Thanksgiving Gets a new Deal - LifeWay Christian Resources · PDF fileThanksgiving Gets a new Deal get Creative with ... PAGES 44 & 54. HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN A Step of FAITH In

November 2008

A Scottish Garden for a Scottish Lady

Thanksgiving Gets a new Deal get Creative with Turkey leftovers

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PAGES 44 & 54

HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

A Step of FAITHIn your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to get to heaven and have eternal life? Consider how the Bible answers this question. It is a matter of FAITH.

F is for FORGIVENESS Everyone has sinned and needs God’s forgiveness. “All have sinned and fall short of the

glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, HCSB) God’s forgiveness is in Jesus only. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the

forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7, HCSB)

A is for AVAILABLE God’s forgiveness is available for all. “God loved the world in this way: He gave His One

and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, HCSB)

God’s forgiveness is available but not automatic. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, HCSB)

I is for IMPOSSIBLE According to the Bible, it is impossible to get to heaven on our own. “By grace you are

saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, HCSB)

So how can a sinful person have eternal life and enter heaven?

T is for TURN If you were going down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would he or she be

asking you to do? (Change direction) Turn means repent. Turn away from sin and self. “Unless you repent, you will all perish as well!” (Luke 13:3,

HCSB) Turn to Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No

one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, HCSB)

What happens if a person is willing to repent of their sins and confess Christ?

H is for HEAVEN Heaven is a place where we will live with God forever. “If I go away and prepare a place

for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3, HCSB)

Eternal life begins now with Jesus. “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10, HCSB)

H can also stand for HOW. . . How can a person have God’s forgiveness, eternal life, and heaven? By trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Take the step of faith today. Then tell a Christian friend or pastor about the important step you have taken. Grow in your faith and enjoy new friends in Christ by becoming part of His church and attending the Sunday School class a church has just for you.

Joyful Anticipation

Over the river and through the woods,To grandmother’s house we go.

Many sweet memories come to the surface as I sing those lyrics in my head. Some of the best road trips I experienced as a child were those of traveling to my grandparents’ houses for Thanksgiving. Then, a generation later, my children experi-enced similar trips. I have now been a part of three generations who sang those lyrics. What was special about those lyrics and the trips to grandparents’ houses?

I think it was the combination of the following: going to see someone for whom we shared love, expressing thankfulness for God’s blessings, laughter, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, games, turkey with trimmings and pumpkin pie (pecan pie for dad and me, please, with a little ice cream on the side).

Those trips were filled with joyful anticipation. I get excited about most any trip. Much of the happiness is in the planning. Such anticipation is one of the ingredients in life that often keeps us going.

What are some things you joyfully anticipate as we approach the Thanksgiving season?

Perhaps circumstances have caused you to think you have little to anticipate that will bring joy. If that’s the case, I invite you to take to heart Dr. Brown’s suggestions on page 10.

In whatever state we find ourselves, we can take to heart the psalmist’s words: “In Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures” (Ps. 16:11, HCSB). Let us joyfully anticipate the Lord’s promises and blessings on this Thanksgiving!

Woody ParkerEditor in Chief

Volume ##, Number ## October 2008

Focusing on the personal and spiritual needs of adults 55+ to encourage growth, hope, and

fulfillment in Christian living.

PRODUCTION & MINISTRY TEAMWoody Parker Editor in ChiefRené A. Holt EditorDale Royalty Graphic DesignerNancy Comeaux Copy EditorBrenda Shoemake Technical Specialist Alan Raughton Lead Adult Ministry Specialist David Apple Adult Ministry Specialist

Send questions/comments to:Editor in Chief, Mature Living,One LifeWay Plaza,Nashville, TN 37234-0175,or make comments on the Web at: www.lifeway.com

MANAGEMENT PERSONNELBret Robbe Director, Leadership and

Adult PublishingRon Brown Senior Managing Director, Leadership and Adult PublishingLarry Dry Managing Directors, LeadershipRon Keck and Adult PublishingBill Craig Director, Leadership and

Adult MinistryGary H. Hauk Director, Publishing LifeWay Church Resources

ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION One LifeWay Plaza, MSN 136, Nashville, TN 37234 Phone: (615) 251-2289; fax: (615) 251-2039 E-mail: [email protected] Media kits: www.lifeway.com/magazines/media Rhonda Edge Buescher, Director Scott Hancock, Advertising Production

Printed in the United States of America

Mature Living (ISSN 0162-427X; Item 005075227) is published monthly by LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © Copyright 2008 LifeWay Press®.

For inquiries visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, visit www.lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk orders shipped to one address, visit www.lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5933 or write to the above address.

Annual individual or gift subscription, $29.95. Bulk orders shipped to one address when ordered with other literature, $1.50 each per month, plus shipping. Please allow six to eight weeks for arrival of first issue.

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Scripture quotations marked HCSB® are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Submit manuscripts at [email protected] or to Mature Living, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Writers selected for publication must provide Social Security number to receive payment.

Cover page one photo credit: ©Name

Volume 33, Number 2 November 2008

Focusing on the personal and spiritual needs of adults 55+ to encourage growth, hope, and

fulfillment in Christian living.

PRODUCTION & MINISTRY TEAMWoody Parker Editor in ChiefRené A. Holt EditorDale Royalty Graphic DesignerNancy Comeaux Copy EditorBrenda Shoemake Technical Specialist Alan Raughton Lead Adult Ministry Specialist David Apple Adult Ministry Specialist

Send questions/comments to:Editor in Chief, Mature Living,One LifeWay Plaza,Nashville, TN 37234-0175,or make comments on the Web at: www.lifeway.com

MANAGEMENT PERSONNELBret Robbe Director, Leadership and

Adult PublishingRon Brown Senior Managing Director, Leadership and Adult PublishingLarry Dry Managing Directors, LeadershipRon Keck and Adult PublishingBill Craig Director, Leadership and

Adult MinistryGary H. Hauk Director, Publishing LifeWay Church Resources

ADVERTISING One LifeWay Plaza, MSN 136, Nashville, TN 37234 Phone: (615) 251-2289; fax: (615) 251-2039 E-mail: [email protected] Media kits: www.lifeway.com/magazines/media Rhonda Edge Buescher, Director, Magazine Advertising & Circulation Scott Hancock, Advertising Production

Printed in the United States of America

Mature Living (ISSN 0162-427X; Item 005075227) is published monthly by LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © Copyright 2008 LifeWay Press®.

For inquiries visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, visit www.lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk orders shipped to one address, visit www.lifeway.com/magazines, fax (615) 251-5933 or write to the above address.

Annual individual or gift subscription, $29.95. Bulk orders shipped to one address when ordered with other literature, $1.50 each per month, plus shipping. Please allow six to eight weeks for arrival of first issue.

Advertisement Disclaimer: This magazine includes paid advertisements for some products and services not affiliated with LifeWay. The inclusion of the paid advertisements does not constitute an endorsement by LifeWay Christian Resources of the products or services.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB® are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Submit manuscripts at [email protected] or to Mature Living, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Writers selected for publication must provide Social Security number to receive payment.

Cover page one photo credit: Corbis Corporation

road TRIPS

Spiritual Blessings Through Life’s Journeys

move to change the traditional day of Thanks-giving didn’t sit well with everyone.

40 Esprit de Corps (Fiction)Archie D. YoungerThe football team didn’t know what the term esprit de corps meant, but when the game was over, they had seen it in action.

46 What Next — Distemper?Edna GrebeParvo? Isn't that a dog's disease?

48 A Game to RememberFred L. JoshuWhat Fred observed at his great-grandson’s soccer game assured him of the boy’s character and integrity.

12

40

Features12 Ministry in RocksJimmy LumpkinArtist Patty Regan uses her unusual God-given talent to share her love for Jesus.

16 Covered by Grandmother‘s LoveRachel DavisPhysical and spiritual covering — these were her grandmother’s gifts.

18 Pardon Me, Please!Gary GriffinThis White House tradition will give you something to gobble about.

26 Half a MustacheGregg StambaughWhat does a man have to do to show that he’s “still got it”?

36 Thanksgiving Gets a New DealJoy Pennock GageWhether politics or practicality, FDR’s

November 2008

It was 1943, my last year of high

school, and as student manager of

our team, I took my job seriously.

Contents Volume 33, Number 2

Try these easy recipes to provide quick meals when you are busy with Christmas preparations in December.

8 Grandparents’ Brag Board

10 Your Mind and Your BodyAlternatives to Loneliness

20 TravelA Scottish Garden for a Scottish Lady

28 Over the Garden FenceSeasonal Tasks for Winter Gardening

30 RecipesGet Creative with Turkey Leftovers

32 Money MattersCoping with Gas Prices

34 Physical Fitness for SeniorsOptimal Nutrition

44 Fun ‘n GamesSalute to Veterans

45 Cracker Barrel

52 Communing with GodThe Master Restorer

54 What’s Going On

56 Resources

58 PoetryThanksgiving Kitchen

Departments

30

20

It was 1943, my last year of high

school, and as student manager of

our team, I took my job seriously.

6 MATURE LIVING

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a Caring FriendI just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful May issue of Mature Living. I am a resident in a skilled nursing facility. One of my friends brings me your magazine monthly to occupy my time. I would like to thank Evelyn Tucker for bringing me Mature Living.

— Libby Samson, Maryville, Tenn.

Editor’s Note: Magazine distribution is a ministry that is highly appreciated by folk in nursing facilities.

Pen Pals?Editor’s Note: We have received several letters from readers who desire a “pen pal” page. We do not offer this service due to the kinds of dangers we all read and hear about. Some-times our magazine can get into the hands of people who have less than good intentions. We do not want to expose our readers’ contact information to those who desire to take unfair advantage of others.

Send your comments and suggestions to Mature Living, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175.

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8 MATURE LIVING

What Did I Just Say?One Sunday at lunch, my 5-year-old grandson, Kaleb, was asked to pray. He thanked God for everything he could think of, to the point of lay-ing his head on the table. He prayed, “Thank You for the house we live in, my bed, the trees, the sky, the birds, the bees …”

Pausing, he then added, under his breath, “I don’t know about that.”

— Sherlene Stamey, Valdese, N.C.

Well NamedOn her first day of kindergarten, my great-granddaughter was asked if she knew her full name. She replied confidently, “Yes, it’s Mary Esther Comehere!”

— Lavern A. Inzer, Garland, Texas

Was Goliath There?While my husband was on a two-week mission trip, I visited with our son and his family. When 3-year-old Zethan asked about Grandpa, I explained that Grandpa had gone to the Philippines to tell the people there about Jesus. Later, I overheard him say, “Grandpa went to the Philistines to tell them about God.”

— Jeal Atwood, Bradford, Tenn.

