Hi, Art,
Warm greetings to you in this emerging Springtime. What a lot of snow we’ve had! But now it’s disappearing quickly. Isn’t that good?
In reference to what you wrote -- It is certainly as important for men as for their wives and children, to be involved with the ministry of the Gospel of Christ through a local Bible-believing Church, and I’m glad you brought that out. The Gospel message (redemption through Christ) is meant for all. It’s simple enough for small children, and profound enough for anyone, -- even great thinkers.
1 Cor. 15 is a great Bible chapter on Resurrection – both the undeniable fact that Christ rose bodily from the dead, and the wonderful, sure prospect that we today will receive a new resurrection body later, if we in this life come to trust in Christ as Savior, personally, that is. Glad you’re reading it.
A caution for all of us, -- We do need to be careful that our sophistication does not get in the way of the life-giving message of God’s Word. It was interesting – last Sunday in his morning sermon, Pastor cited something written by the famous philosopher named Sartre: “Life is an empty bubble on the sea of nothingness!” Wow! What was that man thinking of, Art??? That thought couldn’t come from someone who believes and cherishes the Gospel of Christ as Apostle Paul did when he wrote in one of his letters, “For me, to live is Christ….” (Phil. 1:21).
Concerning alternate explanations of the Resurrection of Christ, there have been several, but they don’t “hold water.” For one thing, many of the early disciples of Christ paid for their faith with their lives. So they were absolutely convinced that He had risen from the dead! And one very silly explanation was that He didn’t really die, but that He merely “swooned” and then revived in the cold, damp tomb! Preposterous! They buried Him, and everybody knew that He was dead. If not, why would His enemies have sought and received an armed guard to station at His tomb??? (see Matt. 28:11-15).
Remember how completely discouraged the disciples of Jesus were when He died on the cruel cross? Even though He had told them beforehand that He was going to die, they couldn’t accept the idea. And every time He had said that, He also said that He would rise again! But they were so far from grasping this, that all the first reports of His resurrection and appearances (on that first Easter morning) were counted as rubbish, i.e. nonsense! (see Luke 24:11).
Since March was a five-Sunday month this year, and Easter was the fourth Sunday, I note that our Pastor preached a 5-Sunday series of sermons, called “Christ Arose” (same as the classic hymn to which you referred). He included such aspects of this theme as:
Christ’s pre-existence (He lived before He was born)
His Incarnation (through His Virgin Birth, by which He became a man)
The essential fact that He became truly man, but never ceased to be God
He lived on earth in complete harmony with the will of the Father in heaven
He came to pay the penalty for all our sin, as well as reveal to us what God is like
He truly died a terrible death for us, and rose again bodily and triumphantly
He appeared to believers for a period of 40 days before returning to heaven
You know, Art, when the disciples and followers of Jesus finally became absolutely convinced that the One who died by crucifixion was alive from the dead, it made a fantastic transformation in their lives. From that moment on, they wanted to serve Him wholeheartedly and faithfully, even though many paid for that with their lives! They went everywhere preaching the Gospel (see Acts 8:4).
It’s a little like Spring, Art, -- there’s new life coming soon, in the trees and shrubs, and in the flower gardens and lawns…. And in people, new hope-filled life springs up when they come to realize fully that because of God’s tremendous love for them, Christ died the death they deserved to die, and rose again – all for them!
Isn’t that wonderful? I hope that you have come to participate in it by now. Or if not, that you will soon. I’m praying, Art.
Sincerely, -- PapaPops
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Art Promises to Read....
Hello PapaPops,
Now I’m beginning to make some of the connections that various parts of the Bible must have with each other. I’m thinking especially of the connection you referenced of Jonah with Jesus’ Gospel teachings. Perhaps in time I’ll get some more insights.
I do remember singing that hymn “Christ Arose,” from years ago when I went to Easter Church services with my wife. She has been much more of a Church-goer over the years than I have, you know. I admit now that it’s rather sad that we men should leave so much of the “church work” to our wives. Actually, it should be equally as important to us men as to our wives and children, don’t you think? I wonder why we neglect that part of our lives….
I’m planning to take your advice and read that fifteenth chapter of the Bible book of 1 Corinthians. From what you say, that makes the resurrection of Jesus Christ of supreme importance, and I want to see for myself what it says.
Aren’t there some other possible explanations, though, such as one I think I’ve heard that he didn’t really die, but seemed to be pretty near dead, and that he revived later in the cold, damp tomb? Does that explanation hold any water, as the saying goes?
Well, PapaPops, that’s about it for me for now. “See” you again soon!
-- with my best wishes, -- Art
Now I’m beginning to make some of the connections that various parts of the Bible must have with each other. I’m thinking especially of the connection you referenced of Jonah with Jesus’ Gospel teachings. Perhaps in time I’ll get some more insights.
I do remember singing that hymn “Christ Arose,” from years ago when I went to Easter Church services with my wife. She has been much more of a Church-goer over the years than I have, you know. I admit now that it’s rather sad that we men should leave so much of the “church work” to our wives. Actually, it should be equally as important to us men as to our wives and children, don’t you think? I wonder why we neglect that part of our lives….
