July 31, 2023 - Msg 119201:

Hello everyone, Good Sabbath to you.
BOO-so good to hear from you, but I want to answer PH first.
PH, I tried all day today thinking how to respond, and what Ro might come up
with, but then I realized that I just "gotta be me" when I answer, so here is
my attempt: I know you've been on here for some time, so you know that I
have often brought up that very "end of the world" idea, and that Jesus
taught about always having extra oil for your lamp, or in other words, just
keeping yourself ready. Matthew 25 is one of the best chapters to read, because he said
you won't know the day, but you will know the "season" of his return, and in
25:33 Matthew said, "when you see all these things happening, know that he is near,
even at the door." So what "things?" Everything from Matt 25:1 to 32!
Some of what you mention haas always been so, like hot summers and
duststorms in AZ!(Always dang hot here, and we 'eat' a lot of dust.)
We had a streak of 18 days in a row over 110 back in 1974, this year, however the
record is now 30 days, with it only to be 108 on Monday. Then the Russia war, etc.
there's currently 30 'wars' going on around the globe, and Jesus does speak about that.
Then there is all the crazy gender stuff, wokeness, the virus, and as you mention,
the coral reefs etc etc. So some is indeed new phenomena!
I think of RO, ASA, REV, etc all using that line 'keep looking up!' and just being ready
so to speak. Please, don't be depressed, keep your eye on
the Prize, and ask for His peace to fill you. I hope that helps a little bit.

BOO--wow, I thought nurses were so needed right now, but I also see what you mean about
many who got burnt out at the hospitals going for those home jobs.
I will keep it in my prayers. Do you ever see the Samantha Brown show on PBS?
On todays show she went thru Fredericksburg and also visited many bluebonnet fields!
Really good!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! :) SO COOL YOU GOT TO GO OUT TO DINNER. SOUNDS REALLY NICE!

God's Peace,
MDC
July 31, 2023 - Msg 119202: Good Monday Porch family,
T
Well said MDC! We gotta keep looking up.
Happy Birthday 🎈🎂 Boo. I hope you’re having a good day.
Prayers and Blessings to all
Big Maude

August 02, 2023 - Msg 119203: Thanks, MDC. you know I appreciate those prayers for sure.

You know I love Jesus and am a born again believer but over the years and being knocked out of the baptist box I was in for so long due to my gay kids, I have been a much better biblical scholar, so to speak and I search and think for myself now. This had led me to discover some things that are not in line with some of the traditional teachings I received in the pentecostal and baptist churches I was in since my teens. When I read Jesus' words to the people in Matthew 25, for instance, I take them in the context of who they were written to at the time. I dont think they were written for us specifically since we werent in the group he was speaking to. I think the things he was teaching happened in AD70 when the Romans came into Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. The teachings of dispensationalism that we are taught as evangelicals is fairly new and I could go into the history but I find that most Christians have no desire to search these things out and if they are happy then that is probably a good thing. Its sometimes very difficult to take an honest, searching look at what you have been taught and try to get to the truth. I dont put much thought into eschatology and just try to remind myself that God is here and real and has made himself known to me in no uncertain terms through his son Jesus. Jesus is what matters, love is what matters, how you loved the "least of these," especially. The future is there and God is, too. If there is something I can do to help those in need, I try to look for it and I am concerned for the LGBTQ community and the immigrant. If that makes me woke, I guess I am woke then.

Thanks Maude!!

