FUNKY FAYETTEVILLE

Not many towns flaunt THAT adjective. "Funky" can be music with a certain beat, a dark-brown attitude, an odor of the unwashed...or something original or unconventional. Those last two words really describe Fayetteville. The businesses have such creative names and the feel of business is like business conducted during Richie Cunningham and The Fonz's era. Let me be specific:

We were recliner shopping at LazyBoy when we heard Christian background music (common up here) and the salesman told us that their store is the ONLY LazyBoy in the country who is closed on Sunday. The owner says the Lord is able to provide for him if he chooses to open 6 days instead of 7. When we ordered window coverings, Beverly (the 'blind' lady) did not require us to put half of the price as a down-payment...and she gave us a jar of complementary pickles that her sister sells. Who does that? When I changed my mind about an already-delivered set of sinks for the master bath, Judy from the plumbing store didn't charge a restock fee. Unheard of! Rodrigo, the painter, patched and sanded and painted his brains out. An electrician named Travis has been with us so much we are considering adoption. I called a tile man the other day to find a specific product and he directed me to Home Depot. Isn't that the way business used to be conducted? Surely Mike and I are time travelers.

And just listen to these creative business names. We looked at granite at "Take Me for Granite" and the plumbing came from "Plumb Perfect". One of our new fav places to eat is the Sunrise Cafe (painted bright yellow, of course). It is open 24 hours and their motto is "no one is ugly after 2 AM!" You can actually get 2 eggs, 2 pieces of sausage, and 2 pancakes for $4. And for my doggie-lover friends? Decide between these canine daycare destinations..."Bark Avenue" or "Camp Bow Wow". Of course, I'm starting to pine for planting my perennials, so a neighbor recommended a plant nursery named "Chicken Holler". I LOVE this town!

Now lest the impression be left that Funky Fayetteville is Nirvana...let me describe the storm of August 5th when the ground was covered with white. Hunks of hail flew from all directions! We have seen straight-down hail and sideways hail, but never hail coming from all directions. It began by peppering, moved on to the golfball size, and then in the middle of the lightning fury, hunks of irregular sizes with sharp edges inflicted punishment. When it stopped the roofers smiled; their pickups have camped in DoubleTree these last weeks. Our screens had huge holes punched in them, it knocked paint off the siding and pockmarked the heat/air unit, and we are getting a new roof. That's twice this year DoubleTree has taken a lickin' from ice. January's ice storm you might expect, but who saw August's ice chunks coming?

Well, that's life. You take the good with the not-so-good. Jesus said the rain falls on the just and the unjust. There are certainly no perfect places this side of the New Jerusalem. But our new town is true to the first three letters of it's defining adjective.

The Message translates that "rain falling on the righteous/unrighteous" (from Matthew 5:43-48) in a different and intriguing way:

"You are familiar with the old written law 'love your friend', and it's unwritten companion, 'hate your enemy'. I (God) am challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does!

He gives His best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what (God) is saying is grow up. You are kingdom subjects; now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

DENTAL CARIES

Hey Uncle Brad! It's your nephew.

When is National Dental Caries Month? Wanna borrow my picture to heighten awareness (scare your patients)?

Luv, Nate

INCOMMUNICADO

Has The Square Nail seemed strangely quiet this summer?

Some blogs post a notice to say they will be on vacation for a couple of weeks. The Square Nail has SO not been on vacation this summer. Instead,

this blogger has been in a dusty/heavy/cardboard

Sheol under stacks of clutter. Even if you want a move with all your heart, moving is still a trip to the woodshed. Clutter is Mike's anathema and it is torturing him like a slow drip. But I'm pedaling as fast as I can. So what if his closet is meticulous already? Wait, I can't complain about Mike; he earned about a kazillion points in this move.

Before we left Little Rock, I had some of the most

wonderful friends come and help pack our kitchen.

Several had offered and I'd told them I needed to

sort things as I went, but I'd call if I got desperate.

Days before the movers came, I put my pride aside

and begged. Just look at these Happy Helpers who

packed a kitchen which arrived unbroken. I'd recommend them, but you couldn't afford Carolyn

Russell, Cindy Lynn, Raebeth Costolo, Mary Anne Waldemayer,

Becky Bailey, LeAnne Winters (can

you tell her picture didn't turn out?), and Donna Johnston.

