Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 383

Orson Welles

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Some actors are more interesting than the roles they’ve played, such was Orson Welles.

See It God’s Way

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Psalms 42:6

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

One early morning last week, in the middle of an Awe inspiring move of God, at #iafconference 2017, I was reading this chapter. It is agreed by most, that David wrote the forty second Psalm. Many men have preached on it through the years. 

A special message in particular, a couple of years back, from our Chairman, Pastor Denny Livingston, had spoken to my spirit and my situation. It encouraged me through a very trying time. I love revisiting sermons where valleys gave birth to vision, and apparent plateaus became the foot of a mountain pass.  

Perhaps that’s why I relooked at it. God made the connection to me, of hearing my Pastor’s voice, and the first audience that the Psalmist David wrote it for. The sons of Korah.

They were the descendants of a man who gave way to jealousy against the Man Of God. Korah, allowed the enemy to manipulate his pride, and perhaps his own feelings of insignificance, to challenge God’s one appointed leader. That act of violent disobedience, that malignant cancer called rebellion, in God’s eyes, had to be cut out.

Korah allowed himself to be so infected with it, that it separated him from his family. According to Numbers 26:11, Korah’s children did not die in the fight. However, in Numbers 16, the men who stood with Korah, Dathan and Abiram, took their wives, and children down in their rebellion.

God commanded Israel to get completely away from the tent of these men. Dathan and Abiram’s entire family followed them down in their rebellion. Know for certain, that rebellion against God, and the Man Of God, will destroy you, and could bring to ruin generations.  

Somehow Korah’s family was not with him. Whether they realized that what he was doing was totally wrong, or he chose it over them we do not know. What we do know is, Korah stood alone in his blind jealousy. It had to obscure his vision if it cost him his family.

Korah’s children weren’t there, they did not perish, because they chose God’s Man over their loved, but misguided relative. The result, God destroyed anyone connected to the rebellion of Korah. What does Numbers have to do with Psalms 42:6? Because they had chosen God, and the Promised Land was open to them.

The Korahites were, first alive to remember at all, much less from the land of Jordan. Mount Hermon, possibly the Mount of Transfiguration, was open to them, because of their respect for the Man Of God. Mizar is a puzzle. 

Some say it’s a region in Israel. Others, that it’s a summit where David found safety. Another, that it refers to Mount Zion. Either way, we know this. They saw what they would not have seen, had they made wrong choices. Instead they chose to see it God’s way, and stand with the Man Of God. It was a place of promise, with God and His Leader, and that the Korahites were there because of loyalty and faithfulness.  

iPainting Lighthouse Island

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iPainting Winter TIME

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We hope you enjoy this iPainting “Winter TIME”.

Acrylic Smoky Mountain View

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Did this small acrylic “Smoky Mountains View” between services at an incredible, life changing #iafconference!

Eddington Eat Your Coffee With Espionage

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We wouldn’t know for a while, what would happen when Rastilav figured out the “key” was a fake. Getting him to take it, only set the next stage in motion. What I hoped that meant, was a normal few days.  

Somehow, in the pit of my stomach, I didn’t believe it. I still tried. The next morning I was unloading two new crates of coffee mugs when Sam walked in. “Where can a man get a coffee and a muffin?”

“I think I can top that. We’ve got something new, espresso muffins. You can eat your coffee with espionage. I imagine you’ve got more to tell me.”

“Actually I have a question to ask you.”

We went inside, I gave him a chocolate espresso muffin and a vanilla latte. He loved both of them. As he ate, he led in to his question.

“In this business, you have to know there are situations you can assist with, but will never be able to bring in house. In other words, you’re more of an active consultant. You help prevent the bad guys from murdering anyone, and you make sure the good guys win.”

I was about to ask him what exactly he meant, and what his end game was, when he beat me to the question mark. “After Rastilav is out of the picture, and the others. What are you, and your Grandfather’s plans? Will the artifacts go back into hiding, and if so, do you have a plan to hide them well enough to keep the next Rastilav from finding them?”

I thought about it for a minute. “To be honest, all of this was sort of thrown on me. I can tell you, none of us want this to continue. If it were up to me, I’d bury them in an occasionally active volcano.”