Boo
August 03, 2023 - Msg 119204:
Hello Porchsters! The thing that's always been good about this porch is that
thoughts and ideas, etc, can be mentioned, and we listen to various
points of view. We'll all probably be quite surprised one day when we see each other in
heaven. We remember the words of the Lord that we, as humans, look at the
'surface' of someone, but God looks into the 'heart.' RO and ASA and others who
were once with us, are most likely having some great conversations in heaven right now. :)
Tonight's tags were good ones, with Barney's "Five" as the first one :) In my Mayberry
Memories book it mentions that producer Aaron Ruben left the show after this episode
with just five years with it, so the cast and crew gave him a plaque with a big "5"
engraved on it! The other ep was Uncle Ollie. The first ep in which Aunt Bee's sister is mentioned.
We are still doing ok with the heat. We had a little bit of a reprive the last few days,
but is now back on the way up, with 116 by Saturday.
Hang in there folks, prayers,
MDC
August 03, 2023 - Msg 119205: MDC, I sure do appreciate your opinion in your attempt to help me. And in spite of it all, I still do believe in Jesus and God. It's the interpretations that well meaning people who try to explain organized religion that has got me confused. I now question so many things I have been taught in religion classes.
I have created a text message of how I could have made life on earth much better. As of today, I have 20 ways listed for improving things to make this world a much better place to live. I would have thought that an all powerful God had the knowledge and foresight to correct these factors when he created this world. I hope I don't offend anyone with my thoughts below. Why do we have so many different races and languages? A simple correction like that could eliminate discrimination and hatred among people people who are different in skin color, cultures, and beliefs. Another example is to eliminate the pleasure derived from intercourse. That could help with the problem of unwanted babies and rape or at least reduce these problems. It should not be so easy to create a baby.
I'm sorry to post these negative remarks but this has bothered me for a long time now. Thinking about how helpless I am with trying to improve things gets me depressed. You are the first people I have revealed this to. If I had the ability to correct all 20 items, I would. But I can't. And sadly, prayer has not helped me. And if I have offended anyone, I am truly sorry.
Thank you all for allowing me to sound off.

from Poor Horatio
August 04, 2023 - Msg 119206: Thank you for sharing, PH. I appreciate your honesty and questions. I wish we could sit down over a cup of coffee and discuss in person. I, too, believe in Jesus but I am also aware of nature. Every living thing is evolving and adapting for survival. People adapt to their environment (different physical characteristics and cultural differences, as you know). Reproduction is pleasant for mostly the male of any species, though sometimes the female. Nature drives the male of most species to propagate and produce as many offspring as possible. I know you know all of this but my point is that we have to consider the laws of nature. One can say God created those laws and put them into place and then he lets them work. When I worked as a labor and delivery nurse I questioned so many things like why couples who wanted babies so badly couldn’t have them or had stillborn babies while in the room Nextdoor a drug addict mom who didn’t want a baby delivered a child every other year. It’s not fair but I began to think of it this way: if I throw a ball into the air, it comes down due to the laws of nature. If people have Intercourse they may produce a baby. Cause and effect, propagation of the species. God amazingly put these laws in motion and the earth spins in space while we live out our lives in subjection to the laws of nature. To me, it doesn’t negate my belief in Jesus. It actually helps me to trust him because I’m not trying to blame him for things I don’t agree with. Hope I am making sense to you. 😂
I think there are so many people going through very tough times, spiritually right now and the pat answers they got in church just frustrates. People are getting honest with themselves and God. It’s scary and it’s hard but searching is usually a good thing. This all brings to mind the guy who used to preach with Billie Graham years ago. I forgot his name but he ended up becoming an atheist. He had questions but because of his indoctrination in the evangelical church, when he had genuine questions about contradictions in theology or the Bible, he wasn’t able to express those things without being labeled a heretic. He left the faith. I really wonder if he had been in an environment where questions and doubts were addressed in a healthy way and he would have found support in his search, things might have turned out very differently. The dogmatic stance found in some churches can turn people away from the faith and now the churches involvement with Christian nationalism is melding Christianity and politics in a very harmful way in some places. My opinion and I know it’s probably not a popular one.
I truly hope things improve for you PH. I hope you won’t give up on prayer ❤️

Boo
August 05, 2023 - Msg 119207: Hey to the Porch.
--Jelsik the Bulkhead from Illinois
August 06, 2023 - Msg 119208:

