Things got more than a bit scary in a White Settlement, Texas church during morning communion. A Deacon server was shot dead by a stranger who had sneaked in a shotgun. The papers said that when the smoke cleared three people in the Church of Christ worship center were dead. A guy named Jack Wilson put an end to the probable carnage in quick time when he shot the shooter dead. The tragedy could have been worse. If Jack hadn’t participated in a brief training session on “what to do” if a gunner shows up. Churches have been encouraged to provide some level of security for worshipers and many have. No surprise to many, Jack Wilson has been criticized (by many) for taking his gun to church. Anti-gun citizens say he ambushed a mentally ill man who needed help.

You may or may not be interested to learn that, as usual, I put up my bird feeders and filled them with fresh feed. First thing I noticed was a lack of interest by local birds in the feed. Oh, a few came up and pecked around a little, but soon went on their way. Red wing tipped blackbirds who are usually good and faithful eaters swarmed my feeders and soon went on their way as did a few Wrens, Cardinals, other kinds. But not all that many. Our bird population has, to put it bluntly has declined sharply. Bird watchers report bird sightings are down about 40%. Everyone has some reason they invent for this decline, but I don’t think anyone really knows for sure.

Some have always blamed bird deaths on cats but who can really know? I know the cat population is up pretty good here in Allen but it’s hard to control cats. Catching and giving them the death sentence hasn’t worked too well and nor has mass sterilization. Cats are very resourceful. In Gaston County, North Carolina a dedicated cat owner is suing the county after the pound confiscated 16 of his cats. The man says he is entitled to $2,500 damages for emotional damage to the jailed cats. He said that he too was suffering from losing his pets and believes that in addition to the money judgement the cats deserve an apology from the wayward employees to recognize the rights of his cats. The County has countered that the cats have eaten $10,000 worth of cat food and that the owner, Mr. Fields must pay up.

Allen citizens were startled last weekend to wake and find that an Iranian General had been put away—killed at the Baghdad International Airport by an American Forces Drone. General Qassian Soleimani was blown to bits in the attack and in fact had they not found his detached hand with its Red Ruby Ring on its finger they would have found it hard to identify his body. Soleimani was loaded into a pickup (by locals) and paraded up and down the streets of Baghdad whipping the crowds into a murderous frenzy.

One last thing. Nissan drivers in Allen were even more startled to learn that chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested after getting caught with his hands in the till. Carlos got out on bail there in Japan, threw a big party and stole away in the darkness, hidden in a musical case. Ghosn jumped his bail and is now hiding out in Lebanon

Don’t be like Mr. Ghosn and be someplace you don’t belong. Be in your church Sunday.

Wayne Bullard,

DPh

waynebullard@sbcglobal.net