2017 September Lake Highlands

Pets

Anything but average

LAKE HIGHLANDS

OPENING REMARKS

By RICK WAMRE

School daze

Lessons learned in the hallways of life

As school begins again, and I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it’s a wonder I’m employed at all. In fact, much of my life remains prisoner to those high school years.

What did I learn?

I learned to be eternally vigilant thanks to a couple of “friends” who enjoyed sneaking up on me in the school hallway and ripping the pocket from my shirt with a quick, downward tug from the pocket top.

Needless to say, this was frustrating for me, and even more so for my mother, who became pretty vocal to me about being tired of sewing pockets.

Unlike today, when she probably would have called a lawyer and ripped someone a new one on Facebook, she handled it differently: She told me to deal with it.

I learned quickly that pleading and begging with bullies didn’t help (it never does today, either), so I handled it another way: I grew eyes in the back of my head, and when I sensed danger, I pulled my backpack from back to front and clutched it against my chest. There were a few embarrassing hallway wrestling matches as the bullies jostled to reach my pocket while I made like a tortoise, but eventually they moved on to harass others.

They never quit bullying people (another lesson that remains relevant). They just quit bullying me.

My first experience with marijuana taught me the importance of being skeptical. While sitting in my car in the school parking lot, one of the high school “burnouts” stopped his pickup next to my window.

“Want some weed?” he asked, knowing my reputation as both naive and law-abiding (in other words, an easy mark).

He reached through his car window

and held out a green-stuffed baggie. I opened it, took a whiff, and (as a farm boy accustomed to field work) recognized he was trying to sell me a bag of alfalfa, perfectly dried to look like marijuana.

I just laughed and handed it back, likely avoiding the eternal high school reputation of being an actual dope. And I particularly enjoyed the sounds of burning rubber as he drove away.

There were other lessons, too.

I told our English composition teacher that multiple-choice tests to prove who could write were stupid. To hammer home my point, I told him I wouldn’t be taking his multiple-choice final, which happened to be worth 50 percent of our grade.

I wound up with a C in that class, and I learned that logic wasn’t its own reward. I wound up admiring that guy for standing by his word and sticking it to me. Years later, doing what you say you’re going to do still seems like a good idea.

And when I thought the student council was filled with freeloaders, I ran against the most popular girl in school for president. She had no claim to or interest in the job other than being popular. The ensuing drubbing taught me a lot about politics and friendships (in plain English, don’t count on people doing what they promise), and so ended my presidential ambitions.

High school was — and still is, from what I can tell — an emotional and physical obstacle course from which no one emerges unscathed. Yet I learned more there than anywhere else before or since.

And interestingly, very little of that useful knowledge came from a book, other than the one helping cover my shirt pocket.

Rick Wamre is president of Advocate Media. Let him know how we are doing by emailing rwamre@advocatemag.com.

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Advocate, © 2017, is published monthly by East Dallas Lakewood People Inc. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. Opinions set forth in the Advocate are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s viewpoint. More than 200,000 people read Advocate publications each month. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one copy per reader. Advocate was founded in 1991 by Jeff Siegel, Tom Zielinski and Rick Wamre.

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READERS REACT TO: “Permit sought for sexually oriented business on Petal Lane ‘as nice as anything Las Vegas has to offer’”

“When the one opened at Plano Road and Miller, we saw a spike in crime and ‘activity’ from prostitutes entering businesses looking for customers. We tried to fight it, but these people have deep pockets and better lawyers. Check it out, I bet construction has already begun and it will be open soon.”

DIANE TAMEZ AUTRY

“Since Dallas forced all the clubs to close on West Northwest Highway years ago, not only has nothing else been built, but crime rose. And millions in tax revenue never has been replaced. I’d worry more about those Section 8 drug and gang apartments, folks.”

MIKE FOSTER

FEATURED: Goodwin Avenue

“Oh great. Lake Highlands does not need nor want anything like this in our neighborhood.”

“It will be nothing like Las Vegas, just watch.”

CHANTEL CHANTEL

“That actually seems like a good location for a sexually oriented business, IMHO.”

“Until it was mentioned, I bet 99 percent of people around here have never driven back through those warehouses. At least it will be out of sight unless you purposely go find it. Is it the best choice of business? No. But this is what happens when a medium city becomes a large city. Take the good with the bad. I’m sure it will be regulated.”

