My business is repairing or setting up grandfather clocks.
I tune the chimes,listen carefully for bad notes and making the corrections as needed.
All grandfather clocks play Westminster chimes,some play 3 chimes.
The are reasons for all the chimes,some are religious,some are from church bells and some are taken from children's nursery rimes.
Westminster chimes are the most popular,made famous by Big Ben in London.
However the chimes were first set into the tower at University Church, St. Mary's the Great, in Cambridge, England.
The actual words are:
"Lord, through this hour,
Be Thou our guide
So,by thy power
No foot shall slide"
The music was Handels symphony,"I Know That My Redeemer Liveth'.The words and music were arranged by William Crotch in 1793.
Even for the non religious people who have clocks in their homes,they are hearing a prayer every quarter hour.
I like that and find it fun to explain it to people.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Fathers-Honor Your Daughters
When my daughter Michelle was born,it was one of the happiest days of my life.
I had 2 boys when she was born,and one more was to follow.
Michelle was brightness in my life.
She was pure joy for me and I loved her fully.She filled my life with a great joy.
Just to be able to carry her,and care for her was an amazing thing to me.
What father could love a daughter more then me?
Fathers,take time to take walks with your daughters,spend time alone with them.The time goes fast.Way to fast.
How proud of was,she was mine and I was hers.
Dads,take pictures.They are a great reminders of a special love that you have.
Little girls grow up,they have lives to live and other loves to find.
They will go to school.They will meet new friends.They will fall in love.
You watch them,help them,guide them through life.Your wife serves as an example.
I saw my little girl go through changes,I saw Michelle find God,early in life.
You see her through high school,you see the compassion she has for others.
Real,burning compassion.She has you picking up people for church that you worry about.Shady people.But she knows they have a need so you do it.
You drive her to Moody every Sunday night for college.These were special times,to have her to myself for an hour or so.
You see a young man hanging around the house a lot. I approve of him.More importantly he knows God.He knows God well.
He asks for your daughter hand in marriage.You ask some dumb questions about their future,knowing inside your heart he is the right one.
You give her away on a snowy day in March.
Your heart breaks.But you're happy,very happy.
You always think of her as 'my Michelle.'
Now you still worry,now she has crazy plans to go to India.But she has compassion and you know she has to go.And it is ok.
There so many things I could write about this dad's love about his daughter but it would fill many books.
Now she has 3 girls of her own,I see Michelle in each.I see compassion in their lives and I am proud of that.
So you fathers,stay close to your daughters,they are one of God's best gifts.
I love you Michelle Dawn.
I had 2 boys when she was born,and one more was to follow.
Michelle was brightness in my life.
She was pure joy for me and I loved her fully.She filled my life with a great joy.
Just to be able to carry her,and care for her was an amazing thing to me.
What father could love a daughter more then me?
Fathers,take time to take walks with your daughters,spend time alone with them.The time goes fast.Way to fast.
How proud of was,she was mine and I was hers.
Dads,take pictures.They are a great reminders of a special love that you have.
Little girls grow up,they have lives to live and other loves to find.
They will go to school.They will meet new friends.They will fall in love.
You watch them,help them,guide them through life.Your wife serves as an example.
I saw my little girl go through changes,I saw Michelle find God,early in life.
You see her through high school,you see the compassion she has for others.
Real,burning compassion.She has you picking up people for church that you worry about.Shady people.But she knows they have a need so you do it.
You drive her to Moody every Sunday night for college.These were special times,to have her to myself for an hour or so.
You see a young man hanging around the house a lot. I approve of him.More importantly he knows God.He knows God well.
He asks for your daughter hand in marriage.You ask some dumb questions about their future,knowing inside your heart he is the right one.
You give her away on a snowy day in March.
Your heart breaks.But you're happy,very happy.
You always think of her as 'my Michelle.'
Now you still worry,now she has crazy plans to go to India.But she has compassion and you know she has to go.And it is ok.
There so many things I could write about this dad's love about his daughter but it would fill many books.
Now she has 3 girls of her own,I see Michelle in each.I see compassion in their lives and I am proud of that.
So you fathers,stay close to your daughters,they are one of God's best gifts.
I love you Michelle Dawn.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I Confess to a Major Crime
The year was 1960,I was 10.
10 years old.
Pretty darn young if you ask me.
My older brother Bud went away to college.(To get an education.That's what he said.)
