Where Is the Garden of Eden?  

   One can imagine it in Augusta, Georgia, home of the famous golf course and host of the annual Masters tournament, now underway. 

   We lived for about eight years just over the state line, with several opportunities to watch golfers on practice days. We saw Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer up close. Thanks to a friend, Mrs. Donut was able to attend one of the rounds...while I was at work, par for the course.   

   Most amazing was our first visit, walking from ordinary Augusta streets onto the grounds of Augusta National, which is hidden by trees. This is a hint of leaving fickle earth and arriving in glorious heaven. 

   We started from the first tee and covered all 18 fairways so as not to miss anything. On future visits we might sit by a glassy pond with hundreds of azaleas on the banks, and let the golfers come to us. Less tiring. 

   Wealthy members of the club hire excellent groundskeepers who attend to every blade of grass, every grain of white sand in the bunkers, and all trees and shrubs. They have underground pipes to fool mother nature with whatever heat is needed - or not - so the flowers blossom exactly on Masters week. They shut the course down for the summer, to pamper it.  

   It's not Eden. It's not there for average people. But we can admire Augusta for what it is. Golfers must be invited to play there. 

   We are invited to a more glorious realm, where everyone is victorious. We will see our Savior up close, and he will know our names.

        Jimmy

   

Facts Don't Matter   

   Major League Baseball - and its fans - had a discrimination problem for more than half a century. Dodgers' GM Branch Rickey and infielder Jackie Robinson - both Christians - combined to break down the door in 1947. It was not easy. 

   MLB, like all pro sports, is entertainment. It's not about faith or culture or heaven forbid - politics! It's business, and the businesses that feed off the sport. Pro athletes, men and women - have you seen female wrestlers? - are physically strong and mentally tough. 

   Facts - in sports, statistics and rules - matter.    

   So, MLB caved to political characters who can "win" without playing fair. And there's Delta and Coca-Cola. How do people smart enough to run great enterprises so easily lose perspective?

   We spent 2+ years in business administration, finally concluding we weren't getting a well rounded education. Keep that in mind when big companies or their tycoons make the news. 

   Delta's CEO called complaints about November elections "a lie." President Biden called Georgia's revised voting law "Jim Crow on steroids." Is it? The Washington Post, friend of Democrats, gave Biden's rant four Pinocchios, their worst rating. We seriously doubt he knows as much about Georgia's law as we do, which isn't a lot.    

   The bunch that humbled MLB and the others tried to influence this week's Masters in Augusta. So far as we know, none of the golfers caved. Of course, most all are white or Asian (so they must be racist). Tiger would have played too if he was able. 

   Gov. Kemp noted that "facts don't matter" in politics. If we're not going to be ruled, communist style, Republicans and independents - and someone like Sen. Manchin - need to get it together before next election. 

   Finally, the agents so concerned about black people took some $100 million in spending from Atlanta, 51 percent black, and gave it to Denver, 9 percent black. Stupid? No. They aren't primarily about black equality. They are about totalitarian government, the same prize sought by the devil, one tough minded spirit.    

       Jimmy

     

 Shall We Fly Delta?    

   Maybe we should get with the times and start cancelling people we disagree with. 

   In our extended family we have a Delta Airlines pilot and a retired Delta employee. We choose Delta, if they're flying where we're going. 

   We are related to five families living in the Atlanta area. So? 

   So, we are bummed that Delta joined Coca-Cola - both headquartered in Atlanta - supporting Major League Baseball's politically correct decision to move its all-star game from Atlanta to Denver. Not that we care about the game, or even if they play the game. We don't. 

   You may know that MLB objected to Georgia's recent legislation - expanding voter access in some districts, and shoring up security after November's concerns. Commissioner Rob Manfred referred to "restrictions to the ballot box." If he meant language that restricts voting to legally registered Georgians, what's the beef?   

   Georgia, which requires IDs for in-person voting, added voter ID for people  requesting and mailing ballots. We don't know if Manfred has a problem with his organization requiring IDs when fans pick up tickets at the stadium. Ha. 

   This is the MLB that made a deal with Tencent, a Communist-backed tech company in China, to stream 125 ball games. It's rumored there are no free elections in China. Ha. 

   As for Delta's "values" being scorned, Gov. Brian Kemp said, "At no point (during crafting of the law) did Delta oppose expanding early voting, or stronger voter ID, or drop boxes and language to help local election officials" do their jobs. 

