Flash In The Pan (acoustic song, Del Barber)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Wednesday, December 13, 2023 in my corner of blog-land. Winter temps are mild here, snowfall minimal thus far. This is OK with me!

First to all of you: If you would like a free gift, please respond not to me, but by going online to the #eoy, #SmashWords, sale where you will find the -ebook version of my current title.

Note the sale starts December 15, 2023, ending on December 31, 2023.

Here is the book blurb below:

Human Being Human Doing

by David C. Russell

The four building blocks of the human body are cells, tissues, organs, and body systems. Experience includes observing, encountering, or undergoing things as they occur in time. The stories herein are about specific life experiences. These experiences are likely repeated with some variance down through history. The unique reactions are what contribute to this title. 

As the Festival of Hanukkah or Feast of Lights, is in its waning period, I wish all those whom observe this occasion much happiness and sense of renewal! Life will surely continue to have its stellar and mundane moments and occurrences. For those of us with a faith practice, we believe HaShem to be involved in accompanying us through both ends of the life spectrum!

Reading:  I recently became acquainted with the writing of the late E.M. Forster, (Edward Morgan Forster). At the moment, I am in the early chapters of his title, "The Longest Journey."

Earlier I read his short story collection and this spurred me to read more!

I also have a story titled, "Odium" that will be in the

#Winter, #New Authors Journal, which is due to be available just before December 24, 2023 on Amazon.com. My main character is a married man who goes through a set of adverse circumstances that lead to a alternative ending for his betterment.

I am happy we continue to visit, and that you stop by to check on yours truly!

You can find me at Facebook, either as FB Page, David C. Russell, or in general, David Russell.

Till next time, the Presence of YHVH be with you and yours!

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell

 

Light One Candle (Hanukkah: Peter, Paul, and Mary(Hanukkah)

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is Thursday, December 7, 2023 in my corner of blog land.

The sun will soon be setting in the nation of Israel at the time of this post. Here is an interesting, intriguing, life paradox:

Chanukah (Hanukkah) 2023 starts at nightfall on December 7, 2023 and ends with nightfall on December 15, 2023.

Most of us are aware that the nation of Israel, is about the size of the United States state of New Jersey; Unfortunately, deep stress, turmoil, and war have been the major facet of its daily life starting on Sabbath -  October 7, 2023.

The word "Hanukah" in Hebrew is translated as feast of dedication in English.  It appears the nation is dedicated in securing safety for its citizens and visitors by continuing to engage in this conflict with an extremist Hamas. Is it fair to use that adjective to describe this group's intent?

As believers in Messiah Yeshua, what are we dedicating our days, our time, ourselves, to?

May HaShem (G-d) grant another miracle similar to the circumstances under which the first Hanukkah was fashioned  in the second century BCE.

Thank you for stopping by to read our latest post. May the presence of HaShem ever be near to unite your heart (formerly understood as mind) to be single in purpose and daily living.

Peaceful and joyful Holidays,

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell 

 

Shop Around (Standard, The Miracles)

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is Monday, November 27 in my corner of blog land and also known as Cyber Monday in the consumer world. I will help a family member do some Cyber Monday shopping later today! Besides, our outdoor weather is frigid, a bit windy, and at about the freezing mark.

This post, I am going to share an excerpt from my current work in progress. Its title, Moments With David, is going to be comprised of several general and faith-based vignettes for personal ponder. Here is the one for this time of year:

Everyone Likes A Discount

David C. Russell

I was a youngster during the 1960s when American television offered more daytime movie options than at present. Commercials during these flicks included technical training programs, bartending courses, truck driver entities in search of new employees, and discount chainstores. Perhaps the viewership were considered unemployed, under-employed, middle-aged career changers, modest income earners.

Two phenomena in American business are The Black Friday Sale, and the annual summer climactic sidewalk sale. Origin of each type varies in recent time and reason for innovation. Each offers significant discounts on merchandise to attract the consumer, us.

The Black Friday Sale begins the shopping period from the day after American Thanksgiving till December 25. Commercialism has had an ongoing battle of sorts with the believed real reason for this period: the waning days and weeks leading to the birth of Christ Jesus the world’s Messiah.