No Chance of ParoleMy 7-year-old granddaughter, Allison, was looking through our wedding album and came to a photo of me in my white wedding dress and Grandpa in his tuxedo. She asked, “Is this the picture you had taken when you were sentenced to be husband and wife?”

— Barbara Albright, Indianapolis, Ind.

Now or NeverMy grandson, Austin, 5, asked the lady at the ice cream parlor for a banana split. She said, “I’m sorry, but we are out of bananas. I can fix you a nut sundae.”

“No thanks,” he replied. “I won’t be here on Sunday.”

— Patricia S. Williams, Kings Mtn., N.C.

A Gentle FightCaty, my 5-year-old granddaughter, has long prayers that are like personal conversations with God. During one prayer, she prayed, “And please, please God, let it snow because I’ve never seen snow, and I want to build a snowman and make a snow angel and have a snowball fight.” Remembering that it was God she was talking to, she quickly clarified, “But a snowball fight is not like a real fight because snowballs are soft, and they won’t hurt anybody!”

— Elena Edgmon, Commerce, Ga.

Could You Be a Little More Specific?As I was cooking supper, my 3-year-old grand-children, Jaila and Isaac (cousins who are five weeks apart), brought their toys into the kitchen and began playing on the floor. Afraid that they would get hurt, I asked them to please get their toys and go “in yonder” to play. They did as I asked and left the kitchen, but a few minutes later, they came back. Isaac looked up at me and said, “Grandma, we don’t know where ‘yonder’ is.”

— Susan Bunton, Williamston, S.C.“You sure picked a great place to have kittens.”

Grandparents’ Brag Board

November 2008 9

Canine ConfusionWhile at a church softball game, my grand-daughter, Abbey, age 4, approached a lady who was holding a fluffy, white toy poodle and politely asked if she could hold the dog and walk around with it in her arms. She agreed.

As Abbey was bringing the dog to show me, I heard a man talking to her about the dog. “Is that a toy poodle?” he asked.

Abbey looked up at him and replied seriously, “No, it’s not a toy! It’s a real dog!”

— Penny Spangler, Jasper, Ind.

Saving at the PumpMy two grandsons and I were returning from the dentist when I noticed that my car was about out of gas. Without thinking, I said, “It will probably cost me an arm and a leg to fill up since gas is so high.”

Eight-year-old Logan said, “Gran Gran, if you would go by Kersey’s Store, it might just cost you an eye.”

— Murline Willis, Vidalia, Ga.

What Were You Thinking?When our 4-year-old granddaughter, Aubrey, first attended “big church,” she had trouble finding enough things to keep her entertained during worship service. One Sunday, after much wiggling, her mom sat her down firmly on the pew and told her to sit still. She looked up at her dad and whispered, “Dad, you married a very impatient woman!”

— Retha Dorning, Athens, Ala.

First Things FirstMy young grandson, John William, bumped his head on the door. He started crying and ran to the comfort of his mother’s arms. As he sobbed, I asked, “Do you want to go to the park and play on the swings and slides?”

“I’m not finished crying yet,” he replied. “But I’ll go a little later.”

— Raymond Bottom, Brandon, Miss.

Amazing MemoryMy husband had taken our granddaughter on a hike through the woods. As grandpas have

a tendency to do, he began telling her stories. When they saw a rabbit, he told her about hunting rabbits. When they came to a hedge tree, she heard about how farmers used hedge trees as fences. A chattering blue jay brought forth a story of how blue jays steal eggs from other birds’ nests.

Finally, 8-year-old Keriann looked up at her grandpa and asked, “You’re 70 years old — how do you remember all this stuff?”

— Carol Russell, Fort Scott, Kan.

Taken Care Of My grandson, Austin, age 5, was getting “antsy” as he sat next to his grandfather in the church service. To keep him still, his mother gave him a pencil and some paper, which hap-pened to be blank bank deposit slips. Although he had been given a quarter for the offering, Austin folded one of the deposit slips and dropped it in the offering plate. His grand-father whispered to him, “Austin, you didn’t put in your money.”

“That’s OK, Pa,” he replied. “I gave a check.” — June Winkler, Blakely, Ga.

Now It’s Your Turn … to brag about your grandchild!

Send us a true story about your grandchild. If we publish it, you will receive $15 from Mature Living. Submissions should be 25-125 words, may be edited for clarity and length, and will not be returned. Mail your story to “Grandparents’ Brag Board,” Mature Living, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. Include your name, address, and phone number. If your story is selected for publication, you will be asked to provide your Social Security number, which is required for payment.

Dear Dr. Brown: I am dreading the Thanks-giving holidays since I know I will be alone. My wife died almost two years ago and our only child is planning to be with her in-laws in another state. She and her family will be gone the entire Thanksgiving week. I try to be positive about my situation, but I am already feeling anxious. What can I do to overcome feel-

ing down (maybe even depressed) about the approaching holidays?

Answer: Holidays are the source of an amaz-ing variety of emotional responses. We have fostered such an idealized picture of an “over the river and through the woods” Thanks-giving season that many of us are disappointed by reality. Your reality is that you cannot be a part of the traditional family gathering this year. While disappointment is certainly understandable and even acceptable for a short period of time, it does not need to be your only response to this situation.

What alternatives to the traditional Thanks-giving gathering have you considered? Would it be possible for you to take a trip during this time? Traveling in a group provides you built-in companions for a period of time and many single

senior adults have found it very satisfying. Begin by asking yourself where you have always wanted to go or what you have always wanted to see. This may be the time to do just that.

Have you considered initiating a get-together of people you know at a local restaurant for a celebratory meal? If the traditional meal doesn’t seem like a good idea, try fast food with a “Happy Thanksgiving” atmosphere. And it really doesn’t have to be on Thanksgiving Day. Maybe some of your friends would enjoy a get-together on Saturday after Thanksgiving. That would give you (and them) something to look forward to.

Would you consider helping to serve Thanks-giving dinner to street people or those who live in shelters? Call some local service organiza-tions to volunteer to help with plans they have made. Perhaps your church is distributing food to needy persons during this season. Creating a happier Thanksgiving for others can help you to feel that you have celebrated the holiday.

If you decide to spend the day at home alone, make specific plans for the day. Do you enjoy movies? Rent several movies or go to your local library and check out some classics. Spend the day watching movies. Do you enjoy walking or some other outdoor activity? Plan to spend at least a part of the day doing something you really like to do. Plan the food you want to eat on this special day and make arrangements to have it available. Indulge yourself.

Though activities like these may not be your first choice, they are good choices. Give them a try. Celebrate!

10 MATURE LIVING

Your Mind and Your Body

Alternatives to LoneLiness

Dr. Polly Cooper Brown is a retired psychologist now residing in Huntsville, Texas.

Dear Dr. Edwards: My brother had a sud-den severe headache one morning and could not see good out of one eye. He took some aspirin, but later that day he had a stroke and died. My wife says the head-ache and eye trouble were warning signs that a stroke was com-ing. She says that if he had gone to the hospital when the headache first started that he might

not have died. Is that true? Are headaches and eye trouble warning signs of stroke?

Answer: Unfortunately everything your wife is telling you is true. There are five warning signs that a stroke might be imminent.

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg.

2. Sudden confusion or trouble speaking.3. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss

of balance.4. Sudden difficulty seeing out of one or both

eyes.5. Severe headache of unknown cause.The Center for Disease Control has actually

run a telephone survey of over 70,000 people to see how many knew all five stroke warning symptoms. Women did better than men in the survey. The CDC included one symptom, chest pain, that is not a warning sign that stroke is about to happen just to be sure people were not answering “yes” to every question. Women did better on that question too.

If treatment can be started within three hours after the first warning symptom of stroke, the risk of death and/or the risk of residual stroke symptoms such as paralysis, confusion, or loss of mental ability can be decreased.

If you or someone you love develops any one of these five symptoms, you should call 911 without delay.

Dear Dr. Edwards: I read recently that if someone had a Cesarean section they will be more likely to have a stroke than someone who had a normal delivery. I had three Cesarean sections when I was birthing my babies. Does that mean that I will most likely have a stroke now at age 70?

Answer: Let me assure you that having a stroke at age 70 because of Cesarean sections years ago is highly unlikely. On rare occasions a woman may have a stroke in the first year after delivering a baby. There are no scientific studies showing that women who had their children by Cesarean section are likely to die of stroke late in life. In the 1960s, when I was in training, only 3 to 5 percent of women delivered by Cesarean section. Today almost 30 percent of women deliver by Cesarean section. If C-sections caused stroke, we would be having an epidemic of strokes. It is true that stroke is the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. However, the number of deaths from stroke has decreased considerably since the 1960s.

November 2008 11

NOTE: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a diagnosis or recommended treatment for your specific situation. Please consult your physician or professional counselor for answers to your personal, physical, and mental health questions.

Dr. Keith Edwards is a retired physician now residing in North Augusta, S.C.

Go online for further information about stroke and stroke prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/prevention.htm

National Stroke Association: www.stroke.org

Ministry in Rocks

by Jimmy Lumpkin

Patty Regan has a unique

way of telling the good

news about Jesus. She

does it with rocks.

Ministry in Rocks

M ost weekdays you can find the artist working at her gift shop in the little South Texas town of Three Rivers.

The shelves in Patty’s store, appropriately called “Angels and Things,” are crammed full of her creations, — biblical scenes using wooden crosses, stone angels, and figurines formed with rocks — all with a message about God. “The Lord has given me a ministry in rocks,” Patty says.

Patty, who is in her 60s, gets as bubbly as a teenager when she tells how God gives her ideas to create out of rocks. Taking one of her angels from a shelf, Patty points out the colored stones that make up the piece. “I just fit them together like a puzzle.”

She makes it sound easy, but there’s a lot involved in lapidary work. Patty’s two-story home overlooking Choke Canyon Lake doubles as her workshop. One room contains sophisti-cated rock saws and polishing equipment. See-through files, labeled “heads,” “arms,” “legs,” “feet,” “hands,” and “wings,” line the walls. “I mostly use these small rocks in making angels,” Patty says. “I make more of them than anything else.”

While a diamond saw slices the larger stones, Patty uses another saw to cut the slabs into various sizes and shapes. Next she grinds and polishes them on the fast-spinning wheels of another lapidary machine. “This is dirty work,”

she says, “but I love working with rocks.” With a grin, she adds, “I’ve never met a rock I didn’t like.”

That’s easy to see. They’re piled high on her porch and all over the yard.

“I find some of them locally, and friends bring me stones from a lot of different states.”

Patty began her rock ministry almost by accident in 1999. “I was helping a young man with his rock project for the county fair. That got me to wondering if I could make stone stuff to sell in my gift shop. I prayed about it, and the Lord gave me His answer in ‘The Rock of Ages.’”

____________________________Left: Patty Regan holding rock art named, “The Madonna in the Shadow of the Cross.”Right : Patty showing her rock collection to visitors.

