Section 3

Section 3

FRANKENSTEIN

Growin' up we lived three blocks from the railroad tracks. Ever once in a while hobos-n-such would travel through the neighborhood. I was just a pup but bein’ that Dad worked for the Sante Fe-n-all he was always leery-o-those ol' boys...he'd had a few run-ins with 'em-n-told me to keep away from 'em at all cost. Dad was away two nights a week makin' a 'run' up to Kansas-n-back...'be the man of the house while I'm gone and take care of your mom'...'no sweat Dad, I got it handled'.

Now back then we didn't have real live air conditioning...we had us one-o-those watercoolers that had straw-n-metal sides where the water pump-dripped through ‘em, powered by a big ol' fan, attached to a great big electric motor by a long-fat-wide fanbelt...sorta like the fanbelt on a car 'cept wider. And pahdnah, when we turned that dude on?...I'm here to tell ya it blew us some air! Anyway...we built a stand for it high enough to reach above the ceilin' there on the south side of our house-n-put in a bunch-o-duckin' to every room we had. The catch was, you had to leave a few windows open so the hot air inside would move out the way-o-the cool air comin’ in...this was before 'return air vents' I think...or before we could afford ‘em…I don’t know, get on with it! We had windows in every room...on every wall that could have one was one. In my bedroom I had two...one facin' the back yard and one on the other wall right next to our homemade coolerstand. And I'd always open that window when the cooler was blowin' cause the breeze from it made for some good sleepin' on hot summer nights.

Back then everyone had screens on the windows...wooden ones with a wire-mesh-screen stuck between the inside-n-outside boards...screens! Well anyway...we also had some homemade curtains that where thick enuff so ya couldn't see through 'em but light enuff to where they'd stick out on a cool windy night when the cooler wasn't on. One night when Dad was up in Kansas I was doin’ my typical eight-year-old man-o-the-house routine...sound asleep in my bed, completely oblivious to anything else...includin' what was goin' on outside my window. Somethin' woke me up...I could hear some kinda ruckus goin' on out there...and bein’ the 'man' I thought I'd give it a look.

Remember the curtains?...well...in my rush to hibernate I'd neglected to pull 'em back-n-tie 'em...with that cooler at Mach-10 blowin’ out the hot air they were stuck to the screen. That window was about bed high-n-covered me from ankle to waist...with a tad bit-o-body contortion I could come into full view of the window whenever I leaned up far enough. I was still hearin' that scratchin' or somethin' and I'd pretty much decided that whoever or whatever was out there must be some spook from the cemetery...boys I was sweatin' like a pig!...my heart was beatin' so fast it sounded like those baseball cards I used to put on my western flyer with clothespins to make it sound like a motorcycle...my motor was runnin'!...runnin' scared!

It felt like it took me an hour to get close enough to those curtains to get a grip on 'em...durin' this time I'd decided to give whatever was out there a real scare with one of my patented 'yeehaws'. I grabbed me a handful-o-that curtain-n-pulled-‘er-back. As I was just about to put the fear of God in the winda-spook my eyes focused clear enough to see this scuz-ugly contorted face smashed up against that screen! Y'all I wasn't thinkin' 'bout protectin' no one but myself!!...didn't even get me a yeehaw goin' either...I commenced to hollerin' 'yaaaahhhhh' with the force of a jet engine!...mister screenface noticed me 'bout a second after I'd seen him and a half-second after my engine went off...he hollered right back in this deep cemetery voice-n-I flew backwards off that bed doin' me some back somersaults all the way to the other wall! Wham!...my head hit hard ‘nuff to make a hole-n-I went directly from 'the man' to 'the boy'...'MOMMA'!! I swung open my door-n-brother I went to bookin’ it down the hall...ran smack dab into the door to my parents bedroom! Bang!...I hit that sucker at full speed...knocked it open so hard the doorknob stuck in the newly minted wall-hole. I was fixin' to feel safer when I noticed I was the only one in the room! I came flyin' outta there-n-got halfway back down the hall when a hand grabbed me!...OH LAWD!!...that spook's done got me!! Y'all I went to squirmin'-n-wigglin' like I had a bee's nest in my britches! In the middle of the hallway was where we had the phone so I took me a deathgrip on the whole thing-n-rared back to whack the stew outta whatever had aholt-o-me...'Bobby dale, be quiet, it's me!' Yeh right!...quiet this!…'momma there's a spook outside with his face stuck on my winda!...he's tryin' to get in!...he's ugly-n-he sounds like frankenstein'!! It gets worse.