Howdy porchsters! And now for our next topic...POLITICS! ha
Just kidding folks, I just thought I'd add a moment of jocularity. :)
POOR HORATIO, I hear what you are saying, and I do understand.
I have found that rather than question all such things, however, i just
rely on the scriptures regarding such. It says that God gave us all free will,
and it is that free will that caused the first sin, and then the sin of
Cain, and on it went from there. I know that there is much discussion about
the scriptures, and that's why I have taken several Bible classes
(not to flaunt my bible knowledge, like Opie, but to
try to gain as much insight as I could about them.) When Jesus walked the earth,
he spoke of letting the weeds grow
along with the wheat, and at the judgement, the two would be dealt with.
So, yes, God had created a good world, but he also allowed mankind to decide
between good and evil, and so some have chosen the good path and others the bad one.
But people can also change, and they have over the centuries, good to bad, and bad to good.
St. Francis of Assisi is a perfect example of that, and the same with St. Paul's conversion.
Regarding languages, again the scriptures, Genesis 11 and the tower of Babel say a lot about that.
As for races,
that's a bit complicated, but again, it was man's doing. Look at Genesis 10 after the flood,
and also check out this link: https://billygraham.org/answer/where-did-all-the-different-races-come-from/
Regarding making love, which was the intent of it from the start, in a marriage,
I believe he made it pleasurable because he said "be fruitful (in that context) and multiply."
Like BOO said, I wish I could sit down with you and talk, or even with a phone call.
Feel free to email me if you like. I'm at dipper40 at (opposite of 'coldmail') dot and then the first 3 letters
of the word common. Also, as Boo mentioned, she grew up in several different denominations, and has seen and heard
many points of view on things, as have I, and she mentions the physical laws of nature. As someone once
asked, "If everything began with a big bang, how did the 'things' that blew up come into existence? Hmm.
I hope that helps, and doesnt just complicate things even more! Maybe Calvin Coolidge knew the answer! :)

Lately, I have seem "Mr. Tucker" on several westerns. After seeing him as Mr. Tucker, however, it is hard to
believe him as an outlaw! ha Also, Susan Oliver has been in several westerns I've seen.
Well, Good Sabbath, and hang in there. We are, as our heat continues...
MDC



August 06, 2023 - Msg 119209:

Oh, and hey back at ya Jelsik! :) mdc
August 06, 2023 - Msg 119210: Boo and MDC, thank you for your opinions and explanations. I used to think that too much prayer was like nagging God and that is why my prayers went unanswered the way I had requested.

from Poor Horatio
August 07, 2023 - Msg 119211:

PH--I got to thinking, it would really be interesting if
you me AND Boo sat down together and had a talk!
RO and I used to email back and forth
about various doctrines, etc, very matter-of-fact type exchanges,
and then we'd both end with "See ya in heaven!"
As a good sister once told me, God DOES answer all prayer, it's just that
sometimes the answer is "No." Believe me, all the years I spent caring for
my mom, and then my dad, I got a lot of "nos;" I still don't know why,
but I just tried my best to drop it, and move on. Quite some time ago when I took
'traffic school' due to a ticket, the teacher started out by saying,
"Before you all start telling me that the violation wasn't your fault...just LET IT GO!"
If someone tried, he'd say again "Let it go." And after about 20 "Let it go's,"
he got into the class, and only about 2 hours into the 3 hour class he said,
"OK, now I'm lettin' YOU go because you let your violations go, and we've covered all
the material!" ha
Later gators,
MDC
August 07, 2023 - Msg 119212: MDC, allow me to play the devil's advocate. When we pray for world peace, is God also answering no? So why do we need prayer?. If God really loves us and has the ability to help, I would think our prayers would be answered the way we requested.

from Poor Horatio

from Poor Horatio
August 08, 2023 - Msg 119213:

Hey to PH, AKA DA! :)
If I may, I'll go back to Genesis again because so much is contained in it
that 'explains' 'why we are where we are' today. On that particular subject
of world peace, we can see in Genesis 3:15 that world peace was lost, and will
not be achieved again until Jesus' return. I remember one Bible teacher holding
up the book and grasping the first 3 pages, she said, "It took this much for man
to mess things up, and the rest of the book for God to fix it!" Yes, she got a good
laugh out of it, but it really does say a lot. This link may help you to
see more about the topic.
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/prayer/6-reasons-your-prayers-arent-answered.aspx
I hope it helps some. That same teacher asked US a question:
"Can God make a rock so big and heavy that he can't pick it up?" Hmm, everyone was a bit
perplexed thinking about that because then that would show that He's not so all pwerful.
Her answer? "Yes, He can, but He won't." Which does answer it in similar fashion
to answers He gave
to the Pharisees when they tried to trick him. His ways are not our ways, and Faith is what
we must have, as when such mysteries of his greatness abound, Faith is present.
Shoot me an email if you like and we can discuss it more between us.

I caught the tags last night about the Mayberry Historic Pageant. It is not a fav for sure
because Aunt Bee just acts too dense, like not kwowing about coming out between the curtains! haha
All else is good here. Still dang hot, at least according to the thermometor on the hen house. :)

How are yo all doing these days??