“Any decrease in property value will be made up tenfold by the value of free ribeye steaks and $1 sides.”

DAVID

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LYNNE HARTLINE

VANSTON HAMILTON

JEFF ENGLISH

WOODLEY

L A UNC H

SEPT. 8

CARRY THE TORCH

The 5k and fun run will start and finish on the C. C. Young campus with an after party to follow, and is hosted by sportscaster George Riba. The run benefits C. C. Young Cares, a program for seniors in need, and will start at 7 p.m.

C. C.Young, 4847 W. Lawther Drive, 214.841.2909, carrythetorchrun.com, $25-$45

Out & About

SEPT. 7-27

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

The Jewish Community Center of Dallas and the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs host this event. The showcase includes documentaries and narrative features. One example is “The Women’s Balcony,” about women speaking out againt patriarchal power, which was Israel’s most-seen film of last year.

Various locations, 214.739.2737, jccdallas.org, $13 per screening or $100 for a film festival pass

SEPT. 9-24

‘RUINED’

This Pulitzer Prize winning play is a story about the resilience of the human spirit during the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Shows are on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive, 214.904.0500, bathhouse. dallasculture.org, $15-$30

SEPT. 14 NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY

This will be the ninth year for the nation’s largest giving day. Join the charity fever, donations can be made from 6 a.m. to midnight to all 2,500 certified nonprofits, more than a dozen of which are located in Lake Highlands. 214.346.5500, northtexasgiving day.org

SEPT. 16

TOUR DE FLEURS

The 12th annual Tour des Fleurs quarter- and half-marathon races benefit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The start and finish line are located on the White Rock Trail behind the arboretum, and there will be a post-race party with live music, complimentary food and beverage, massages and yoga. Staging for the race begins at 6:45 a.m. Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, 214.515.6615, tourdesfleurs.com, $70-$95

SEPT. 20-30

‘TITUS ADRONICUS’

Shakespeare Dallas presents what is considered to be Shakespeare’s first tragedy, a story of a Roman general seeking revenge against the queen of the Goths. The shows are at 8 p.m. Samuell-Grand Amphitheater, 1500 Tenison Parkway, 214.559.2778, shakespearedallas. org, $11

SEPT. 22-30

‘GOOSEBUMPS THE MUSICAL’

Based on the best-selling book series by R. L. Stine, the story follows two kids who are starring in a musical when strange things start to happen. Shows are on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman, 214.740.0051, dct.org, $22-$28

HOLDING ONTO HISTORY

Steven Butler is living in the past, and writing about it

By EMILY CHARRIER

If historian Steven Butler could have dinner with any legendary Dallas figure, his first pick would be George Clifton Edwards, a social activist who advocated for rights for child laborers, minorities and the illiterate.

“[Edwards] was a school teacher but he was fired because of his socialist views,” says the Richland College history professor. “So he got a law degree.”

Edwards’ first case was defending Allen Brooks, a black man accused of sexual misconduct with a white woman in 1910. They never made it to trial. An angry lynch mob flooded the Old Red Courthouse, throwing Brooks out a second-story window with a rope around his neck before dragging his body through the street and hanging him from a lamppost near Elks Arch. It was a horror the attorney could not shake. He recommitted his life to helping the

Steven Butler has been hanging out at White Rock Lake for as long as he can remember.

(Photo by Rasy Ran)

disenfranchised, specifically laborers and black defendants who didn’t face a fair shot at justice. He became a charter member of the American Civil Liberties Union and an original supporter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“He was not racist at a time when most people were terribly racist. He always stood out for his views. He was a Unitarian in a city full of Baptists,” Butler says. “I tend to be drawn to what they call the rebels. Those are my heroes, not the bankers and businessmen.”

That’s always been true of Butler, since he was a young boy growing up in Casa View, where his father worked for Texas and Pacific Railway and his mother was a secretary at the now defunct White

Rock Airport. Davy Crockett was the first rebellious historical figure that captured his imagination.

“Every Baby Boomer can sing that song,” he says before launching into a quiet rendition of the classic 1954 television tune, “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.”