Now month-long residents of Fayetteville, Mike and I have been fluffing the nest day and night. I guess it is easy to imagine how hard it would be to leave friends/church/doctors after being glued to a spot for 40 years, but here is what we are finding in

Fayetteville:

***it's cooler

***the sky is close and the hills are a grand backdrop

***you can drive past cows on your way to Sonic

***it has a small-town feel (even has a drive-in)

***great diversity (from gray pony-tailed Birkenstock hippies to college kids...from real

Indians and real cowboys to farmers from up in them thar hills...from professors from all

over the world to a couple of seasoned city slickers

***amazingly...the subs we have called to come out to work, the drive through clerks, or pretty much even the folks in traffic - are all just SO courteous and friendly

***once when I got off the sidewalk to go meet Phoebe the

Neighbor, I didn't get chiggers. Skeeters are also pretty rare.

***many of you may know the town motto here ("Keep F'ville Funky").

For real.
***lots of huge American flags along I540

and now the best for last:

***Saturday is Farmer's Market day when the pickups back up to the town square to sell veggies that are

too pretty to eat, flower bouquets

have a variety of dazzling zinnias,

cockscomb, and lavender...and there

are musicians and fried pies

But you know the creme de la creme?

It feels like home already. Now we understand

better the "timing" thing of our house sale. We've enjoyed food that neighbors have brought.

Our subdivision (Doubletree) has enough

Fellowship people to make a Community Group.

The leaders live across the street from us and we

are sitting together at church and going out to eat. Jehovah Jireh really has blessed Mike and I

with this house and the way it fits our needs. We

are grateful people.

And have I mentioned family?

Poor Matt was home sick, but Beth and Nate came to pack and

take a load. And then when we arrived in Fayetteville,

their welcome was so sweet. The Saferites had

filled the kitchen island with fruit and nuts and

fun things. I will scan an antique postcard that

Beth found to also put on the island. It fit. Or,

as Nate would say..."trust me, it's the truuf!"

You do all things richly, Lord.

As Paul said to the Philippians...

"My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19

POSTMORTEM

Is is "bad" to speak ill of the deceased? Flowery funeral-speak aside, the media seems determined to glorify Michael Jackson. The "elephant in the room" question is: was MJ a bad boy...a bad fifty-year-old boy? He sang repeated lyrics that proclaimed he was bad. Wait. That meant he was cool/good, not bad. As Mike would say..."give me Johnny Cash lyrics any day; I can understand them."

Why do you think there is such confusion about Michael Jackson's life?

I'm thinking it is because no one wants to appear judgmental. If you say anything about the King of Pop's life, the big ole "judge not" hammer comes out. People who normally may not study the Bible are all of a sudden using it for back-up. They might be surprised if they actually studied what that particular passage says...

Actually we ARE called on to evaluate many things. We expect our children to be able to evaluate their friends because the Bible says "bad company corrupts good morals". We are expected to evaluate the movies and TV we watch because the Psalmist says "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes". We're always evaluating our own motives, our priorities, and our plans for the day because the Bible says I should make the most of my time because I'm not guaranteed tomorrow. So I know God expects my wisdom to be ever increasing and affecting my judgment.

So how can we biblically evaluate Michael Jackson's life? Well, the Bible says we will know people by their fruit. What kind of fruit was on his tree?

Man brought charges against Mr. Jackson and then man ruled that he was innocent; there is no basis for name calling because God only knows. I find comfort in knowing that God's judgment is perfect and the cases that squeak by in this life will certainly be seen in the next life in light as bright as the noonday sun. No one skates by God's omniscience. So if we give MJ the benefit of the doubt that he was innocent of his charges, was his behavior just bizarre? Was he just the product of an abusive father?

Biblically, we are under the injunction to "avoid even the appearance of evil". When Mr. Jackson went on TV and said he liked to sleep with young boys, even if it was innocent, it gave the appearance of evil.

