Author Archives: rex blankenship

SESSION 19 My mom once called Dad, Mr. Derring-Do. That’s right, derring-do. The dictionary describes derring-do as heroic action, courageous, daring to be brave. And, yes, that is the correct spelling, derring with an “e,” not with an “a.” The phrase comes from another generational era. It appears in the Walter Scott novel, Ivanhoe, whereContinue reading “MY DERRING-DO DAD WINSDAY WISDOM”

SESSION 18 The classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. The movie chronicles a young man who gives up his career dreams to help his family. The script was developed from a short story, “TheGreatest Gift,” which could have been titled, “The Most Important Thing in Life.” Bailey’s decisionContinue reading “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE WINSDAY WISDOM”

A big heart can do great things. One of my favorite movies encouraged me to do what God purposed for my life. It was not a movie about love or drums. It featured a horse, the greatest racehorse of all time, Secretariat. Secretariat was a horse with a big heart, literally and competitively. His heartContinue reading “THE BEAT OF A BIG HEART (part 2) WINSDAY WISDOM Session 17”

Love always makes a difference. It breaks down barriers and builds bridges. However, Love does not come easy, and that truth is more than a blast from the past song by Diana Ross. Momma said, “Love don’t come easy, it’s a game of give and take. You can’t hurry love; no, you’ll just have toContinue reading “THE BEAT OF A BIG HEART (part 1) WINSDAY WISDOM Session 16”

Session 15 “I don’t like you.” Those were the first words spoken by the young man about my age who approached me after I had finished speaking. “I think you are arrogant and stuck up. I have always been jealous of you; but I am not sure why.” Then he tapped his Bible against myContinue reading “LET THEM EAT CAKE (Part 2) WINSDAY WISDOM”

SESSION 14 I stood in the corner alone as the short, elderly lady walked toward me with a piece of cake. This was a celebration party, but I was neither the one celebrating or being celebrated. I was hated. Hated. Not like in the cultural world of social media where dislike buttons connect with spitefulContinue reading “LET THEM EAT CAKE! (Part 1) WINSDAY WISDOM”

Do you ever feel as if your life has become like a soap opera drama? Have you ever despaired that you made such a mess of life that no one could ever love you again? Do you know someone who has crossed that line? Sometimes, we look at others’ soap opera lives and think theyContinue reading “WINSDAY WISDOM Session 13 SOAP OPERA DRAMA”

Our wedding night was stormy, literally. We departed from the church alone, under a tornado warning. All the wedding guests moved to safety while we tried to make it to the nearby hotel. My beautiful bride confided to me she had often prayed that she would be granted at least one day of marriage beforeContinue reading “WINSDAY WISDOM Session 12 HONEYMOON BLISS”

My Saturday morning lawn mowing trance was interrupted by my wife’s wildly waving arms. I immediately suspected it was another warning to stay away from the flowers which once were victimized by my inattentive swerve to the left. I descend from a long line of errant mowers. My grandfather once mowed down my grandmother’s daffodilsContinue reading “WINSDAY WISDOM Session 11 LISTENING 101”

The great effort of Stylianos Kyriakides is recognized as the birth of charity running. The accomplishment was not easy; in fact, it seemed impossible. His victorious race was the stuff of legends. Stelios trained himself in long distance running at his home island of Cyprus. A Greek champion marathoner, he represented his country in theContinue reading “WINSDAY WISDOM Session 10 GIVE BACK”