I’m planning to take your advice and read that fifteenth chapter of the Bible book of 1 Corinthians. From what you say, that makes the resurrection of Jesus Christ of supreme importance, and I want to see for myself what it says.
Aren’t there some other possible explanations, though, such as one I think I’ve heard that he didn’t really die, but seemed to be pretty near dead, and that he revived later in the cold, damp tomb? Does that explanation hold any water, as the saying goes?
Well, PapaPops, that’s about it for me for now. “See” you again soon!
-- with my best wishes, -- Art
Monday, March 3, 2008
Art, and the Story of the Resurrection
3-03-08
Hello, Art,
You remarked about the story of Jonah in the Bible. And yes, indeed, it is a great story. Very interesting, but also heartening when you think of how God gave His servant Jonah a second opportunity to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach God’s message there. Very encouraging, too, with respect to a large population repenting and turning to God, upon hearing the preaching of God’s servant, no matter how reluctant he was at first! Besides that, it’s simply great to know that God cares about people everywhere and wants them to love Him and follow His plan for their lives. Isn’t that so?
I take the Book of Jonah in the Bible very seriously because of these factors. But in addition, it’s because our Savior referred to Jonah in His teachings recorded in the Four Gospels of the N.T. He used the story of Jonah spending three days in the interior of the great fish to illustrate His own burial, and rising again from the dead on the third day.
Soon we will be celebrating Resurrection Sunday once again (Easter), re-telling the fantastic and wonderful record in the Bible of Jesus our Lord rising from the dead. One of the greatest hymns about this, I think, is “Christ Arose,” by Robert Lowry. Dating back to the year 1874, it clearly and simply relates, in a very singable musical setting, the triumph that Christ experienced over death and all His foes, when He arose from the dead nearly two thousand years ago!
Art, if this interests you, my recommendation is to read the fifteenth chapter of one of the Apostle Paul’s letters, the one we call 1 Corinthians. In that chapter, Paul states clearly that if Christ did not rise from the dead as the evidence states so forcefully, then we who are His followers are most to be pitied of all people. And he goes so far as to say that if Christ did not rise, then we are still in sin, i.e. we have no hope for a marvelous future with the Lord someday when we finish our earthly journey!
But the Bible does promise that everyone who receives Christ as Savior and believes in Him can know for sure NOW that he or she will be in God’s family forever. And that’s not through any amount of good works that you and I might do (or anyone else do, either). Instead, it’s entirely because God loves us each one, and gave His Son to be our Redeemer by His death on the Cross and His resurrection on that first Easter Sunday.
Now that’s not just a “nice story,” Art. I dare say that it is the best-attested story in history, -- that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures!
Art, if you’ve never given much thought to this tremendous theme of the Bible, the “Greatest Book Ever Written,” then I hope you will do so soon. And let me know what you think. I’ll be praying that this year will mark a turning point in your life, a turning point that is directly related to Christ’s death and resurrection.
Wishing you all the best, -- PapaPops
Hello, Art,
You remarked about the story of Jonah in the Bible. And yes, indeed, it is a great story. Very interesting, but also heartening when you think of how God gave His servant Jonah a second opportunity to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach God’s message there. Very encouraging, too, with respect to a large population repenting and turning to God, upon hearing the preaching of God’s servant, no matter how reluctant he was at first! Besides that, it’s simply great to know that God cares about people everywhere and wants them to love Him and follow His plan for their lives. Isn’t that so?
I take the Book of Jonah in the Bible very seriously because of these factors. But in addition, it’s because our Savior referred to Jonah in His teachings recorded in the Four Gospels of the N.T. He used the story of Jonah spending three days in the interior of the great fish to illustrate His own burial, and rising again from the dead on the third day.
Soon we will be celebrating Resurrection Sunday once again (Easter), re-telling the fantastic and wonderful record in the Bible of Jesus our Lord rising from the dead. One of the greatest hymns about this, I think, is “Christ Arose,” by Robert Lowry. Dating back to the year 1874, it clearly and simply relates, in a very singable musical setting, the triumph that Christ experienced over death and all His foes, when He arose from the dead nearly two thousand years ago!
Art, if this interests you, my recommendation is to read the fifteenth chapter of one of the Apostle Paul’s letters, the one we call 1 Corinthians. In that chapter, Paul states clearly that if Christ did not rise from the dead as the evidence states so forcefully, then we who are His followers are most to be pitied of all people. And he goes so far as to say that if Christ did not rise, then we are still in sin, i.e. we have no hope for a marvelous future with the Lord someday when we finish our earthly journey!
But the Bible does promise that everyone who receives Christ as Savior and believes in Him can know for sure NOW that he or she will be in God’s family forever. And that’s not through any amount of good works that you and I might do (or anyone else do, either). Instead, it’s entirely because God loves us each one, and gave His Son to be our Redeemer by His death on the Cross and His resurrection on that first Easter Sunday.
Now that’s not just a “nice story,” Art. I dare say that it is the best-attested story in history, -- that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures!
Art, if you’ve never given much thought to this tremendous theme of the Bible, the “Greatest Book Ever Written,” then I hope you will do so soon. And let me know what you think. I’ll be praying that this year will mark a turning point in your life, a turning point that is directly related to Christ’s death and resurrection.