MDC

August 09, 2023 - Msg 119214:

Oh G-F, A few posts back I mentioned that my sprinklers
were at least running good; well...apparently the solenoid stuck
on my front yard circuit today (Tues.), as they come on at 3 AM because there's less
evaporation at that time, and when I got up at 7 this morning, they were still running! Oops! Had to change it out, and the diaphram,
and all is now good. I bet you don't miss dealing with
sprinkler issues! Keep well.

MDC

August 09, 2023 - Msg 119215: NDC, I sure do appreciate you taking the time out to help me set the record straight. I was expecting God's word to be self-explanatory and not subject trying to second guess Him. This is one of the reasons why I gave up on trying to make sense of the Bible. And thanks for the invite to discuss this further. I need to think about this for a while and let it sink in.

from Poor Horatio
August 09, 2023 - Msg 119216:

PH, no prob, but please keep in touch. :)
mdc

August 09, 2023 - Msg 119217: Hi Porch,

Just a drop in with a link I thought you would be interested in. The things people got to do and see involving the 40 acres backlot! It's simply astounding. To be able to watch, well, I won't give it away, but this is just unreal. Hope you enjoy.

https://phantomofthebacklots.com/

I also did a little trip with my wife a few days ago and stopped by Dean Webb's (mandolin playing Darling) grave in Lockwood, Missouri. Pretty awesome to be there.

Take care!

John Masters
August 09, 2023 - Msg 119218: The link didn't work like I hoped. Read "The Gone With The Wind Fire Party."

JM
August 10, 2023 - Msg 119219: A few thoughts on recent posts. Boo, the Bible knowledge of the average person who affirms Christianity is abysmal. I recall the post here a while back listing books of the Bible sort of hidden in a paragraph of prose, and was a mite disappointed at the response. I'm not sure what to think if a person doesn't happen to know even the names of the New Testament books. I'll leave it at that.

As for end times, I used to hang out in AOL chat room, and had a number of people ask me if I was a semi-preterist. I had no clue what that meant. I had to look it up then. Apparently thinking much of the New Testament discussion of end times is in fact talking about 70AD, makes you a semi-preterist. I came to that view on my own, and didn't need someone teaching me what I could find for myself in the Bible. I've read it cover to cover each year for over 20 years, and it's just amazing what you pick up. I think most of the book of Revelation is discussing that. I don't think eschatology is particularly important, so I tend to not discuss it much. This is getting a mite long so I'll start a new post.

Billy Ray the Sermon for Today Preacher.
August 10, 2023 - Msg 119220: Poor Horatio, I'll take a gentle shot at your post. You're essentially creating another version of the Problem of Evil. And that is really the only-and I mean only-viable point people can plausibly bring up to question the existence of God. I won't rehash the arguments, but they're easily found online. I will point out that for you to question why God does/doesn't do this/that is putting yourself in the place of God. You obviously were trying to be sensitive to other people, so I want to point out I don't mean to be offensive, but in a nutshell, your position is "If I was God, I would do things different." Maybe you've figured that out already and are okay with it, but the vast majority of people I've told that to had never really considered it.

I will share that I have a very dim view of the world. I think people are generally pretty awful. As a firm believer in God, I do indeed question why He allows to go on what goes on. It's very clear in the Bible, particularly in Ecclesiastes, that man is meant to enjoy his life. I can't say I am all that fond of this world, and am bothered by it.

I have a dear friend online who always says, "All accounts are not settled in this lifetime." One particular passage that always hits me hard is Psalms 73:12-17

This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

I don't know if I'm reaching you where you're at, but that's my attempt. I will note one thing I've noticed from reading the Bible is this: God cares a WHOLE LOT about people trying. Some very godly people in the Bible failed spectacularly, but it seems like it's the people who give up who really earn God's wrath.

Billy Ray the Needs to Retire Preacher.
August 10, 2023 - Msg 119221: PH, per prayer, that is another tough point for me. In 42 years of Christianity, I have had very few prayers answered in the sense you're appealing to. I keep praying, and keep being doubtful it helps, and then feel guilty about it, and then wonder if my lack of faith is causing me to get answered "No", and I can get really miserable about all of it.

I guess I don't have to understand the mind of God to believe in Him. He's told me prayer helps, so I'm content to believe that, and expect if it doesn't help now, it will sometime.