November 2008 13

Photos courtesy of the author

That’s what Patty calls her series of bibli-cal motifs. “I took the name from Luke 19:40. Jesus, speaking about the people who wel-comed him into Jerusalem, said, ‘I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!’”

Patty’s stones cry out the good news of what Jesus did for us. She puts a wooden cross in the center of her art pieces and uses stones to complete the scene. “The rocks are symbolic of events in the Scriptures.”

Patty shows how she arranges the stones to tell a story. Pointing to one of her larger pieces, she says, “I call it ‘Two into Bethlehem.’ Joseph and Mary are holding what appears to be a baby blanket. I see the face of Jesus as a grown man in that blanket. His hair and beard are highlighted there. To me this piece represents the full cycle of C h r i s t ’ s l i f e from birth to resurrection.”

She picks up another of her rock art pieces. “This is ‘The Madonna in the Shadow of the Cross.’ The sand rose in Mary’s arms symbolizes the Rose of Sha-ron. The petrified fish represents Jesus calling His apostles to be fishers of men. The sheep shows Christ as the Lamb of God. The crown of thorns represents His suffering.”

Patty turned down $8000 for

that piece. “Some things aren’t about money. I feel the Lord wants me to share this one, so I take it with me to all of the art shows.”

Some of Patty’s stone-on-wood pieces tell Old Testament stories. “This is Joseph in his coat of many colors,” she says, holding up a figure. “The garment is made of picture jas-per, and you can see what appears as folds in the fabric. His head is a chip of flint. The halo is Brazilian agate, and the cross is made of local mesquite.”

Before God led her to “The Rock of Ages,” Patty worked as a barber. She still owns the barber shop next door, but she doesn’t have much time for barbering since she became a successful artist.

“I’m just now getting comfortable with that artist word, but it’s really the Lord’s work. He

blesses my ‘Angels and Things’ here at the store and at art shows.”

Patty gets about $25 for her pins and sev-eral hundred for the larger pieces. “Cutting rocks definitely pays more than cutting hair,” she says. But her work isn’t just about money. “It’s my minis-try. Before I make each piece, I pray that the Lord will let me honor Him and touch some-one’s life. I can see that happening.”

Patty gives a title to each of her larger proj-ects. “The name will mean something to the person who buys it.”

One lady was attract-ed to a scene with a cross and a bird. “I call that piece Nancy,” Patty told her.

14 MATURE LIVING

Above: “Two Into Bethlehem.” Opposite page: Patty in her gift shop holding rock art named “Joseph.”

The woman looked at her in disbelief. “That’s my name, Nancy Bird.” She bought the piece and took it to her home in Houston.

Another woman was drawn to a particular piece and asked its name.

“Peg,” Patty told her.“That’s the name of

my mother who recently passed away.”

The lady bought the piece for her father.

Patty documents about 80 stories where the name of her art piece is meaningful to the buyer. “Someday I’ll write a book about that,” she says.

A young teacher fell in love with “The Blessed Arrival,” a piece about the birth of Jesus. Patty had priced it at $2000. “I can’t afford that,” the lady said, hurrying away. But she came back later with the money.

“For you it’s $1300,” Patty said. With tears of gratitude, the teacher left the

art show cradling the rock piece. “I knew she was meant to have it,” Patty

explains.In her art she uses rocks of different colors

and shapes as well as plant and animal fossils. To her, all of these materials are symbols that, when put together, tell a story. But not everyone gets the same meaning from Patty’s art. Just as people use their imagina-tion to find different pictures in cloud shapes, they see various things in rock art.

For Patty it’s all about God. “The Lord created the stones in the first place and lets me use them for His glory.”

Her rock art is displayed in many church buildings, including the one in Three Rivers where Patty is a faithful member. “I just want to help people see that the Lord is the real Rock of Ages,” she says. “These stone pieces I put together are just signs that point to Him. He has given me a ministry in rocks, and I want to use it to His glory.”

If you want to find out more about Patty Regan’s ministry in rocks, visit her Web site www.zamzone.com/angels.

Jimmy Lumpkin from Upland, Ca., enjoys creative writing as his main hobby. His wife’s main hobby is correcting his manuscripts. Currently he’s working on a non-fiction book for adults. Jimmy taught in elementary school for 38 years. He and Betty have been married 52 years. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren. They are members of Inland Valley Church in Ontario, Calif., where Jimmy preaches once a month.

November 2008 15

I started first grade in 1948. I would run to catch the falling leaves and then jump in the plowed earth in

the garden my dad had turned over for the winter. My mom always but-toned my white sweater, tied up a 50 cent piece in one end of a handker-chief for lunch all week, and watched me as I walked to the end of the road to catch the bus.

Sundays were spent in church, and we’d eat dinner at one of my grandpar-ent’s house. I loved to visit my dad’s parents because they lived on a farm, and Grandma Henson would always let me go with her to milk the cow and gather eggs from the barn. As I walked with her down a narrow path to the barn, her cats always followed,

16 MATURE LIVING

Covered by Grandmother’s Love

by Rachel Davis

As summer faded and the leaves turned colors of bright orange and red, a short walk down the path to the barn was an adventure for me.

Covered by Grandmother’s Love

by Rachel Davis

anticipating the treat she gave. She would squirt milk from the cow’s udders as the cats jumped to catch it. I would laugh and cry, “Do it again, Grandma!”

I remember that Sunday well because she asked me where my coat was. I told her I didn’t have one. “We will see about getting you one,” she said as she got off the stool and set the milk pail down. I followed her up the path as she hummed “Amazing Grace.”

My cousins were always at Grandma’s house, and we would swing on the front porch and play all afternoon as our parents talked. While I was wait-ing for my turn to swing, Grandma called me, “Come here Rachel, I need to measure you. I’m going to make you a coat.” She used butcher paper to cut out the pieces she needed and measured my arms. I watched her sew on her Singer sewing machine and all the while she hummed “Amazing Grace.” I couldn’t wait to try it on. When she finished, I thought, What a beautiful coat! I looked on the table where she had cut out the pieces. There was the perfect outline of my coat — she had cut it out of her own.

“Grandma,” I said. “You have cut your coat to make me one.”

“Yes dear,” she replied, “because I love you.” Yesterday I drove past the old home place

that left me with so many memories. The flowers still bloom, but the house no longer stands. As I stopped to reflect, I was reminded that I was still walking under my Grand-mother’s covering. “Amazing Grace … how sweet the sound.” She gave me more than

just physical warmth that day. She gave me a spiritual covering as well.

I wondered what song my grandchildren hear me hum. Like the coat that covered me with my grandmother’s love, God wants us to reflect His love for our children and our children’s children. As we cover them in our love, let’s not forget to share that Jesus longs to cover them as well.

Rachel Davis is happily retired and resides with her husband in Forest City, N.C. She is the mother of four and grandmother of 10. She enjoys teaching Sunday School and volunteers at the Senior Citizen Center. She recently won first place in the “Sowing Seeds Of Faith” writing contest. She has also won several awards in the North Carolina Silver Arts competition. Her Web site is: www.rachelswritings.bravehost.com.

November 2008 17

Illus

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This tradition’s origin is rather uncertain. One story claims Harry Truman pardoned

a turkey in 1947, but the Truman Library has been unable to find any evidence of this. Anoth-er claims the tradition dates back to Abraham Lincoln pardoning his son Tad’s pet turkey.

The Lincoln version of the story goes like this: In 1863, a live turkey was sent to the Lincoln family at the White House for their holiday feast. Ten-year-old Tad Lincoln befriended the bird, naming him Jack and feeding him. Jack was soon following Tad around the White House grounds. When the time neared to prepare the turkey for the meal, Tad burst into one of his father’s Cabinet meetings, crying loudly and telling his father that Jack was about to be killed.

President Lincoln replied, “Jack was sent here to be killed and eaten … I can’t help it.” Tad, still sobbing, said, “He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him killed.”

Abraham Lincoln, so it is told, halted the Cabinet meeting and wrote an

order of reprieve, thus spar-ing Jack’s life. Tad raced out to show the presidential order to

the “executioner.” According to this account, the tradi-

tion of pardoning a tur-key each year began.Whatever the source,

throughout recent years the White House turkeys have

been spared the butcher block and sent off to live in a turkey haven. In

previous years, the pardoned turkeys were given to Kidwell Farm, a petting farm in Frying Pan Park, Fairfax County, Va. In 2005, however, the pardonees were sent to live out the “breast of their lives” at Disney World in Florida.

In the past, the names of the white meat wonders have been chosen by the White House staff, but in 2003 the naming rites were given over to the public in an open poll on the White House Web site. In 2003, the names the pub-lic chose were Stars and Stripes; in 2004 they were Biscuits and Gravy; and the vote getters for 2005 were Marshmallow and Yam. Flyer and Fryer won the honors for 2006, and last Thanks-giving Day, 2007, the honors went to May and Flower. You can keep up to date on all these fowl happenings at www.whitehouse.gov/holiday.

The votes are always close, and as can be expected, the race comes right down to the wire — neck and neck you might say.

Gary Griffin serves as deacon, teacher, young adult leader, prayer ministry leader, and servant to the people of Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas. In his spare time, he serves as supply preacher, works with the Texas Baptist Men disaster relief organiza-tion, and has been a part-time missionary to Mexico for many years.

Pardon Me, Please!by Gary Griffin

Each year on the eve of Thanksgiving, a turkey is customarily pardoned by the president at an official White House ceremony. Although there is only one official turkey each year, an

alternate is always available in the event the honored one cannot serve.

18 MATURE LIVING

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20 MATURE LIVING

Travel

A Scottish Garden for a

by Barbara Bothwell

Scottish LadyCorbis

LA trip to Scotland would not be complete without visiting

some of the famous gardens of Edinburgh.

ady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, the youngest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, was born in 1900 and grew up at Glamis Castle in Scotland. She is better known as the consort of King George VI and, in widowhood, attained the sobriquet of “Queen Mum.”

After her husband’s death in 1952, Queen Elizabeth acquired the Castle of Mey in Caith-ness on the northern shore of Scotland, and here she pursued one of her favorite hobbies — gardening. In 2002 she died at the age of 101. Her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Queen Mother’s Memorial Garden at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, a fit-ting and beautiful memorial.

The garden draws heavily on the landscapes of Caithness, using Caithness slate for the main path-way and vertical overlapping slabs edging some of the flower beds. These vertical slabs are engraved with the names of the many organizations with which the Queen Mum was associated, as well as the names of contribu-tors to the fund which was set up to finance and care for this peaceful corner of Edinburgh.

The flower beds and herbaceous borders are filled with plants representing many of the places around the world Scottish Lady visited during her life.

