After 40 Years . . .

This . . .
OK this is pretty funny.
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That . . .
I played in a State Basketball Championship Tournament
40 years ago.
Got new socks for the first game - we won.
So I didn't wash the socks and wore them for the second game.
We won again.
After two wins, no way was I going to wash those socks.
We won the championship game 52-50.
It was an undefeated 25-0 State Championship season.
I tied the socks in a knot and have
kept them for forty years . . . never washed.
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So I had the socks out looking at them the other night.
After all these 40 years, the sweat from that
state tournament was still in those socks.
Left them beside my bed.
>
This is That . . .
Mom washed them.
Had them neatly laid out on the bed.
What a great (but funny) mother I have.
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Jerry James' First Basketball Game In Life

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This . . .
When I was little, I didn't have a basketball goal.
I made a small goal out of hangers and yellow yarn,
and nailed it up above the garage door.
I used a really light half size ball.
There was a flat roof over the garage,
and the ball wound up there quite often.
I would climb up the clothesline pole,
get the ball and climb back down.
I did this over and over and over.
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That . . .
I didn't realize it, but our neighbor across the street
was watching all of this take place, day after day.
He was a retired doctor??? and never seemed very friendly,
so I was suprised when he came over one day
and asked if I would like for him to put a goal up for me.
Well YEAH!
He took me to his garage and showed me a real
goal with a real backboard. Unbelievable.
Wow, this standoff neighbor was becoming my best friend.
I was so thankful, and even though I can't even remember his name,
I will never forget that wonderful act of kindness.
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This is That . . .
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Love thy neighbor.
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Acts of kindness are a really good thing.
On December 3, 1964 I wrote on a calendar . . .
Jerry James' first basketball game in life!
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Colby High School All Class Reunion

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This . . .
Grandma mowed the grass today.
She did an excellant job, it looks great!
No, wait a minute. What was I thinking?
That was me that mowed.
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That . . .
Somethin' wierd is going on in the WalMart parking lot.
The past couple of times I've been there,
someone has moved my car while I was inside.
I mean it's just not where I parked it,
so I have to wander around trying to look like
I'm not lost while pushing the button thing
to make the lights blink.
Whoever is doing this . . . it's not funny.
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This is That . . .
My 40 year high school class reunion is this week
I've been waining nostalgic. Kind of fun . . .
no wait again - I hate it.
Makes my heart hurt.
I'll be heading for Colby, Kansas on Thursday.
It's been 40 years since I have seen most of my classmates.
YIKES. I hope everyone remembers to wear clothes.
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Is it something? Or is it not.

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This . . .
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Lean not to your own understanding.
Acknowledge Him in all your ways,
And He will guide your path.
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That . . .
Is it something?
Or is it not something?
God knows . . . that's good.
I don't . . . that's frustrating.
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This is That . . .
Set my feet high on a rock,
and establish my coming and going.
Do that God.
Do that high on a rock thing.
I think my furniture would look pretty good up there.
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Basketball, Bean Bags and The Backstroke

This . . .
I remember playing basketball with my boys as they were growing up. I had an uncanny skill of making amazing shots and it was fun amazing them.
I'd be going by when they were playing and I'd say,
"Here you go, one shot".
Then I would stand on the sewer manhole cover about thirty feet out.
I made more than I missed. It was called, "The sewer shot".
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That . . .
I went thru a time of letting them win.
Then they got better and I got older.
One day, Nathan beat me one on one - straight up.
I gave it all I had and lost a bit of pride,
but gained a measure of pride as well.
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This is That . . .
My son Elliott is here visiting this week, and he brought a backyard game of the bean bag variety. In days gone by, I would beat him near every time at stuff like that.
I think I might be related to a bean bag.
We went for the best out of two games for the world championship.
Long story short - I am not the world champion.
Bummer.
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My daughter Tarah was never very competitive.
She was on the swim team and did every stroke beautifully, but didn't care much about winning or losing.
I remember her racing the backstroke once.
She finished in the middle of the pack, got out of the water and asked me,"How did I look?"
"You looked beautiful", I said.
And she did.
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Carts, Ladders and IHOP

This . . .
I went to Walmart with my daughter-in-law Amy one time.
When we got back to the car with our stuff, I didn't take the cart back to the cart place. She said that putting the cart back was one of her pet peaves.
One of my pet peaves is not putting the cart back.
My Dad always said that if you took the cart back to the store, you would make the "cart guy" lose his job. He didn't want the guy to lose his job for lack of work.
What do you do when confronted with two opposing pet peaves.
I took the cart back to it's proper spot, because making Amy happy is very important to me.
Sorry mister walmart cart guy, hope you can find another job.
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That . . .
We have had a wooden 12 foot ladder at the shop for a long time.
Back in 1980 it was falling apart.
Good friends Max and Dora came to visit Mom and Dad.
Max is a longtime carpenter, and so he fixed up the ladder pretty good.
I started using the ladder for taking pictures about 25 years ago.
Football teams, reunion groups, graduating classes, etc.
Many, many photographs have been made from atop that ladder.
Everyone around would always ask if that ladder was safe (it was pretty wobbely)
Many times, several concerned for my safety would gather around and hold the ladder, saying things like, "Oh, My!"
We used that same ladder today to take a photo of the MHS Football team.
Taylor climbed to the top and took the picture, I held it steady at the bottom and said, "Oh, My!"
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This is That . . .
The International House Of Prayer (IHOP) began 24/7 Praise, Worship & Intercession on September 19, 1999 in KC.
They will celebrate their ten year anniversary on the week-end of September 19 next month.
I am hoping to be able to go,
to review their 30 year prophetic history, ten years of 24/7 worship and intercession, and to hear the vision of what is yet to come.
It is all about Jesus . . .
His love for us and His plans to come rule and reign over us and the planet.
I want to be ready and help others to be ready as well.
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The Biggest Day

This . . .
A really cold, really good watermelon, is really good.
On my way home last night, I had a watermelon in the passenger seat.
My car kept beeping, warning that the watermelon didn't have a seat belt on.
Obviously, a watermelon is not a person.
What a dumb car.
On the other hand I guess an accident could cause the melon to projectile thru the front window and strike an unknowing person in the head.
Maybe that's what the car was thinking?
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That . . .
Try to think of the most important day or days of your life.
Being born is pretty big.
I received Jesus when I was five - really big.
I can think of several noteworthy days in high school, sports, etc.
The day I got married was certainly important.
My children's birthdays.
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This is That . . .
The biggest day for each of us?
Seeing Jesus face to face.
Looking into his eyes and realizing how loving, merciful and kind he is.
And then fully knowing our missed opportunities to live a life more devoted to Him.
I believe it will be a great and wonderful day, but also a day of regret.
Why didn't I live a life more devoted to Him and the desires of his heart?
I know how much He desires my heart to be wholehearted towards Him.
The minutes, hours, days, months and years go by.
Good intentions, but much time wasted.
Oh, that I would love Him more and more.
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What about you?
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