   Delta CEO Ed Bastian joined Coca-Cola in saying "they worked for changes to the bill." Bastian said the "rationale was based on a lie - voter fraud." Well, courts wouldn't get involved, so it is what it is. 

   Kemp notes that he has to show his ID to fly Delta. And Coca-Cola requires shareholders to show IDs to attend its annual meeting. 

   Here's a clue. Liberal activists are boycotting Georgia companies that did not do anything to block changes to the law. Therefore, we say, MLB, Delta and Coca-Cola chose not to be boycotted, never mind the IDs, early voting and all the rest.

   Doesn't Delta know the green left is coming after the airlines at a time of their choosing? Does Mr. Bastian wonder if some of the 74 million voters who wanted centrist government might cancel Delta before the Democrats do it? 

   There are thousands of black individuals and many black businesses that will miss out on some $100 million in spending the game would have provided. Denver is celebrating like they won the World Series. And their voting rules are little different than Atlanta's.  

   Our second cousin in Cobb County, who earns his living by writing online articles, and interviews players at spring training every year, probably expected to work the weekend of the all-star game. 

   Maybe we'll write to Delta's CEO to say we will fly Southwest when and if we ever fly again. That will put the fear into him! 

       Jimmy

 

   

 In Case You Wondered 

   What any religious tradition ascribes as God's will is no concern of this Congress. So said Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y.  He was responding to a Florida congressman opposed to the Equality Act which would make it illegal to discriminate against homosexual and transgender individuals. 

   The congressman had quoted Rev. Tony Evans, who wrote in a Bible commentary: Whenever a nation's laws no longer reflect the standards of God, that nation is in rebellion against Him and will inevitably bear the consequences. 

Not OK ... in his district

   Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said, You just can't say, 'Yeah, yeah, let everybody in,' because then we're affected down there at the border. 

   Cuellar, you may have seen on TV, released early pictures of kids in cages on the border, making it more difficult for his party to hide the "crisis." Apparently he doesn't appease pro-immigration groups.

   What do you think? Would he speak up if the trouble was occurring only in someone else's district? 

Methodists split 

   The United Methodist Church split over differences regarding same-sex unions and gay and lesbian clergy. The new, conservative alternative is called the Global Methodist Church. 

   We grew up a Methodist when our post-war town had something to offer everyone, and our church was always full. There was God and there were men and women and boys and girls. That's it. 

   Other churches were well attended also, including Catholic, but this kid thought Methodists were the Goldilocks choice - not too hot, not too cold. Just right. 

         Jimmy

 Who Was the First Missionary? 

   Hearing a report of the empty tomb, the disciple John ran to the place and looked in. He was not the first missionary.

   Peter, the more aggressive disciple, followed John and went into the tomb, seeing strips of linen cloth and the burial cloth. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. It wasn't Peter. 

   Then John had courage to enter, and some 45 years later wrote in what we call the book of John, that "He saw and believed." We can only assume what he believed. Still, it wasn't John. 

   Mary, from the town of Magdala on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, miles from Jerusalem, was devoted to Jesus but not a prominent person. She had seen the empty tomb first, and frantically reported to the disciples that someone had taken the body. 

   Highly upset, she followed Peter and John back to the tomb. After the men left, Mary wasn't going anywhere. Weeping, she bent over to look and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had laid. 

   They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"  

   What a question, she must have thought. These two individuals, never mind they are angels, are sitting where the body was suppose to be. And they want to know why she is crying? 

   "They have taken my Lord away and I don't know where they have put him," she answered, straight from her grieving heart. 

   Then she turned around with eyes blurred by tears and saw someone standing there. "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" 

   Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Wow! Why didn't Peter and John think of this? 

   Jesus said to her, "Mary." "Go...and tell them..."  

   This little-known woman became the first missionary. 

   Through the ages, Jesus reveals his presence and love especially to those who are "the least." God's special people are the unknown who, like Mary, steadfastly love their Lord.

  

  

    

Meet Mama June 

Her Dream Came True! 

   About 6 years ago, my wife Marge and I mingled with a dozen or so people in a friendly, mobile home community in Bradenton. It was time for snowbirds to "fly" home. 