Dad had just got back from Kansas but amongst all the goins-on we hadn't noticed...well...he opened that front door and me-n-mom was scattin' towards the back door!...she had ‘er a good hold a one hand-n-I still had aholt-o-the phone with the other one-n-I wasn't lettin' go-o-nothin'! We got to the end of the chord-n-it jerked me backwards a little bit right before it ripped plum outta the wall...momma thought the spook'd grabbed me-n-brother the fight was on! Me-n-mom figured that spook had broke through the front door...Dad didn't know it was us a runnin' cause he hadn't turned on the lights! He just thought he'd caught someone in the house so he was headin' after us...but he tripped over that dang phone chord...the one attached to my weapon of choice...right when it got tight...plop!...down he went! All three of us went to yellin' at the same time...that's when we realized we was on the same team.

Dad's voice was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard-n-I slapped a bear hug on his leg that granma's soap wouldn't wash off-n-went to hollerin' 'bout frankenstein again. Momma was huggin' him so hard he could hardly breathe. When we finally got our wits about us Dad told Mom to call the police, grabbed his gun-n-told me to get his big railroader's light...'what for Dad?'...'we're goin' outside to check things out'...'but frankenstein's out there Dad'...'there ain't no frankenstein'...'yeh there is, I seen him!'...'git-ta-movin'! Ah jeez...here I am thinkin' all's well cause Dad's home-n-now he wants me to go out there with the spook! And get this...Dad tells me to stand in front of him when we go out there so I can shine the light real good! I decided I'd do it cause I figured ol' frankenstein couldn't hurt what he couldn't catch-n-there was no way in creation he was gonna outrun a fat little eight-yr.-old who's scared outta his mind! So out the door we go...me in front with the light-n-Dad pushin' me with one hand-n-holdin' his pistol in the other.

We turn left off the porch-n-head down the front of the house to where I'm absolutely certain ol' franky boy is waitin'. We stop at the corner-n-Dad says 'when I say go you jump round the corner-n-hit that light'...'but Dad, frankenstein!'...'I've got my gun son'...'but it can’t stop frankenstein!'...'go'!...round the corner we went. I turned on that spot light-n-went to screamin'...Boom!...Dad fired a round...but nothin' moved...not even the object he was aimin' at...nothin'! After I'd used up all my screamin' breath-n-Dad had discovered he'd missed cause there wasn't nothin' there...we walked to what we'd both thought was a ratty ol' hat with a spook under it. Well it was a hat alright but what had happened...at least this was Dad's explanation...was ol' screenface had got spooked himself-n-took off for the tracks...but he'd caught himself a hangin' down tree limb on the way that took aholt-o-his hat-n-decided to keep it. We inspected the screen-n-found that the spook had taken out 2 of the 3 nails that secured the screen to the winda jam. Dad said 'we'd better go check the back yard'...'we're gonna need some more nails Dad'...'go'!

Well...we scoured the whole back yard-n-didn't see or hear or find any evidence of the spook. When we went back in the house Dad asked if Mom had made her call...she said the phone didn't work cause the chord...jack-n-all...was yanked outta the wall. We inspected the damage left by one scared youngun-n-Dad asked 'what happened?'...so we told him the whole story-n-had us a good laugh.

Here's the popper...this all happened 'round 2 in the mornin'...at about 3 or so Dad says 'let's all just go back to bed'...'but Dad, the nails!'...'git'! I headed back down the hallway to my room, reached 'round-n-turned off my light, sat down in the hall ‘til my eyes got accustomed to the dark, and in one giant leap for self-preservation I was under those covers so far you couldn't find me with a blue tick hound! I never did go back to sleep either...cause I was rememberin' there was only one nail in that dadgum screen-n-ol’ gnarlyface might decide to come back for his hat! That window was still open see...the darkness was still makin' it's sounds...and so was my heart!! When it finally started gettin’ light outside and I could hear mom-n-dad movin' 'round, I jumped up, ran out to the garage, got the hammer-n-pounded 600 nails in that winda screen! Brother you'd need a stick-o-dynamite to get that thing open!! I probably didn't need quite that many...but I put in enough to where no cotton-pickin’ spooks could get in I'll promise ya that! The next night, after lobbyin' for-n-bein' denied a bed relocation, Dad came in-n-said I'd done a good job takin' care of mom while he was gone. I was startin' to get that 'no sweat I got it handled’ man-o-the house feelin' again when he turned off the light-n-said 'open your window son, I'm turnin' on the cooler'...'but Dad!'

Now you probably think that's funny...and if we'd had camcorders-n-computers back then I could make a million bucks puttin' that fiasco on the internet cause, lookin’ back, it was down right hilarious! But y'all...seein' that dude's face pressed against that winda screen...two inches from my face...scared me worse than anything...I was plum scared!

