WordsfromMr.D.com: INQUIRING MINDS JUST GOTTA KNOW

Saturday, August 26, 2017

INQUIRING MINDS JUST GOTTA KNOW

INQUIRING MINDS JUST GOTTA KNOW

There seems to be some confusion by a few kinfolks concerning my right to be involved in the American political system because I presently live outside the United States. Let the records speak; I started paying taxes in America when I was a sophomore in high school with my first job in the public sector as the garbage collector on Saturdays for the town of Chatham, Louisiana. I then worked my way through college and graduate school as a salesman for Sears paying all the local, state, and federal taxes. I continued to work while I took advanced studies in the Bible at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary because I wanted to see for myself the exact translations of the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek.

As an adult, I made the decision to be a public school teacher, a decision I have never regretted. For 32 plus years I taught school. I received a couple of promotions but had to turn down some because along with Mr. Leon Anemone we owned and operated a couple of musical retail stores. I worked after school, on Saturdays, during the holidays, and the summer vacations, paying millions in American tax dollars. And today I still pay taxes on my retirement funds. I am happy to report that my tax records are open for public inspection. Therefore, I have earned the right to express an opinion in a politically controlled government that I have helped to support for 63 years.

I always had the desire to travel because I like to meet people of different cultures and experience first hand how other people live. I retired from teaching, sold the businesses, and pursed my dream to travel and to write. I have had the opportunity to travel around the world stopping in many interesting places and meeting many outstanding people.

Millions of Americans retire outside the USA, and many other millions travel for long periods of time in resort areas around the world. I am a registered voter in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, and if I’m traveling at the time of the elections, I vote by Internet. I am an active member of Democrats Abroad which consists of thousands of Americans who have an active roll in America’s political system.

I am sorry that time and space will not permit me to tell you all the exciting places and outstanding adventures I have experienced. But of all those excitements nothing compared to a time when I saw a light in the eyes of a student, and a hand waving in the back of the room, and a voice that rang out, “Mr. Tippen, you know I’ve been thinking…”

In my quest for the forever young pill I have been blessed with longevity. I have tried to talk to Father Time but he doesn’t listen, and as a result, the clock keeps on ticking.

However, I will close with the words I wrote in a poem many years ago.

But if I’m walking my last mile,

I will walk proud and I’ll wear a smile.

If it’s minutes, if it’s hours, if it’s days…

I don’t know.

But one thing’s for certain I’ve enjoyed the show.

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AND WE CALLED HIM BROTHER MYERS

I have written a book that tells the story of a famous, country preacher during the years of my growing up experiences in Louisiana. The church was the center of social activities, and this particular young boy spent many hours attending church services. In this book I not only relate some of the popular sermons preached by Brother Myers, but I also give examples of some things that happened in the church that were comical. For example, there was one night, during a serious sermon, that a big, bug got entangled in the hair of one of the sisters. To a nine year old boy comical reactions followed. That same bug began to dip down into the hair of other ladies in the congregation. Many interpreted their reactions as spirit-filled moments, but others saw the bug and knew the real story.

I also tell the story of the yellow jacket that got caught up under the skirt of Miss Nellie on one particular Sunday morning church service. Once again many thought that Miss Nellie’s actions were spirit-filled, but others knew that a yellow jacket was of the stinging type. The most exciting story that I describe is when Sister Simmons shouted during the annual church revival. Regular church members had learned to dodge the bobby pins that flew like bullets through the church when she performed her famous “head jerk,” procedure.

At the end the book I retell the story of White Sunday. It is an emotional story about an African Americn lady who wanted nothing more than her children to learn about Jesus Christ. So she asked permission for her family to attend a white church and sit on the back row. The act of having to ask permission and being forced to sit on the bank row disturbs me even until this day. This reminds me of present day evangelical Christianity, when a gay man is refused membership to a white church. Or when church members refuse to sit by same-sex couples in church, or when a sign is posted on the church door that says, same-sex couples not welcome.

From the beginning of evangelical Christianity in America, very little real Christianity has been portrayed. It is hard to imagine Jesus denying anyone the privilege of listening to his sermons. I speak with disgust, because it still gets under my skin that as a child I was brainwashed to take part in such unchristian edicts.

Moving from my soap box, I hope that many of you will read and be blessed by the book entitled, AND WE CALLED HIM BROTHER MYERS. The book can be ordered from Amazon.com and is part of my religious series.

GOOD MORNING CLASS

The vast majority of the world’s population has spent time in a classroom. Some of that time was interesting but most of the time was boring, some of the time was informative but most was a waste of time. The book GOOD MORNING CLASS is interesting, informative, and at times, emotional. Teachers, parents, and students, can benefit from the information contained within this book.

Most adults have an interest in what goes on inside the classroom. Parents have special concerns that their children are being taught by qualified professional teachers. This book proves what can be accomplished when a professional steps inside a classroom. Professionalism is required for a teacher to create an interesting environment for learning in a classroom filled with thirty or more diverse students. A professional is also required in maintaining order and establishing an informative environment conducive for learning.

Substitute teachers have a more difficult task engaging students in something other than what students call “busy work.” GOOD MORNING CLASS is a story of one day in the life of a substitute teacher who was determined to employ students in some kind of constructive learning other than busy work. In so doing he faced rudeness, criticism, and slander, which he handled in a professional manner. In the end, he gained respect from most of the students and managed to maintain a learning environment.

IT'S NOT ME

IT’S NOT ME

Mirror, mirror, answer me,
who is this strange face that I see?
Could it be someone I don’t know,
a different person in a different show?

For Father Time has not stopped,
the hands have moved around the clock,
And now I look and can barely see
the strange face that stares back at me.

But when I look deep into those eyes,
I see the roads and remember the miles.
I see the paths that I have crossed,
and remember the friends who paid the cost.

I read the signs along the way
and heard the many voices say,
so fast the time, so fast the years,
over distance meadows, and rolling hills.

Sunsets, sunrises, I have seen,
many happy times were meant for me.
But death did knock on my front door,
and say to me, “Time is no more.”

The creepy crawlers in the night,
came and tried to take my life.
But I awoke and cried out loud,
“This white sheet is not my shroud!”

There are too many places I’ve never been
and too many faces I’ve never seen.
Great bodies of water I have crossed,
and in a land of needy there were coins to toss.

I’ve talked with the living and held hands with the
dead,
And listened to the spirits play games in my head.
I’ve spoken in languages I did not understand,
and made peace with myself, in a far away land.

I’ve seen people with hands out needing coins to eat,
and watched hunger devour that wasn’t so neat.
I’ve seen people made happy with so little it seemed,
and I’ve learned great lessons about material things.

So if Father Time should say to me,
a little more time I give to thee.
I will use that time preciously.

But if I’m walking my last mile,
I will walk proud and I’ll wear a smile.
“If it’s minutes, if it is hours, if it is days…
I don’t know.”
But one thing’s for certain I’ve enjoyed the show.

WordsfromMr.D.com

Saturday, August 26, 2017

INQUIRING MINDS JUST GOTTA KNOW

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AND WE CALLED HIM BROTHER MYERS I have a new book that is the first in a religious series.ut Me

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