Wishing you all the best, -- PapaPops
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Enjoyment...?
Hi, Art,
Did you like that story? I haven’t heard from you lately, and hope you’re doing well. Say, are you having oodles and oodles of snow there, as we are here? Sees like what you might call a “good old-fashioned winter.” Agreed?
I’m wondering, Art, if you’re acquainted with the story of Jonah in the Bible? It’s an amazing story, and I have here a poem about old Jonah that I’ll send along. It’s by our mutual friend Poet Les.
Here it is. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Looking forward to hearing from you again soon. -- PapaPops
Did you like that story? I haven’t heard from you lately, and hope you’re doing well. Say, are you having oodles and oodles of snow there, as we are here? Sees like what you might call a “good old-fashioned winter.” Agreed?
I’m wondering, Art, if you’re acquainted with the story of Jonah in the Bible? It’s an amazing story, and I have here a poem about old Jonah that I’ll send along. It’s by our mutual friend Poet Les.
Here it is. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Looking forward to hearing from you again soon. -- PapaPops
JONAH
Jonah, God’s prophet, to Nineveh was called,
To go, preach repentance, but then he got stalled
By hatred, reluctance, and obstinacy too,
Which lodged in his heart, until mountainous it grew!
Jonah, oh Jonah, why didn’t you go
To Nineveh, that needed your message so?
But you turned around, from East headed West,
Took a ship down to Tarshish, and we know the rest!
Astride the high seas, such a fine nap you had
In the hold of that ship, a comfortable pad;
A tempest so fierce with vengeance arose,
Sailors became frenzied, large loomed their woes!
Jonah awakened, knew what was the matter,
“Throw me on overboard,” he said with a chatter,
“You’ll then be OK, the tempest will stop,
And I from this deck to the ocean will drop!
“I am a Hebrew, and serve the Lord God,
But I disobeyed Him, and will now feel His rod,
His hand of correction for this terrible occurrence,
For though I fear God, I’ve run from His presence.”
The sailors worked hard then, his life they would save,
Keep Jonah safe from a watery grave;
They lightened the ship, rowed hard for the land,
But finally gave up, and obeyed his command!
As into the water, and down, down he went,
Completely unaware of God’s coming event,
Who prepared a great fish, His prophet to swallow,
Now Jonah had time for regret and deep sorrow!
But God brought him through, and on land once again,
He received a new call, -- preach judgment to men!
Now in the great city of Nineveh all
Its citizens repented, and heeded God’s call!
-- Poet Les (2-05-2008)
Jonah, God’s prophet, to Nineveh was called,
To go, preach repentance, but then he got stalled
By hatred, reluctance, and obstinacy too,
Which lodged in his heart, until mountainous it grew!
Jonah, oh Jonah, why didn’t you go
To Nineveh, that needed your message so?
But you turned around, from East headed West,
Took a ship down to Tarshish, and we know the rest!
Astride the high seas, such a fine nap you had
In the hold of that ship, a comfortable pad;
A tempest so fierce with vengeance arose,
Sailors became frenzied, large loomed their woes!
Jonah awakened, knew what was the matter,
“Throw me on overboard,” he said with a chatter,
“You’ll then be OK, the tempest will stop,
And I from this deck to the ocean will drop!
“I am a Hebrew, and serve the Lord God,
But I disobeyed Him, and will now feel His rod,
His hand of correction for this terrible occurrence,
For though I fear God, I’ve run from His presence.”
The sailors worked hard then, his life they would save,
Keep Jonah safe from a watery grave;
They lightened the ship, rowed hard for the land,
But finally gave up, and obeyed his command!
As into the water, and down, down he went,
Completely unaware of God’s coming event,
Who prepared a great fish, His prophet to swallow,
Now Jonah had time for regret and deep sorrow!
But God brought him through, and on land once again,
He received a new call, -- preach judgment to men!
Now in the great city of Nineveh all
Its citizens repented, and heeded God’s call!
-- Poet Les (2-05-2008)
Friday, January 25, 2008
The End of the Story
Here it is -- just for you -- the
Solution to the Case of the Mysterious Whistletypuff!
CHAPTER VI
When Ticklish Tommy woke up the next morning, he felt so good, that he thought that this must surely be the day. “Yes, indeed,” he thought to himself, “the day has finally come! I’m sure of it. I could hardly wait for the day when I would find out, and NOW it must be here.”
After breakfast, Ticklish Tommy thought of a Bible verse that says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” As he mulled that over in his mind, it occurred to him that he ought to pray about his great desire – to find out about Whistletypuff.
So he went up to his room again for a few minutes, to be alone. There he kneeled down and asked for that wisdom from the Lord that would enable him to solve the great mystery.
As he got up again, it occurred to him that he should ask his Patriarchal Papa what a Whistletypuff was. He had asked, or thought about asking, just about everybody else, except for his Magnificent Mama, who always seemed to be busy with baking cookies or bread, or sewing clothes, or cleaning up the house. He knew that she would be interested in helping him, but he really didn’t want to bother her when she was so busy.
When Ticklish Tommy was done with his school work that day, and had some time to play in the yard, he eagerly waited for his Patriarchal Papa to get home from work. Then he would be able to ask him the big question. It wasn’t long really, but to Ticklish Tommy it seemed like such a long, L-O-N-G wait!