Each corner represents a different geographic region with a signature tree: Oak (Europe),

Tulip Tree (North America), Southern Beech (Australia), and Katsura (Asia), surrounded by several exotic plants from each area.

The herbaceous borders are filled with flowers, such as roses and lilies, and plants in bloom dur-ing the appropriate season. When meandering around the central beds, the aroma is delicious because, instead of using box or yew for the laby-rinth, Bog Myrtle has been used. This is a plant native to the area around the Castle of Mey.

On the east side of the parterre is a fascinating small building. Roofed with scalloped Caithness slate and entered through solid oak doors, it

is breathtakingly exquisite.

The walls are faced with intricate designs made up of Scottish shells and pebbles — large white cockles, small clams, dra-matic black pearly mussels, and many others. Look up at the ceiling, and there is more decoration with a difference — pine

cones of various shapes and sizes. Set in the back wall is a lovely stained glass window that gives the impression of looking out into a forest.

The Queen Mother’s Memorial Garden is just a small section of the Royal Botanic Garden. Nearby are the Demonstration Garden (set out in ‘rooms’), the Ecological Garden, and the Herbaceous Border.

A stroll through the shady copse can lead either to the Azalea Terrace, which is very colorful in late spring, or to an exhibition at the

November 2008 21

The Queen Mother's Memorial Garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Inverleith House gallery. A café is located nearby for refreshment.

Continuing on across the gardens there is a delightful stroll and climb around the Chinese Hillside. On a warm day it is refreshing to stand and watch the waterfall and rippling water of the stream, all surrounded by rocks and rock plants.

The gardens cover about 70 acres, including ten glass houses, so plant lovers can easily spend a whole day strolling and admiring.

Princes Street GardensThe most well-known gardens in Edinburgh — at least to tourists — are the Princes Street Gardens.

Set as they are below the castle and alongside the main shopping street, the gardens are hard to miss. The velvety lawns, the trees of various shades of green, and shrubs and flowers galore are enticing, and it is easy to abandon the shops to stroll and linger away from the crowds.

Also located on Princes Street is the Scott Monument, honoring Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s most famous writers. The statue of the beloved Scottish author sits beneath the ornately spired canopy and is one of the famous sights here. Another is the world’s oldest Floral Clock, laid out annually with more than 20,000 plants.

Holyrood ParkThis park is situated alongside the Palace of Holyroodhouse and near the Scottish Parliament building. East of the palace are St. Margaret’s Loch and the 15th century St. Margaret’s Well. Situated above the loch are the ruins of the medi-eval monastery of St. Anthony’s Chapel.

22 MATURE LIVING

Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland

Corbis

Jupiter Images

The truly energetic can enjoy the thrill of climbing Arthur’s Seat. This is a volcanic mini-mountain. You don’t need ropes or pitons, just good leg muscles to scale the footpath to the top at 820 feet. If you can manage the climb, the views are spectacular.

Calton Hill GardensCalton Hill is another volcanic outcrop, located at the east end of the New Town area, east of Princes Street. As its name implies, it is a hill. The best advice is to take it slowly and pause often to admire the views.

There are several wonderful memorials to admire. Nelson Monument, honoring Admira l Horat io Nelson’s victory over the French and Spanish fleets, is the best known. If you have the energy,

a spiral staircase inside leads to a lookout platform. At the center of the hill is the multi-columned National Monu-ment to honor soldiers killed in the Napoleonic Wars.The Greek-temple style Robert Burns Memorial is on Regent Road, below Calton Hill.

E d i n b u r g h New Town — t h e s e c t i o n north of Princes Street — has several squares and gardens, some of which contain memorial monuments, but almost all of which are great for getting away from the crowds.

With so much to see and do in Scotland’s capital, it is easy to miss some of the jewels in the

city’s crown. If pushed for time, take a bus to the Royal Botanic Gardens, if only to see the Queen Mum’s garden.

Barbara Bothwell, from Bra-denton, Fla., is a British travel writer whose work is published internationally. Barbara cannot remember a time when she hasn’t written, developing from fairy stories to novels (unpub-lished). She then tried writing articles and, as an avid traveler, began writing about her travels. “With my writing and photo-graphs I try to bring to readers a feel for the places I visit.”

November 2008 23

Calton Hill was originally the home of the Calton Jail, but is now the Scotland’s governmental headquarters.

For more information: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh20A Inverleith RowEdinburgh EH3 5LRUnited KingdomWeb site: www.rbge.org.uk

Edinburgh and Scotland Information CentrePrinces Mall,3 Princes Street,Edinburgh EH2 2QP United KingdomWeb site: www.Edinburgh.org

Corbis

Jupiter Images

©2008 UNIVERSAL MEDIA SYNDICATE, INC. SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE ADVERTISEMENT FOR HEAT SURGE, LLC 3939 EVERHARD RD., CANTON OH 44709

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By MARK WOODSUniversal Media Syndicate



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26 MATURE LIVING

When it came to kissing, I used to think, Man, I’ve still got it. Now I no longer had it. You see, I had shaved it off

three days earlier.I grew my mustache in 1970 when I was a

college sophomore. My upper lip had not seen daylight for almost 34 years — back when gasoline cost 39 cents a gallon!

Our grown daughters were horrified. Our younger screamed and actually shed tears.

“How could you let him do that, Mom?” She whirled around. “You’ve got to grow it back, Dad! Your face, it… it … looks like a baby’s behind.” She stomped away.

“Don’t tell your sister, Honey. We want to surprise her, too.” I smiled.

“That went well, don’t you think?” I asked my wife as we drove home. The phone rang as we walked in the door.

“Hi, Sweetie” I said to our elder daughter. “Guess what?”

“Don’t you come down here without your mustache, Dad. I mean it!”

“I’m fine too, Honey. Thanks for asking.” I had shaved it because the left side was com-

pletely white. (I liked to think of it as silver, a suave and debonair color.) The right side (my good side) was all black. It looked like I had half a mustache until I got three feet away.

As my mustache grew back, I pondered my

options. Boot polish looked like I had put on … well … boot polish. The over-the-counter dyes should have stayed on the counter. My mom suggested an eyebrow pencil. I had a good laugh out of that. Can you see me approach-ing the cosmetic counter with that request?

Back in 1973, my gorgeous wife-to-be said I resembled the Marlboro man. Yeah, baby! I always wanted to be a rugged-looking cowboy, even if I didn’t smoke.

There was only one solution. It took me a lit-tle over two weeks and one trip to the cosmetic counter, wearing sunglasses and a sombrero.

To their credit, both daughters eventually apologized and told me to do what I wanted. Yeah, right.

I now use my tiny pencil sharpener and #22 eyebrow pencil. I have found that the Clinique pencil is smoother and easier to apply … what am I saying? I must be careful how much water I splash onto my face during the day. And I have to remember to apply my “makeup” before leaving the house.

Now, if I can just touch up those eyebrows a bit …

Gregg Stambaugh is a freelance writer living in Toledo, Ohio. He has been married to his darling wife for 34 years. They have two wonderful daughters and two fantastic sons-in-law. They have been blessed with a grandson and a granddaughter.

I glanced at the bedroom mirror as I walked by. I don’t know, I thought. Maybe this won’t work. In the kitchen, I grabbed my darling wife and pulled her close. She giggled and “hurry-upped” our kiss in-stead of lingering passionately.

Half a MustacheDennis Jones

Half aby Gregg Stambaugh

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28 MATURE LIVING

Over the Garden Fence by Carolyn Ross Tomlin

It’s the time of year when daylight hours grow short and darkness comes early. Gardeners often consider this season as a time of rest from outdoor chores. However, those who till the soil know the value of continued maintenance of the garden and yard. Use these seasonal suggestions that pinpoint these winter tasks.

Winter Gardening

Seasonal Tasks for

Winter Gardening

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• R a k e fallen leaves before the ground freez-es. Pick up small twigs. Leaves can be turned into mulch

for later use or sacked for curbside pickup. • If rainfall is not sufficient and the ground

is not frozen, water evergreens. As this plant holds its needles all winter, moisture is lost through the needles.

• Snow and ice accumulation damages trees and shrubs. Using a broom, gently brush snow from evergreens. Allow ice to melt to avoid damage to the plant. Remove any broken limbs as soon as the weather permits. Clean cuts heal faster than ragged tears.

• Prune trees and deciduous summer- flowering shrubs, including clematis and bud-dleia. Avoid pruning forsythias, weigelas, and other spring-flow-ering shrubs until they have bloomed in the spring. Cut back winter flow-ering shrubs after blooms drop. Apply a general purpose fertilizer 10-10-10, and add mulch around the base. Pine needles are inexpensive or free and provide insula-tion against winter weather.

A pole pruner is helpful for trimming high branches and eliminates the need for a ladder. Remove suckers, which are shoots that grow from the base of the tree.

• Care for indoor holiday plants by placing flowering varieties in a bright, but cool, room for longer bloom time. Check a plant manual for care of indoor plants.

• Remove debris from over-wintering biennials. Debris creates homes for insects to breed.

• Dig soil for annuals and add amend-ments. This prepares a plot for early trans-plants from the greenhouse or cold frame when spring arrives.

• Scan seed catalogs for new varieties. Order early to insure your choice is avail-able. Look for those that have stood the test of time. The All-American Selection Organization runs trials on these new plants and determines which are the best.

• Clean all leftover equipment from last season with a mild solu-tion of bleach t o r e d u c e any fungi or disease that m i g h t b e present. Col-lect supplies for starting seeds early.

• Bring pot-ted bulbs indoors for early spring flowers. When shoots appear on daffodil, hyacinth, and tulip bulbs, bring inside, place in a sunny window and keep moist. Check for early crocus blooms and protect from birds by placing screen cloth supported by sticks across the plants.

• Avoid cutting back ornamental grasses until spring. During winter months, these plants add movement to the landscape.

Winter is a time to think about new garden resolutions. What changes will you make? Are there new plant varieties you plan to try? What plants can you divide and share with friends? It’s also a time to reflect on God’s creations and the miracle of growth in the garden.

Carolyn Ross Tomlin, Jackson, Tenn., comes from generations of people who spent hours each day in the garden.

November 2008 29

Jupiter Unlimited

123RF

Jupiter Unlimited

To be sure it doesn’t spoil, remove turkey from the bones within a couple of hours of being cooked. Place the meat in zippered bags, and refrigerate overnight. To make stock, put the bones into a large kettle and cover with water. Boil for about an hour, chill the stock, then

30 MATURE LIVING

Recipes

Get Creative with Turkey Leftovers

A turkey feast is delicious on the day it is served, but the leftovers can soon get monotonous. Substitute turkey for chicken in your favorite recipes, or try these easy recipes to provide quick meals when you are busy with Christmas preparations in December.

by Anna Aughenbaugh

skim off and discard the fat and bones. Pour stock into freezer containers.