To me, he abandoned me.He had been my hero.
My role model.
A year or so before Bud left us,my dad and and Bud had bought a tv for Bud's bedroom.
This was a big deal then,a tv in the bedroom was for the rich people.
Not us!
I remember the tv was about 13 inches,and weighed about 400 pounds.
Rabbit ears were the standard then.Bud was quite technical and knew how to get all 5 channels.
Channel 2 excluded,mostly.
Since he went away I claimed all his assets.
Dad,being broken hearted about Buds departure put his tv in the basement.
I asked a few times if I could turn it on,but dad said 'no son,it belonged to Buddy,whom I loved.'
There were few times I snuck into the basement to turn it on but I could never get anything on it except fuzz.
Resentment over took me.
Bud was gone.
The tv was just sitting there.
Bad things entered my mind.I blame Bud.
With the help of a friend,I loaded the tv into my wagon and took it to a tv shop on 103rd street.
Never having done any business in my life I remember being nervous.
I told the tv shop guy,"how much will you give me for this tv?"
He looked at it,took the back off and said..."This tv is no good,it has a booster on it."
I had no idea what a booster was.
We stared at each other for a good 5 minutes.
He finally said"I will give you a finn."
I had no idea what a finn was.It sounded lik a lot to me.
It could mean 50 bucks I thought!
As it turns out a finn is $5.00.
I took the finn.I took my wagon home.
Dad says"where have you been?" I say 'out messin around.'
Dad never asked about the tv.
When Bud came home I don't think he missed it.
Years later I told my dad this story.He didn't remember it at all.
Then I found out Bud never missed it.He forgot about it too.
I spent the $5.00.
I probably gave most of it to charity because that's the way I am.
The moral of the story is if you sell your brothers tv,the brother you loved even though he abandoned you,it is ok.
10 years old.
Pretty darn young if you ask me.
My older brother Bud went away to college.(To get an education.That's what he said.)
To me, he abandoned me.He had been my hero.
My role model.
A year or so before Bud left us,my dad and and Bud had bought a tv for Bud's bedroom.
This was a big deal then,a tv in the bedroom was for the rich people.
Not us!
I remember the tv was about 13 inches,and weighed about 400 pounds.
Rabbit ears were the standard then.Bud was quite technical and knew how to get all 5 channels.
Channel 2 excluded,mostly.
Since he went away I claimed all his assets.
Dad,being broken hearted about Buds departure put his tv in the basement.
I asked a few times if I could turn it on,but dad said 'no son,it belonged to Buddy,whom I loved.'
There were few times I snuck into the basement to turn it on but I could never get anything on it except fuzz.
Resentment over took me.
Bud was gone.
The tv was just sitting there.
Bad things entered my mind.I blame Bud.
With the help of a friend,I loaded the tv into my wagon and took it to a tv shop on 103rd street.
Never having done any business in my life I remember being nervous.
I told the tv shop guy,"how much will you give me for this tv?"
He looked at it,took the back off and said..."This tv is no good,it has a booster on it."
I had no idea what a booster was.
We stared at each other for a good 5 minutes.
He finally said"I will give you a finn."
I had no idea what a finn was.It sounded lik a lot to me.
It could mean 50 bucks I thought!
As it turns out a finn is $5.00.
I took the finn.I took my wagon home.
Dad says"where have you been?" I say 'out messin around.'
Dad never asked about the tv.
When Bud came home I don't think he missed it.
Years later I told my dad this story.He didn't remember it at all.
Then I found out Bud never missed it.He forgot about it too.
I spent the $5.00.
I probably gave most of it to charity because that's the way I am.
The moral of the story is if you sell your brothers tv,the brother you loved even though he abandoned you,it is ok.
How I Shot My Neighbor
How I Shot My Neighbor and Got Away With It.
I was about 14 or 15,and always loved messing around with bows and arrows.
It was a big kick for me and my friends to go to an open field and just shoot arrows as far as we could.
Our targets were trees or birds and even frogs.I don't remember any of us ever killing anything but we thought we were very cool.The Mighty Hunters.
The arrows we used were target arrows,they had sharp metal points.
One summer day I was shooting arrows in my back yard,shooting at an old wooden chair.
It was a large chair and was not to hard to hit,being just 30 feet away.
This chair was painted white,and had spaces in between the boards.