Billy Ray the Retired Postman
August 11, 2023 - Msg 119222:

Good evening (or good day, I guess, depending on when one reads this! :)
JOHN Masters, thank you for that link, that is quite informative for sure.
Someone once mentioned that Camp Henderson was pretty much right behind Wally's!
Very neat that you got to visit Dean's resting place too.
BILLY Ray, you mentioned an aol chatspot, I didnt even know that aol was still around! ha.
I remember back in the '90s of always getting their disks in the mail.
Some very interesting posts. Thank you.
Did I ever tell y'all about my wife's Route 66 burger? I can post the recipe if ya like,
but she makes a really good burger with adding onion, A-1 sauce, etc to the ground beef
before cooking it. Super tasty. (She just made them again tonight!)
Our weather has been a little better lately. Only 106 today, but the forecast calls
for it TO go back up.
Speaking of which, our gas prices here are rising fast again. Up to 4.19 now and
was only 3.59 two weeks ago.

APB FOR POSSUM, GOOBER-FIFE, CHARLOTTE, KY GIRL, MAUDIE AND ALL!
PRAYERS,
mdc :)

August 11, 2023 - Msg 119223: Wow MDC. It’s hotter in San Antonio than in Phoenix. Ick. I do t like it and I am afraid for people, especially the elderly. Praying the best way I know how. I didn’t pray much for awhile but am starting to again because of my anxiety over the state of things in the world. Trying to pray and meditate on The Lord’s Prayer (thy will be done).

Have read everyone’s thoughts and appreciate the honesty and humility I am reading. We all go through times of faith crisis and questions and it’s ok to allow others to share our burdens and pain.

I came across an old Facebook post today from 2017and Romeena was giving me some great advice on casting our cares on the Lord. It was painful and made me miss her. I cried for awhile and the. Was thankful that even though she is on the other side, her words comforted me.

PH, as I mentioned before, i have always had much anxiety in relation to religion but here is the interesting thing; I knew very little about religion because my parents were fairly secular. I began to be aware of an emotional pain I had at around 14. I wanted to connect to my creator but didn’t even know it was possible. At age 16 I watched the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth and had an amazing g spiritual experience that I had no idea was even possible. I was changed and had incredible joy. I felt love like I never knew possible for Jesus and I felt his love for me. I had zero fear of him and trusted him completely. It wasn’t uNeil I started attending a fundamentalist church that I learned to be terrified of God. The consequences are with me to this day, though I have done much healing. I’ve had to seek out the truth about certain church teachings that I feel are sometimes misinterpreted or have caused harm. I won’t go into all that but the Jesus I first met is still the same today and I am learning to trust him in a healthy way. I do t have to have all the answers on doctrine and the Bible. I am learning to rest in him alone. I can’t stay in a state of peace if I listen to too many opinions. There are over30,000 Christian denominations so obviously we are not all getting everything right.

Now, knowing that Jesus is good and loving, I blame mankind for the evil and suffering in the world. Greed, lack of compassion, cruelty are what causes most everything bad. I think it probably has something to do with free will but sometimes I think that even if God would explain everything to me it would be like a genius explaining algebra to a cat. Do I really have the capacity to understand? Probably not, so I try to trust. Lol

MDC, can you believe Erin turned 22 this week? Time flies.

Boo
August 11, 2023 - Msg 119224: Hello porch. I just typed out a big long ol post, believe me when I say, it was riveting! Y'all would have been fascinated I'm sure with my thoughts about the recent discussions here... anyhow I must have pressed something wrong and the whole post went away. In my best Barney voice it went "PPHHHTTTT". I guess it wasn't meant to be, haha.
Thanks again to those of you that commented on the passing of my son in law.
-Hazel
August 12, 2023 - Msg 119225:

Hey to Hazel! Ro would do that sometimes too, lose a long post.
I suggest that if you are doing a long one, do it in Word first,
and then copy-paste it to the comment area. :) Good to hear from ya.

Tags the other night was about old Istvan Telecy. I just dont
cotton to that episode, and the few similar ones. But tonight was
on the rehab of Otis. There is one blooper in that one. Its when Barney
gives Otis his "home number," but we all know from the Mr.Tucker ep
that Mayberry is one big party line. haha
BOO--Wow, 22, I remember when she was just one 2 ! Time does fly!
What is really amazing about Jesus of Nazareth is that it was made
specifically for a secular network to air. Now there is so much
junk on, which is why I like the retro channels.

