Author Archives: lee

There are seasons when we can’t see what’s ahead, but we can still trust the One who walks with us and talks with us along the way. This is a conversation about when God seems unfair.

Me: I don’t understand why You let some things happen.
God: I know. And I’m not asking you to pretend you do.
Me: But it feels wrong to question You.
God: It isn’t wrong. It’s honest. And honesty is where I meet you.
Me: Still, why does it have to hurt so much?
God: Because you live in a world that’s broken, and broken things cause pain. But I’m with you in all of it.
Me: Sometimes it feels like You’re silent.
God: I’m not silent. I’m steady. And sometimes steady feels quiet.
Me: I just want to know You’re still here.
God: I am. Even when you can’t see My hand, I am still lifting you up.
Me: So You’re not disappointed when I ask why?
God: No. I’m only saddened when you think you have to ask alone.
Me: I’m trying to trust You.
God: And I’m walking with you while you learn how.

God would rather have your honest questions than your silent wondering.

Lawyer and Hall of Fame Wrestler

Today is Abe Lincoln’s birthday, and if he were still alive, he’d be pretty damn old. Now old Abe has been inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame because he was a pretty good wrestler. They estimate he was in 300 wrestling matches and only lost once. Now I was checking into it; it sounds right. Heck, he’d be in the Hall of Fame for it, but not the WWE one.

In Abe’s own words, the only man to beat him was my great-great-great-great grandpappy, Lorenzo Dow Thompson. Lorenzo didn’t get into the Hall of Fame. He could have, but he didn’t want to be in it. I did watch the match-up on YouTube, and it wasn’t even close. Granddad took the best of three falls. You won’t find it on YouTube unless you have an exclusive account (you don’t).

But you can read about it. From the excerpt, Lincoln was reminiscing about his wrestling days on the campaign trail in 1860. He told Risdon Moore, a college professor whose father served with Lincoln during the Black Hawk War, that he was undefeated until Lorenzo Dow Thompson threw him. (By the way, as much fun as I could have with the name, I believe it to be wrong)

In the words of Lincoln himself, “Gentleman, I felt of Mr. Thompson, the St. Clair champion, and told my boys I could throw him, and they could bet what they pleased. You see, I had never been thrown or dusted, as the phrase then was, and I believe Thompson said the same to the St. Clair boys: they might bet their bottom dollar that he could down me. You may think a wrestle, or “wrastle,” as we called such contests of skill and strength, was a small matter, but I tell you, the whole army was out to see it. We took our holds, his choice first, a side hold. I think realized from his grip for the first time that he was a powerful man and that I have no easy job. The struggle was severe, but after many passes and efforts, he threw me. My boys yelled out, “a dog fall,” which meant then a drawn battle, but I told my boys it was fair, and then said to Thompson, “Now it’s your turn to go down,” as it was my hold then, Indian hug. We took our holds again, and after the fiercest struggle of the kind that I ever had, he threw me again, almost as easily at my hold as at his own. My men raised another protest, but I again told them it was a fair down. Why, gentlemen, that man could throw a grizzly bear.”

Okay, Abe was a known storyteller, but he really is in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and maybe Lorenzo Dow Thompson isn’t some long lost relative, but who cares.

Happy Birthday Mr. President!

I haven’t watched one for years. I went to one 50 years ago. I’m tired of the woke NFL. This year, I may put it on for background noise, but off it goes at halftime.

I’m not interested in seeing Horrid Hare prancing around in a yellow dress, singing in Spanish. It’s an American sport. I don’t remember pressing two for Spanish.

It really started with taking a knee during the National Anthem. To make matters worse, now there’s a black national anthem when we already have a national anthem for all Americans, regardless of color.

Not only that, but the game is being played on stolen land for elitists. A ticket for the cheap seats in the nosebleed section is $3500.00. A beer and a hot dog will run you $42.50. A can of soda costs eight bucks, NO ICE! Not bad if you want to mix with people like Bill Gates and Billie Eilish.

I am going to watch the Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show with Brett Favre and other notables. The performers are rocking it with Kid Rock headlining alongside Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett streaming on TPUSA’s YouTube/X, Rumble, CHARGE! channel, Real America’s Voice, etc. If you’re flipping over during halftime, you’ll be joining Americans like Favre, me, and others in the switch.

The aftermath, the real message of the TPU Halftime show was this verse of a song:

“There’s a book sitting in your house somewhere that could use some dusting off.
There’s a man who died, for all our sins, hanging from a cross.
You can give your life to Jesus, and he’ll give you a second chance…
Until you can’t.”

There are seasons when we can’t see what’s ahead, but we can still trust the One who walks with us and talks with us along the way. This is a conversation about being overwhelmed.

Me: I feel like everything is hitting me at once. I can’t keep up.
God: I see the weight you’re carrying. It’s heavier than you admit.
Me: I keep telling myself I should handle this better.
God: You’re not meant to handle everything alone.
Me: But I don’t want to fall behind. I don’t want to let anyone down.
God: You’re not letting Me down. You’re human, and you’re tired.
Me: It feels like I’m drowning in responsibilities and emotions I can’t sort out.
God: Then breathe. Let’s take this one piece at a time.
Me: I don’t even know where to start.
God: Start with Me. Let Me steady your heart before you try to steady your life.
Me: I’m afraid if I stop, everything will fall apart.
God: Resting isn’t falling apart. It’s letting Me hold what you can’t.
Me: I just feel so small right now.
God: Small isn’t weak. Small is where you remember you’re not carrying this by yourself.
Me: So, it’s okay that I’m overwhelmed?
God: It’s okay to feel it. It’s not okay to face it alone. Let Me be your strength where yours runs out.
Me: That actually helps.
God: Good. You don’t have to be enough for everything. You just have to stay close to Me.

It’s like Footprints, a reminder that God carries us when we can’t carry ourselves.

My wife and I were talking about the Beverly Hillbillies a couple of mornings ago, and we couldn’t remember the name of the actress who played Jane Hathaway, at first. Then I saw the photo here of Donna Douglas and Nancy Kulp.  Donna was easier on the eyes, and she was the first Sydney Sweeney when it came to selling jeans according to marketing reports.

It was called the “Elly May” effect. Blue jeans were seen as rugged workwear for men. After the first season, sales of “Lady Levi’s” skyrocketed as women across America sought to mimic Elly May’s look. The then-CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. stated that “Donna Douglas has done more for the sale of blue jeans in one year than cowboys have done in a hundred.” As a side note, Elly didn’t exactly wear Levi jeans on the show.

Kulp was a liberal democrat in California and decided to make a run for Congress. Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett), a republican, did a commercial urging people to vote for her opponent because she was “too liberal.” The lifelong feud between them started earlier on the set but culminated with the ad. While Kulp blamed Ebsen for her loss, the fact is, she was trounced in a landslide. It is said they reconciled their differences after she was diagnosed with cancer, believed to have been brought on by decades of smoking.

Jane Hathaway appeared on Petticoat Junction. The television sitcoms Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies, called the “Henning Trilogy” all existed tied together by locations and characters.  I liked all three and actually dropped a political science class my freshman year of college to watch reruns of Green Acres on my 13″ black & white television. I still watch all three, primarily on tubi TV.

I was going to add a couple photos of my wife in jeans, but she gets upset when do it here (I’ll do it on my blog later). The Dawn effect is more powerful than Elly or Sydney.