I shot my arrow,watched as it went through the spaces in the chair,watched as it went through the back yard fence,across the alley,through my neighbors fence and right into my neighbor's back.
It stuck in poor old Charlie for a second,then the arrow fell out.
I heard a yell "AHHHHHH".Then... Mi......!Then all was quiet,very quiet.
I could not believe my shot.My aim had been good.The chair with it's stupid wide slats would be the end of me I was sure.
Charlie had been in his garden,he was bending down pulling weeds.
Somethings you never forget.
I saw poor Charlie standing there,weeds in one hand,my arrow in the other.I didn't see any blood,but I knew it had to really hurt!
One thing I should mention here is that poor Charlie was born without a tongue.
He was very hard to understand.He always called me Mi...It sounded like MY...
This all happened in about 2 seconds and I remember it like it was yesterday.
When I realized what I had done,I ducked.I fled the scene of the crime.
A few hours later I crept back home,thinking my parents were going to kill me.
My dad wasn't home from work yet and mom didn't say anything so I figured I might be off the hook.
When dad did come home,I saw him coming to the back door.My bedroom was right above.
Here came Charlie,arrow in hand,he was watching for old Pete to come home.
Charlie was yelling,PEE PEEE!
Dad had no patience for Charlie,he was just to hard to understand.
Listening from above,I could here my dad giving Charlie the brush off.
Dad was actually thanking Charlie for returning the arrow.
I never did get into trouble for the arrow that went astray.I dd remember it my whole life.
Sadly I had to avoid Charlie whenever I saw him from then on.
The moral of this story if you ever shoot someone in the back,make sure the guy has no tongue.
I was about 14 or 15,and always loved messing around with bows and arrows.
It was a big kick for me and my friends to go to an open field and just shoot arrows as far as we could.
Our targets were trees or birds and even frogs.I don't remember any of us ever killing anything but we thought we were very cool.The Mighty Hunters.
The arrows we used were target arrows,they had sharp metal points.
One summer day I was shooting arrows in my back yard,shooting at an old wooden chair.
It was a large chair and was not to hard to hit,being just 30 feet away.
This chair was painted white,and had spaces in between the boards.
I shot my arrow,watched as it went through the spaces in the chair,watched as it went through the back yard fence,across the alley,through my neighbors fence and right into my neighbor's back.
It stuck in poor old Charlie for a second,then the arrow fell out.
I heard a yell "AHHHHHH".Then... Mi......!Then all was quiet,very quiet.
I could not believe my shot.My aim had been good.The chair with it's stupid wide slats would be the end of me I was sure.
Charlie had been in his garden,he was bending down pulling weeds.
Somethings you never forget.
I saw poor Charlie standing there,weeds in one hand,my arrow in the other.I didn't see any blood,but I knew it had to really hurt!
One thing I should mention here is that poor Charlie was born without a tongue.
He was very hard to understand.He always called me Mi...It sounded like MY...
This all happened in about 2 seconds and I remember it like it was yesterday.
When I realized what I had done,I ducked.I fled the scene of the crime.
A few hours later I crept back home,thinking my parents were going to kill me.
My dad wasn't home from work yet and mom didn't say anything so I figured I might be off the hook.
When dad did come home,I saw him coming to the back door.My bedroom was right above.
Here came Charlie,arrow in hand,he was watching for old Pete to come home.
Charlie was yelling,PEE PEEE!
Dad had no patience for Charlie,he was just to hard to understand.
Listening from above,I could here my dad giving Charlie the brush off.
Dad was actually thanking Charlie for returning the arrow.
I never did get into trouble for the arrow that went astray.I dd remember it my whole life.
Sadly I had to avoid Charlie whenever I saw him from then on.
The moral of this story if you ever shoot someone in the back,make sure the guy has no tongue.
Touching a Life
One of the last things my mom did in her life was to tell another lady about Jesus.
Mom was in the same hospital room with this lady called Jane.
Mom felt she was a prisoner in the hospital and I laughed and told her her cell-mate Jane probably felt the same way.
Jane listened but as far as I know made no real commitment.
I can only hope that in Janes last moments she did believe.
Mom had her ways about sharing the love of Christ and some ways were just quiet ways that she only knew.
Reflecting back on her life,I wonder how many Janes she had touched.
Mom was a social butterfly,she would have loved Facebook.