   These folks were lingering with their special friend, June, who was about to leave for good after decades of wintering in Florida. No one was in a rush to say their last goodbyes. 

   We brought her home with us for a week or so. We celebrated her birthday, March 30. Remember the date. On April Fool's day, June got me good. Then she flew home to Buffalo. 

God provides friends 

   In 1972 Marge was alone, far from home, a struggling social worker, but rich in faith. During a Tuesday night Bible study she met June and Barb. The Lord told her silently, These are your new friends.  

   A few coworkers and their husbands enlarged her circle. June and her husband Ralph - who had grown children of their own - took special interest. They attended church with her, and took Marge out for pizza. When Marge offered to pay, Ralph said, "Next time." Always "Next time." 

   Ralph looked after her car. June was at her side too many times to list here. 

   Years later, after two years in Bible school, Marge was employed praying for callers at the "prayer tower," Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. She needed surgery. June in Buffalo had no obligation to assist. She boarded a bus, needed a hospital herself in Cleveland, then caught another bus for Tulsa, where Marge had driven herself to the hospital. 

New adventures 

   June was not a worrier. She often said, "whatever." If she had a difficulty, she labeled it "my new adventure." Marge called her "Mama June." 

   My introduction to June and Ralph began in 1990, the year we married in Pittsburgh. They along with Barb and her husband Dave, whom I knew in high school - small world - were among our guests. Ralph had the honor of "father" giving away the bride. In six short weeks my office closed and I was jobless with no clue. 

   Six months later we moved to South Carolina, then retired in Florida. That made it easy to visit Mama June in Bradenton, where she worked at Mixon's Fruit Farm, a favorite stop for vacationers. After Ralph passed we brought June home for a week of R&R each spring. She "liked to go shopping" in Marge's closet. 

   We recall one of our devotions. After we closed our Bibles and prayed, June exclaimed, "This was sooooo wonderful!" Her spirit was more alive than mine. 

   She bought a computer and was determined to master it. June used it well enough to read Views by the Sea until her eyesight said enough.     

   Mama June wanted to stay in her own home. No senior living! Her son and daughter accommodated her wish. 

Next in line 

   This winter June told Marge on the phone she was "ready to go." "I'm next in line," she liked to say. She went to bed praying the Lord would take her in her sleep. And when he didn't, she was disappointed to wake up in the morning. 

   A few weeks ago, June told her daughter Jennifer and also Marge about a dream, or vision, of an angel, of being "there," and feeling such great love. She retold this to Jennifer, adding, "I'll never be the same." 

   You may be skeptical. We don't think this sounds like an hallucination. 

   March 30, her 98th birthday. Mama June was finally next in line. Early Wednesday morning she entered her long promised, new adventure. For all we know, she might be saying,

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.

Isaiah 61:10

   June has fruit from the tree of life that is nothing like Mixon's, and her garments are equally superior to what she found in Marge's closet.  

    💗

 April Fools!   

Friday: Meet Mama June      

   Who is being fooled today? 

   Maybe sports fans who never played the game, but know what's wrong with every player or team that displeases them. 

   Maybe commentators, journalists and others who think they know how to solve all government problems. Bloggers? 

   Could be those who aim to get ahead by disabling competitors. Tonya Harding? 

   Certainly, voters who consistently fall for politicians who fool them with falsehoods, inference and assertions. The "politics of personal destruction" continues because it works. Who needs debates? We the people are part of the problem.

   Yours truly formerly was guilty of wishing certain athletes might be sick or injured so that my team would get an edge. Boo! And we admit to thinking all would be well if my political party controlled all the levers of power - permanently. Boo! 

   What honor would the Yankees have if every opponent had more players on the injury list than on the field throughout the season? How talented would any team or athlete be if all competition was subpar, such that rigid training and conditioning were unnecessary? 

   What can we expect when most politicians win elections based not on character and integrity, but on smearing an opponent? 

   As for one party government...you can look now. The Dems are skilled combatants and play for keeps. We may know by November 2022 if their dream is fulfilled. 

   You Democrat voters, before you plan a parade, remember what God says, There is no one righteous, not even one (Psalm 14:3, 53:3, Romans 3:10). People without fear of God, or competition, are bound to serve themselves, not you. And you don't know who follows Biden, and who after that, and...

    If we must have politics to elect our leaders, there must be at least two competitive parties. 

       Jimmy