The Master's Hand

Back in 1974 I bought a Harmony guitar from a gentleman who did not have a clue how to play the six strings. He had purchased it from a person who needed money. I paid $35 for it. It reeked of cigarette smoke. I am sure the then 25 year old instrument could tell some incredible stories of where it had been, if it could talk. For years it sat in a corner, unable to be played because of a short in its electric system. A few months ago a saint in our church died at the age of 90. I had been her pastor for a quarter of a century. She was quite a lady. Her grandson, Ray, restores guitars. He took my old Harmony a few months ago. With his God-given skill, his hands went to work on the aged instrument. Last night I got to see his work. The guitar is actually in better shape than it was when it was new. I played it and out of it flowed beautiful mellow music such as I had never heard before from it. The master had done his work and I held the treasure, the finished product. Once a instrument played in bars where people drowned themselves in alcohol and sadness, where men cried in their beer, where poisonous smoke filled the room, now it will be played in church. It will play its own story in a way, the story of restoration, hope and what happens when the Master of Love touches people lives. The story continues in the souls of people today! Thanks Ray! P.S. Ray Matter can be reached through his website at http://www.aluminumguitars.com/ If you would like to speak to me concerning new life for you in your soul I can be reached at bayshorenaz@rock.com

Morning Run and Many Memories

Next weekend we will honor once again a man
who had such a great impact on a whole generation
of runners at Mepham High School and whose
influence continues to this day. Thanks Coach Paul Limmer!

This morning as I ran in freezing temperatures with music from the 70's playing in my ears, I thought of how our coach made us tougher than we were. I am 54 years old now. I met him 40 years ago. He is the Coach and the Daylily Master. My running and my gardens are a tribute to him. Thanks Coach!

As I coach Little League (for my granddaughter's team) beginning tomorrow the way he coached will come through... always encouraging kids to be better than they are! God bless you Paul Limmer!

Its Spring! Old Man Winter Is Just Not Leaving Quietly

Its spring time on Long Island! Pay no attention to

snow that fell last night- it will soon disappear! Look at this amazing flower! It weathers the storms. We have such an incredible variety here in the northeast. Crocus, Daffodils, and even Tulips along with snow drops and Stars of Bethlehem are not affected by Winter's Parting Shot.

I happen to love these last shots of snow. It has a unique beauty. It reminds me of the changing seasons and that even in them there is double beauty to behold!

What a wonderful creation God has given to us!

Early Blooms

Spring in my backyard is such an interesting time. Over the past 25 plus years a lot of bulbs have been planted. It is like a harvest time. What has been placed in the ground comes up each spring. The yard goes from being brown to green, from being asleep to being wide awake, from being dead to being alive.

Think of the things you are planting these days. I have never regretted planting forgiveness, encouragement, words of kindness and honesty. Think of honesty. If you always tell the truth you never have to worry about remembering what you said to someone so to cover a lie! Life is like a garden. Plant good things and good will come out. When there is a return it is joyful and satisfying.

For the Birds

After birding for over a quarter a century I have learned a few things from our fine feathered friends. Here are a few thoughts. With a single feeder you can bring many birds into your backyard. Just the other day a red headed woodpecker came to our suet cake feeder and wowed Lucy and I. One time a friend was over and he commented on the birds in my backyard as we sat by the koi pond. He said, "I have lived on Long Island and I have never seen these birds before."

Make sure the feeder get a little food each morning. I use half a yogurt container. You don't want the birds to depend on your feeder alone. They need to work for their food as do human beings unless they have special needs and are not able. Don't create the mess our government has with 35% of the people in our country on some type assistance. Work is good for the birds and us.

Make sure the feeder is up high enough so the cats in the neighborhood are not a threat. My dog Moe is on cat and squirrel patrol. He keeps the yard safe for the birds.

A small bird bath near the feeder will provide water and encourage them to come in.

