This website previously had the name A Curious Band of Others. My last entry under that banner was July 17, 2013. It’s been over a decade between that last entry and the next. Wow!

So, what happened?

Life! And lots of it.

But moving on: What do baseball, bikes, birds and the Bible have in common?

Obviously, they all begin with the letter B, but there are plenty of B words in the dictionary. Why not Boats, Builders, and Blessings, if I’m simply enamored with the letter B?

I’ll start with the fact that Ellen and I now live in Corpus Christi, Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea. That simple fact influences two of the B’s in the title. Baseball and birds!

Baseball: I’m a season ticket holder for the Corpus Christi Hooks, AA-affiliate of the Houston Astros. My passion for baseball has only grown since our move to Corpus in the summer of 2016.

Why?

Because I know the players and their stories, definitely some better than others.

Birds: Since 2003, Corpus Christi has claimed the title of the Birdiest City in America. I didn’t even know that this was an official title until I researched it. Google “Birdiest City in America”. I’m not sure of how many birds I’ve officially identified over the years, but I believe it’s safe to say I’m over 700. Perhaps one of these days I’ll start counting.

Bikes: I have never lost the joy of riding a bicycle, from childhood to the present. I’ve cycled in Wisconsin and Texas, the two places where Ellen and I have lived the most. It is the most consistent way I stay physically active.

Bible: I retired as a United Methodist pastor in the summer of 2021. In my college studies, I majored in New Testament Studies. Now in my life, I reflect on Scripture and often journal my reflections. It is the only one of the four B’s that I engage in every single day.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”—Jesus

Full disclaimer here. I have no idea in this new beginning where my writing journey will take us, but at the heart of it all will be this man, Jesus of Nazareth, the one about whom Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

And I agree with him.

Thanks for dropping by. Consider becoming a subscriber.—Tom