'Round Town by Gala Nettles

Talk about a treat! Even the concerns of health can't keep a good guy down, and I experienced that firsthand this week.

I had delayed sending this column until the last minute hoping to share good news with you about Lanier Stevens, pastor of North Madison Church of Christ. Lanier had unexpectedly ended up in the hospital this weekend. Having previously had a stint put in during gallbladder surgery, there was concern of infection, but instead, he was in dire need of a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat.

I anxiously watched the time, since Henry and Linda Churchwell, while on their way to the hospital before most people even went to work, had promised to call the minute Lanier was out of surgery.

Later that morning when the phone rang finally rang and I saw Henry's name pop up, I hurriedly answered it, expecting to hear the news. Instead I heard this glorious choir singing on the other end! Yep, it was Lanier and all of those waiting with him for his surgery - about a dozen or so of them - singing away. As things go in hospitals, Lanier's surgery did not go off as scheduled so they were blessing the entire hospital floor with their melodies.

I put them on speaker to bless everyone out here. It was, indeed, a special treat from a man who had plenty to worry about but chose instead to do otherwise. Wish you could have been here to hear them! That update on Lanier will now have to come next week.

Another leader at the North Madison Church of Christ, Ryan Frech, who is over the Children and Education Ministry, underwent gallbladder surgery Monday. Ryan was supposed to come home Tuesday.

As we went to press, Ruth Closs was also getting out of the hospital after an extended stay. She'll be recuperating at home for a while, so send your cards to her at 905 N. Shipp, Madisonville, Texas 77864.

Madisonville attorney Alan Tinsley is another one who unexpectedly spent the weekend in a Bryan hospital. Tinsley had thought he was experiencing flu symptoms, but instead, an infection had set in where he had recently had carotid artery surgery. He made it home Monday.

Judy Weathers is hoping to make it home some time this week. She will have been in the hospital for more than a month by the time you read this, and that's just with this particular stay. Her last surgery was to repair a leak in her esophagus, possibly caused during the surgery to remove her partial lung. Judy has had unbelievable medical problems and still has a long road in front of her, but her spirits are high. Send your encouragements to her home address at P.O. Box 1086, Madisonville, Texas 77864.

Congratulations to Jamie Wells, who is sporting an engagement ring, the gift of Jed Wells, a fellow Texas A&M grad. Jamie is the daughter of Lana Wells and Jimmy Wells of Madisonville. The couple will wed Aug. 16.

On the birthday list, happy birthday to Edmund Drumm, Steven Cole and Stacey Bennett, whose birthdays are Feb. 21. Georgia Morgan and Dale Underwood have their birthdays on Feb. 22, while Sandy Matonovich, Debbie Eschberger and Penny Barker do the same on Feb. 23. Then Don Sisk will blow out his candles Feb. 27.

Got your calendar handy? Here's a lineup of activities for the upcoming week. First, the Tri-County Diggers garden club will host its annual Tasting Luncheon and Bake Sale on Friday, Feb. 22, and that's an event worth waiting for! The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church. For seven bucks, you can enjoy a plate of delicious home-cooked food, dessert and a drink. Approximately 18 ladies will prepare and serve that food.

Of course, their famous bake sale, with some of the best homemade bread, pies, cakes, cookies, candies, etc. will also be held. The funds raised help with their scholarship programs, as well as donations to various other activities. You may dine there or take it out, but dining in lets you get in a lot of visiting at the same time!

Then later that afternoon, make sure to come out to the Grand Opening of Masterpieces, our retail store, three miles west of the Square on Hwy 21. While the store will open at 10 that morning, we'll have the grand opening from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. that evening. Our son-in-law Loyd Harper, who owns Western Real Estate here in Madisonville, is cooking up some delicious fajitas and sausage wraps to keep your energy level up!

By the way, the Nettles Country sign finally went up yesterday, and I'd like to brag on Brenda Austin of Austin Signs, who designed and painted it. She does outstanding work, and this sign is proof of that. Austin Signs is located in the back of the Lone Star Pottery Shop on the square. Brenda just bubbles creativity, so if you need something special, she's the gal to see.

Back to those grand openings, Madisonville Veterinary Clinic will hold theirs Saturday, Feb. 23. Time for that one is from 10:00 - 2:00, and there will be some good eating there as well. Dr. Dan Posey, who once owned the facilities, at that time known as Central Vet Clinic, will be here, as well as four vets who will be servicing the clinic. Stop by to meet them and see the renovations and their new equipment.

While we're sharing upcoming events, next weekend is also full of them. On Friday, Feb. 29, the American Legion Family will host a luncheon fish fry; and for $7, you can enjoy plenty of fish, French fries, hush puppies and coleslaw. The line will start forming at11 a.m.

Of course, the big celebration is the celebration of Texas Independence Day on March 2, and it will be celebrated in grand style right here in Madisonville beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kimbro Center. We'll share more about that next week.

Now that Valentine's Day is over, Easter is on the horizon - literally, since it's a very early one this year. The Lent Season, a time of 40 days prior to Easter and a time for reflection and preparation, began Feb. 6. The United Methodist Church is holding weekly Lenten Luncheons for its members on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. The luncheons run through March 12.

If you've got a spare minute to do a good deed, or a spare dollar to help others to a good deed, then the Lord's Pantry Leona could use you. The food pantry is able to do what it does through the sponsorship of Leona Baptist, Evans Chapel United Methodist and Leona United Methodist churches, and through donations from good souls like you.

Since they turn no one away, your helping hand - literally and financially - is a blessing. Donations may be sent to the Lord's Pantry Leona, P.O. Box 101, Leona, Texas 75850, or drop those staples by Wednesdays, 9:00-1:00, and Thursdays, 9:00-11:00. For more information, call 903-344-3028 during pantry hours, or call the Leona Baptist Church at 903-344-2283.

And finally, have you noticed that it seems that everyone is angry these days? While there is the yelling, screaming anger, there is also the underlying, seething anger and the quiet, vengeful anger. We have people throwing babies off bridges, students opening fire on campuses, dads killing their children, husbands killing wives andŠwell - you hear the news.

Now anger in itself is not a bad emotion; it's the reaction an individual chooses to express that anger that determines whether it's good or bad. Of course, psychologists tell us that lack of attention, lack of power, revenge, and lack of self-confidence are some of the causes of anger. Probably so, but my personal opinion is that a lot of anger is the result of the lack of discipline.

The word “discipline” seems to have a bad rap these days, but that's wrong. Discipline is merely an action that determines consequences, usually good ones. Discipline yourself to exercise, and the consequence is that your body looks better on the outside and is healthier on the inside. Discipline yourself to daily brushing your teeth, and the consequence is that they look nice and stay healthy. Of course, you know what lack of discipline in those two categories causes. It's the same way with other things in life.

Life is molded by disciplines, all kinds of them in all areas, and when an area of life is without discipline, it only causes frustration, which often leads to anger. During the era when behavioral discipline was a way of life, when children were more afraid of what Mom and Dad would do to them when they got home than what the teacher did to them at school, when respect for elders was a discipline, and opening the door for ladies was another, when church was just as much a part of the week as going to work, you didn't read about students opening fire on campuses, dads killing their children, husbands killing wives.

And the icing on the cake? Discipline goes hand-in-hand with happiness and self-satisfaction.

So why in the world have we allowed behavior discipline to become a bad word?