Imagine one season where this prayer from Psalm 79 becomes the focus of the season alluded to above.

“Help us, God of our salvation—

    for the sake of the glory of Your Name.

Deliver us, and atone for our sins—

    for Your name’s sake.” (Tree Of Life Version Bible)

Can you imagine music being only holiday songs centered on humanity’s deliverance through the Messiah?

More contemporary songs could be added to the list of holiday songs we know as classics. We might begin to wrap our minds around some of what this event of a coming Messiah has provided and provides our humanity at large and we individuals.

We may have a deeper appreciation for that part of the world in which the Messiah was born, lived, touched lives, was crucified on a Thursday and rose from the tomb after three days and nights. The season with the focus off commercialism might actually engender an atmosphere of collective generosity towards one another, fortunate or less fortunate, because of the help received from above.

 

Reminder:  Think of the things in life money cannot buy.

 

Prayer:  Most Holy HaShem, the gift of your Son surpasses any material gift or treasure we purchase and hold dear,  amen.

   

Me: I am about to finish reading "Song Of The Lark" by Willa Cather and have enjoyed this entertaining life story of a fictional character who finds herself and way in this world. I then plan to read some Wilkie Collins over Winter and friend and author, B.A. Rose.

Until next visit, may the presence of HaShem be with us in our day-to-day lives, discoveries, and struggles.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell

         

My Heart Is Open Moors and McCumber,

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is Monday, November 6, 2023, in my corner of blog land.

The one key event recalled from this date occurred in 1990 in my life. A relationship of five years ended. I moved out.

At the time, I was living in another part of the U.S. Now, I find myself:

- playing a piano gig four evenings a week;

- Married to a wonderful woman for the past 27 years;

- Have two adult children and four grandchildren;

- Published three books, and several random short stories since 2014;

- Enjoy reading and reasonably good health at age 71.

I hope to return to giving these blog posts music titles. Is your heart opened today?

Regardless the answer, each of our hearts goes through changes during life. That November 6 in 1990 was sad, yet posed new challenge. Our momentous and small changes contribute to who we are and who we show the world that we are like it or not.

In conclusion, may the presence of Yehovah comfort you and be with you now and tomorrow.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell, Authorr

 

Let's Celebrate: Six Months and Ongoing!

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is Monday, October 23, 2023 in my corner of BlogLand.

It is also the six-month birthday for my current creative nonfiction title, Human Being Human Doing.

UBL URL: books2read.com/u/mlqXG9

A universal book link, offers readers the opportunity to shop for a book at one of their possible favorite on line vendors, acronym, UBL.

The code here, six digits, is posted above.

BOOK BLURB

Cells, tissues, organs, and body systems are the four building blocks of the human body. Experiences include observing, encountering, or undergoing things as they occur in time.

The stories herein are about specific life experiences. These are likely repeated with time with variation throughout history. The unique actions are what contribute to "Human Being Human Doing."

May the presence of HaShem guide our choices daily.

Thank you,

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author

 

Did You Ever Wonder?

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Wednesday, October 18 in my corner of BlogLand.

I title this post visit, Did You Ever Wonder?

Of course, you ask, "Wonder about what?"

Historic structures such as Synagogues in the time of Yeshua (Christ Jesus). Is there a connection in the descriptive below with where you gather to practice your faith in a community, congregation, collective of others?

As this blog's purpose includes exploring the roots of Christianity, this post observes that in the following excerpt.

Jordan Ryan, authors an article describing the synagogue in its place in history within the pages of the Summer issue, Biblical Archaeology Review.

I invite you to consider the following:

Synagogue buildings in the early Roman period featured a main assembly hall, which was quadrilateral in shape. Stepped benches typically lined the walls, meaning that the attendees sat facing the center of the room, and people seated along opposite walls would have faced one another. The seating arrangement was thus designed to facilitate discussion, particularly among people seated along different and especially opposite walls. This architecture is reminiscent of other public buildings of the Greco-Roman world, including certain forms of the bouleuterion and the ekklesiasterion.