If you have a vegetable garden the birds will work for you. Another reason not overfeed them is that they love insects. Our gardens are 100% organic. The birds come and eat the pests. Only the short sighted gardener will chase the birds out. For instance the blue jay is a friends of tomato plants. He will go under leaves where worms that put holes in the tomatoes live and eat them right up.

Birds like quiet when they eat so keep your feeders in a place where they can dine in peace.

One more thing, if you can, put your feeders as close to your kitchen windows as you can. We have ours positioned just outside our bay window. Our kitchen table is right there. We have many meals with the birds! They are great dining partners!

Sunrise And The Beginning Of A New Day!

The sun is rising here on Long Island's south shore this morning. The temperatures are headed into the 50's. The earth is warming and a variety of crocus and snow drops will open again when the sun hits them. The fish in my backyard pond are swimming around, slowly. Red Winged Blackbirds were at the feeders at dawn. The grass is turning green. The trees' buds are swelling. Spring is a week away but for all intended purposes it is here! It is a wondrous time! It reminds of a song we sang as kids:

What a wondrous time is spring

When All the trees are budding,

The birds begin to sing

The flowers start their blooming

That's how is with God's love,

Once you experience it,

You want to sing,

Its Fresh like Spring.

You want to pass it on.

In light of yesterday's devastating earthquake/ tsunami our thoughts go to those suffering today even as many of reading this post are enjoying this day. Pray for the families who lost loved ones. Give through a reputable relief organization like Samaritan's Purse. Hold those people close to your thoughts today. Pass on God's Love!

A Tribute To My Coaches

On the way home from the dentist's the other day several runners from our High School passed by. Whew! What a flood of memories! It brought me back to the early 70's.

I remember running through the streets of Bellmore. Most people did not understand our motivation but comeradie and personal achievment and freedom were among things that drove us.

Akin to those things were the coaches we had. Jim Murrin, Gerry Hughes and Paul Limmer sacrificed their time for kids- us kids! On cold early spring days they would be outside in all kinds of weather with us. They would tell us what the workout was and talk to us about doing our best and the benefit of hard work.

As we grew older we got to know their families. Today is Gerry Hughes birthday. As Mike McQuillan said earlier today, "This is Coach Hughes' first birthday in heaven." We lost Coach last fall. On November 8th he left this world. At his funeral beautiful bag pipes played "Amazing Grace" we said goodbye for now to our friend and coach. His family, wife, children and grandchildren were at the front that morning. We pray for them today. He is greatly missed by each of them- beyond words. We miss him too. But the memories of him being out there with us come back in interesting ways- like seeing the runners the other day.

Thanks to the families of our coaches who sacrificed themselves and time with dads and husbands so we could have them. We'll never forget them or the sacrifice they made! They are in our hearts forever.

Spring Update

Spring is not into full swing quite yet but it is close- very close. Here are so more signs:
1- I came out of the church at lunchtime yesterday and the birds were singing up a storm.
2- The red winged blackbirds were gathering in the trees again. (video here from a previous March gathering in archives)
3- I spotted yet another fish in the pond- they are moving up slowly- with tomorrow's temperatures they could be up for good.
4- Buds are on the trees.
5- More crocuses are up.
6- The days are longer.
7- The nights are shorter.

Here comes spring!

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

It is March. It is probably the most unpredictable month for Long Island as well as other places. The temperature can moderate like today. Lucy and I took a walk to Barnes and Noble to do some studying. It was beautiful out. We can still get snow although none is predicted for the next days. We can get spring showers. The wind can whip like it is now. By the end of the month winter is gone and spring is here. All the signs of an early spring are around us. If the prediction for Saturday of 50 degrees holds I plan on starting the backyard spring clean up.

It is the end of one season and the beginning of another. It is a time of new life, rebirth and seeing things turn green. It is a time of corned beef and cabbage, of the St. Patty's Day Parade and shamrock. It is March. It is when we can say these words with offending someone, "Go fly a kite!" It is perfect weather for that!