Rehashin' that event today it occurred to me we all probably act that way when somethin' spooks us...when we get scared. Even though we know we're God's children there are still some scary life moments...when we forget who we are and who He is...when we forget to listen to-n-for our Daddy's voice..."Don't be afraid!" (Mark 5:36)..."there are more on our side than on theirs", "those who are with us outnumber those who are with them", "the army that fights for us is larger than the one against us", "for those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (different translations of 2 Kings 6:16)..take that Frankenstein! It's sorta like God's sayin'...'I got it handled'. Seems to me it's the spooks that oughta be scared!!

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BUTTON

I wonder how many huge accomplishments like 'one more step' go unnoticed by those of us who maneuver around without pain...none really. How many of us are fighting battles every moment that no one even knows about. Honestly...none of us. God knows! He's the One fighting those battles for us. It's easy to say though huh. I hear Jeniece asking God every day to heal her pain. Heck, I'm asking Him for the same thing. She believes He will...so do I. 'Thank you Jesus for taking this burden and living it for me so I don't have to'...thank you indeed Father. Yet sometimes I just wish He'd given us a fast forward button. It wouldn't have to work all the time Lord...just in emergencies like when I'm uncomfortable in this situation or I don't like that circumstance my bride is in the middle of today. Uh-huh...if I had a button like that my finger would never be off it. I'd fast forward to the end...get this temporary deal over with so we could get up there where everything is perfect. This old decaying body hurts at times. We live in a fallen, dying world...with valleys and mountaintops...and we're dying right along with it. Me, I like the mountaintop a whole bunch more than the valley...don't you? I admit I don't always thank Him for the valleys until I can see ‘em from the altitude of retrospect. It's down-right difficult for me to thank Him for this stuff Jeniece is going through. Dadgummit...where's that button when we need it? Know what?...I think we have one.

The "God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3) set life up with "comfort one another" (1 Thessalonians 4:18)...I think comfort comes with a button...sort of. It may not be the kind of button we want at the time—there’s no fast forward--but it sure gives me a little relief in the midst of the storms of life. It's that phone call...that visit...that email...that card or letter...that hug...that kiss...that touch...that gift...that word...that prayer...not only the ones we give but the ones we get too. Comfort only comes from God...I believe it comes through you-n-me...by the Spirit. "He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27). Thank you God for the blessing of friendship.

Go ahead...punch the button.

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WE WIN!!

Have you ever thought about us bein’ "under the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6)? Well...me neither really...I did spend a little time this afternoon pondering the suffering-n-trying times..."the fiery ordeal among you" (1 Peter 4:12). Ya know?...it’s really not a strange occurrence this suffering God's children experience...’Stephen’ ring a bell with anyone?...it basically stinks from the 'flesh' standpoint...but that's not who we are. If the old man was crucified then we have to be the "new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17) that Scripture proclaims. And, as new creations we do, in fact, overcome. It ain't always fun...it ain't always pretty...but since the "greater is He that is in you" (1 John 4:4) is living His life through us then we do survive these sufferings...that has to be true y’all, or "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33) is a lie. And it's not...because "His divine power has granted to us everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3)...that's 'everything'...as in 'everything'. As far as I can tell, all that goes on in our lives...including the sufferings that none of us like or enjoy...is exactly what the 'mighty hand of God' is holding on to for us. Since God is the Alpha and Omega, from our beginning...our beginning that truly never ends...we 'take courage' in the One Who has overcome the world. Suffering does exist...and pain still hurts...but it doesn't change who Jesus is or who we are in Him. We can always cast our cares on Him "because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). And after a little while...a split second in the eternal..."the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you" (1 Peter 5:10). I simply can’t find a place where we lose. I don't think one exists.

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RIDIN' CHARIOTS

You can’t participate in this life without at some point considering the next life. Jeniece-n-I talk about it every once in a while...’I wish Jesus would come back right now, today!’ or ‘come on Lord!, mount that white stallion-n-bring it on!’...bet you can guess who said what. Ya know?…it's not that we don't want to go...we simply don't want to go now...or in this way or that circumstance...we want to chose the when, how, where and what of it all because there's so much more we want to do-n-see! You've no doubt read this..."I shall not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord" (Psalms 119:17)...well, that's what Jeniece wants to do and I want to do that with her...live-n-tell everyone the mighty works of God.