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Synagogue assembly rooms also typically featured columns, usually in the central floor area, which supported a clerestory ceiling. The columns would have obscured the view of the central floor from the benches, which indicates that synagogues were likely designed with hearing rather than seeing in mind.(2) In short, the architectural evidence reveals that synagogues of the early Roman period were places of community assembly, made for listening and discussing.

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The synagogue at Qiryat Sefer in the West Bank was located in the center of a small agricultural village with an estimated population of just over 100.(3) This shows that very small villages could have a synagogue building, and its location in the middle of the village underscores its importance as a public place. Similarly, the synagogue at Tel Rekhesh in Galilee was located in a small, rural farmstead.

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By contrast, the synagogue at Gamla, a large town in the Golan, represents the sort of synagogue that might be typical of a larger settlement. It is very well constructed—with carved basalt ashlars and columns—and estimated to have seated more than 400 people. Furthermore, archaeological evidence for a synagogue in Jerusalem was discovered in the form of a Greek inscription found in the Ophel, popularly known as the Theodotus Inscription. The inscription, which originally belonged to an ancient synagogue in Jerusalem, describes the synagogue’s main features, including accommodations and water facilities for pilgrims. Thus, synagogues existed in the smallest to the very largest of Jewish towns and communities.

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The decoration of the first synagogue found at Magdala indicates that these buildings could be colorful, vibrant places. It featured multicolored wall frescoes and red painted columns. Its mosaic floor shows us that the practice of paving synagogue floors with mosaics has roots that extend back to at least the early Roman period.

We have altered things in faith practice considerably since that time, have we not?

In North America, many churches have pews or auditorium seating set up from back to front, back to altar, cross, and lecturn, for example.

I don't have time to explore that now. Interesting though is the seating arrangement and the variance in facility that the author points out between found synagogues. Hearing and listening were emphasized over the visual sense and olfactory sense.

I hope you found this informative if nothing else. Until next visit,

May the presence of YHVH be with us always.

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell, Author

 

Human Being Human Doing

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Monday, October 9 in my corner of BlogLand.

The tone of this post is somber and solemn. I will thank you at the outset for your visit and your thoughts as we pause a few minutes from our busy life.

It has been quite an eventful week for those in Israel and the Middle East, especially. The International Feast of Tabernacles concluded on October 6, 2023. This feast recalls G-d protecting the Exodus as they wandered in the wilderness four decades and provided direction and food for them. This is observed not only in Israel but across the globe. 

Just hours later, Israel would experience a full-blown terrorist incident that still is persisting as I write and looks like a war will be inevitable.

Six months ago this October 23rd, will be an anniversary of my latest title, "Human Being Human Doing".

Below, I am pasting an excerpt of a book review, offered on Reader's Favorite by one Courtnee Turner/Hoyle that was published this past July.

I invite you to consider this nonfiction anthology as a gift for yourself and another as you read the review.

ISBN: 979-898-833-0741.

Human Being Human Doing

Human Being Human Doing

by David C. Russell

 

Non-Fiction - Anthology

76 Pages

Reviewed on 07/03/2023

Buy on Amazon

 from this author.

BOOK REVIEW

Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite

Human Being Human Doing by David C. Russell features six stories with biblical history as their base. They begin by telling readers about Mirium as a follower of Jesus, David’s faith, and his decisions after he was anointed by Samuel, Moses’ rescue in the reeds as orchestrated by his mother and sister and told by his mother. This is followed by Jesus’ teachings and crucifixion from Nicodemus’s perspective, modern discussions of Judaism, Catholicism, and Christianity at a modern-day symposium, and a particular case on Judgment Day. The main characters in Russell's stories each answer a question by using experiences and events from their lives, encouraging others to either follow their example or learn from their mistakes.

David C. Russell has written a collection that deserves serious thought. The works are entertaining, enlightening, and useful, and readers can easily identify with them. Using his knowledge of scripture, Russell provides a glimpse into the historical background of pivotal times and builds the reader’s understanding with detailed descriptions. 

 

Tying this post together, some humans live out their convictions in bullying and manifesting ill-will towards others. Some human beings live out their convictions to serve, help provide for, demonstrate loving compassion toward others. The current skirmish in Israel, reflects the latter in my opinion.

