Meet Keith Priser

    Meet Keth Priser!
   Keith is a very energetic and lively fellow. He is the leader for the praise team at Claypool United Methodist Church in the dynamic and bustling town of Claypool. His uplifting sense of music contributes to a worship service that makes one feel present and eager to participate.
    He has a long and successful career as a musician. He has shared with me the many bands and concerts he has played. From Warsaw Indiana to other states and back, Keith has put in many hours and days of playing guitar.
    And that experience can be of benefit to you!
Keith gives guitar lessons!
    Have you ever wanted to realize your dream of becoming a rock star, a folk hero, a worship leader?
    Keith can help you along your way.
You can find Keith on Facebook!

Richardsonian Romanesque Design and a Potawatomi Warrior

As a member of the Leadership Team for the North District of the Indiana United Methodist Church, I had reason to travel to Laporte this morning for a team meeting.
    Laporte is the county seat of Laporte County. As I am a fan of county courthouses, I took time to walk around the Laporte County Courthouse and enjoy its architecture.
    The building was constructed of red sandstone in 1872. It has very articulated triangular peaks. The tower rises very high above the top story of the building. One can see the tower for miles away.
    It is a beautiful building. The rectangular windows are topped with semi-circular panes with attractive design embedded into them.
    The historic identifier in front of the building states that the architecture is of Richardsonian Romanesque design. Not being a student of architecture, I visited Wikipedia for a description...
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson.
      On the one side of the building, I believe north, there stands a sculpture of a Potawatomi warrior with a broken spear. The broken spear communicates "peace". This sculpture by Howard A. Demyer, was set in 1976 as part of our country"s bicentennial celebration. 
    If you travel through Laporte and are a fan of history, take a few minutes to enjoy this courthouse. I may have to go back someday when it is open for business to see the inside.
   Oh yes, the meeting was productive also.
   

Of Magic Lanterns and Violet Ray Electro Therapy Machines

    The Elkhart County Historical Society operates a museum in what previously was the Bristol high school. The building retains most of its original look. Radiators on the walls by the windows, 1940 light fixtures, even the tile on the floor looks to be about from the 1940s or earlier. Of course, the building itself appears to be about one hundred years old. A great place to house an Historical Society!
    Sherry and I attended an event there just last night. The staff had chosen a few interesting items to highlight and discuss.
    Matt displayed and described the " Violet Ray Electro-Therapy machine". This device had been marketed during the first part of the twentieth century as a means of cure for just about any illness. So much faith people had in technology and invention that they were willing to give it a try. It is a pretty cool looking device. Too bad we aficionados of psychedelia during the late 60s and early 70s did not have those. I can imagine a "Violet Ray" party while listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon".
    But traveling back further in history... Matt also presented us with two 75mm gun shells. These shells are from the first world war and have been modified as "Trench Art". The shells had been adorned with "flower" design. There was much discussion amongst the visitors as to the symbolism of placing flower design on what was an instrument of war. It reminded me of that photo from the 60s where a war protester puts a daisy in the barrel of a soldier's rifle.
   Then we were left to the interpretive skills of Liz. She showed us the " Permanent Wave Machine". At first glance, it looks like a device for milking young cows. But, as Liz describes, it was a hair curler type of instrument from 1928. Invented by Marjorie Joyner, this machine was the first to have been patented by a black woman. The term "black power" may be associated with the 1960s, but it had its roots in the work and efforts of the Marjorie Joyner types.
    Perhaps my favorite of the presentations last evening was Patrick's "Magic Lantern". Before holographs, prior to computer graphics, before movies and silent picture shows, there were "Magic Lanterns". These devices projected an image on a wall or surface. The slides that were used appeared to be about 2"x6". Each slide was made of painted glass. Somewhat like the "overhead projectors" of the 1960s in its operation, it looked like a 1950s camera. Again, something to experience while listening to Pink Floyd.
    All of these devices and interpretations evoked, not only a sense of history,  but also a sense of how our imaginations and cognitive conjurings make the human experience singular in a universal timeline that reaches back and forward as far as any telescope can hope.
    Good job Matt, Liz, and Patrick. Sherry and I will return!

20th Century, Natsalgia, and Swivel-Racks

I am quite a nostalgic fellow. I enjoy history and exploring the social, artistic and emotional aspects of history beyond just the facts and details. I can easily place myself in the era with only a few period prompters. When I visit the historic homes of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, or others, my questions tend toward how the less commonly known among them would have lived. Where would the servants have walked as they went to serve the breakfast?
   So, when I have an opportunity to visit a place that seems to be held in a particular time of the past, I take that opportunity with a sense of excitement.
    Such is the case this morning...
    Very close to the junction of Highway 6 and state road 15, there is a restaurant called the "20th Century". The current owner has had it for 37 years and it was around a long time before that.
    When one enters, one can notice the bar with bar-stools that seem to be the original 1950s or 1960s equipment. The faux-wood booth tables are worn from the scrapping of plates, cups and utensils. The all glass front remains, also a construction of the 50s or 60s.
    While the walls are adorned with nastalgia invoking promotional signs for " Cushman Scooters" "Dri-Gas" and others, it is easy to see that the quality of nostalgia is natural rather than created. It is as if one stepped into the twilight zone of restaurants.
    I felt much at home. During the 1960s, when my Mom and I would hop Greyhound buses for Lafollette Tennessee, the bus would often stop at such restaurants. I remember those times fondly. Those bus-stop restaurants always had a swivel-rack of comic books. I would purchase one, for about ten cents, and enjoy reading it while we waited for our breakfast. I looked for the swivel-rack this morning at the 20th Century. I was brought back to current day reality when I could not find the rack.
    Still, this is a great place to eat.
And by the way, the food is perfect, and the service is more so.
The address is 19964 us 6 Milford In. 46542.
Phone 574-831-4913
Hours of operation...
     M-F  5:00am-10:00pm
     Saturday  5:00am-2:00pm
     Sunday...closed.

Valentine's Day, Winston Churchill, and Philippians

    As it is Valentine's Day, I gave my wife chocolate covered strawberries from Owen's Grocery store in Warsaw as a gesture of sweetness and nurture. She, knowing my admiration for Winston Churchill, gave me  three metal dispensers of red sticky-notes which read "Action This Day".
    Churchill was know for achieving results, in part, by encouraging others and specifying to others what is priority with his notes of "Action This Day". When a subordinate received such a note, they knew what to follow through on.
    We sometimes become so entangled in the hustle and bustle of daily living that we lose sight of priorities from time to time.
    The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Philippians, knew how to encourage others toward effective and productive goals...

Philippians 4:8

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

     I also encourage all of us to think on such things. And, as we are inspired, to diligently take action on those things which have inspired us.
   Tell those around you that you love them, this day.
    Start writing your book, this day.
    Start exercising, this day.
    Whatever priorities you have set for yourself on the agenda of life, set them in motion.
Take Action This Day.