. I had never built from the ground up before.

WE finished the building with no problems and it looked great. 4 class rooms, with a dining room and kitchen for fellowship. I went to the electric company to  get the power turned-on and Quickly received an education with the first question. “Need power, no problem, what is your permit Number?”

“MY what?”  (my first REAL lesson in building.) I was sent to the City Building inspections office,

“Let me get this straight Reverand. You have a finished commercial building, you have NO permit and had none of the required 6 inspections and you now want power turned on, is that correct?” Asked the Department Head,

“Yes Sir.” I sorta mumbled, I think.

“All my inspectors will meet you at your building in an hour. Preacher, in all my time, I have NEVER had anything like this happen.”

A little over an hour I had 6 inspectors going thru the building. I heard them laughing, fussing and mainly just enjoying themselves (as I silently prayed). By the time one of them came to speak to me, I was about ready to hear, ‘tear the building down.’

The inspector smiled, “Preacher, this has been fun. Y’all did a great job.  Everything looks good.  Two of us are deacons at our church in town and realize the city can be a pain. But one thing they want is their money. Go back downtown tomorrow, by that time we will have all your paperwork cleared. You will have to pay the $35 for the permits; then you can have the power turned on, BUT PLEASE, do not let this building burn down in a year, it would look very bad on us!”

That was MY MAIN EVENT in Rutherfordton. WE did enjoy the new building. More tomorrow. But it may be late we will be doing some traveling

Nite Shipslog

PS:  God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet; in person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here… and being YOU!

 

Continuing my life, maybe….

 Photo of the day: 

 

We had a 1959 or 60 Rambler while at Moberly something like this..

Just in,  I asked if someone could find the picture of the Conrads to send it to me. Lisa of Salemslot searched and found...THANKS LADY  THAT IS THE ORIGINAL i SCALNNED WRINKLES AND ALL.  This picture is missing David Luke he is the baby not born at this time.

All these kids were very successful with a great work ethic. One Harry the oldest boy, like his dad,  is a Hero of mine, Kenneth fought in Europe WWII and Harry serving in Nam, we were all proud of him.

So for today:

So we find ourselves very interested in working in church under the pastor; I was elected District youth Director. I was still active duty USAF. The pastor recommended me to the church officials for ministerial license. His recommendation was accepted, and I was on my way to becoming a minister.

I had planned to make the USAF a career, but this church thing changed that. Life was upset for a little while when I was not discharged, but my enlistment was extended due to the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was only 100 days so I was discharged and headed back NC and a short Summer Bible School with some great teachers. I passed all the tests met the boards and soon I was licensed.

As fate would have it, of course I figured it was God’s Will, that little church in Missouri, came open and I received a call from the Missouri Overseer appointing us to the small Moberly Church of God.

The new Pastor and his wife and boys:

 

 My daddy gave me the first advice he had given me on pastoring. “Son, do not go in debt, live off what the church pays and God’s people will feed you.”

WE had never had a big income, we moved at our own expense, etc. So I did not plan to get a job. The Church paid from $50 to $120 a month in 1962. Back then we trusted God and had no insurance other than required on the car.

Yeah my sweet wife knows how to roll with the punches. She then had two boys less than 5 yrs old. I moved them into a parsonage that was a chicken house remodeled. It was about 5 inches out of level and had 8 or 9 linoleums on the kitchen floor to cover the cracks. LOL

More kids from the little church, that is Glenda holding Jack Jr.

We were happy we pastored some of the most wonderful folk in the world. Once we had car trouble and borrowed $60 for 6 months to fix the car. Payments were $10.25 a month.  LOL

We maintained the church, it did not grow more than 2 or 3 people in our short time there.  We were there less than a year and I received a call from NC to another church. It was like the old joke, “Honey you start packing and I will go pray about the move.”

Many of the church members were heartbroken.  We had been at the church as members for 3 years then came to pastor for a few months. WE loved that bunch,  But, but….

NC was our home, and of course we thought going there was a gift from God. The church paid a living wage. 

More tomorrow.

Nite Shipslog

PS :  I got one of my best compliments when I was serving my city rotation as Hospital chaplain. I introduced myself to the head nurse, Smiling she said, “So now dey is putting temptation in the pulpit!”  I got a kick out of that.

Thanks for reading the Shipslog, hope to see you again, try to stay warm and be good.