Cut the meat into half-inch cubes and put into one- or two-cup freezer containers. Turkey will keep in the refrigerator for three or four days or up to six months in the freezer.

Hot Turkey Sandwiches1 cup chopped turkey

breast¼ cup mayonnaise1 teaspoon soy sauce2 tablespoons thinly

sliced water chestnuts2 tablespoons thinly

sliced green pepper1 tablespoon sesame

seeds1 tablespoon finely

chopped onion

Mix all ingredients; spread on buns. Wrap each sandwich in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Yield: 2 servings

Photos by Mary Carter/Glenn Gregory

November 2008 31

Black Bean and Turkey Burritos1 cup finely chopped cooked

turkey½ cup mashed, cooked black

beans¼ cup finely chopped onion¾ cup grated cheddar cheese½ teaspoon hot sauce¼ teaspoon garlic powderpinch of cuminpinch of paprika2 large flour tortillassalsa

In a medium saucepan, mix all ingredients except tortillas and salsa. Cook over low heat until bubbly. Heat tortillas. Place half of the filling down the center of each tortilla. Top with salsa. Fold tortilla over filling. Hint: Chop

Turkey Gumbo2 tablespoons salad oil1 medium onion, chopped½ cup chopped green pepper 1 tablespoon flour

1 teaspoon garlic powder1 cup canned diced tomatoes3 ounces tomato paste½ (10-ounce) package frozen

cut-up okra

1½ teaspoon beef bouillon2 teaspoon Worcestershire

saucedash cloves¼ teaspoon chili powderpinch of basil1 bay leafdash of pepper1½ cups water1 cup cubed cooked turkey1½ cups hot cooked rice

In a large, heavy kettle, heat oil; sauté onion and pepper until crisp tender. Stir in flour and garlic powder, then remaining ingredients, except rice. Cover; simmer 10-20 minutes. Serve over hot rice. Yield: 4 servings

Anna Aughenbaugh lives in Fort Collins, Colo., and enjoys preparing huge Thanksgiving feasts for her family. It is a joy to hear them tell what they are most thankful for.

turkey, beans, and onion in a food processor. Heat mixture in a microwave about 2 minutes on high. Yield: 2 servings

32 MATURE LIVING

Q: Gas prices keep eating more and

more of my monthly income. It is affecting everything I am buy-ing, and I just don’t know what to do. Any ideas?

A: Let’s start by driv-ing less. Cars get

great gas mileage when they sit in the driveway. I have been somewhat amused by the local news shows interview-

ing people about their solutions. Answers like driving less are almost always at the top of their plans.

So, how is it possible to drive less in a society on the go? Always ask yourself if the trip you are about to take to the market is essential or if it could be combined with another trip. We are so spoiled in this country. We want it all — a big, fuel-inefficient car, unlimited freedom to go to as many places as often as we want, and relatively inexpensive fuel.

I recently received a birthday card show-ing gasoline was 19 cents per gallon the year I was born. If the price had gone up by a 5 percent inflation rate and taxes over my lifetime, I should be paying $4.53 per gallon today. This is not far off what we are paying now.

The problem is many people are still trying to pay for increasing expenses like gasoline

with a fixed income. It doesn’t work! Since I don’t hold out much hope in directly affecting oil company operations, the only real control is my decision to drive less in a well tuned, energy-efficient vehicle or by using public transportation, car pooling, etc.

Having paid $7.50 per gallon in New Zealand last year, I know it can be worse. I did see a lot of smaller cars on the road. Maybe we can learn from their example.

Q: I recently was approved for Medi-care. I have subsequently learned

that I am paying more for my Part B Medicare than most of my friends. Why? I thought the premium was the same for everyone.

A: Talk about something that got slipped into the law! On December 8, 2003,

Medicare part D (drug plan) went into effect. Attached to this program, starting January 1, 2007, was the ability for some higher income people to pay more for Medicare Part B. Prior to this, the premium paid by a Part B beneficiary was the same but only covered approximately 25 percent of the per person cost. The balance was subsidized by the taxpayers through the federal government. The new tax required people with income over a certain “threshold” amount to receive a lower taxpayer subsidy. This has the effect of raising the Medicare Part B premiums above the standard premium.

Your records with the IRS can disclose the information to the Social Security

Doug O’Rear, of Pegram, Tenn., is a Certified Financial Planner®.

Money Matters

Coping with Ga$ Price$

November 2008 33

Administration regarding your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). These tax records will be released by the IRS to the Social Security Administration to determine if you have to pay more because your income is much greater than “standard.”

Most of my research for this article came from the Social Security Web site (www.ssa.gov). I am not including any specific income thresholds since there are so many variables. Work with an accountant to determine the possible impact of this regulation on your retirement income.

[Editor’s note: To learn more about Medi-care Part B coverage, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.]

Q: My employer has announced that our company pension plan is being

discontinued. It is being replaced by a 401(k) plan. This has me concerned since I had planned on receiving a much larger retirement check than I may get now. Any ideas on this subject?

A: Traditional pension plans required employers to set aside specific sums

each year to pay benefits for future retirees. This payment would assure the retiree of a specific amount at retirement that was generally never increased.

The problem arose when the employers were asked to pay in for an older work force and pay out longer for an aging group of retirees. Often the amount set aside was offset by earnings on the retirement money pool. The calculation became very complex and expensive.

A 401(k) plan is really a type of profit sharing plan. It is usually designed to allow employees to contribute some of their own money either as a pre- or post-tax payment. There is often some kind of matching arrangement for the first 4 to 6 percent of the employees’ contribu-

tions. There are at least three choices of where to put employee money within the plan and often the employer’s contribution as well.

Vesting is a term referring to when the employee has ownership of the assets in the plan. Employees are always vested immediately in their contributions. The employer portion of contributions will depend on a vesting schedule that ranges from immediately to a few years.

Contributions by the employee can be made on a pre- or post-tax basis. What this means is that employees who elect pre-tax contribu-tions do not pay taxes on the contributions but must pay taxes on all future withdrawals. Post-tax contributions, such as the Roth pro-visions, mean employees pay taxes on contri-butions but not on withdrawals. Each employ-ee needs to determine, with the advice of his or her accountant, which is best.

Now that I have attempted to describe what is happening, let’s see if this is anything for you to be worried about.

In 2008, if you are over age 50, you can contribute up to $20,500 to your portion of the 401(k). Any employer contribution would be in addition to this. With the help of your Certified Financial Planner and accountant, determine if your contributions should be made pre- or post-tax. Also determine how much should be contributed between the employer and you to maximize available account value at retirement.

Although you will probably need to partici-pate in this retirement plan going forward, I think you will be very pleased with the benefit compared to the pension plan.

NOTE: Answers to questions are based on the best information available at the time this feature is due to the publisher. However, changes in legislation and interpretation may occur before the publication date. Readers are encouraged to always discuss the topic in question with their personal financial planner, attorney, or tax advisor.

Send your financial questions toMature Living

One LifeWay PlazaNashville, TN 37234-0175

34 MATURE LIVING

Fish was another very important protein source in the Mediterra-nean\Israe l i te diet. Some of Jesus’ disciples were fish-ermen who plied their trade in the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and sometimes in the Mediterranean. They didn’t know that fish supply a

very important fatty acid called omega 3. This nutrient not only helps blood platelets slide by each other more easily and fights inflammation, but it also supports

proper brain function.

Olive Oil A cornerstone of the Mediterra-

nean\Israelite diet, olive oil is one of the most beneficial foods on earth. It is a monosatu-rated fat that actually helps build a better cholesterol ratio in the body. Specifically,

it leaves levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) alone, and

it helps lower the low density

When the twelve spies returned from scouting the land of Canaan, or the promised land, they described it as

a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Num. 13:27, HCSB). We now know that these two foods are especially nutritious. Milk, frequently promoted as a weight-loss agent, and other dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, pro-vide essential calcium and potassium, along with other vitamins and minerals. Honey is full of antioxidants that help protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Protein SourcesRed meat was eaten infrequently because of lack of cold storage. When meat was eaten, as in the killing of the fatted calf (Luke 15:23), it was consumed all at one time. Animal fat was wisely prohibited.

After the Babylonian exile, chickens and their eggs became a main source of protein. The big difference is that today’s chickens are generally raised in very confined conditions and are given hormones to fatten them up. The Israelites’ chickens were similar to what we now call free-range chickens in that they had room to move.

Physical Fitness for Seniors by Joel Malone

Optimal NutritionMany nutritionists recommend a Mediterranean-type diet as the top choice

for their clients. They may not realize that this superior diet was the basic diet of the Israelites, God’s chosen people.

November 2008 35

lipoprotein (LDL), the type of cholesterol that sticks to artery walls and can eventually form a damaging clot. (HDL often is referred to as “good” cholesterol and LDL as “bad” cho-lesterol.) Olive oil also has antioxidants that keep LDL cholesterol from sticking to walls in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, these favorable com-pounds help protect against breast cancer.

Olive oil figures prominently in 1 Kings 17:8-15. Elijah asked a widow to prepare a meal, and when she did, the oil never ran out.

Breads and StarchesBread, another staple of the Mediterranean/Israelite diet, wasn’t the white processed type that is commonly eaten today. In many cases it was made of barley. Barley is very slow to digest and, therefore, does not spike glucose and insulin levels, thus preventing a tendency toward weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

Other staples of this diet were peas, lentils, and beans. Beans and all legumes with their high fiber content can stabilize blood sugar levels, lower total cholesterol, and reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

Vegetables and FruitsOnions, leeks, garlic, beets, cucumbers, and lettuce were often part of the typical meal. Onions and leeks, which help fight heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and high

cholesterol, contain fla-vonoids, antioxidants, and sulfur components that raise HDL levels and drop triglycerides. Garlic is legendary in its ability to lower cho-lesterol and increase viscosity of the blood.

For dessert, beneficial fruits, such as dates, figs, pomegranates, melons, grapes, and raisins, were included. The fiber in figs can

help prevent heart disease. Like most fruits, they also have a high amount of potassium

which helps balance the sodium so prevalent in processed foods. Melons have a similar quality and help keep blood pressure in check. Grapes have the antioxidant reservatol, a good blood thinner. Raisins are high in fiber and also help lower blood pressure. Finally, pomegranate juice has been shown to be extremely high in antioxidants.

I believe a Mediterranean/Israelite-style diet is the premiere food plan for the human family, and, as a fitness educator, it has become my number one nutritional recommendation.

Joel Malone, who resides in Franklin, Tenn., with his wife, Jody, has 39 years of specialized study and experience in health fitness. Pres-ently, he is an instructor for health and human performance at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. In addition to cross training, Joel also enjoys fishing and reading.

Corb

is

BThanksgiving

Gets a New Deal

by Joy Pennock Gage

I came of age,

politically, one

November when

the world was at

war, the U.S. was

entrenched in

Franklin Delano

Roosevelt’s New

Deal, and I was

caught up in a

childhood crisis.