Let us remember those who suffer innocently at the hand or hands of another. Shalom will occur internationally one day, but perhaps not this October or this year.

May the presence of HaShem be with each of us in our respective places.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell

        

In Between: How Are You?

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Wednesday, October 27 in my corner of blog land. Change is coming about is probably a phrase we hear occasionally throughout life.

Spiritually, this week our High Holiday focus is moving from a season of penitence, solemn and yet joyful, to an eight-day feast celebrating time in the wilderness historically and presently. This period is called, Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths. You may learn about this time period by searching the topic online, and maybe viewing present or past videos of Feast celebration.

I recommend three resources in particular for the curious:

- Feast of Tabernacles, ICEJ, International Christian Embassy;

- United Church Of God, Feast of Tabernacles;

- Videos by John Hagee on Feast Of Tabernacles.

These particular resources have been around for several years and survive the test of time as it were.

I mentioned change is coming about. As this relates to my craft of writing, in the near future, this blog will feature postings about or from my current titles:

- Human Being Human Doing, David C. Russell

ISBN: 979-898-833-0741

- Current work in progress, Moments With David

I also have stories in the last four issues of "New Authors Journal" available at Amazon. These are published quarterly: fall, winter, spring and summer, respectively.

Also: https://www.spillwords.com/author/davidcrussell/

Our thought this post concerns the verbs "fail and try."

From last post:  In Jewish thinking, a great person isn’t one who never fails; it’s one who fails and keeps trying. 

Moreover, life itself may often or occasionally involve an expected or unexpected detour. I am going through one such personal detour at the moment. Nothing more needs to be elaborated on about this.

May HaShem (God Almighty) be present with us in our days and nights.

Thank you for stopping by. Your visit is truly appreciated!

Mellow Rock,

David C. Russell, Author    

 

Starting Again: Some Wisdom to Keep

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is September 20 in my corner of blog land, Wednesday. The Jewish faith celebrates Rosh HaShanah (the new year) during this period of time. This includes a ten-day period prior to the Day Of Atonement, Yom Kippur, which is to be Sunday in our current year, 2023.

This solemn day is for individual and individual reflection over the sins, iniquities, and transgressions of the past year. Sounds pretty serious doesn't it?

Rather than mire oneself in incapability, here is some wisdom from the website, aish.com, to help us all make amends to ourselves and to the others in our respective lives. Following this day of return, begins a joyous feast called Feast of Booths, or feast of Tabernacles. After Monday, read about this festival at the online site of your choosing or perhaps encyclopedia.com.

In the past, online videos of this festival have been recorded by the International Embassy for Christians and Jews, which is festive, celebrative, about an hour in length during this eight-day occasion, recorded from Israel.

Now, help with our present moment as we celebrate or acknowledge Rosh HaShanah:

Change is in our power, but only up to a point. If we truly want to alter ourselves, we need to also pray to the Almighty to give us the strength we need to change.

It’s Never Too Late to Change

As long as the candle is still burning, it is still possible to accomplish and to mend. – Rabbi Yisrael Salanter

One night, Rabbi Salanter was walking home, past the home of a shoemaker. Despite it being very late, he observed the shoemaker was still busy, working by the light of a single candle. “Why are you still working?” Rabbi Salanter asked him. “It is very late and soon the candle will go out.”

The shoemaker replied “As long as the candle is still burning it is still possible to accomplish and to mend shoes.” In his wisdom, Rabbi Salanter realized this message is true for all of us. It’s never too late to change.

Let Go of Past Mistakes

When a person turns himself around, regrets his past and does good, that is such a powerful act that his sins become merits. – Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, known as Resh Lakish in the Talmud, knew a thing or two about overcoming sins: he gave up a career as a bandit to repent, study Torah and eventually become a great scholar. He taught that starting anew can wipe away our past mistakes and regrets.