But WAIT. What about all the good MJ did in this life? Doesn't that count for anything? Perhaps he was a "good" father to give his kids the life he never enjoyed. And what about the money he gave to charity? We hear that he got the Guinness World Record for charitable contributions.

Ask yourself whose book recorded points for that generosity? Was it God's book or man's book? God says the things I do for impure motives (to showcase myself...to make me feel righteous...or win friends) those things are like filthy rags to Him, even if they are good things. Why? Because they aren't done for Jesus' sake; they are done for moi'. We are in effect feeling our nakedness (shame) before God and trying by our own deeds to clothe ourselves. God is not impressed. He wants to have a loving and living relationship where I come to HIM to see what He has in mind for my righteousness. The Bible says I have good deeds created before the foundation of the world that God thought up for me to accomplish. If so, I better be about finding out what those are! I want to utilize my gifting and walk in the path He made for me.

Do you think Michael Jackson's path looked like the one the Lord created for him? How profoundly sad it was that he needed operating room anesthetic to even sleep toward the end of his life. There didn't appear to be a glimmer of the joy of the Lord...only pain. The sad waste is that Jesus was always close and willing to give Michael a real reason to dance. The Lord's heart is broken for the hurting.

I get it that when an earthly father does not love well, it is more difficult for the child to understand God's love. Joe Jackson must certainly have his demons. But if a person is open to God's love, God will show Himself to that person. He sees our hearts and knows whether the ground there is plowed up or hard-baked. Was there any evidence of Jesus in Michael's life? I hope such a relationship was there, but I would hate to have to build the case for one. He did not exhibit the peace that passes understanding.

Thank goodness that I am not appointed judge for Michael Jackson's life. There is no desire to malign him now...that lonely and tortured man did a good job of maligning himself. But also we should not pretend. Whether it sounds judgmental or not, Michael Jackson wrote his own script as we all do. And the script was grotesque. Our part in this is to evaluate and decide what might bear emulating.

Jesus said "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

A TIME OF TESTING

Remember that sick feeling when you got to class and found out there was a test? I wouldn't be surprised if something like that was going on right now. The Lord is good to illustrate His life lessons in living color for us before our very eyes. And that test would be an indication of where our heart lives.

Whatever am I talking about?

What if a godly person were to die in the next few months? It might be someone who had done great good in the world. It might be someone whose example was to serve others and lift the Lord consistently. Then the funeral would be in stark contrast to the memorial service we are about to observe for Michael Jackson. Our Father is just kind enough to make that obvious comparison for us.

The tortured Michael Jackson is about to be buried, but not before people can take the final advantage of him. We are hearing reports that Ebay is scalping tickets to his "funeral". What a charade! How much is "tacky" squared? This poor soul who hid behind Neverland gates and pay-offs and even behind the hair down in his face...will now be put through yet another opportunity to be used as the cash cow.

So what is this test? The test will be taken by the public. They will say by their clamoring adoration who they "vote for" to honor and hold high. There's no question that MJ was given huge talent to create music and dance. But what was that talent used for? Is he why people grope their crotch now as they dance? Mr. Jackson has an amazing following that he might have used to point the way to the Lord. Were there any high thoughts that he influenced others to think? Now his life is celebrated for it's quirky factor - a black man who crossed the color line in his popularity, but who never quite fit comfortably in his own skin.

Last Thursday the King of Pop opened his eyes to see the true King of Kings. All his life is now being examined before the Judge of all men...the One whose name is Holy and Pure...the One who loved Michael's soul as none other loved him in this life. If Michael Jackson does not know this King, all his money/fame cannot help hide him now.

And if there were two funerals, people would have a chance to reflect and decide to pattern their lives after a life that has enduring value. Call it a legacy test.

"And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him". Hebrews 9:27,28 NLT

MR. BITTY

There's a peculiar ziplock in the Saferite's fridge these days. Right beside the cheese, you can find fresh, hand-dug worms. The worms are food for Nate's new pet...a tiny brown box turtle named Itty Bitty. When I asked Nate what his new pet liked to eat, he said "WORMS and STRAWBERRIES!" I might want to tweak the order of those courses myself. Beth swears that when she arrives in Nate's room (singing), Mr. Bitty comes running toward her. He's so smart! He already knows his momma. She's the one bearing the worm segment. Box turtles also like tadpoles, snails, crickets, and dead flies. Yum.