Because of a family illness, my sister and I were staying with my grand-parents. They lived over three miles from our one-room school, and every day I walked the road with a half dozen classmates who regularly spouted political opinions. A presidential election year was looming, and my com-panions were adamant that we should not “change horses in the middle of the stream.” That sounded pretty risky to me, but I wasn’t sure what it had to do with F.D.R. running for president again. In fact I was sure of only two things. My grandfather was the only Republican for miles around, and he had no use for Democrats in general or the president in particular. Everyone else in our tri-county area thought F.D.R. was up there right next to God. Grandfather was a gentle, laid-back kind of a man for the most part. But he walked on the edge of madness in the face of political controversy. That year, my ninth, Thanksgiving became a political controversy.

During the months leading up to Thanksgiving, the world beyond our Missouri Ozark community was caught up in the exploits of a dictator who was marching across Europe, gobbling up countries as he went. Each evening, Grandpa’s battery-powered radio brought reports of the mad man and his equally mad followers screaming, “Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!” It was strangely dis-turbing to a young girl who had yet to see more than 100 people gathered in a single place. I listened in quiet ter-ror until Grandpa rose and turned the knob, thus shut-ting out the outside world with its turmoil. Wisely, he chose not to discuss the world events in front of us.

Not so with my compan-ions on the road. Every day they argued enthusiastically

November 2008 37

Corbis

Corb

is

about potential world disaster and whether or not America should get into the war. I thought them much wiser than I because they had political views on everything. Never mind that even I knew they were only mimicking the opin-ions of their elders. I had no opinions to mimic because whatever political views Grandpa had, he kept to himself.

Until November.Early in the month, Pres-

ident Roosevelt made his Thanksgiving proclama-tion, announcing that the official Thanksgiving holi-day would be on the fourth Thursday of the month rather than the last.

Grandpa exploded.He had remained calm

through months of brief war bulletins, but that night the turn of the knob was followed by an angry discourse on the New Deal politics of F.D.R. “What right does he have to change Thanksgiving?” he bellowed. “It just proves what I’ve said all along. The man is nothing but a dictator!”

For the first time, I had opinions to mimic on our long walks to school. But did I dare? If I had learned anything about community politics, it was that everyone except my grandfather agreed with F.D.R. When the president spoke, it was like the eleventh commandment.

For days I held my tongue as my compan-ions argued in favor of the proclamation. It made perfect sense, they reasoned. After all, in most years, the fourth Thursday would be the last so it wouldn’t make any difference. But on the years when we had a fifth Thurs-day, well the president was right. It was just too close to Christmas. They proclaimed F.D.R. a very wise man.

Things got tense at my grandparents’ home. Grandpa stubbornly insisted he would not acknowledge the “Democrat Thanksgiving.” Gradually my vision of double helpings of

dressing and gravy began to slip away. After going through weeks without my parents, now I would have to go through November without Thanksgiving. Little did I know that when it came to wisdom, Grandma was right up there next to F.D.R. She saved the day.

One morning she announced we would celebrate two Thanksgivings — one for the chil-

dren on the official day (the Democrat day), and one for Grandpa on the real day. When we protested that we would be in school on the real holiday, she said, “We’ll have it at supper time when you come home from school.”

I savored the thought. What could be better than cel-ebrating two Thanks-givings? At last, I had something that would get the attention of my classmates. I

made my announcement to them, knowing full well that no one else would enjoy the double celebration.

True to his word, Grandpa made himself scarce on the official holiday. We accepted his absence as readily as we accepted Grandma’s solution to the dilemma. Even as we stuffed ourselves, we talked excitedly of the second celebration just a week away.

My political eyes were opened as I caught the implications of our situation. Although I couldn’t put a name to it, I could see that political controversy had served me well. I would, after all, enjoy two days of double helpings of dressing and gravy. Where could you get a better deal?

Joy Pennock Gage lives in Cottonwood, Ariz. She still loves double helpings of dressing and gravy and visits her former Ozark homeland as often as possible. An author of 16 books and numerous articles, she works as a mentor for the Jerry Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

38 MATURE LIVING

I would, after all, enjoy two days of double helpings of dressing and gravy. Where could you get a better deal?

ClassicStock

BO-2020 Product Ad HomeLifeF.indd 1 3/18/08 3:38:56 PM

40 MATURE LIVING

F i c t i o n

Esprit de C orps

Coach Whitney warned us that the

State School for the Deaf football

team had uncommon esprit de

corps. We didn’t know exactly

what he meant, but we found out

soon enough.

by Archie D. Younger

I l l u s t r a t i o n s b y J e f f P r e s t o n

Esprit de C orps “What is it that makes them great?” Whitney asked. “Man for man they’re no bigger than we are.

They’re not faster. They’re no more experi-enced, really, and they’re playing with a severe handicap. So what is it they have that we lack?”

Without waiting for an answer, he wrote esprit de corps on the blackboard. Dutifully, I copied it on my clipboard.

“Some of you boys are dedicated; I’m not denying that,” Whitney continued. “Some of you play as hard as you can, and you put your whole heart into it. But as a football team, overall, we lack esprit de corps. And we need to get us some if we ever hope to defeat the State School.”

It was 1943, my last year of high school, and as student manager of our team, I took my job seriously. Immediately I sought out Darrell Jordan, a brain if there ever was one. Darrell already knew almost everything, but he added to his knowledge continually. Subject by subject, he was working his way through the huge Encyclopedia Britannica and was already reading Volume 9, GAR-HOV.

“Dale, Coach says our team needs esprit de corps. What exactly does he mean?” Dale didn’t mind questions and wouldn’t laugh at you unless it was something really stupid. “It’s French,” he said patiently. “It means the common spirit filling all the members of a body of persons; it implies sympathy, enthusiasm, devotion, and jealous regard for the honor of the body as a whole.” After a moment’s reflection, he added, “I imagine Coach Whitney is focused especially on that last part — jealous regard for the honor of the body as a whole.”

“Dale, I don’t have the foggiest notion how our team can get enough of that in time to help us beat the School for the Deaf. They’ve trounced us two years in a row already — that’s four games. And this is Coach Whitney’s first year here.”

November 2008 41

The monumental war effort had brought inevitable change even to our high school. Almost everything was in short supply; gaso-line and food were rationed; male teachers of military age were gone. My physics teacher was a retiree from industry — he was over 70-years old. And white-haired Jerome Whitney, a former college assistant coach, had come out of retirement when our regular coach was drafted.

Because of gas rationing, our school had rearranged our schedule to play only schools within a 20-mile radius. There were four such schools includ-ing the State School for the Deaf. We played each team twice during an eight-game season — once away and once at home. We switched from 11-man to 6-man football and played on a shortened 80-yard field. That took a little getting used to, but it was still football. And considering the world was at war, it was probably sensible.

I was Coach Whitney’s shadow on the prac-tice field and on the sidelines during games. He paced; I paced. He bobbed; I bobbed. I made careful notes on my clipboard of things he wanted to remember and miscellaneous inspi-rational things he said. I was his second pair of eyes and ears. And now that I was freshly sensitized, I looked diligently for evidence of esprit de corps. We didn’t have fancy football stadiums with bleachers and lights. And our football games were played on Friday after-noons starting at 3 p.m., exactly 15 minutes after school let out.

At 2:50, when the School for the Deaf players poured out of their bus, I was on full alert. They already had their helmets on, and they sprinted the hundred yards to the field like they were bound for glory. Their uniforms were brilliant scarlet and snowy white. Our boys, clad in blue and gold, were waiting warily by our benches. The School for the Deaf players

formed a circle around their coach who was standing near their benches with both arms raised. He knelt down. The boys removed their helmets in unison and knelt around him, their heads bowed. Then he stood up and strode

toward the center of the field; they rose and followed him, bare headed. Instantly they formed a line and waited for our boys to come out to greet them. They smiled and shook hands with our players, one by one. Then on some imperceptible signal, their helmets were back on and they were sprinting toward their benches. It was impressive.

The game began, and so did our nearly immediate descent into defeat. We were primarily a running team; we would get the ball and eke out a little drive of three of seven plays before they stopped us cold. Just

42 MATURE LIVING

F i c t i o n

as one of our backs looked like he might gain a little yardage, perhaps break away, a crimson and white uniform would flatten him. Then the deaf boy would stand, smile, and offer a hand to pull our man up on their side. It was all very polite and sportsman-like, but on our side, tempers were flaring. It was maddening. Time after time for us it was zip, bang, zip, bang, zip, bang, punt. And when they had the ball, they blocked with precision for their backs who ran like rabbits toward the goal line. As the first half ended, the State School was leading 28 to 0.

Coach Whitney said admiringly, “Watch what their quarterback does.” From what I could see, there was a brief communication by sign lan-guage in the huddle. No wasted time. The crim-son and white linemen took their stance. The

quarterback, standing right behind the line, looked our boys over carefully then touched each of his linemen on the back without look-ing down at them. He dropped back a few feet, glanced left and right at his ball carriers, and on a signal I could not perceive, received the ball as their linemen lunged forward to open a hole, plowing our guys left or right as required, while one back or the other ran right straight through the hole unimpeded. For them it was five, seven, 10 yards at a clip. And each time the ball carrier got up, he smiled and patted our defender on the arm, as if to say, “nice tackle.”

Coach Whitney muttered, “Esprit de corps.” We didn’t win the game that day. We lost 42

to 13. But we did gain a little something. We began to see, if imperfectly and perhaps a little resentfully, what Coach Whitney was talking

about. Those deaf boys were committed to something beyond themselves as indi-viduals or their school as an institution. They were dedi-cated to the idea that through good sportsman-ship they could demonstrate the value of their group as sterling human beings, and they were determined to make that truth abundantly clear. They were not arro-gant about it, but they were enthusiastic in the pursuit of their ideal. They shared honor liberally among them-selves, took pleasure in it, and wore it like a mantle. Coach Whitney was right; they had it and we needed it. Esprit de corps.

Archie D. Younger lives in Rochester, Mills, Pa., where he enjoys independent film making, music, writing short stories, and maintaining the family farmstead.

November 2008 43

Those deaf boys were … dedicated to

the idea that through good sportsmanship

they could demonstrate the value of

their group.

44 MATURE LIVING

Fun ’n Games by Christy Bower

salute to

veterans

If you are a veteran, we salute you for your service to our country. Search up, down, forward, backward, and diagonally to find things associated with veterans. The solution is on page 56.

Christy Bower resides in Whitefish, Mont., and considers Glacier National Park her backyard.