Sometimes in our humanness we struggle with faith and circumstance...which one is real-n-all that. Just the other day we were out at one of our favorite places just a couple of blocks from our home. A friend who was with us brought some anointing oil he'd gotten in Israel and proceeded to anoint Jeniece and pray for her healing. We prayed for a bit...enjoyed each other some more...then it was time to roll-on-back to the house. When I reached down to help her out of the swing she started crying...‘because we prayed for my healing, I believe it, and I don't want to get in that chair again’. Well now...what would you say to that?...how would you react? I firmly believe she's healed too...so am I discounting her healing by placing her in that chair?...is she? Tough question...one that does have an answer though..."walk by faith"(2 Corinthians 5:7).

Jeniece loves to be read to...the Bible...stories...a favorite book...I even read her the sports page after the Horns do something good (40-29...I'll be reading that to her tomorrow morning!). We have a wonderful book on our bookshelf by a great writer who says these hard times we all go through are, simply put, 'chariots of God'...they are vehicles the Lord uses to bring us closer-n-closer to the ultimate end...our eternity with Him. Whenever Jeniece-n-I have our talks about the stuff she's goin' through I sometimes bring up the encouraging words of that author, Hannah Whitall Smith. I think she's right on. Because God's children can never--never ever!!--be out of His will, every moment in life--even those filled with the fears-n-doubts of the unknown and uncontrollable (unknown and uncontrollable by us, that is)--is just what Hannah says...another of God's chariots.

Jeniece does not like bein’ in that dang wheelchair...I don't like her in it either. But our sovereign God placed it in her life, I think, to show her how much He loves her. His Word says "He makes the clouds His chariot" (Psalms 104:3)...maybe her chair is just a cloud for her to heal in. The Word also says "God's chariots are tens of thousands, thousands and thousands" (Psalms 68:17)...there are many chariots for God's children...and I think all of ‘em...every single one...carry us to Him--they have to!...cause He says "but now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and all of us are the work of Thy hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Maybe we don't like the different chariots...but they still take us to His complete love. Let's ride.

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SOCK

There are things in life that somehow get lost...where do those socks go anyway?...the ones that drop in the washing machine as a pair and come out of the dryer as singles...how 'bout that homework or that business report?...'I just had it a minute ago'...or when the entire car is in the wrong county because the person with the testosterone just will not look at the map!! There is one thing I think we can never lose...God's Word that became flesh and now lives in us...Jesus our salvation. We did nothing to earn it and we can do nothing to lose it. We've all heard ‘once saved always saved’...well...the Word says it's true...in lots of places..."if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death" (John 8:51)..."whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14)..."I will never desert you" (Hebrews 13:5)…"an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away" (1 Peter 1:4). I found another confirmation of our secure salvation this morning when I read "the grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). I'm probably stretchin' a little here...but since Jesus is the Word that "stands forever"...and because He lives in us and is eternal life...then we are eternal life...it's our true identity...and we "stand forever" (Daniel 2:44) in it. Lot's of things get lost but our salvation ain't one of 'em...Thank you Lord! Now...if I could just find that other sock.

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TEARS AND LAUGHTER

Laughter is such a comfort during stressful times. It was a joy to hear it coming from the big-white-bed today as Jeniece and a wonderful girlfriend loved on each other. Sometimes my angel and I just laugh...at each other, a story, some stupid thing I did...even in, and at, the current circumstance. This morning we were overwhelmed by God's goodness and provision...how He's using so many people, both strangers and friends, to allow Jeniece to receive the care she needs. Well...we started crying...then we started laughing. I think giving us the privilege to share this journey with y'all is God's way of showing us His absolute approval of, and unending love for His children...in every circumstance of life. It sounds kinda korny but laughter really is the best medicine. As we were unglued by all the grace He's bestowing on us our gratefulness and His blessing were manifested in tears and confirmed in the joy of laughter...tomorrow's doubts, frets, ponderings and worries were washed in the abundance of God's sufficient grace and then comforted by laughter. Even Jesus spoke of this combination of tears and laughter..."Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh" (Luke 6:21). Ya gotta love the boy!!

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LIGHT

I don't think I'm lookin’' any harder or readin' any more or less than I ever have...but it's the darndest thing y’all...I seem to be seein' a lot better nowadays. Maybe it's just me but for some reason things I know I've read before are clearer. Like this..."He has delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13). I know I've been removed from sin's control and I know I'm living in His light because the Bible says so...but today I got some understanding--for me anyway; you probably already know all this. Whenever Jeniece and I are wondering, wandering, and shootin' up those questions God's already answered, pretty soon we'll land on the subject matter He wants us to talk about. For instance...today we were talking about sickness, disease and pain...all the fun stuff. Jeniece said somethin’ like ‘sometimes the darkness’ or ‘it seems dark sometimes’ or somethin’ in that neighborhood. Well...I'm doin’ the testosterone-induced 'fix it rather than understand it' routine and completely missed the moment. Yep...I'm crucified, justified, and one day glorified...but still a male. Anyway...later I was reading that verse and it just opened up...I think delivered means 'once-n-for all time' doesn't it? And doesn't transferred mean the same thing? So...since both those have already taken place, I think Scripture is telling us we are no longer and never-ever-never in darkness...WOW!! Evidently, the Bible states that the 'saved by grace' have been 'delivered' and 'transferred'...forever. Know what?...I like this place where it's always light. Don't you?

