Ale for the Soul

Yesterday I had an interview for a part-time merchandiser position with TNG (formerly The News Group).  To be honest, it wasn't much of an interview as the district supervisor offered me the position on the spot.  This was only after a few minutes of conversation concerning the roles and responsibilities of the position.  Have you ever wondered about something happening too smoothly?  I did!  Before the end of the day well in to the next morning, I couldn't help but to wait for the other shoe to drop, figuratively speaking.  The first day on the job went very smoothly as I had no problem finding the first store on my route.  Then the trainer stated she didn't know why she was there as I could have handled it without any assistance from her.  In other words, I didn't need much training.  To add blessing upon blessing, I was informed of the district supervisor's intent to train me to become the area trainer, which included a one dollar pay rais...

As 2014 faded in to 2015, I was hoping for a better year.  Looking back, I can maybe say it was, but not by much.  Now I'm looking at another brand new year also hoping 2016 will be a better, more prosperous year.  Several positives can become recounted, such as moving in to a small, one bedroom apartment to live by myself.  Another is joining Christ Chapel Bible Church as a member.  Along the way, however, I seem to act as a magnet attracting the worst luck.  Of course I don't want to turn this in to an excuse because the one thing I can still control is my reaction to the very external forces which happen around me.  The most memorable disappointment for 2015 is the near miss in not getting to attend my dream school of University of Texas in Austin.  Part of my heart and soul died with the passing of this dream, especially knowing this opportunity will never present itself again.  I suppose God has bigger plans for me in His kingdom.  ...

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,  in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.  Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;  the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submi...

From the beginning You spoke the Word And from creation Your song was heard You taught the stars in the sky to sing, Almighty Father let everything you've made Give praises to Your holy name Let everything on earth proclaim Let the whole world sing Sing hallelujah to the King Let the whole world sing Lift up your voices, let them ring, let them ring The angels came to announce his birth, A Savior born to redeem the earth The sky was darkened when Jesus died, Creation watched as He sacrificed for me And yet He rolled the stone away, Triumphant over death and grave Let the whole world sing Sing hallelujah to the King Let the whole world sing Lift up your voices, let them ring, let them ring All of my life I looked for the reason You created me I realized my life was given just to sing a song of praise to Thee Let the whole world sing Sing hallelujah to the King Let the whole world sing Lift up your voices let them ring Let the whole world sing Sing hallelujah to the King Let the whol...

Yesterday morning I was blessed to meet with my sister for breakfast.  Currently she lives in Hawaii with a great job and visits Texas about this time every year.  Usually on her trip she spends several weeks travelling the state visiting friends and family.  I am always so thankful she carves out a few hours for her younger brother.  We met at the Einstein Bros. Bagels near the Texas Christian University campus.  Both of us really enjoy this national restaurant chain, so to meet there for breakfast was an added joy.  We took turns sharing about what is happening in our lives, our joys and struggles.  As always we also talked about family.  Except for a few very distant cousins, my brother and sister, and I are all that is left remaining of my dad's side of the family.  She asked where I was in my progress on the family genealogy.  Lately I've been procrastinating in working on any particular project.  But this doesn't mean I'm comp...

Program Announcer : Ladies and gentlemen, we take pride in presenting a thoughtful address by Ronald Reagan. Mr. Reagan: Reagan : Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you and good evening. The sponsor has been identified, but unlike most television programs, the performer hasn't been provided with a script. As a matter of fact, I have been permitted to choose my own words and discuss my own ideas regarding the choice that we face in the next few weeks.  I have spent most of my life as a Democrat. I recently have seen fit to follow another course. I believe that the issues confronting us cross party lines. Now, one side in this campaign has been telling us that the issues of this election are the maintenance of peace and prosperity. The line has been used, "We've never had it so good."  But I have an uncomfortable feeling that this prosperity isn't something on which we can base our hopes for the future. No nation in history has ever survived a tax burden that ...

Thankfully I was able to steal away for a few days during Christmas to visit family in Yoakum.  On the Thursday before Christmas, I drove to two cemeteries in which family are buried in order to pay my respects.  The cemetery in Hocheim and Westside Cemetery in Yorktown are the two I visited.  I haven't been to either place in well over ten years, and it was a great feeling to finally make it to both.  As per a previous blog entry, many of you already know of my historical fascination with cemeteries, whether or not I have any connection with them.  The time spent in each was very calming and gave a sense of my own mortality.  Many pictures were taken as I walked around paying my respects, as well as to read the headstones of the other plots.  I found many military designations: one for a man who was in the merchant marine, another who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, and one who fought in the Spanish-American War on the cusp of the twentie...