Well, hang in there my friends.
Prayers,
MDC

August 12, 2023 - Msg 119226: Hello all. Probably an easy trivia question, but what was Barney's favorite snow cone flavor?

Billy Ray the Retired Postman
August 12, 2023 - Msg 119227: I am really enjoying this conversation with you folks. Recently, I lost interest when the conversations became boring and not meaningful for me. That is a major reason why I lost interest in posting here more frequently. But by allowing me to express something that is more meaningful to me has rekindled my interest. Thank you all for allowing this.
Some of what I post and read is controversial. I am not here to offend anyone. And although I may not agree with everything that is posted, I am interested in your opinions and truly enjoy reading them.
Recently, I have viewed some touching television commercials. One was for the St. Jude Hospital, a health institution that offers free medical care to some children. And another was for the ASPCA, a volunteer organization who cares for abandoned and injured animals. Both of these charities offer much needed medical assistance to those who can’t afford it. I so much would like to help by making a donation but as a retired senior citizen living on a fixed income, I am not in a financial position to accomplish that. Because of some bade investments, I am living paycheck to paycheck. In spite of this, I am a firm believer in sharing. As a result, I have prayed for help such as winning the lottery so that I could make a sizable contribution to those charities.
A long time ago, I had watched an unusual television program called “the millionaire” where a wealthy individual would hand out large checks to strangers he did not know. I would love to emulate such a person but I have fallen on hard times financially.
As an example, back when I worked full time, every year I could afford to purchase an entire semi-truck load of food to donate to a poor family. And I also contributed to a charity that offered livestock to poor families that helped them produce their own food. Now that I am retired and barely able to meet my own financial obligations, I had to give up doing these things. I do not like being in this situation. And I am not requesting donations from you folks. But I am tired of getting a NO answer when I pray for help so that I could continue contributing.

from Poor Horatio
August 13, 2023 - Msg 119228:

HI PH, just a quick answer on this Saturday evening.
Believe me, MANY of us senior citizens who used to give to such
worthy causes can no longer do so. After I retired, and using up
much of my savings caring for my dad, I sat down one day and wrote a letter to
each of the organizations that I had been giving to,
and just plainly told them that i could no longer
give. Most sent back a kindly response, and thanked me for the years that I did help
them. I actually recall watching that Millionaire show every week as a youngster,
and it actually helped me be more generous when I was a single working man. :)

Of course I know you also come here because of your enjoyment of tags.
That is a big common denominator here. I love the trivia, the bloopers, the Meet up talk,
and the good of the porchsters. In fact I think Barney's fav flaver was strawberry? Right
Billy Ray? Your comments have never offended me, in fact, I was afraid that my responses
may have offended you! ha! Keep hanging in there!

later gators,
MDC
August 13, 2023 - Msg 119229: Barney’s favorite snow cone was raspberry...Remember Vicky Harms would bite the end off and suck out all the syrup leaving Barney with just the ice...He said if he would run into her today he’d bite the end off and suck out all HER syrup!...

Then Andy said if a 35yr Old Man came up to the door with a snow cone, he wouldn’t even open the door!

Funny episode...G-F
August 13, 2023 - Msg 119230: Good work G-F. Here's a YouTube link of the scene.

https://youtu.be/nte0E4XheZg

Billy Ray the Snow Cone Fan
August 13, 2023 - Msg 119231: MDC, thank you for your words of encouragement. Often when driving in my car and I would see someone holding a sign requesting money or food, I often think of what would it be like to pull up and offer them a stack of cash? Or when the lottery prize increases to some huge amount, why not ask the lottery to split up the prize to make more people happy? Even winning a million dollars is more than anyone can live on in a lifetime.
In spite of the enormous odds, it still gives many of us an opportunity to win big. And players don't need any special education or intelligence to win. However, when the prize gets way to big, even I lose interest.
As for caring for your own father, I understand you. I did the same for my own mother when she became handicapped and widowed. I gave up a confirmed job offer in California to come home and take care of her. And although it has been over 20 years now since she passed, I sill miss her and often think "Did I do enough for her?" RIP mom and dad.

from Poor Horatio
August 13, 2023 - Msg 119232: PH, you touch me with your generous heart and compassion for people. I, like you, think about how unfair it is that the people who would do the most good with money are usually those who don’t have it. I’ve been meditating on that a lot lately and trying to see where I can help. Bruce stresses over finances, understandably so what I try to do is help in small ways like shopping at the local thrift store that supports families in the community. I also like to go through the house from time to time and donate items.
I also keep an eye out on our local
Facebook community page for needs that I may be able to help with.
I think it’s important to remember that we can give in other ways besides finances, too. A phone call to encourage someone, an inexpensive hobby that we can learn that could benefit someone else. For instance, I am collecting my fabric scraps to make lap quilts for our local hospice or nursing home. There are so many ways to encourage and show love to people and they need it more now than ever.