Sam smiled. “That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear. Because once another generation knows about another ticket to a power trip, Rastilav’s file out of the woodwork, looking to be king of the rats.” 

iPainting Mr Morse In Central Park

We hope you enjoy this iPainting of the statue of “Mr Morse In Central Park”.

Four Miles From Montrose- A #PruittWrites Football Story

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“Coach Johnson, when will you be leaving?” He stopped and looked at the reporter. He wanted to frown and say “No comment.” Instead he smiled, “Haven’t made any travel plans yet Ron.” Then he waived to the reporters and headed for his office.

 Jason “Jace” Johnson had been a high school star, SEC, and National champ. He was awarded the Heisman trophy. He had three Super Bowl rings, two as quarterback, and one as Head Coach. That was three years ago. 

For the last three seasons nothing had went right professionally. He had lost his star quarterback to a richer team, more players followed the next year. Today he had rookies that at times showed great promise. Then there was the majority of the games in the season. For months the rumors were flying farther than the passes.

 It wasn’t “If he was leaving”, it was “When!?”

He had a grand baby on the way, with two sons in college, and a son in law starting as Offensive Coordinator in Tennessee. His daughter was going to name their son Jace William Wilkes after the Grandpas. Money and pride weren’t the issue, he just felt like this team and his staff had one more in them.

 The owner, Hunter Carlisle had been out of the country when the rumors began. They were friends, but this was business. He decided that he had to make a choice. He felt he had two obligations to Hunter, and the team.

One was to lead them to the Super Bowl. The other was not to let himself stand in the way of a chance to get there. Jace believed in his team. He also believed that he could lead them to victory. One obstacle was the questions hanging over the team.

Whether it meant a new coach, or reassuring the team that they had at least another year, was up to him. He had to make sure that the question of next year was answered, even if he wasn’t a part of that answer. He was at Hunter’s office the next morning.

Hunter was a tall man, with blue eyes. He now had, as he put it, snow for hair, and kept it in the same buzz cut he had in the Army. They were both getting older, Jace’s green eagle eyes now needed glasses. They both moved a lot stiffer than they had playing against each other in college. 

“Jace, how is my favorite Tennesseean?” Jace smiled, that was always how Hunter referred to his friend. Hunter was from Alabama, and a die hard Crimson Tide fan. Some of his relatives were still upset that he had hired a former Volunteer. “Still wearing orange on my day off, and rooting for them on Saturdays.”

They made small talk for a little while, each knowing why he was there. “So Hunter, I could sit here all day and pitch next year to you. Or I could spend a few hours telling you why you need someone else. Either one would put you into a tough position.”

“If you keep me, they’ll say it’s sentiment, or laziness on your part. If you fire me, you’ll be an owner with over the top expectations. Either way, the team loses. If I resign, they’ll say I was pushed out. If they don’t say that, they’ll say I’m running, or leaving for a better job.”

“The only real answer is for us to make an announcement together. If you think I’m finished here, I’ll retire, hang up my hat, and route from the sidelines. If you still have confidence in me, we’ll keep going until next season.”

“I feel like that I have one good year left. I think this group of players can be great, under the right circumstances. As long as we end the question, not in the press, but in their minds. What play are we going to make?”

“Do you remember the year we won the Super Bowl? That night, about midnight, I was rushed to the emergency room, open heart surgery. The next morning, you walked in the room. “I remember, I wanted to see my friend, not my boss.” Hunter nodded, “I know, but I found out later how you got there.

“The Denver airport was snowed in, you heard of the smaller airport in Montrose. You rented a car, and four hours later you boarded a small plane that took you to Chicago. From there, you came here, paying for the whole thing out of your pocket.”

Jace took off his hat, exposing his salt graying hair. “While I appreciate it, I don’t want personal feelings to factor in. If you fired me today and were sick tomorrow, Brittany and I would be there.” “I know, but I’m not viewing it just from a friendship point of view.”

“I saw a man who was committed to a task. One that he had every excuse, every reason, to give up, and didn’t. Jace, if you think you have even one more game, much less one more year in you, our team needs you. I sincerely think you’ll lead us to another Super Bowl. You’ve had to rebuild the team after Malcolm left us.”

“I want you here for the long haul. If you give up the whistle next year, if you’ll agree to it, I’ll hand you a coat and the title President. Compared to dealing with the media, the players, and the other teams, running the head office would be retirement for you. You’re not the only one who has a grandchild on the way.”