How old will be you be in seven years if you don’t go to medical school (or fulfill any other ambition)? – Pauline Phillips (“Dear Abby”)

Few of her readers realized that Abigail Van Buren, who penned the long-running “Dear Abby” advice columns from 1956 until her death in 2013, was actually a Jewish woman named Pauline Phillips from Sioux City, Iowa. One of her most famous pieces of advice was given to “Unfulfilled in Philly”, who wrote that he would love to be a doctor, but if he were to go back to college and get his degree, then go to medical school, then do an internship, and finally practice medicine, it would take him seven years and he’d be 43 years old. Dear Abby’s advice was priceless: How old will you be in seven years if you don’t do all those things? It’s better to fulfill our dreams later in life than never.

Keep Trying

Though the righteous one may fall seven times, he will arise. – King Solomon (Proverbs 24:16)

In Jewish thinking, a great person isn’t one who never fails; it’s one who fails and keeps trying. You can only become a truly great person through the crucible of failure and perseverance.

May YHVH grant you a fresh start and me too.

Mellow Rock

            David C. Russell, Author

 

What To Say When Ticked

 Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is August 28 in my corner of blog land. For those who observe an ancient faith practice known as Judaism, it is the month of Elul, which is the final month on the Jewish calendar. It is a time when many take stock and decide in what ways they will improve themselves. I like observing this month since Fall seems to usher in new starts in western culture for North America.

I was curious as I take stock of myself, are there synonyms that can become effective expletives to speak when we find ourselves totally tick offed at someone or something?

We often use expletives known culturally to express our disgust at something or someone's behavior. I do, and you probably do also.

Let's dive in and look at two key samples.

Suggested alternatives are from Thesaurus.com.

Asshole

Ass, bastard,  jackass, dickhead, mother-f...er, shit, SOB, asshat,  asswipe,  idiot,  jerk,  schmuck

F..K

bang,  bonk,  copulate,  fornicate,  hump,  lay,  score,  sleep with,  shag,  schtup

Of the first group, idiot, jerk, and schmuck seem more preferred than the others.

Of the second group, I like the sound of schtup.

It may send someone running to their online dictionary, but hey, improving expression is more less what this is all about.

Consider These

- I think you're being impudent, which means rude, disrespectful. Be careful, one might think you said, impotent.

- I think you're being indolent, which means lazy, idle, lacking inertia.

- I am feeling indignant toward you. Meaning disgruntled, dissatisfied, discontented.

If all fails, resort to the words, Oh schtup!

May YHVH be with us throughout our days.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell

 

Let's Do Elul Together?

Hello Grafted In Reader,

For those who have followed this blog for some time, in earlier days focus was given to elements of the Christian faith that are known to be inherited from the Jewish faith. One such is upcoming, the month of Elul on the Jewish calendar.

In 2023, this 30-day period of self examination and returning to G-d, begins the evening of August 16.

Below, I am pasting an article from August 2021 by Jewish Voice Ministries, that gives and overview of Elul, and recommendations for one to utilize if choosing to observe this month.

Or, you may search for information on your own regarding the month of Elul.

Please share this with someone who may be interested.

 Elul: Preparing Your Heart for the Fall Feasts

August 03, 2021

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What is Elul? Elul is a month on the Jewish calendar preceding the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These holidays are about repentance and right standing with the Holy God of Israel, and one doesn’t enter such a season lightly. Engaging well with the Lord on these matters requires preparation. That’s how Jewish people and Messianic Jews spend the Hebrew month of Elul.

Elul sits on the calendar between the time of year when Israel committed two of her great sins against the Lord (the golden calf and the 10 spies’ bad report) and the High Holy Days. It proves a fitting time of year to dedicate extra focus to self-examination, repentance and seeking right standing with God for the coming year. Some scholars believe this period overlapped with Yeshua’s 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. Jewish tradition holds that on Rosh Hashanah, God pronounces a judgment on each Jewish person for the coming year and, 10 days later, on Yom Kippur, He seals that judgment.

Elul is a month of intentional time reflecting on our lives with the Lord. As the days progress, our focus intensifies as we pray and ask God to reveal where we have fallen short of His laws and desires for our lives. We humble ourselves before Him in repentance, seek forgiveness and make amends with others as needed.

sign-jewish-holidays-and-cultu…

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What is Repentance?

The Jewish tradition of repentance is called teshuvah, which means “returning.” Teshuvah includes three aspects: confession, regret and a commitment not to repeat the sin. As the Lord reveals our sins to us, we agree with Him that they are wrong, express genuine remorse and turn from them with a determination to forsake them in the future.