Finally his Patriarchal Papa came home from work, parked his car in the garage, and then came into the house. He greeted Magnificent Mama with a big kiss and hug. Then he turned his attention to Ticklish Tommy, and asked him how his school work had gone that day.
Ticklish Tommy said that it had gone well, -- he had done good work, and even had time to play afterwards. “But please, Patriarchal Papa, may I ask you a special question, in our family room?” “Why, certainly,” Patriarchal Papa replied, “let’s go in there right now!”
As soon as the boy and his father entered their family room, Ticklish Tommy could wait no longer. “Patriarchal Papa, can you tell me, please, what a mysterious Whistletypuff is? I’m so eager to know, and, …and,” he repeated,” nobody else has been able to tell me!”
“Why, of course,” his Patriarchal Papa replied, laughing. But then, not wanting Ticklish Tommy to feel badly because he didn’t know before, Patriarchal Papa’s face grew long and just a little sad. And then he began to explain what the mysterious Whistletypuff really was.
“Once upon a time,” Patriarchal Papa began, “your Magnificent Mama and I were married. That was several years before you were born. And then, when that spectacular wedding day came for us, people who loved us and wanted to help us start our home, gave us gifts.”
“One of those gifts that we received on our wonderful wedding day was a tea kettle. Do you know what that tea kettle would do?” inquired Patriarchal Papa of his son Ticklish Tommy. “We still use it sometimes, on special occasions.”
“When the tea kettle got heated up on the stove, it would begin to whistle. Yes it would WHISTLE!” Then after a few seconds of whistling, it would emit a little stream of hot water vapor, or steam, from the spout, followed by a distinct puffing sound. So we began to call it our Whistletypuff!”
“There,” Patriarchal Papa said. “Isn’t that simple enough, now that you know, Ticklish Tommy?”
“Oh, yes,” Ticklish Tommy agreed. “It’s a lot simpler than I thought. I tried to make it into a cow, or a dinosaur, or even a little wiggly worm. Then I thought perhaps it was a bird on the wing, or a fox, or….whatever! But now I know.” Ticklish Tommy sighed with relief.
It was such a long road that Ticklish Tommy had come in his search for the answer to the Whistletypuff mystery. But now he was glad to know what the Whistletypuff really was. He was thankful to his Patriarchal Papa.
And he was especially thankful to the Lord in Heaven, Who helped him get this mystery solved!
-The End-
Solution to the Case of the Mysterious Whistletypuff!
CHAPTER VI
When Ticklish Tommy woke up the next morning, he felt so good, that he thought that this must surely be the day. “Yes, indeed,” he thought to himself, “the day has finally come! I’m sure of it. I could hardly wait for the day when I would find out, and NOW it must be here.”
After breakfast, Ticklish Tommy thought of a Bible verse that says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” As he mulled that over in his mind, it occurred to him that he ought to pray about his great desire – to find out about Whistletypuff.
So he went up to his room again for a few minutes, to be alone. There he kneeled down and asked for that wisdom from the Lord that would enable him to solve the great mystery.
As he got up again, it occurred to him that he should ask his Patriarchal Papa what a Whistletypuff was. He had asked, or thought about asking, just about everybody else, except for his Magnificent Mama, who always seemed to be busy with baking cookies or bread, or sewing clothes, or cleaning up the house. He knew that she would be interested in helping him, but he really didn’t want to bother her when she was so busy.
When Ticklish Tommy was done with his school work that day, and had some time to play in the yard, he eagerly waited for his Patriarchal Papa to get home from work. Then he would be able to ask him the big question. It wasn’t long really, but to Ticklish Tommy it seemed like such a long, L-O-N-G wait!
Finally his Patriarchal Papa came home from work, parked his car in the garage, and then came into the house. He greeted Magnificent Mama with a big kiss and hug. Then he turned his attention to Ticklish Tommy, and asked him how his school work had gone that day.
Ticklish Tommy said that it had gone well, -- he had done good work, and even had time to play afterwards. “But please, Patriarchal Papa, may I ask you a special question, in our family room?” “Why, certainly,” Patriarchal Papa replied, “let’s go in there right now!”
As soon as the boy and his father entered their family room, Ticklish Tommy could wait no longer. “Patriarchal Papa, can you tell me, please, what a mysterious Whistletypuff is? I’m so eager to know, and, …and,” he repeated,” nobody else has been able to tell me!”
“Why, of course,” his Patriarchal Papa replied, laughing. But then, not wanting Ticklish Tommy to feel badly because he didn’t know before, Patriarchal Papa’s face grew long and just a little sad. And then he began to explain what the mysterious Whistletypuff really was.
“Once upon a time,” Patriarchal Papa began, “your Magnificent Mama and I were married. That was several years before you were born. And then, when that spectacular wedding day came for us, people who loved us and wanted to help us start our home, gave us gifts.”
“One of those gifts that we received on our wonderful wedding day was a tea kettle. Do you know what that tea kettle would do?” inquired Patriarchal Papa of his son Ticklish Tommy. “We still use it sometimes, on special occasions.”