Have to go to Lowe’s with Sean. I have really enjoyed our recent porch conversations because they are full of honesty and humility….just as a porch in Mayberry should be. ❤️

Boo
August 13, 2023 - Msg 119233: Good Sunday afternoon,Porch! It's dang hot here,as Rev used to say- heat index at 112 today! I know I'm not alone in having a hot summer- Boo & MDC are probably ready for cooler temps too. Thing is,we never get much of an autumn here in SC. Might get a few weeks of nice weather and then we jump right into winter.

I've enjoyed reading the posts between MDC and PH. MDC, it is so obvious that you were/are a teacher and PH touches me with his caring heart and his search for answers that are hard to come by. I think we all question certain things and may never get the answers while on this earth. I hope we will know when we leave,though.
Anyway, not going to get too deep,just wanted to take a few minutes and say "Hey!" to everyone.

Oh, please keep our Porch member New Neighbor inn your thoughts and prayers. Her husband passed recently. Praying for you,Sandi and sending love.

Y'all take care,stay cool out there and have a good week!

*******************
possum under a rock
August 16, 2023 - Msg 119234:

A rather quick visit tonight.
Possum, good to see you.
NN is definitely be in my prayers.
So sorry to hear that.
Peace and Love to all,
MDC
August 16, 2023 - Msg 119235: Here is an easy trivia question to lighten things up a bit. What year did Andy Taylor graduate from Mayberry High School? And what year for Barney Fife?
Possum, thanks for letting us know about the passing of New Neighbor's Husband. May he rest in peace. A I explained earlier, it is just like the title of one of U2's songs "I still haven't found what I'm looking for". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-5YC_oHjE

from Poor Horatio


August 16, 2023 - Msg 119236: Well Poor Horatio...It depends which episode for your answer. If you believe The Class Reunion it’s 1945.
But if you believe “The Return of Barney Fife” episode it’s 1948. But I suspect you already knew that...Good One Buddy your education was worth every penny of it and I’ll throw in one of those rare nickels too...

G-F

p.s. This is WHY you have to stick around...To keep up on our feet 🦶🏻🦶🏻 and as sharp as Floyd’s 💈 razor!..
August 16, 2023 - Msg 119237: Trust Me...I can’t hold a candle 🕯 to the trivia contest winners at Mayberry Days...That my Friends is a WHOLE different level of knowledge that has to be heard & seen to believe.

G-F
August 16, 2023 - Msg 119238:

GF and PH, also remember in the episode about the farmer's
wife who is having a baby, Barney states that he was
in charge of the books as his duty against "the dreaded hun,"
on the army base, so that would
have to be PRE-1945, meaning he was in the army during high school!
One of those little inconsistencies in the "Mayberry Timeline." :)

MDC
August 17, 2023 - Msg 119239: Andy Griffith played more than one different musical instrument on the show. What were they?

from Poor Horatio
August 17, 2023 - Msg 119240: Hey Poor Horatio...Here’s a link that may answer your question..
https://www.mtairynews.com/news/113977/museum-displays-andy-griffiths-tuba

BTW...I did get to see it at the Museum at last years M/D’s when they had it on loan....

G-F
August 18, 2023 - Msg 119241: G-F is correct regarding both of my trivia questions. Now for another. What was Barney Fife's middle name? HINT What was Barney Fife's middle name? Three different middle names were mentioned in the show. Name any of them.

from Poor Horatio

from Poor Horatio
August 18, 2023 - Msg 119242: Milton, P., Oliver

John Masters
August 18, 2023 - Msg 119243: John Master, you got one of Barney's middle names. Now what does the P stand for?

from Poor Horatio

August 18, 2023 - Msg 119244: Actually, John Masters, I asked for Barney's middle name, not initial.

from Poor Horatio

August 18, 2023 - Msg 119245:

Wow, John Masters, you're quick!
I knew of Milton from the Reunion ep, but not
sure of the others. Maybe he was in the witness protection
program!! haha
I bet POSSUM will know.
mdc
August 18, 2023 - Msg 119246: I dont think they ever say. I know there was the two full names (Milton, Oliver) but the P. was just P.