Elul Traditions

Along with taking stock of one’s life before the Lord, Elul traditions include blowing the shofar every morning (except on Shabbats) during the month. The shofar serves as a call to awaken the soul to repentance. Special prayers of repentance, called selichot, are recited during Elul. Another custom is to read Psalm 27 twice each day of the month and through the last day of the Feast of Sukkot, following Yom Kippur.

Preparing Your Heart for the New Year

As Messianic Jews who believe in Jesus, we understand that we have been sealed in the Holy Spirit. Still, reflection and repentance should be an ongoing part of our relationships with God. The time preceding the High Holidays is a perfect time to dedicate extra focus to assessing our lives before the Lord.

To help you participate in this season of prayerful searching, we’ve put together a list of Scriptures, one for each day of Elul, that you can meditate on, pray over and listen to the Lord regarding. We’ve alternated Scriptures centered on examination, sin and repentance with the verses of Psalm 27.

Daily Scriptures for Elul Meditations

A Jewish day begins and ends at sunset, so we’ve listed both Gregorian calendar dates that coincide with each Elul date of the Jewish calendar. For instance, Elul 1 begins at sunset on August 8 and ends at sundown on August 9.

Start your journey by praying to have an open heart, willing to hear what the Lord has to say to you. May you encounter Him more personally and intimately than ever before this Elul. May you discover afresh His love and forgiveness along with new mercies every day. And may you know His power to restore and revive you as you return to Him.

Elul 1, August 8/9, 2021                  Psalm 85:8 

Elul 2, August 9/10, 2021                Psalm 27:1

Elul 3, August 10/11, 2021              Psalm 139:23–24

Elul 4, August 11/12, 2021              Psalm 27:2

Elul 5, August 12/13, 2021              Psalm 38:18

Elul 6, August 13/14, 2021              Psalm 27:3

Elul 7, August 14/15, 2021              Psalm 51:10

Elul 8, August 15/16, 2021              Psalm 27:4

Elul 9, August 16/17, 2021              Psalm 19:12

Elul 10, August 17/18, 2021            Psalm 27:5

Elul 11, August 18/19, 2021            Isaiah 30:15

Elul 12, August 19/20, 2021            Psalm 27:6

Elul 13, August 20/21, 2021            Psalm 26:2

Elul 14, August 21/22, 2021            Psalm 27:7

Elul 15, August 22/23, 2021            Psalm 51:1–2

Elul 16, August 23/24, 2021            Psalm 27:8

Elul 17, August 24/25, 2021            Lamentations 3:40

Elul 18, August 25/26, 2021            Psalm 27:9

Elul 19, August 26/27, 2021            Psalm 119:59

Elul 20, August 27/28, 2021            Psalm 27:10

Elul 21, August 28/29, 2021            Psalm 86:11

Elul 22, August 29/30, 2021            Psalm 27:11

Elul 23, August 30/31, 2021            Psalm 51:1–2

Elul 24, Aug 31/Sept 1, 2021           Psalm 27:12

Elul 25, September 1/2, 2021         Psalm 25:11

Elul 26, September 2/3, 2021         Psalm 27:13

Elul 27, September 3/4, 2021         Matthew 3:8

Elul 28, September 4/5, 2021         Psalm 27:14

Elul 29, September 5/6, 2021         Psalm 32:5

 End

 

 

© 2023, Jewish Voice Ministries International

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I recommend we either read Psalm 27 each day during Elul and make it personal.

Or, Let's read each of the daily verses and make that personal to us.

If you agree to do this, consider liking this post. Thanks!

Meantime, Kevod Yeheveh, the presence of G-d be with us every hour, every day.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author        

New Book: Human Being Human Doing

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today Is August 1, 2023 in my corner of blog land. Thank you for checking up on me occasionally to see if and when I reappear. I hope to renew our visits at least once monthly. Let me know if interested by liking this post please.

Since May 23rd this year, I have been busy with writing projects. 

I published "Human Being Human Doing" in May to most of the major online vendors.