The Saferite's have sweet friends in the neighborhood who just LOVE turtles and they gave Nate his new pet. This couple became turtle experts by rescuing turtles in the road. Then it progressed to bringing the turtles home. Now they built a turtle pen in their backyard where seven turtles live and reproduce! Birthing in captivity is apparently unusual for turtles, so we feel like Itty Bitty comes from sanguine stock. He's eight months old (born last October) and his shell diameter is 1.5 inches. Ring the dinner bell, Mr. Bitty; that's no so much girth.

It is nice to have neighbors who are a walking instruction manual about turtlecare and who give pets away for free. Well, Itty Bitty was free if you don't count buying his "basking"" light, his glass aquarium, assorted aquarium accessories, and his sawdust shavings. At least for now Nate is all over his hunter/gatherer role. But it's not like it's such a big chore. How much grub can a 1.5 inch turtle pack down in a day?

The Lord said we were to have dominion over the animals and I guess He meant reptiles, too. Nate seems to be taking his responsibility seriously. He likes having a friend in his room. The minute they brought I.B. into the house, Nate said "I think he will want to play with my truck"...and off he went to find a matchbox toy to put in the aquarium. He also creatively found a little piece from another toy and they use that for Mr. Bitty's tunnel. Nate says his turtle likes to go for a walk in the tunnel.

Did you have a pet turtle when you were little? I had a green one...a red-eared slider turtle. But the main difference in our turtles would be the pump jar of hand sanitizer beside Itty Bitty's condo. Back in the day, who worried about salmonella? I have to admit, the knowledge of such a disease would have made me turtle-hesitant. But then, we know too much these days. Information overload.

Itty Bitty is a small start toward putting a young man on the road to learning the responsibility of caring for someone besides himself. It's the old "me third" principle...God first, others second (even turtles), and me third. I like to think Nate will be a better husband/father as a result of his new friend, Mr. Bitty.

"Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not merely his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

TEACHER FUNK

A trip to the Kroger deli today put this old teacher in a funk. All I wanted...all I asked for...was two-thirds of a pound of corned beef.

A very pleasant clerk came to slice the corned beef. He was a big man and we joked about O.J. Simpson as he tried to put on small gloves. Then he chatted about the tragedy of Michael Jackson's death. He said it took him back to the 50's when he was in his car and heard the announcement of Elvis' death. Yesterday he was also in his car when the announcement came of the death of the tortured King of Pop.

This tedious story now brings us to a tiny pile of corned beef and the deli clerk asking "will that be all?" I looked back at the amount and it registered .33. Slowly (because I had no intention of humiliating him) I said "I would like two-thirds of a pound". He checked and said "that's what ya got". Then he hesitated and I shuffled my feet, thinking he would realize what he had said.

Then he told me that although he had a college education, he would call over a grey-haired lady because she knew everything about what was in the store. The lady said "why are you asking me? I only went to high school." Then she studied it and still I waited, red-faced for them both.

The two waiting customers behind me now entered into the quagmire. One said "is that scale counted in ounces?" And again the two clerks conferred. The man said "well, I've been cheating my customers then, because when they asked for two-thirds, that's what I gave them". Thank goodness the machine would have figured up the cost of one-third of a pound.

I couldn't stand it and gently said ".33 is one-third...and I need two-thirds". The man was still not getting "there", as he mumbled numbers aloud to himself. The older lady said "well, I guess I'd give her a half".

Now understand my disclaimer: I get confused on a regular basis and I am not known for my math skills. But my schoolteacher side finally swelled up and stepped on my sensitive side....and I said "if .33 is one third, double that would be .66...so two-thirds is .66".

This afternoon, four people had an epiphany in the Kroger aisle. But I came away depressed. Even though education was my chosen profession, I'm just glad education is not the answer to the question about what is most important. The Lord does not rank people according to their knowledge of FACTS, but according to their knowledge of HIM.

"And this is the way to have eternal life - to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth." John 17:3 NLT