“When the tea kettle got heated up on the stove, it would begin to whistle. Yes it would WHISTLE!” Then after a few seconds of whistling, it would emit a little stream of hot water vapor, or steam, from the spout, followed by a distinct puffing sound. So we began to call it our Whistletypuff!”
“There,” Patriarchal Papa said. “Isn’t that simple enough, now that you know, Ticklish Tommy?”
“Oh, yes,” Ticklish Tommy agreed. “It’s a lot simpler than I thought. I tried to make it into a cow, or a dinosaur, or even a little wiggly worm. Then I thought perhaps it was a bird on the wing, or a fox, or….whatever! But now I know.” Ticklish Tommy sighed with relief.
It was such a long road that Ticklish Tommy had come in his search for the answer to the Whistletypuff mystery. But now he was glad to know what the Whistletypuff really was. He was thankful to his Patriarchal Papa.
And he was especially thankful to the Lord in Heaven, Who helped him get this mystery solved!
-The End-
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Saga Continues!
Whistletypuff!
CHAPTER V
As Ticklish Tommy wondered, and all these perplexing questions came to his mind, he began to form a plan for finding out what a Whistletypuff is. He really, REALLY wanted to know. And as he thought about it, this plan began to take shape in his enquiring young mind.
"I know what I'll do," thought Ticklish Tommy. "I'll ask Neighbor Sing-along Smith. HE knows a WHOLE LOT, -- in fact, just about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!"
Now in Ticklish Tommy Jones’s young life, he had asked Neighbor Sing-along Smith many, many perplexing questions. And he always seemed to get a good answer, too, a very good answer, indeed! So he had come to have an appreciation for the wisdom possessed by this accommodating neighbor!
But when Ticklish Tommy saw his esteemed neighbor, and asked him, "Neighbor Sing-along Smith, would you tell me, something, -- WHAT is a Whistletypuff? Please??!?!”
But Neighbor Sing-along Smith just shook his head sadly. "Tommy, I don't want to disappoint you. But I'm afraid that in all my born days, I've never even HEARD of a Whistletypuff!" Ticklish Tommy’s heart sank. He was disappointed, so-o-o-o very disappointed that he almost started to cry!
Ticklish Tommy had thought that Neighbor Sing-along Smith could tell him what he wanted to know. But now he had to think of another way! No doubt about it -- He HAD to find out what this marvelous Whistletypuff was!
Then he tried to think of some other neighbor who might help him: Neighbor Marvelous Martin, perhaps? Or could the help he needed come from Neighbor Prosperous Paul, or…or, whom? Neighbor Sharp-as-a-Tack Sawyer? Or even Neighbor Walking-Wide Williams…?
CHAPTER V
As Ticklish Tommy wondered, and all these perplexing questions came to his mind, he began to form a plan for finding out what a Whistletypuff is. He really, REALLY wanted to know. And as he thought about it, this plan began to take shape in his enquiring young mind.
"I know what I'll do," thought Ticklish Tommy. "I'll ask Neighbor Sing-along Smith. HE knows a WHOLE LOT, -- in fact, just about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!"
Now in Ticklish Tommy Jones’s young life, he had asked Neighbor Sing-along Smith many, many perplexing questions. And he always seemed to get a good answer, too, a very good answer, indeed! So he had come to have an appreciation for the wisdom possessed by this accommodating neighbor!
But when Ticklish Tommy saw his esteemed neighbor, and asked him, "Neighbor Sing-along Smith, would you tell me, something, -- WHAT is a Whistletypuff? Please??!?!”
But Neighbor Sing-along Smith just shook his head sadly. "Tommy, I don't want to disappoint you. But I'm afraid that in all my born days, I've never even HEARD of a Whistletypuff!" Ticklish Tommy’s heart sank. He was disappointed, so-o-o-o very disappointed that he almost started to cry!
Ticklish Tommy had thought that Neighbor Sing-along Smith could tell him what he wanted to know. But now he had to think of another way! No doubt about it -- He HAD to find out what this marvelous Whistletypuff was!
Then he tried to think of some other neighbor who might help him: Neighbor Marvelous Martin, perhaps? Or could the help he needed come from Neighbor Prosperous Paul, or…or, whom? Neighbor Sharp-as-a-Tack Sawyer? Or even Neighbor Walking-Wide Williams…?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Case...
...from The case of the Mysterious Whistletypuff, by Serious sandy Shortbread....
CHAPTER IV
The more Ticklish Tommy Jones mused about the Whistletypuff, the more curious he became. What was it anyway? Could it be a full-throated bird that sings a lovely, tuneful song early in the morning?
Ticklish Tommy had seen such a bird many times, and heard it sing its beautiful song to greet a new day. It loved to perch in the velvety green branches of the tall, straight pine tree out in the back yard of Ticklish Tommy’s father's barn. And it loved to sing and Sing, and SING, while it sat there on its perch.
Or perhaps it was like one of the woodpeckers that drilled holes in the stately ash tree in the front yard. Ticklish Tommy knew that the woodpeckers like to drill holes in the tree. And he knew why, too! His Patriarchal Papa had told him, and he made it a point not to forget that lesson!
“That was because they wanted to find any small insects that tried to hide in the areas of rough bark on that tree,” Ticklish Tommy said to himself. And then the woodpeckers would eat them! Imagine that!