Here is a link to get you started on searching out the ins and outs of this title that took about one year to produce:

Human Being Human Doing by David C. Russell

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/human-being-human-doinghttps://www.goodreads.com › 

If this did not show as a link, I suggest you google the following:

"book human being human doing david c. russell goodreads"

and that will take you to some basic info and a review or two.

Also, over Spring and most of summer, a co-writer and I entered a contest to produce a 50-paragraph story where the contest provides the first and last line. Each take turns doing alternate paragraphs two through forty-nine.

We just submitted this entry today and will find out how we placed in December.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading per usual. "The Road" and "Child Of God" by the late Cormac McCarthy are the most recent reads and enjoyed!

I am working on a new title called, "Moments With David".

These are short topical vignettes and hope to publish in 2024. I need to add another forty to fifty vignettes first.

As my Mom used to often entone, All good things come to an end.

Such is the case with our visit. We have previously focused on faith matters and or health tips. Would you like this to continue, or should we consider other general subject matter?

I would like to involve you in the further shaping of this, our blog.

See you in September, Lord Willing. It is nearing the season of the High Holidays, one of my favorite occasions in the year as a Hebraic Christian.

Kevod Yeheveh, the presence of YHVH be with us.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author

 

Solomon The Wise

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is April 19, Wednesday, in my corner of blog land. To begin, did you recall that thirty years ago this date was a sorrowful day in American History?

The setting, Waco, Texas. A cult leader convinced his followers that their lives were over. 

Also on this date, 1995, was the tragic bombing of a Government building in Okalahoma City, Oklahoma.

Today, 2023, I found some words of wisdom commenting on the book in the Hebrew Bible known as Kohelit, or Ecclesiastes to many others.

Writer Amy Cooper Robinson offers some insight into the overall theme of this book that includes:

 You have been granted this day, and the people you will encounter in it, and its questions and puzzles and (of course) its food and creature comforts. You can enjoy it or not, you can engage with it or not, you can love it or not, but you can’t trade it in for something better in the future. So, he advises, honor the portion you have. 

I conclude most days end in the middle between extraordinary and mundane or tedius. It may be a good blessing that such is the case.

Of Note

I am planning to publish a six story self-collection in the next month titled, Human Being Human Doing.

Some of the accounts are imagined sketches from the Bible; one is based on church history and societal attitude, the final is imagined Judgment Day when the defendant hears, Well Done good and faithful servant.

The theme shows that we are human beings who have been given the capacity to do many things for ill or for good.

Author, David C. Russell.

The title will be available from most major online vendors. Stay tuned!

Until next visit, God be present with you and yours in your current life season.

Thanks for stopping by. Invite a friend along next time.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell,    Autho    r

 

As Time Goes By (standard)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is March 9 in my corner of blog land, 2023.

I am thinking of time today in relation to my developed to-do list.

- Joining and online sport book program comes with needed learning;

- Preparing my forthcoming title, Human Being, Human Doing, has some pre-publication issues to resolve;

- Urging a family member to keep moving forward in life takes minutes but adds up;

- My four-evening per week piano gig is semi-retirement income;

- Being a voracious reader takes 6-7 hours each week;

- Monitoring comments from a recent story having appeared at Https://www.spillwords.com/author/davidcrussell

is pleasurable and happy to see nearly 20 persons read "Puddles and S..t".

Given all the above, and your list too,  time keeps going by or slipping into the future as Steve Miller Band sang about 47 years ago. A lot of time slipped since that date!

For cooler conversation, I found this in a recent newsletter by the Grammar Girl.

It's to those of us who either say "um" or "er", within our sentences.

‘Erm’ and ‘Um’

This old piece by linguist Lynne Murphy blew my mind this week. Like Lynne, I have seen hesitations in American English written as “um” and in British English written as “erm,” and I presumed people in Britain pronounced their hesitations differently than we do here. But no, my friends! It’s just that they write the “word” differently because they don’t pronounce R’s the same way. 

I will be back to visit in the near future. Thanks for reading, and tell your friends that Mellow Rock is alive, well, too busy, but naps for a good hour each day after his noon meal.

May the Holy One ever be present with us.

        Mellow Rock