There were always people at the house,people always stopped by and she happiest then.
Relatives,friends and neighbor's were constantly at the door.
Some days it seemed the phone never stopped ringing,there was always something she had to share with somebody.
She worked until she was in here late 70's,she took care of old people in a nursing home.
Mom loved us and her Pete.
She would have loved her funeral! Hundreds of people came and I think I realized then how many lives she had touched.
How grateful I am to have had such a mom.
Mom was in the same hospital room with this lady called Jane.
Mom felt she was a prisoner in the hospital and I laughed and told her her cell-mate Jane probably felt the same way.
Jane listened but as far as I know made no real commitment.
I can only hope that in Janes last moments she did believe.
Mom had her ways about sharing the love of Christ and some ways were just quiet ways that she only knew.
Reflecting back on her life,I wonder how many Janes she had touched.
Mom was a social butterfly,she would have loved Facebook.
There were always people at the house,people always stopped by and she happiest then.
Relatives,friends and neighbor's were constantly at the door.
Some days it seemed the phone never stopped ringing,there was always something she had to share with somebody.
She worked until she was in here late 70's,she took care of old people in a nursing home.
Mom loved us and her Pete.
She would have loved her funeral! Hundreds of people came and I think I realized then how many lives she had touched.
How grateful I am to have had such a mom.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Have You Attacked The Church Today?
I sat and explained my views.
We discussed how I felt about your shallow views on Christianity.
You were most gracious and I appreciated that.
You didn't condemn me for speaking my mind.
And yet you don't understand how important my views are!
I think the way you teach and preach people are going to miss the point and go straight to hell.
Secretly I think you are evil and I will tell on you.
My friends will know that I speak the truth!
My friends will know that I am pretty smart.
I think God will judge you for preaching and teaching the way you do!
Your church is so disorganised I could barely find a seat when I visited.
As I sat there I knew God was telling me not to listen to such drivel.
You know I will not be back and I will tell my friends not to visit either.
I am of the view that I am right and you are absolutely wrong
I think you are deluding people with what spews out of your mouth!
My friends will nod in agreement when I tell them about how awful your church is!
I will feel pretty good about posting how I feel on my blog.
I think your ministry is not going to last much longer!
I heard there was a scandal in your church!
How few have come to know Jesus because of your ministry.
I know God will not bless you in anyway.
We discussed how I felt about your shallow views on Christianity.
You were most gracious and I appreciated that.
You didn't condemn me for speaking my mind.
And yet you don't understand how important my views are!
I think the way you teach and preach people are going to miss the point and go straight to hell.
Secretly I think you are evil and I will tell on you.
My friends will know that I speak the truth!
My friends will know that I am pretty smart.
I think God will judge you for preaching and teaching the way you do!
Your church is so disorganised I could barely find a seat when I visited.
As I sat there I knew God was telling me not to listen to such drivel.
You know I will not be back and I will tell my friends not to visit either.
I am of the view that I am right and you are absolutely wrong
I think you are deluding people with what spews out of your mouth!
My friends will nod in agreement when I tell them about how awful your church is!
I will feel pretty good about posting how I feel on my blog.
I think your ministry is not going to last much longer!
I heard there was a scandal in your church!
How few have come to know Jesus because of your ministry.
I know God will not bless you in anyway.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Fans of Jesus
Facebook now has a place where you can become a fan of Jesus.
It also has a place where you can become a fan of God.
I wonder what is the point?
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a shallow thing.
It should be a all consuming relationship.
Jesus Christ is not definable in a fan club.
He is all knowing.
He is the one with such love and compassion that he died for all us in order that we might spend eternity with Him.
He is the one to who we turn in good times and in bad times.
He is God.
He is The Great I Am.
I am not really offended by the idea of fan clubs for Jesus.
I am a fan of more than a few people and ideas on Facebook.
I just think Jesus deserves more.
It also has a place where you can become a fan of God.
I wonder what is the point?
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is not a shallow thing.
It should be a all consuming relationship.
Jesus Christ is not definable in a fan club.
He is all knowing.
He is the one with such love and compassion that he died for all us in order that we might spend eternity with Him.
He is the one to who we turn in good times and in bad times.
He is God.
He is The Great I Am.
I am not really offended by the idea of fan clubs for Jesus.
I am a fan of more than a few people and ideas on Facebook.
I just think Jesus deserves more.
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