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KICK

My grandpa used to deliver groceries when he was a pup. He worked at the Put-n-Take neighborhood store there in our hometown. He had one lady who he brought groceries to a couple times a week...she had a dog that seemed to take a likin' to chewin' on Pa's leg. Every time he stepped in the house with his delivery that ol' mutt would come get him a big bite. My father's father was great at tellin' stories...he's listenin' up in heaven now, so I hope I tell this half as good as you did Pa. Anyway...after about 8 or 9 trips to the bite-house, he'd had all he could stand. One afternoon he walked in with his bag, that dog came runnin' for his bi-weekly tastefest, and Pa laid the boot to him...popped him right in the kisser too. He told me that story one time when I was mad about an older football player who kept pushin' me around when I first started playin'. I reminded him it was against the rules to kick someone in football. Then he made his point...’Grandson, ya know that ol’ dog never bit me again’...and that was all he said. Well, I won't admit to anything unsportsmanlike...however, after practice the next day that fella never messed with me again.

Our enemy, the ratman, can’t help bein’ what he is, doin’ what he does. But we don't have to live as his victims...know why?...cause we're not his victims, we're God's victors!..."I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19). We all know Jesus defeated that deceivin' ol' mutt for us...forever! Sometimes though, I guess you just need to kick that dog!

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WITHIN

I spent a little time in my chair today, trying to listen more than talk. We have a view of the city back to the East and I was lookin' that direction thinkin' about the Kingdom of God. I-35 was hummin'; sirens were makin' themselves heard; people were headin' to their destinations; planes were comin' and goin'; Jeniece was restin' and all was how it's supposed to be...except for that kingdom thing. I finally realized I was lookin' 'out' when I shoulda been lookin’ 'in'. Do you ever look 'out there' sometimes and think 'that's a big ol' kingdom'?

For a kingdom to be a kingdom it has to have a king. 'Out there' has a lot of people who think they're kings of one thing or another...but there's really only one king...and He ain't 'out there' somewhere, He's 'in here'. Ya know?...I've spent a lot of time lookin’ for that kingdom 'out there'...the one where I could set myself up as one of it's kings...but I never did find it...I'd be a lousy king anyway. There's only one King..."You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37). That's our Savior talkin' right there folks...ain'tcha proud! By the way, I found out where the kingdom is..."The Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21)...it ain't 'out there' anywhere!

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LUIS

If you've come to see us on a weekend, you've no doubt met Luis, the garage attendant who's here ‘til 3:30 every Saturday and Sunday. Luis is from Puerto Rico, and as far as I can tell, he has two loves...God and my wife! They are dern near inseparable...’how's my angel today?’ he says as he hugs her, kisses her cheek, walks with her, encourages her and prays with her...he loves her friendship as much as she loves his. When it's slow in the garage, Luis walks up and down the concrete...prayin'. He tells her he prays for her every day, even when he's not here at work. He's quite an inspiration.

One of his favorite sayings is, ‘you better believe it!’ Jeniece loves to hear him say that, especially when she asks him to keep prayin' for her...’Mr. Luis I love you’...’I love you too’. I think ol' Luis has the right idea...he doesn't fret about things...he doesn't seem to have a care in the world...he loves the Lord and His people...he prays, he believes. "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent" (John 6:29). You better believe it!

Sharing the Journey...

I believe God's gift of life is a free gift...as is this ministry...any longevity will be proven by His blessings. With that as our premise, friends have inquired how they might encourage Music Mountain Ministries: first of all, the Bible tells us prayer is always effective--if God says the same, pray for us...secondly, purchase one or all the songs and the books...thirdly, invite us to come share our gifts and talents with you...finally, you may send a monetary contribution--please know, however, since your contribution is not tax-deductible at this time, we will receive it believing it comes at His urging.

Visit as often as you'd like...read and listen to all you want for as long as you want. We're honored you come.

''There is a fountain, on Music Mountain, where that living water flows

On Music Mountain, from God's own fountain, the blood of Jesus, it overflows'

Blessings.

Bobby