R E C I F F O R O L A V P Y U

N U N I F O R M Y M R A U T N

K A V E T E R A N M I A R U I

U N T R C M A R I N E S P D T

P O W I Q O P R O U D S L G E

N A T I O N A L A N T H E M D

E V A R B N A S S V F F H O S

L E H E R O A K T A L L E B T

B C R O N O H L S G L C A J A

B R R C O U R A G E U U R G T

Z O A M E R I C A U R A T Q E

N F D E T S I L N E A V R E S

A R M E D F O R C E S R E D O

W I M E M O R I A L R U D L O

E A Z R E S E R V E S Y V A N

Air Force

America

Armed Forces

Army

Brave

Coast Guard

Courage

Duty

Enlisted

Flag

Hero

Honor

Marines

Memorial

MIA

National Guard

Navy

Officer

POW

Proud

Purple Heart

Reserves

Salute

Serve

Uniform

United States

Valor

Veteran

National Anthem

Jupiter Images

You yearn all your lifeTo travel here and there;But by the time you can afford a trip,You no longer want to go anywhere. — Bob Coder, Allen, Texas

I shop the day after Thanksgiving,But a thought pops into my head:Why do they call it “Black Friday,”When it puts me in the red? — Lyn Keys Tutor, Magee, Miss.

I didn’t run the vacuum;I didn’t bake their favorite treat;I didn’t sweat Thanksgiving —I took everyone out to eat. — Jacqueline Schiff, Moline, Ill.

I will sing my praises to my Lord,Though melodious they may not be; And just the fact that I’m praising HimBrings my Father’s blessings down on me. — Laverne Hart, Weatherford, Texas

“Escape reality with TV”;That’s how the slogan goes.So what bright light decided onSo many reality shows? — Mary Mullen, Reading, Mass.

If giving thanks is a habitOf your everyday living,Then you’re always preparedTo celebrate Thanksgiving. — Sue M. Ford, Homer, La.

We dreamed of going to Hawaii,But it’s delayed due to the recession.That’s why my hubby and IAre having a tropical depression. — Suzan L. Wiener, Spring Hill, Fla.

With a turkey in the ovenAnd the aromas from the stove,We’re promised a feast to make everyoneForget how far they drove. — Ralph Polk, Warrenton, Va.

Why can’t a man respondTo a woman’s kindly adviceThe way he does to the feminine voiceOn his global positioning device? — Betty D. Sexton, Corpus Christi, Texas

I’ve grieved about many things, the older I get A feeble voice, a loss of sight, a heart that’s weak — and yet, Today I have a lasting joy, eternal and divine, For Jesus put His love in me, and now, His life is mine! — Elva Tramontano, Tampa, Fla.

My dog comes when he wishes, And he doesn’t fetch sticks. But when I get out his leash, He does all sorts of tricks. — Guy Belleranti, Tucson, Ariz.

I never saw many politiciansWho would, up front, tell the truth.Their honeyed promises only lastTill you leave the voting booth. — Roxie Milam Wallace, Memphis, Tenn.

Cracker Barrel

November 2008 45

46 MATURE LIVING

What Next — Distemper?

If you heard a member of the medical profession announce, “It’s parvo,” your first response would naturally be, “Oh, the poor puppy. That’s fatal, isn’t it?”

Well, there were times when I wished it would be. The doctor was not a veterinarian, and it was me he was diagnosing — not my dog!

Yes, humans can contract parvo. I’m living proof. I had been having heart palpitations that week and was seeing my doctor. As I left his office, I noticed a pain in my thumb. Oh, no, I thought. Not another ailment. It’s just arthritis. If I ignore it, perhaps it will go away. I wasn’t going to mention it to my husband who had just spent two days at the hospital with me.

Getty Images

by Edna Grebe

As we drove home, my thumb became increasingly painful. Finally, when it became excruciating, I said to my husband, “I hate to tell you this, but my thumb hurts.” We laughed, although I didn’t feel like it.

By the time I sat in my favorite chair at home, my whole hand felt as if it were on fire. Not wanting to complain, I bravely bore my agony in silence. But then, my other hand began to hurt.

Soon, any movement of my arms below the elbow made me moan aloud. That rapidly turned into “lady-like” yowls. My pain had gone beyond funny. My sweet and sympa-thetic husband had an idea. He wrapped my hands and arms in ace bandages to inhibit movement. That helped for a while.

Within a few hours, my right knee began to hurt. You guessed it — following the same routine, the other knee did its thing. I couldn’t even stand up without wanting to scream.

When night came, I couldn’t climb the stairs to our bedroom. My husband offered to carry me, but I declined since it’s all he can do to get himself upstairs. I didn’t even want to move to the sofa, so I sat in my chair all night. This turned into several nights.

I’ve given birth to five children, and I’ve had enough kidney stones to make a necklace — OK, a bracelet — but I have never endured such excruciating pain over so many places at one time.

Then my shoulders began that same course. I was absolutely overcome with pain.

The next morning, my husband called the doctor. He was told to bring me into the office immediately. After an exami-nation, my doctor said, “It sounds like parvo.”

“Parvo!” I exclaimed. “That’s a dog disease.”

“Well, humans can get it, too. In children it has the symptoms of the flu — nausea, fever, vomiting, and so on. But in adults, it’s like extreme arthritis and is very painful.”

He went on, “We’ll draw blood and send it to the lab. If it is parvo, it will take several days

to get the results. In the meantime, I’ll give you pain medications and anti-inflammatory pills.”

Indeed, in about two weeks the doctor called and verified his original diagnosis. It was parvo. “I hope you are feeling better,” he sympathized.

My children and grandchildren were all very kind and helpful during my illness. My son-in-law, full of concern, asked if my doctor had prescribed “FrontLine” on the chance fleas and ticks would bother me.

One grandson was worried I might go out alone at night to howl at the moon. “The coyotes could get you, Grandma!”

Then, to top it all off, they became concerned about our dogs. “Don’t eat out of their bowls, Grandma; they might catch it.”

No, the animals were safe. They cannot contract the human virus nor humans the animal virus.

I was also told the disease is highly conta-gious. I wondered when I had gotten it and why someone else in the family hadn’t come down with it, too.

“Oh, for all I know, we might all have had it, Mom. We just aren’t that fond of dog food or baying at the moon,” my daughter informed me.

Edna Grebe of Nixa, Mo., has been married for more than 50 years and has five children and nine grandchildren. In retirement, she’s settled into writing for enjoyment and fulfillment.

The Falcons, clad in yellow and black, and the Dragons, in blue and white, qualified for the contest by winning

their respective 9- and 10-year-old divisions. The youngsters jumped around, unable to con-tain their nervous energy. The coaches huddled with their players, issuing final instructions and reminding them to have fun and enjoy the game.

The cheering fans erupted as the teams spilled onto the field. The boys were eager to kick off the opening round of competition. I paced the sideline, coat collar turned up against the chilling wind. I spotted yellow number 12 dashing toward me. A big smile lit up the lad’s face.

“Hi, Gramps!” Brandon was excited. “I knew you’d come.”

“I’d never miss this game,” I assured him.

“I’ll get ya a goal, OK?”I draped an arm around my great-grandson.

Touched by his promise, I struggled with a response. The words didn’t come easy.

“Just do your best, OK?”The boy raced back to his position as the

referee’s whistle signaled the start of the contest. The action moved up and down the field at a fast pace. The rivals kicked and scrambled for the ball. They suffered bumps and bruises with painful expressions, but no tears were shed. With the first half drawing to a close, Blue scored on what seemed to be an off-side shot. The ball glanced off the top crossbar, dropping on the goal line as the Yellow goalie pounced on it. To the Falcons’ dismay, the referee ruled in favor of their opponent. The coach tried to lift the spirits of his players slouching on the bench.

48 MATURE LIVING

A Game to Remember

by Fred L. Joshu

The national anthem blared over the public address system, piercing the cold November air and quieting the bleacher crowd. After weeks of anticipation, the county youth association’s soccer tournament was about to begin.

“Hey, we’re doing great.” Glum faces stared at him. “We’ll get it back, OK?”

“C’mon, we’ll show ’em,” challenged one boy.“They were lucky,” claimed the coach. “You

can beat them, right?”“Yeah, we’re just as good as them guys,”

chimed in another.The boys stomped around, trying to keep

warm. The cold wind reddened arms and legs, and faces looked frozen. Their confi-dence restored, the thirsty players drained water bottles and charged onto the field. Play resumed at a rugged pace and though tiring, the kids performed beyond their years. Then, with few minutes left in the game, a Yellow attacker broke free of the pack. Deftly controlling the ball, he eluded the defenders swarming around him and raced in on the opponent’s net. I caught my breath when I glimpsed the number 12 as Brandon whirled around to launch a clear shot on goal.

But the Blue goalie charged out to meet the challenge. The youngsters collided head-on, crashing to the ground with arms and legs tangled. The crowd groaned as the referee’s whistle signaled a foul, though determining the guilty player would be a tough call. The coaches gathered around the fallen players, relieved that they were not seriously injured. The fans let out a collective sigh of relief as the dazed boys painfully gained their feet. They inspected their bumps and bruises while the referee pondered the penalty call.

Then Brandon raised his hand, admitting fault. His puzzled opponent stared at him in disbelief. If the referee charged the Blue defender, a free kick by Yellow would tie the game. The surprised official — spared a controversial decision that would deter-mine the outcome of the game — paused to acknowledge the Yellow player with a pat on the back. Instead of hoping the referee would

November 2008 49

Illustrations by Dean Shelton

penalize his opponent, the youngster accepted responsibility.

The boy’s display of character and sports-manship meant nothing to the booing fans who considered winning a mere kids’ game more important. The jeers hurled at him angered me. With time running out, the dejected Falcons stood by as the Dragons cleared the ball downfield. Then they gathered around their downhearted teammate, a show of support that passed unnoticed.

The teams mingled at mid-field, no longer opponents. Just kids laughing about a game soon to be forgotten. I stood on the sideline, pleased to see the two boys sharing a hand-shake. They compared bruises and joked about the penalty call. The scene warmed me, but it was lost on many of the spectators. Then Brandon limped over to me with a sheepish grin on his sweaty face.

“What about your leg?”“My knee is sore,” replied Brandon, shrug-

ging his shoulders. “But it’s OK.”“How’s that bump on your forehead?”“Oh, don’t worry,” he assured me. “It doesn’t

hurt.”The boy grew quiet, dropping his head as

he leaned against me.“Gramps, I’m sorry ’bout …”“No, you did fine.” I held him close. “I’m

really proud of you.”“Yeah, I guess, but …” He couldn’t hide his

disappointment.I’d seen many of Brandon’s less memorable

games, but this one would stay with me. The proud parents joined us, and after replaying the game for a few minutes, the family hurried to the concession stand. I headed for the parking lot. Glancing back, my boy seemed taller and more grown-up. I knew he would be able to cope with whatever young manhood had in store for him.