Yep, today is my birthday as I celebrate turning another year older.  So far my 40's have been wiser and more stable than at any other time in my life.  Does this mean I'm happy where I'm at?  Not necessarily, but I do have joy knowing I am better at responding to life instead of reacting harshly, kicking against the goads, at what life throws my way.  I have yet to completely master this art of responding, but I am far better than in previous years gone by.  In other words, growing older has mellowed and softened the rough edges and the storm raging in my soul.  This doesn't mean these former nasty habits don't rear their ugly heads from time to time, but I have better learned to pause before giving way to expressing my feelings.  What I am looking forward to in turning another year older is putting all the negative memories and feelings behind me to start anew.  Forty-two years of age will be a better year, along with celebrating the new year of...

Keep me safe, my God,  for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord , “You are my Lord;  apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land,  “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods  or take up their names on my lips. Lord , you alone are my portion and my cup;  you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;  surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord , who counsels me;  even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord . With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;  my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, n or will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of li...

This entire year has flown by way too fast.  Here it is...Christmas is upon us!  Thankfully I was able to leave Fort Worth in order to spend a few days in Yoakum with family.  This hasn't always been the case as I remember quite a few holidays spent by myself.  Maybe as I grow older I begin assign a greater value to time spent with family and friends.  Considering the recent deaths in the family, I know first-hand we won't be around forever.  Unfortunately I can't go back in time to recapture missed opportunities, so I must take full advantage of the time with people I do have.  So far it has been a full few days as I try to cram a bunch of stuff in to such a short time.  First I visited two family cemeteries I haven't been to in well over ten years.  To my surprise I took over one hundred photos.  (I'll upload a few of those pictures at a later time.)  Then I attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at the Baptist church my m...

Since I last stood in this spot, a whole new generation of the Miller Family has been born: Four great grandchildren.   Along with all the other members of our close-knit family, they are my and Shirley's most precious possessions.   And I know that's how you feel about your family also. Like you, I think of their future, the promises and the perils they will face.   Like you, I believe that the next four years will determine what kind of world they will grow up in.   And like you, I ask which leader is it today that has the vision, the willpower and, yes, the backbone to best protect my family?   The clear answer to that question has placed me in this hall with you tonight. For my family is more important than my party.   There is but one man to whom I am willing to entrust their future and that man's name is George Bush.   In the summer of 1940, I was an 8-year-old boy living in a remote little Appalachian valley. Our country was not yet at war, but ...

Thank you. Thank you very much. President Turner, thanks. Members of the Board of Trustees, Provost Ludden, faculty, staff, distinguished guests, parents, and — most importantly — the Class of 2015.  Thank you for your warm welcome, and I appreciate the invitation to be with you.  You know, when I mentioned this speech to some pals, they were surprised I was going to give it. I haven’t given a commencement address since leaving office. You know, my decision is quite practical. So I got a call from my landlord Gerald Turner.  Rather than raising the rent or threatening to withhold our security deposit I was relieved to hear President Turner ask if I believed in free speech.  I said yeah. He said, “Perfect. Here’s your chance to give one.” As a proud member of the SMU community, I am honored to be here – truly honored – to deliver the 100 th  Spring Commencement address.  I admire President Turner’s persuasiveness and leadership. He runs a fantastic univ...

Today is the first official day of winter!  Sometimes I wonder how these things are decided.  For example, Fort Worth has already been having colder weather than normal for the fall season.  This means Mother Nature has already moved in to winter without waiting for the meteorologist to declare, "Okay, the first official day of winter is on the 21st.  At that point, we'll begin having cold weather."  To me, this laughable.  Of course I'm making a mockery of it as I realize forecasting the weather, or anything else for that matter, is not an exact science.  The affairs of this world are in God's hands and are preordained by Him.  Enough of my ideological rambling.  Fall and Spring are my two favorite times of year.  Truthfully, every season except summer is my favorite time of year.  The running truism about Texas is it only has two seasons: Hot and a brief period around winter when it isn't quite so hot.  Ha ha!  Anyway, e...

“Come, all you who are thirsty,  come to the waters; and you who have no money,  come, buy  and eat! Come, buy wine and milk  without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread,  and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest  of fare.   Give ear and come to me;  listen,  that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant  with you, my faithful love  promised to David.   See, I have made him a witness  to the peoples, a ruler and commander  of the peoples.   Surely you will summon nations  you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the  Lord  your God,  the Holy One  of Israel, f or he has endowed you with splendor.”  Seek  the  Lord  while he may be found; call  on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake  ...