John Masters
August 19, 2023 - Msg 119247:

Hi Folks, hope everyone is doing OK these days.
I saw the Opie and Arithmetic episode tonight, and thought of a great
trivia question: When Andy was helping Opie, what number did they divide 14 into?
I noticed tonight that the dialogue between Andy and Helen was really strained
toward the end, but the writer of that one was not a familiar name tho either.

Yesterday I had an interesting trip to the branch where I do my banking.
When I got near it, I saw several patrol cars, and the whole parking lot
was sealed off with yellow tape. As I drove by, I saw a guy in the back seat
of one of the patrol cars. Serious as it was, I thought to myself,
"He did the heist ok, but blew the scram-hay-vue!" Barney on my mind. :)

We should be getting some rain this weekend from the remnants of Hurricane Hillary
that is coming up the Baja coast. We sure do need a good gully washer here.
Even the cactuses (cacti) are keeling over. Now that's dang hot!

Hang in there all! Prayers,
MDC :)

August 19, 2023 - Msg 119248: MDC...We pray you get some of that rain from Hillary...It will be the first time a Hilary did something good.
There’s nothing worse than seeing limp cacti 🌵! Speaking of cactus 🌵 I saw a show once where they showed how they harvest those huge cacti from out in the desert. I understand they have to have a special license to do that too.

I was amazed by the root system, how such a large cactus has such a small root ..Go Figure...

G-F
August 19, 2023 - Msg 119249: MDC, I'm going with John Masters- my guess would've been Milton, Oliver, & P. as well. No idea what the "P" stood for! Poor Horatio says only one of those is correct though,so perhaps someone else can solve this one.

Hope y'all get plenty of rain from Hilary and the cacti won't droop anymore. Good one, G-F-ha!

Y'all have a good Saturday!

*************
possum u.a.r.
August 19, 2023 - Msg 119250: You folks are correct. Barney's P middle name was never identified in full. Maybe it stood for PUTZ because of him being inept?

from Poor Horatio
August 19, 2023 - Msg 119251:

Regarding Barney's changing middle name, maybe it was a clerical
error down at the county clerk's office! haha One thing I DO remember
from a colored episode was Opie paying 50 cents for a bicycle license
at the clerk's office.

Oh, BTW GF, yes, it is illegal here to uproot any sahauro cactus for
private use, or to sell, etc.

Hey to Possum, good to see ya!
Any takers on my trivia ques?
It'd be a great one for Mayberry Days.

Peace and love,
MDC
August 20, 2023 - Msg 119252: MDC,

It was 14 go into 169.

John Masters
August 22, 2023 - Msg 119253:

BOO--are you and yours doing OK? I saw on the news that a hurricane
is heading your way! We got a little rain from Hilary, but not what
I was hoping for.
JM--did you have to look up that ep or did you know the 169?
That is correct, but I'm just curious.
POSSUM--do you have any more for us? :)
On the episode tonight with Jerry VanDyke, Aunt Bee swoons over him
as being "Robie Miller's boy," yet they did not offer him the guest room.
Maybe they learned from Gomer's night as a guest. Haha!

HELLO TO EVERYONE! Please check in when you can.

Sincerely,
MDC
August 22, 2023 - Msg 119254: MDC,

I honestly remembered it. I think because it was such a weird number. But I guess they came up with the odd number so Opie could put down the decimal point and two zeros. ;)

The guest room thing always bothered me with TAGS. I know we've discussed it on here again and again, but it just never made sense. I've wondered why the actors never made things stick?!
1. Andy had two addresses (if I remember right)
2. There is a guest room, there isn't a guest room
3. Barney had three middle names
4. Barney was a deputy ten years, five years

Did you all catch how the Taylor's back porch kept changing? In "Mr. McBeevee," it was a just a back door and a few steps to the ground. In "Bargain Day," it's a full on covered deck/porch. In "Only A Rose," the deck/porch is gone again and I don't think there was any steps. They walked straight out from floor to earth.
I really think if I was a successful actor with a successful TV show, I'd tell the writers and producers that things are going to stay the same.
Just my thoughts.

John Masters