“Do you suppose they taste good to those woodpeckers?” Ticklish Tommy asked himself. And what do YOU suppose, you who are reading this story – would a Whistletypuff taste good, really good, do you think, good at all?
“But no,” Tommy thought, “if it’s like a bird, perhaps it’s more like a tiny Chickadee, flitting about on its powerful wings, swooping low, coming and going ever so quickly.” It visited Magnificent Mama and Patriarchal Papa’s bird-feeders often, and Ticklish Tommy had observed them then.
"No, I don't really think a Whistletypuff can be a singing bird," Tommy said to himself. All the birds that Ticklish Tommy saw were nice, but…Tommy didn’t think that a Whistletypuff could possibly be like one of them. He couldn’t say why, but he just didn’t think so!
“But could it be a turtle, with its hard shell, do you suppose?” Ticklish Tommy asked his shadow. For you see, it was a very bright, sunny day, and it was easy to see a shadow!
He remembered that a turtle likes to stick its neck out, and then pull it back out of sight, if it thought that danger might be near. Ticklish Tommy had seen one once, a long, long time ago. It had been about to lay its eggs in the sand near his Patriarchal Papa's farm pond.
“Or do you suppose that it could be a fox?” Tommy wondered, as his thoughts began to race more wildly now. Sometimes a fox was called Reddy the Fox, he knew, because it had a beautiful coat of red hair which it wore all the time, both summer and winter!
Now Ticklish Tommy had heard that sometimes Reddy stole chickens, too, from neighbor Sing-along Smith's barnyard. “Shame on Ridiculous Reddy,” Ticklish Tommy thought! But that was not really mysterious, now was it, not at all like the super-mysterious Whistletypuff?
CHAPTER IV
The more Ticklish Tommy Jones mused about the Whistletypuff, the more curious he became. What was it anyway? Could it be a full-throated bird that sings a lovely, tuneful song early in the morning?
Ticklish Tommy had seen such a bird many times, and heard it sing its beautiful song to greet a new day. It loved to perch in the velvety green branches of the tall, straight pine tree out in the back yard of Ticklish Tommy’s father's barn. And it loved to sing and Sing, and SING, while it sat there on its perch.
Or perhaps it was like one of the woodpeckers that drilled holes in the stately ash tree in the front yard. Ticklish Tommy knew that the woodpeckers like to drill holes in the tree. And he knew why, too! His Patriarchal Papa had told him, and he made it a point not to forget that lesson!
“That was because they wanted to find any small insects that tried to hide in the areas of rough bark on that tree,” Ticklish Tommy said to himself. And then the woodpeckers would eat them! Imagine that!
“Do you suppose they taste good to those woodpeckers?” Ticklish Tommy asked himself. And what do YOU suppose, you who are reading this story – would a Whistletypuff taste good, really good, do you think, good at all?
“But no,” Tommy thought, “if it’s like a bird, perhaps it’s more like a tiny Chickadee, flitting about on its powerful wings, swooping low, coming and going ever so quickly.” It visited Magnificent Mama and Patriarchal Papa’s bird-feeders often, and Ticklish Tommy had observed them then.
"No, I don't really think a Whistletypuff can be a singing bird," Tommy said to himself. All the birds that Ticklish Tommy saw were nice, but…Tommy didn’t think that a Whistletypuff could possibly be like one of them. He couldn’t say why, but he just didn’t think so!
“But could it be a turtle, with its hard shell, do you suppose?” Ticklish Tommy asked his shadow. For you see, it was a very bright, sunny day, and it was easy to see a shadow!
He remembered that a turtle likes to stick its neck out, and then pull it back out of sight, if it thought that danger might be near. Ticklish Tommy had seen one once, a long, long time ago. It had been about to lay its eggs in the sand near his Patriarchal Papa's farm pond.
“Or do you suppose that it could be a fox?” Tommy wondered, as his thoughts began to race more wildly now. Sometimes a fox was called Reddy the Fox, he knew, because it had a beautiful coat of red hair which it wore all the time, both summer and winter!
Now Ticklish Tommy had heard that sometimes Reddy stole chickens, too, from neighbor Sing-along Smith's barnyard. “Shame on Ridiculous Reddy,” Ticklish Tommy thought! But that was not really mysterious, now was it, not at all like the super-mysterious Whistletypuff?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Dear friend,
Here is Chapter 3 in the continuing "Whistletypuff" saga.
-- Poet Les
CHAPTER III
Ticklish Tommy was lost in reverie now as he let this mysterious Whistletypuff fill his mind. He wanted to know, oh so VERY much what a Whistletypuff was!
But no, indeed, -- until Hilarious Hank told him about it, Ticklish Tommy Jones had never even HEARD of anything called Whistletypuff! Can you imagine that? Such a fascinating creature! He certainly was curious!
But he had no picture in his mind of what a Whistletypuff was! Ticklish Tommy KNEW that he didn't know, but he knew that he WANTED to know. He wanted very much to know what a Whistletypuff was!
He REALLY got interested at the thought of learning about, and solving, this mystery. It was brand new to his thinking. He got very excited when he thought of finding out about something with such a mysterious and tantalizing name as Whistletypuff!
