..they were there yesterday!

Music link:      https://youtu.be/Pdb7dy-KCFk?list=RDPdb7dy-KCFk

1 Samuel 9:20        New Living Translation

20 And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”

You know, sometimes I wonder if I am a little obsessive compulsive. You know, I will get interested in a few projects and then I go all out for them. I mean, for a week or two it is as if I have to “do my father’s business, and until I can rest assure myself that I have done everything he has asked, I then like to take some time to relax again and goof off. 

You know what I mean?

I mean on top of my efforts there is always the devil “nipping on my heels” and trying to distract or sabotage whatever I am involved in though. Either by twisting things that I say or even attacking me in the natural. 

Earlier this week, I wished to relax so I decided to cook my ‘lamb shank’ that I picked up when I was on the other side of town at a Whole Foods Market. You see, we don’t have any of them fancy ‘grocers’ near where I live, so whenever I am near Randall’s, Central Market, or Whole Foods, I might pick up a ‘lamb shank’ or even a pound of sliced Corned Beef. On occasion I have gone into a grocer around where I live and because they are so heavily Hispanic influenced some of the Deli people have told me that they have never heard of ‘Corned Beef.’

Therefore, I have been afraid to ask if they any ‘lamb shanks?’  

Well, I had a good day, so I stuck it in a stock pot, added some carrots, potatoes, some frozen mirepoix, some Greek spices and a few others and I placed it on the large burner on my stove.  I still had some expensive Mint Sauce that I was going to finish the jar with, so I was excited. 

I believe that it had cooked at a moderately low temperature for maybe two hours, but then I decided to take a nap. Sometimes, I only get a few hours’ sleep and will start watching “Fox and Friends First” and another few shows to educate myself on what is going on in the world. I really wish there were a lot more ‘preachers,’ or pastors who also did this. I hate to say this, but I don’t think that the nation has ever had as many clueless “Clergymen,” as we have in the pulpits today. Very few have a clue concerning world affairs. This is the reason why the pulpits are mostly silent on the subject. 

Nevertheless, I checked my lamb, added some more water and laid down to take a nap. Well, it was like an hour or two later and I was awakened to my smoke detector in my bedroom. 

As I got up, I was a little groggy and half thinking that it was my phone. Well, I look into the other room, and I see this really heavy smoke even colored dark brown shade as I recall. So, I jumped out of bed and ran toward the kitchen and as I approached, I looked at my Stock Pot sitting on the burner and the entire bottom of the pot for maybe two to three inches was as red as if it was on fire. So, as I got to the stove and I saw this extremely hot ‘pot’ burning red and smoke coming out of my roast. Therefore, I simply grabbed one of the protective silicon handles which was solidly intact and I slid it over to another burner which was off. 

Well, after a few minutes I turned on my blower fan and cleared the smoke out and then examined my roast. 

God is so good, what can I say?

The entire bottom of the pan was all stuck together and black as a chalkboard on the bottom in a pile of potatoes, carrots, diced onions and celery, and as if an ‘angel’ had gently rested my lamb shank on top of that bed of vegetables there was one of the most beautiful “Lamb Shanks” that I have ever seen in my life. 

As I pulled the thing out of the pot with a pair of kitchen tongs, the meat was falling off the bone. I don’t recall a black spot among it, but I put it in a good size bowl and grabbed my “Mint Sauce,” took it out to my computer to where I usually eat and tasted and enjoyed one of the best “Lamb Shanks,” in which I have ever witnessed. 

With every bite I would take my fork and grab a good bunch of Mint Sauce, and I couldn’t have been any happier with another roast. 

Well, that was a Rabbitt Trail, my intent was to explain how after I finish my intense projects with the Lord, then I like to visit some favorite, “You Tube,” videos and stuff. Nonetheless, then I might concentrate on another subject completely differently. Or to comment on something stupid which can be taken wrong or twisted by the devil. 

It’s like I am never freed from my adversary as he is always “nipping at my heels.” 

Anyway, I was hoping to have a day off and spend some time visiting some old “You Tube,” clips relaxing, but I spent a few hours on and off today looking for a couple of my favorite clips yet have seemed to have lost them completely. 

8-25-2026

Postscript: 

I probably should have emphasized a little more on the seriousness of the fire. As I pulled the pot off the burner the burner was on as high as it could have been. It was a bright red and almost every part of the element was a bright burning red.

I had the stove dial on maybe three or four, but somehow there was a short circuit, and the element just went on “HIGH.”

The smell of the pan had filled the kitchen with a horrendous metal smell, and it was considerably an almost dangerous situation had the Pot continued under that heat for another five minutes or so? I believe that it would have possibly heated the ceiling and possibly lit the apartment on fire. 

Meanwhile, as I was extricating the pot off the stove top and turning the burner off there were a couple of Hispanic somewhat hefty neighborly older women maybe in their forties, who apparently couldn’t speak English. 

Well, during the day I have this patio door screen which I installed and used to save on electricity, so I can slide the door open and then I have an “industrial blower,” which I blow fresh air into the apartment. 

Nonetheless, these women had slid my patio door opened a little more and then were kicking in my screen and almost ripping it off, so they could come into the apartment. 

Apparently, they were quite NOSEY, because when I walked over to the Patio and told them to quit ripping my screen apart, I also opened wide the front door and pointed to the door, saying that if they wanted to come in my apartment, they were welcome to use what we call a “front door.”

Well, that was a little complicated, so instead they finally walked away gibberish Ing about something or other. 

And I can’t imagine what the two old ‘blow holes,’ were discussing?

Welcome to my world…

(Added Note: 

I hope that my writing this paper doesn’t make me sound racist, as the apartment complex that I have lived in for the last six or seven years is probably ninety to ninety-five per cent Hispanic.

Neither my former roommate nor I have ever had any issues with other tenants or the management.  

Concerning the grocery stores I mentioned that never carry “Lamb,” is a Kroger and a Walmart in the area.

The grocer where they had never heard of “Corned Beef,” was an HEB, yet they do at least carry some lamb, yet never the “lamb shanks,” however. 

I just wanted to clarify that, as it can be somewhat difficult to live in an area which is culturally different to where I have previously lived. Although, at times, I have lived in much worse areas, as well, for short seasons. 

Nevertheless, I don't wish to give out the impression that I don't love my Hispanic brothers and sisters any less than my other fellow man. 

You see, I just don't like big heavy set nosey old women who feel they have a right to kick in my door without asking first.

Does that make sense without sounding racist?

Well, I think it does! )

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