Saturday: Mark & Me

2025: Saturday, 9 August 4:49 AM. To the west of me, a full moon on the setting side of the firmament; to the south of me, lightning in distant clouds over the Gulf of Panama City, Florida.

Munching on those little flavor bomb tomatoes again, and sipping a magic mug of hot & black, the July shipment of my club coffee - - the club has notified me that the August shipment has been mailed but that USPS is tardy in picking up their usual shipment notification - - mox nix mir, nomesane? sometimes this happens and it simply shows up in the mailbox, most often the ninth of the month or so; maybe today, eh?

After the service Thursday afternoon, the Hollands came up to visit with us. We told them we'd not eaten at Something's Cookin' Downtown yet and they urged us to go. So yesterday after dropping off a carload of good but long unused stuff at the Habitat place on E. 11th Street, Linda and I drove downtown via 77/MLK/Cove Boulevard and the 4th Street Bridge, round the clock at the Harrison Avenue circle, right on Oak Street, and arrived at opening Time. First car there, we got the best of only a couple of parking places right out front, and went inside just as the door was unlocked. We browsed the refrigerated display in the entry aisle, I picked up a crab quiche, probably noon dinner today, and a loaf of both breads, still too hot to touch. We sat down, Linda ordered the shrimp salad, I ordered black coffee (the mugs are huge and the coffee clear and crisp) and the Black Forest ham and cheese sandwich with pasta side salad. Beautiful gourmet presentation, and delicious. The Fullers came in just about when we were being served, and Walter praised the desserts, so we brought home two slices of cheesecake: superb, rich and dense. If you've not been yet, this is Mister Bubba's recommendation. If you're age- and/or CHF-handicapped for long walking, either have your walker in the car or get there early so you can park right out front as we did. Fun, tasty, and the place was filling up as we finished and left about eleven-thirty. Looks like a success, and I am so happy for them.

Hannelore's bread recipe. Bill always asks about my brother. He and Walt were close friends when they were officers in the band together at Bay High in the mid-1950s.

Emotionally, almost tearily, Thursday afternoon for me was stepping back in lifeTime seventy-five, eighty and more years.

Cool and comfortable out here on 7H porch, couple of boats gliding silently by (I don't have my ears on yet), the Lesser Light is sliding down toward setting the other side of Thomas Drive,

and the eastern sky is showing signs that the Greater Light survived another night of darkness.

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Something to do, I like to have something to do in retirement besides reading and sitting here wishing I weren't too dee sorry to get up, get out and walk. After all, I ordered goggles to keep the gnats out of my eyes,

tried them yesterday, and they seal around the eyes well enough to work. In my usual style, I ordered two different kinds, haven't tried the other pair on the gnats yet.

There is some painting to do in my bathroom, trimming up the cabinets I saved from the kitchen renovation and put in the bathroom in place of the baker's rack, that is now back outside on 7H porch. But I like to have something semi-intellectual to sit, relax, and do. So I have a sermon to contemplate for Shell Island Sunday on my birthday, September 14th, two services to officiate, eight and ten-thirty while most of our HNEC congregation is across the way on the other side of Davis Point, getting hot, sandy, sweaty and sticky either in the Bay or in the Gulf surf. I've read the Propers for that day and started forming my thoughts.

Also, closer on my personal horizon, is leading Dr Dan's adult Sunday school class in a commentary-type reading of the Gospel according to Mark. Mark presents a clear agenda in sixteen chapters and I don't know how many Sunday morning hours our study will take, but Mark is my favorite Bible book and, as well as mentally occupying, it will be fun for me.

Here's Chapter One of Mark in the NIV translation that I intend to start with our first session, 9:15, Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Mark 1

New International Version

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

New International Version (NIV)