by Rev. James L. Snyder

As the last firecracker sizzled in the night, I heaved a sigh of relief. It is not that I do not enjoy a good firework display, but after all, when you have seen one firecracker they are all just about the same. The thing they all have in common is they cost money. That is my problem. Blowing up bushels of dollars in the air does not seem very exciting to me. But the Fourth of July celebration has a different meaning for me. Certainly, I revere and celebrate the patriotic significance of the Fourth of July and faithfully pray for my
country and our leaders. That is just one tiny aspect of my observance of the Fourth of July.

One reason I look forward to the Fourth of July is so I can look backward and say, “Well, I am glad that’s over.” And truer words have never dribbled from my lips. The prized significance of the Fourth of July celebration for me is that it is the last holiday of the summer. I may be wrong here, but it seems that every month has some kind of celebration in it. Beginning with Thanksgiving all the way through to the Fourth of July there is something to celebrate every month. I sometimes forget what I am celebrating.

Now the Fourth of July celebrations over we do not have anything to look forward to until Thanksgiving. I know there is Labor Day, but what I like about this holiday is that it specializes in no labor. Then of course, there is Halloween where people dress funny and
try to scare one another. However, I do not pay too much attention to this holiday. I dress funny all year and plenty of people think I am quite scary looking. Read More→

by Rev. James L. Snyder

Everyone has a different opinion of what is good. What one person considers good may not suit the next person in line. Especially is this seen in the area of cuisine. For example, one man’s broccoli is another man’s apple fritter. The problem comes when the broccoli man insists that the apple fritter man try his broccoli. This has been the number one cause of wars since time immemorial.

Now, when it comes to me, I like cheese. Any kind and all kinds of cheese are on my menu. One of the main features about cheese that I appreciate the most is it has no expiration date. The older the cheese, the better it tastes.

To be quite honest about this whole thing, I must confess that this is not the presiding opinion in my house. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has her opinion about cheese and it does in no way shape or form resembles the opinion of Yours Truly. In fact, you could say we are at the opposite ends of this subject. Read More→

by Rev. James L. Snyder

This is my first Father’s Day to celebrate without my father. Earlier this year he passed away after a long battle with heart and lung disease. It will be a rather somber day for me this year, but I carry in my heart all those things we shared while he was alive.

My father taught me many things especially when I was young. He taught me how to ride a bicycle, hunt and fish and then how to drive a car. All those things the person carries with him the rest of his life.

I am reminded of what Mark Twain said about his father. “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” That sums up every person’s experience with his or her father. Most people do not appreciate their father until after he is gone. Then they remember all of the things that are a part of their life that came from their father. That is a shame. Read More→

by Rev. James L. Snyder

Anybody who would casually investigate the background of Yours Truly would undeniably discover that I have no charges pending accusing me of being a handyman. In fact, quite the reverse would be revealed. I do not apologize for this deficit in my character; I am just setting the record straight.

I think it important that a person comes to terms with himself or herself, as the case may be. When a person honestly evaluates himself, it has the effect of keeping him out of trouble. Believe me, I am all for whatever keeps me out of trouble. It is not so much knowing what you can do as knowing what you cannot do that makes life what it really is.

That being said let me inform my public that in no way shape or form could I be mistaken for a handyman. In fact, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has often said about me even in my presence, “He’s one hand short of a handyman.” I do not know exactly what she means by that and furthermore, I have never questioned her on the subject. The reason I do not question her is that I am afraid she will give me a straightforward answer. That is just the kind of person she is. Moreover, I think some things are better left unanswered. Read More→

by Rev. James L. Snyder

A song has been going through my head lately and I just cannot seem to get it out. You know how it is, you hear a song in the morning and it buzzes in your head all day long, no matter what you try to do.

The song playing in my head for the past week comes from an old Disney movie, “When you wish upon a star.” My problem with songs playing in my head is that I do not know all the words. I would not mind so much if I knew all of the words and could sing along with the melody playing in my head. You can only sing “La, la, la, la,” for a short time before journeying into the land of Crazyville.

According to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I have visited Crazyville so much she thinks I could run for mayor. I do not know what she means by that! Read More→

by Rev. James L. Snyder

Sometimes it is best to err on the side of caution. This, however, has not always been my practice down through the years. In fact, I am not very good when it comes to practicing anything, just ask the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.

As of late, though, I have been practicing caution like I was going to Carnegie Hall. I am not very good at it yet, but my goal is to come to the point of perfection in the area of caution as it touches my person, particularly my health and well-being. This may be because I have reached that age when most men go through a midlife crisis.

You can always tell when a man is going through his midlife crisis. He usually wants to prove that he is as good at 50-something as he was when he was 20-something.  Carelessly throwing caution to the wind, he attempts to do something beyond the energy of his existing body. One sure way to tell if a man is having a midlife crisis is to notice his recent injuries.

Personally, when I was 20 I was not good at anything, which has enabled me to skip my midlife crisis. I am glad to be 50 (okay, maybe I am a tad over 50) because now when I get tired I can say I am tired and sit down. At 50-something I have absolutely nothing to prove. I am no better or worse than I was when I was 20. It is, as my wife notes, the ageless wonder of incompetency. Read More→

by Rev. James L. Snyder

When it comes to gadgets just call me Mr. How-in-the-World-Does-This-Work. I fully understand that our world runs on gadgets. According to some, we owe a great deal to the gadgets of this world whatever they may be. I just hope my credit is good.

That being so, let me just say how much I dislike and distrust and am filled with disgust at gadgets of all kinds. Primarily, because I have no idea of how they work. Of course, I have no idea of how I work… or even if I do work.

Occasionally the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage will come upon Yours Truly and ask a simple question. “What are you doing right now?”

It’s really not the question so much as how she asks the question that bothers me. Whenever I tell her I am working, she sarcastically tosses her hair to one side and simply says, “Ha,” and walks away. Unfortunately, I have no hair to toss to one side. I think she does it just to exacerbate me.

But getting back to the mysterious world of gadgetry, it is very hard to go without running into some kind of a gadget. The overwhelming assumption is that everybody knows what a particular gadget is, how it works and what it is supposed to do. I think that is too much to assume.

Whatever happened to the good old days when you did not need a gadget to do anything? Oh, how I long for that utopia of yesteryear. Reading my Bible thoroughly I have found nothing resembling a gadget of any description to be found in heaven. Amen. Read More→

by Rev. James L. Snyder

Many questions in life simply do not deserve the time it takes to answering them. And herein lies the greatest wisdom of all humanity. Figuring out which questions you should answer and which ones you should just let go by the wayside.

If I had my rathers, there would be very few questions I would really answer. When I say there are some questions that should not be answered, I am also inferring that some questions absolutely need to be answered. As a general rule of thumb, any question posed by the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is definitely in the latter category. This is a matter of health… my health.

Even when she poses the question, which I know is a trick question, “does this dress make me look old?” To ignore this question is to court trouble, and my courting days are over. After years of trial and error, mostly error, I have come to it reasonably safe answer. “Oh, my dear, nothing could ever make you look old.”

The key to answer such as this is to keep them as short as possible. Any elaboration only provides opportunity to slip down that slippery slope called “You’re in Trouble, Man.”

Then there are questions that I need to ask myself. One question that I never have to ask myself is, “Should I rob or should I not rob?” Read More→