“And when I do find out,” he thought, “I can tell all my friends. They’ll be so pleased! Why, they’ll wonder why THEY never heard of the mysterious Whistletypuff themselves!”
Oh, a Whistletypuff must be SO wonderful! Think of it! A radiant, shimmering, mysterious Whistletypuff! A fabulous, fantastic, far-off Whistletypuff! A peculiar, eccentric, unusual Whistletypuff! An odd, curious, and uncommon Whistletypuff!
Oh, how Tommy longed to see a Whistletypuff, and find out for himself what it REALLY was. He thought about it every livelong day. And he dreamed about it every sleep-jumbled night!
"SOMEDAY soon I will certainly find it out." Ticklish Tommy told himself. And this was reassuring to him, VERY reassuring. Yes, he was far more interested than anyone could imagine!
But he didn't know HOW he would go about finding out who, or what, Whistletypuff was. How WOULD Ticklish Tommy find out what a Whistletypuff is, anyway? The people that he held in highest regard couldn’t seem to tell him. “Strange,” he thought, “very strange, indeed!”
Was there someone he could ask? Or was there a book he could read that would tell him what a Whistletypuff is? Ticklish Tommy wondered, and he wondered, and he WONDERED some more! He knew that books could tell him a lot of things, but he wasn’t really sure about this one.
Could he find out by asking Patriarchal Papa? Or would Magnificent Mama perhaps have the answer to what this mysterious Whistletypuff creature is? Big brother Hank hadn't been able to tell him, but perhaps SOMEBODY could. Surely Patriarchal Papa could, if ANYBODY could!
Here is Chapter 3 in the continuing "Whistletypuff" saga.
-- Poet Les
CHAPTER III
Ticklish Tommy was lost in reverie now as he let this mysterious Whistletypuff fill his mind. He wanted to know, oh so VERY much what a Whistletypuff was!
But no, indeed, -- until Hilarious Hank told him about it, Ticklish Tommy Jones had never even HEARD of anything called Whistletypuff! Can you imagine that? Such a fascinating creature! He certainly was curious!
But he had no picture in his mind of what a Whistletypuff was! Ticklish Tommy KNEW that he didn't know, but he knew that he WANTED to know. He wanted very much to know what a Whistletypuff was!
He REALLY got interested at the thought of learning about, and solving, this mystery. It was brand new to his thinking. He got very excited when he thought of finding out about something with such a mysterious and tantalizing name as Whistletypuff!
“And when I do find out,” he thought, “I can tell all my friends. They’ll be so pleased! Why, they’ll wonder why THEY never heard of the mysterious Whistletypuff themselves!”
Oh, a Whistletypuff must be SO wonderful! Think of it! A radiant, shimmering, mysterious Whistletypuff! A fabulous, fantastic, far-off Whistletypuff! A peculiar, eccentric, unusual Whistletypuff! An odd, curious, and uncommon Whistletypuff!
Oh, how Tommy longed to see a Whistletypuff, and find out for himself what it REALLY was. He thought about it every livelong day. And he dreamed about it every sleep-jumbled night!
"SOMEDAY soon I will certainly find it out." Ticklish Tommy told himself. And this was reassuring to him, VERY reassuring. Yes, he was far more interested than anyone could imagine!
But he didn't know HOW he would go about finding out who, or what, Whistletypuff was. How WOULD Ticklish Tommy find out what a Whistletypuff is, anyway? The people that he held in highest regard couldn’t seem to tell him. “Strange,” he thought, “very strange, indeed!”
Was there someone he could ask? Or was there a book he could read that would tell him what a Whistletypuff is? Ticklish Tommy wondered, and he wondered, and he WONDERED some more! He knew that books could tell him a lot of things, but he wasn’t really sure about this one.
Could he find out by asking Patriarchal Papa? Or would Magnificent Mama perhaps have the answer to what this mysterious Whistletypuff creature is? Big brother Hank hadn't been able to tell him, but perhaps SOMEBODY could. Surely Patriarchal Papa could, if ANYBODY could!
Monday, January 14, 2008
THE STORY...
CHAPTER II
Just then an idea came to Ticklish Tommy’s mind. "Perhaps it is a special kind of cow, and maybe, just maybe, it gives milk!" he thought aloud to himself. He knew a little about cows, because his Uncle Terrific Tad had some in his barn. Ticklish Tommy had gone with his Patriarchal Papa several times, to visit Uncle Terrific Tad when he was milking his cows.
He used to go to the barn at chore time with his dairyman Uncle every chance he got. Sometimes he would stand behind a cow, off to the side a little, as his Uncle milked it. And at times like that, Uncle Terrific Tad liked to tease Ticklish Tommy, by squirting him with a stream of warm white milk, while Uncle was milking his best cow.
Now this brought out the giggles and laughs in Ticklish Tommy all over again. That’s how he got his special name. Remember?
“And do you know what?” Tommy asked, as he was telling Hilarious Hank about it later, “that milk was warm and delicious – the BEST milk I ever tasted!” And so Ticklish Tommy mused about Whistletypuff, and wondered if it could be a cow!
"Or…," he thought quizzically, as his mind began to wander away from the farm, "do you suppose it is a very old and very big dinosaur that lived long ago and far away?" Dinosaurs were especially intriguing to Ticklish Tommy. He liked to read about them and see pictures of them.