So, with that question answered, they held a press conference. Hunter spoke before the reporters had a chance to start. “Listen guys, thanks for coming. I’ll keep it short. Next year, Jace will coach our team to the Super Bowl. After that, unless he wants to go another year, he’ll take over my job. I’ve got grand babies, and a Governorship to prepare for. That’s right, I’m running for my home state of Alabama’s head job, so I’ll need him here. Let’s see who has the best score at the end of the day.”

With that, Hunter gave them a new story, and lifted the pressure off of his Coach, and his team. Everyone left there asking if Carlisle could win, not if Johnson would leave. It was exactly what the team needed. They didn’t win every game, but they won enough to find themselves trying to win some rings and a silver trophy one more time.

Jace was true to his word as always. That night he slipped a ring on his finger, and laid down his cap. The next day his only complaint was how tight this new tie was around his neck. Hunter would go on to win not only the Governor’s job twice, but a Senate seat as well.

Jace’s mind went back to that small airport, and a four hour car ride through the snow and ice. When he checked the rental car in, the man said, “You must have somewhere important to go to have traveled through this.” “Yes, I’ve got a sick friend in the hospital.” The man looked at him again. “You’re Coach Johnson! You just won the Super Bowl. You just finished that, and you’re concerned about a sick friend. He must be a good one.”

Jace smiled, “Yes, it’s more than that though. You see, if I were in that hospital, hurting, scared, and alone. It would give me the will to win to see my best friend walk through the door. That’s why I’m going, right now, he needs the will to win this battle.”

In the end, he gave not only Hunter, but his team, and himself the will to win. The team didn’t just win another Super Bowl, and Hunter didn’t just win a few elections. Jace had four coaches who went on to win Super Bowls for other franchises. Two quarterbacks and four more players ended up in the Hall Of Fame. One of Hunter’s protégé’s would go on to win the White House, all because of a commitment and a four hour drive to Montrose. 

Reading the title you may ask why it’s called four miles from Montrose.  When you’re friends need you, no matter what your situation, or how inconvenient, we should only be four miles from answering their call.  

The first mile puts their needs above our own. Going the second mile is about facing any inconvenience necessary to help.  The third is about reinforcing their value.  While the fourth is teaching those we love to do the same.  Like football, it’s about going long to win the game of friendship.

This and other stories can be found in the #PruittWrites eBook “The Kite” @ www.amazon.com/author/pruittwrites 

 

Eddington French Press Warm Shower

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Have you ever tried to zig and zag at the same time? Isn’t easy, but I did it. It was easy, two chain saws were my motivation. One swung at my head, the other at my chest. Staying alive will teach you skills you didn’t know you had.

Over the course of this mess, I’ve been shot, temporarily blinded, threatened, and insulted. So, either out of desperation or anger, I grabbed the nearest thing to me, and swung. They expected me to go for their heads, but I didn’t know that. 

I went for their legs, and caught one of them. He dropped the saw, right in my direction. I jumped back, and the other guy kept coming. This time I swung at the saw, and the metal bar I was holding sparked with the saw.  

The guy focused on it for a second, which let me land a sucker punch. Sam’s men got there at the same time. It seemed to all have lasted a half hour, but it actually only took three minutes.  

“Tom, you were pretty good. Where did it come from?” Sam asked smiling. “Fear, one hundred percent fear!” He could tell I was shaken, and offered me a lift home.

“Did they take the bait?” I asked as the adrenaline left my body, and I felt sick. “Yeah, the little guy showed up at Rastilav’s door a few minutes ago. He’s got it.”

“Your plan from before, to pass off a fake was a good idea. The problem was, it was too easy. If you want someone to take something, you have to make it look like you were desperate for them not to get it.”  

“We just made a slight variation. He knew we wouldn’t risk the actual item, but we might hide the key to it all. Rastilav will take the fake Key, embarrass himself, and get in a close grip between his pride and his colleagues. What do you think Tom?” “I think the only tight spot I’m interested in, is the following two things.  They are, in this order, French Press, warm shower.”

Pursuing Him

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“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Ps 1:2

Verse one reflects the branches, while Verse two reveals its roots. Pursuing Him influences our conduct!