Fred L. Joshu and his wife of 60 years, Marilyn, are natives of St. Louis. Their three children, three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren are their greatest joys and provide the inspiration for many of Fred’s stories and poems.

50 MATURE LIVING

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Spring Celebration in Branson. Four-star trip. Five-star fun.

Chateau on the Lake Branson, Missouri.April 21-24, 2009Cost: $446*

Experience spring in the Ozarks at a beautiful four-star resort. Enjoy shows, attractions, great food, Bible study, worship, and more.

Keynote Speaker: Danny Singleton, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia

Bible Study Leader: Darryle Dunks, Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas

Music/Worship: Jeff Bennett, Springfield, Missouri

* $446 is approximate total of program fee and hotel package price, before taxes.

$214 program fee includes: Tuesday dinner, Acrobats of China, Pierce Arrow Theater, and theatrical presentation of Noah.

$232 hotel package price (per person double occupancy) includes: three nights’ lodging, breakfast Wednesday and Thursday, and baggage handling fee. (Price does not include taxes.)

To register for the Spring Branson Celebration, call 800.254.2022 or visit www.lifeway.com/senioradults. Prices will increase after March 20, 2009 or whenever the LifeWay block gets filled, so register early.

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52 MATURE LIVING

The historical Hemet Stock Farm was once the shimmering jewel of the Hemet San Jacinto Valley. The 36-acre ranch was

home to record-setting thoroughbreds such as Wilbur Lou and Field Master and bustled with activity and excitement.

In spite of the Stock Farm’s colorful history, the weather worn buildings are now deserted and dilapidated, the race track overgrown with weeds. Years of discussions and debates failed to save the landmark. Those sunny days of sipping frosty lemonade beneath the lacy umbrellas of giant pepper trees and watching proud steeds race are a fading memory — forgotten by most.

When I passed by that farm, it reminded me of times when I fell into spiritual disrepair, stum-bling through divorce, job loss, financial difficulties, and unexpected tragedy.

My life was in shambles. I felt deserted and forgotten, sometimes even by God. My heart became choked and overgrown by tangled vines of bitterness. I was ready to crumble.

Then a still small voice reminded me: “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, HCSB).

The words in 1 Peter 5:10 are especially encouraging. Here Peter tells believers, “Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little” (HCSB).

As I venture through my “golden years,” I have the assurance — God’s guarantee —

that whether I need minor spiritual refurbishing or complete restoration, I simply need to humble myself in submission to God, the Master Restorer, and in faith ask Him to restore me to the person He would have me be. The psalmist wrote, “Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12, HCSB).

Without discussion or debate, God will mend our broken hearts, rebuild our confidence, strengthen our faith, and restore our peace. We are far more important to Him than anything on earth, more valuable than any jewel. He will gladly take our battered, neglected lives and make them new and beautiful.

— Mary E. Doll

Communing with God

Master restorer

Photos courtesy of the City of Hemet

November 2008 53

Daily Devotional Readings for November

1. He Does What He Says — Acts 1:1-4 2. No More Death — John 11:19-27 3. Love That Cannot Be Defeated —

Romans 8:35-39 4. Finishing Well — 2 Timothy 4:6-8 5. Don’t Be Deceived — Proverbs 23:6-9 6. Only One True Gospel — Galatians

1:6-10 7. Trust God’s Direction — Genesis 12:1-5 8. God is Love! — 1 John 4:12-16 9. Sure Hope — Psalm 40:1-410. Look Forward — Luke 9:57-6211. He Needs No Help — Isaiah 40:12-1712. God’s Supreme Revelation — Hebrews

1:1-413. How to Be Useful and Fruitful —

2 Peter 1:5-814. The Real Self Will Be Revealed — Luke

12:1-315. The Path to Mercy — Proverbs 28:12-1816. Jesus Only — Matthew 17:1-8

17. From Curiosity to Conversion — Luke 19:1-10

18. Think About It! — Psalm 119:57-6419. Do Some Extra Walking Today —

Matthew 5:38-4220. Union with Christ by Faith — Galatians

2:15-2121. Feeling a Little Low? — Psalm 42:1-1122. What a Goal! — Matthew 5:43-4823. Why Love Others? — 1 John 4:17-2124. The Way Living Should Be — Galatians

5:24-26 25. Pay Attention to Correction — Proverbs

15:30-3326. Be Content and Thankful — Ecclesiastes

2:24-2627. Bless the Name of the Lord — Psalm

100:1-528. Live in Freedom — Galatians 5:1-529. The Right Way to Act — Romans 13:8-1030. Guard Your Heart — Proverbs 4:20-27

Unnoticed Blessings

Thank You for blessings we don’t notice — for sun shining through a break in the clouds, the heat in the house on a frigid morning, the son who calls for no particular reason, the flowers bought to brighten an overcast day.

Thank You for blessings that uplift us — for the neighbor who brings dinner when i’m sick, for the book that surprises me with its wisdom, for newspaper headlines that report good news, and friends who are brave in the face of illness.

For all of these and more — For hope and true joy and love, i thank You, Lord.

— Nadine N. Doughty

54 MATURE LIVING

ABMA MeetingSince its beginning, ABMA (Association of Baptist Ministries with the Aging) has focused on improving ministry to mature adults (55 and over) through Baptist churches, associations, state and national bodies, and through Baptist-affiliated long-term care health providers.

ABMA’s organization consists of two sections: Church and Denomination and Long-term Care and Housing. ABMA’s next annual meeting:

First Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi, February 22-24, 2009For more detailed information about the 2009 meeting, go online www.abma.us.

What’s Going On

Help honor our veterans on Veterans Day, November 11. Attend a parade. Express your thanks to a veteran with a personal visit, note, or phone call.

Veterans Day: A Brief History

• In November 1919, after the end of World War I, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.

• An Act approved May 13, 1938, made November 11 in each year a legal holiday.

• The 83rd Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” On June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

• From 1968 to 1975, Veterans Day was observed on Mondays in order to insure three-day weekends for Federal employees.

• In 1975, President Ford signed Public Law 94-97, restoring Veterans Day to November 11. Veterans Day continues to be observed on Novem-ber 11, regardless of what day of the week it falls on.

(Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

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Looking for ways to find fulfillment in Christian living as a 55+ adult? Mature Living can help.Order your personal subscription to Mature Living, or give a gift subscription to someone special. A one-year subscription is only $21.95, a 27% savings off our regular published price.*

Resources

Compassionate Caregiving: Practical Help and Spiritual Encouragement

by Lois D. KnutsonBethany House, 2007$14.99, paperback (ISBN 0-7642-0371-1)

Caring for an elderly parent, ailing spouse, or chronically ill friend can be overwhelming. Lois Knutson comes alongside to encourage and strengthen you with practical advice learned from years of caring for her own mother as well as her experience as a health care chaplain. Learn how your caregiving can become more meaningful as you discover ways to see your role as a calling from God.

Compassionate Caregiving includes tips for:

Caring for yourself as you care for your • loved oneChoosing a nursing home or other care • facilityLong-distance caregiving• Giving care to the dying•

In these pages you’ll find workable solu-tions, reassurance, and confidence-building support for your caregiving journey, includ-ing Scripture and prayer for your loved one and you. You’ll be reminded that you’re not alone, for your heavenly Father walks beside you along the way and cares for you as you care for others.

Lois D. Knutson, a caregiver for her mother, has served as a hospital chap-lain at the Mayo Clinic hospitals. She is a nationally sought-after speaker on older adult ministry. She was also featured in the PBS documentary, “And Thou Shalt Honor,” which covered the subject of caregiving.

101 Ways to Love Your Grandkids

by Bob Barnes, Emilie BarnesHarvest House, 2004$11.99, paperback (ISBN 0-7369-1376-9)

Bob and Emilie Barnes, beloved authors and grandparents, encourage other grandparents to embrace the blessing of this important role. The 101 ideas, prayers, and stories inspire grandparents to share their legacies of faith, life, memories, and love as they pray for the needs, future, and faith of their grandchildren.

The books featured on this page can be ordered from LifeWay Christian Stores. Log on to: www.LifeWaystores.com

Solution to puzzle on page 44

56 MATURE LIVING

The MarketPlace

ADVANCED, UNEDITED READER EDITION

THE MOON IN THE MANGO TREEBy Pamela Ewen

Set in the Roaring Twenties, this richly detailed novel chronicles the life of a young woman torn between her desire to study and perform opera and her love for a man. Choosing her love leads Barbara to the jungles of Siam where her husband serves as the missionary doctor for the local people. It is here that Barbara struggles to learn what is expected of her as a missionary wife, all the while becoming enchanted with the local people and their culture.

Based on a true story, Moon in Mango Tree chronicles this young woman’s struggle for faith, meaning and purpose for her life.

MARKETING“The Moon in the Mango Tree is old-fashioned—I mean that in the best sense—tale of love, adventure faith, and the clash of desire and duty. The writing is wonderful, the story compelling.” -Brett Lott, Author of Jewel (an Oprah’s Book Club pick) and editor of The Southern Review

“Set in exotic Siam and pre-war Europe, this story of a young woman seeking the truth of herself captured my heart.” -Bev Marshall, Author of Walking Through Shadows and Right as Rain

Praise for Ewan’s 2005 debut novel, Walk Back the Cat: is Christian fiction at its best.” —ReaderViews.com

ABOUT THE AUTHORPamela Binnings Ewen practiced law for twenty-five years before following in the authorial footsteps of relatives such as James Lee Burke (The Tin Roof Blowdown) and Andre Dubus III (The House of Sand and Fog). The Moon in the Mango Tree is her second novel. Ewen lives in Mandeville, Louisiana.

Release Date: May 1, 2008ISBN-13: 978-0-8054-4733-0ISBN-10: 0-8054-4733-4Retail Price: $15.99Format: Trade paper; Page Count: 480; Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 2/5BISAC: ECPA Category: Rights: Worldwide

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58 MATURE LIVING

All through the house the aromas just glide. The table is set with chairs side by side. It’s quiet and peaceful, calm and serene, The most contented kitchen you’ve ever seen. Then the guests all begin to quickly arrive. Will the house and kitchen ever surviveThe clatter, the noise, a baby’s shrill shout? Sure, isn’t that what a holiday’s all about? — James Rhodes

Kitchen

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You’ll Find Christ-centered Gifts for Everyone on Your List

At LifeWay Christian Stores, we’ve got a wide selection of faith-inspiring

products and resources. From Bibles and books for all ages to music and

family-friendly DVDs, you’re sure to find just what you’re looking for.

3 WAYS TO SHOP: Stores: Online: Phone: Call 800.233.1123

An attitude is simply a pattern of thinking formed

over a long period of time. It’s not a product of our

genes or our circumstances. It’s our choice—which

means we can change it. In a new 11-session study

called Lord, Change My Attitude, James MacDonald

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of attitudes God hates into those He honors.

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