Beech Tree News Network

After reading my last year’s project list, I made a new one. I had marked off most of the 2013 tasks, but some just didn’t get done. So, I added those unfinished tasks to my 2014 list (They still need to be done!).   

Did you know there is actually an organization in the US that rescues chickens?  Evidently, the popularity of organic produce and the backlash against genetically altered poultry spurred many city folk to set up chicken coups in their own backyards.  The unforeseen consequences of noise, smell and angry neighbors forced many to abandon the project, hence the need for Chicken Rescue.

It’s that time of the year again; Time for my humorous look at the famous/infamous that did things so incredibly dumb that they qualify for the Big Dummy Awards.  The late Redd Foxx had no idea he’d start a movement when he first uttered those iconic words “You big dummy”!

2013 has been an event-filled year. Some events were more important than others. The events below – arbitrarily ordered – were significant.

•    Many notable weather-related events occurred, such as the Colorado flooding and the Oklahoma tornado. Another was the lightning-caused Arizona wildfire that resulted in the destruction of homes and the death of 19 “hot shot” firefighters (firefighters specially trained in wildfire suppression tactics).

The Ruling Order in the New Testament of the Bible were the priests, Levites, the scribes, and the Pharisees: the people of that ilk in that day; the regulating rule-members; the enforcers (without due process of the law) who couched their skullduggery in the terms that John and Public couldn’t understand.
That spelled power – still does. They converted their power. They didn’t want John to understand. Still don’t.

Christmas 2013 is now Christmas past and I feel like I do every year at this time, like a crumb on the map of the world.  Not a pin point that someone has stuck a push pin into to mark a spot, but more like a miniscule piece of a Christmas cookie that has fallen from the hand of someone who is viewing the map.
    There were highlights during this season—my granddaughter’s red “Chrisam” tree, my daughter’s visit from Louisiana, dinner with my two Alabama nephews (that hasn’t happened in ages), Christmas day with my stepmom and my brothers and sisters and their families.

•    I have a friend who is interested in my spiritual welfare, and has been even at times when I have not been.

•    I have a friend who wants the best for me, even at times when I did not want what was the best for me.

•    I have a friend who loves me, and has loved me at times when I was his enemy.

•    I have a friend who will forgive me of my sins when I repent and return to him. He does this consistently.

Since Christmas was Wednesday, I figured I’d go over my favorite things of Christmas.  No, I won’t quote the lyrics of the Julie Andrews song “My Favorite Things”.  I turn on the Christmas music at about the beginning of December every year.  I do prefer the classics like “O Holy Night”, but I also like some contemporary stuff.  Straight No Chaser, who I saw perform at SKYPAC in November, has a great one called Christmas Cheer.  They also have a Christmas edition of their album “Under The Influence”.

As reported by my middle daughter, her pastor in Ohio County preached a message last Sunday about doing the best you can with what you are given. The pastor pointed out that on the night of Jesus’ birth, Joseph and the inn keeper did the best they could with their situations. Doing the best you can with what you have is pretty good advice.

Most old fiddle tunes did not have wands. Some did.
Here’s one that did: “If I had a candy box to put my sweetheart in; I’d take her out and kiss her twice, and put her back again…round and round ole Joe Clark, round and around I go – round and a-round ole Joe Clark; won’t be back no mo.” Same song, second verse. May get better – may get worse: