I was gone a good part of the day yesterday, hence no post. Fastmail.fm was off the air yestidy mo'ning, quite a rare thing for them, and all the more frustrating.

A recent exchange with a good man under duress reminded me how many people around me struggle with difficulties and trials, and I never know it. They hold up so well, show cheerfulness, help others, and never moan about their personal circumstances. I need to pray for those!

Son Micah sent email saying the week-long music camp was great; he's now in Interface, freshman orientation. So that'll keep him busy until Wednesday, then comes the Real World of Study on Thurs.

Good group this morning at church, 52 present, though we had several of our own that were out. Several weak in the faith.

I was going to head to the office in the afternoon, but after lunch out I hit the sack and stayed two hours in the Deep. By that time it was 6 p.m., so I gave up the idea of working a bit in the office. Here the church meets in the morning only; no night meeting. It's a problem with transportation, most people depend on buses and Sunday service is sloooow.

I've let Cloudburst Poetry slide the last few weeks while I was in the U.S. I didn't make it this past week either. Will have to pop a specially good work of art to the list to make up for it.

Off and running for another great week. Here's for one straight blessing for you this week also.

From the Wit and Wisdom newsletter:

USA Living Space

Here is a look at how the square footage of the average American home has grown over the last five decades.

1950 983 sq. ft.
1963 1,470
1970 1,500
1980 1,740
1990 2,080
2002 2,350

From: National Association of Home Builders, http://www.nahb.org/ . Source: This Old House, May 2003, http://thisoldhouse.com

by J. Randal Matheny

My precious goal, so dear and so desired,
soon turned to a sandy mirage, once acquired.

----

If I remember the story right, my mother said that when I was a small tyke I bawled for a little monkey with a banana in his hand. I cried so much, they bought it for me. When they presented it to me, I took one look at it and tossed it in the back seat of the car.

Isn't that the way we often do? We work hard for something, an object, a goal, a promotion, and when we get it, it's not quite what we thought it was.

I almost titled this couplet, "In Exchange for My Soul." For we strive after so many things only to discover they don't satisfy. In the process, we've lost our soul.

Is sand running between your fingers?

Randal

by J. Randal Matheny (c) 2003

Tempestuous times are these--
confusion, war, disease--,
but worse are liberal lies
that moral looseness buys.

With singular clarity
come courage, strength, and, more,
the prize of liberty,
by freedom's fighting corp.

Good wishes don't suffice
to guarantee free speech,
for peace demands of each
a costly sacrifice.

----

I am grateful, on the political and government side, that we have a strong president who knows where to take the country. Would to God other nations had men like him.

More than that, I am grateful, on the spiritual and ministerial side, that the church of God has strong servants who know the truth and insist on a clear sound in speaking the gospel. Would to God every congregation had people like them.

Randal