Certainly they were some of the most marvelous creatures that God had ever made. They were just amazing! And when Ticklish Tommy started thinking about dinosaurs, he would burst out giggling and laughing!
Dinosaurs were long, and had very powerful tails. Ticklish Tommy understood that they could move their tails in an amazing circular motion, and take down a whole row of big trees in one swipe! Could Whistletypuff be like them, big and fantastically powerful?
But he didn’t ask Magnificent Mama and Patriarchal Papa about that. He didn’t want them to think he was smack-dab in the middle of a dream, a day-dream, that is. So he thought, and he THOUGHT , and he T-H-O-U-G-H-T some more!
"You know,” he said to himself, “maybe Whistletypuff is a tiny little worm, a wiggly little bright green worm, living in the sand on the beach." Ticklish Tommy thought again. "Maybe, just maybe, it is very hard to see it without a magnifying glass!" “Do you suppose that Whistletypuff COULD be a worm?”
Ticklish Tommy knew that worms come in all sorts of sizes. “And they have different colors, too,” he thought. Some are long, and some are short. Some seem to glide along effortlessly, while others arch up and down, like a roller coaster. Some are a peculiar reddish brown, but others are orange, with some black on them, and some of them are even green!
“Some are used for fishing,” he said aloud to himself. “I wish I could go fishing, right now!” But no,” Ticklish Tommy said as he came back to the reality of finding out what Whistletypuff is. “That’s much too important to let the trail go cold while I go fishing!”
Just then an idea came to Ticklish Tommy’s mind. "Perhaps it is a special kind of cow, and maybe, just maybe, it gives milk!" he thought aloud to himself. He knew a little about cows, because his Uncle Terrific Tad had some in his barn. Ticklish Tommy had gone with his Patriarchal Papa several times, to visit Uncle Terrific Tad when he was milking his cows.
He used to go to the barn at chore time with his dairyman Uncle every chance he got. Sometimes he would stand behind a cow, off to the side a little, as his Uncle milked it. And at times like that, Uncle Terrific Tad liked to tease Ticklish Tommy, by squirting him with a stream of warm white milk, while Uncle was milking his best cow.
Now this brought out the giggles and laughs in Ticklish Tommy all over again. That’s how he got his special name. Remember?
“And do you know what?” Tommy asked, as he was telling Hilarious Hank about it later, “that milk was warm and delicious – the BEST milk I ever tasted!” And so Ticklish Tommy mused about Whistletypuff, and wondered if it could be a cow!
"Or…," he thought quizzically, as his mind began to wander away from the farm, "do you suppose it is a very old and very big dinosaur that lived long ago and far away?" Dinosaurs were especially intriguing to Ticklish Tommy. He liked to read about them and see pictures of them.
Certainly they were some of the most marvelous creatures that God had ever made. They were just amazing! And when Ticklish Tommy started thinking about dinosaurs, he would burst out giggling and laughing!
Dinosaurs were long, and had very powerful tails. Ticklish Tommy understood that they could move their tails in an amazing circular motion, and take down a whole row of big trees in one swipe! Could Whistletypuff be like them, big and fantastically powerful?
But he didn’t ask Magnificent Mama and Patriarchal Papa about that. He didn’t want them to think he was smack-dab in the middle of a dream, a day-dream, that is. So he thought, and he THOUGHT , and he T-H-O-U-G-H-T some more!
"You know,” he said to himself, “maybe Whistletypuff is a tiny little worm, a wiggly little bright green worm, living in the sand on the beach." Ticklish Tommy thought again. "Maybe, just maybe, it is very hard to see it without a magnifying glass!" “Do you suppose that Whistletypuff COULD be a worm?”
Ticklish Tommy knew that worms come in all sorts of sizes. “And they have different colors, too,” he thought. Some are long, and some are short. Some seem to glide along effortlessly, while others arch up and down, like a roller coaster. Some are a peculiar reddish brown, but others are orange, with some black on them, and some of them are even green!
“Some are used for fishing,” he said aloud to himself. “I wish I could go fishing, right now!” But no,” Ticklish Tommy said as he came back to the reality of finding out what Whistletypuff is. “That’s much too important to let the trail go cold while I go fishing!”
Friday, January 11, 2008
A Story for You....
Hello, Art,
We’ve been considering some “heavy-duty” stuff in our exchange of letters, and now I think it’s time to lighten up a little. We’ll get back to the serious and sublime later, I’m sure.
But for now, Art, we all know how children are curious and like to laugh (sometimes giggle). I came across an interesting story that’s a little mysterious, that you might enjoy reading.
Here’s the first chapter:
THE CASE OF THE
MYSTERIOUS
WHISTLETYPUFF
By
Serious Sandy Shortbread
We’ve been considering some “heavy-duty” stuff in our exchange of letters, and now I think it’s time to lighten up a little. We’ll get back to the serious and sublime later, I’m sure.
But for now, Art, we all know how children are curious and like to laugh (sometimes giggle). I came across an interesting story that’s a little mysterious, that you might enjoy reading.
Here’s the first chapter:
THE CASE OF THE
MYSTERIOUS
WHISTLETYPUFF
By
Serious Sandy Shortbread
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