Public

Our observance of the Fourth of July was saddened this year by the death of James White. James, his son Adam, and some other friends were riding their motorcycles in Tennessee on the morning of July 4, when a tragic accident occurred. A vehicle that they were meeting veered into their lane of traffic. The vehicle struck James’ motorcycle, and he was killed instantly.

In the summer of 1980, Danielle and I were living in Newark, Texas. Newark is located on Eagle Mountain Lake, north of Fort Worth. Eagle Mountain Lake was created in 1932, by placing a dam across the Trinity River north of Lake Worth. When the dam was closed, the waters covered the river bottom throughout that area. The waters also covered the traces of ancient Indian campgrounds along the river.

We have a new resident on our patio. Her correct name is Argeope aurantia. Her common name is the Black and Yellow Garden Spider. I have named her Charlotte. She has strung her web between the firecracker plant and some hanging baskets, and has settled in for the summer. Her web is a circular affair designed to ensnare unsuspecting insects. Each morning Charlotte spins a dense zigzag of silk known as a stabilimentum in the center of the web. Sometimes when I drink my coffee on the patio in the early morning, I get to watch her do her early morning spinning.

Last Saturday night, I was listening to “Grassroots” on Mississippi Public Radio. On the program, the host Bill Ellison played a song from an album by the Country Gentlemen entitled “Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen.”

What a great time we had ministering to our special friends at Prentiss Industries in July through Vacation Bible School. From 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. for four days, our youth and some adults taught songs, Bible stories and crafts to adults with disabilities.