But it was a pair of socks that solidified his interest in the past. They were hand-knitted by his great grandmother and worn in battle by his great grandfather during the Civil War.

“That personalized it,” he says.

He suddenly wanted to know the stories of where his great grandfather wore those socks, and whether he returned home safely to his beloved.

“I did trace his time in the Civil War. He got a million-dollar wound,” Butler

says. When asked to explain, he adds, “Let’s just say he was shot in the crotch. But he went on to father 14 children so it obviously didn’t do any lasting damage.”

It wasn’t until Butler was himself a father that he began to dig into Dallas’ history. Taking his two young sons to the places where he played as a child, including Flag Pole Hill and the surrounding creeks, he began to realize how little he knew about the history of the area. The history-doctorate holder started digging, and was staggered to find that in World War II, German prisoners of war were held on the banks of the lake where he played as a child.

“I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ ” he recalls.

The Civilian Conservation Corps, a federal program that sent workmen to build public improvement projects around the lake from 1936-42, fascinated Butler. “I love the history of the New Deal. I look around the lake and see all the things we’re still using today.”

It was the beginning of an obsession. Butler would spend the coming years

PHOTO COURTESY DR. STEVEN BUTLER

Young Steven Butler feeds ducks at White Rock Lake in the 1950s.

DELICIOUS

Simple pleasures

Shady’s keeps it classic without breaking the bank

By ELISSA CHUDWIN

DID YOU KNOW: Culinary director Jason Wilson says the most addictive item on the menu is the french fries. Customers have even started requesting off-the-menu toppings. “We put tons of love into those things,” he says.

All the owners of Shady’s Burgers & Brewhaha wanted was a neighborhood hangout spot for an affordable beer and burger.

The five Richardson residents didn’t find the quintessential burger joint they desired, so they opened one themselves. Two years after Shady’s launched in Canyon Creek, the restaurant opened in Lake Highlands in 2016.

“It was some guys just sitting around,” culinary director Jason Wilson says. “They wanted a place to have a beer, have a great burger and not break the bank.”

Shady’s serves creative takes on American classics, from gourmet burgers to unconventional milkshakes with flavors like peach cobbler. Wilson — a hamburger aficionado who sharpened his skills at Hopdoddy Burger Bar and Brick House Tavern + Tap — joined the team eight

months ago. He’s dedicated his time to maintaining the menu’s quality and inventing rotating monthly specials.

“This is definitely not my first rodeo,” he says. “It’s refreshing and a little humbling to know they trust me with their restaurant.”

Shady’s moved to the neighborhood a year ago, and there’s already regulars who pop in a few days a week. The positive reception has spurred some talk of expanding, although nothing has been finalized yet.

“There’s tons of neighborhoods out there that need us.”

SHADY’S BURGERS AND BREWHAHA

Ambiance: Casual grill and bar

Price: $9-$12

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday 9661 Audelia Road 469.726.2920

shadysburgers.com

DINING SPOTLIGHT

BREAKFAST / LUNCH

Another Broken Egg Cafe

It’s our passion to create exceptional dishes for breakfast, brunch and lunch that are “craveably” delicious with an artisanal flair.

Mon-Sun 7:00 -2:00 pm

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SEAFOOD

Palapas Seafood Bar

Come see why we were voted one of the best patios in Dallas for 2016.

Experience our special flavorings & recipes from Mexico’s seafood capital Sinaloa.

Enjoy our Happy Hour from 4-7pm.

SMOKED

Classic burgers and shakes were the foundation of Shady’s business model.

(Photos by Kathy Tran)

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PUPPY CHOW

Snackin’ Waggin’ brings the treats to the dogs

By JACKSON VICKERY

There’s a smell of cinnamon, pumpkin and peanut butter in the air. At first, one might think it’s a bakery down the street, but no, that aroma is coming from a small food truck with a dog bone on top.

Dogs pull at their owners’ leashes not because of the eye-grabbing bone, but because the Snackin’ Waggin’ is in the neighborhood and all of the treats on board are for the dogs.

Originally created for her own dogs, Melanie Fox makes these treats to spoil pups and provide a healthier alternative to other high-carb pet store options.

“Every time I would buy a dog cake mix

or a dog cake, it was either really hard or it was just a weird consistency. I feel like if I don’t want to eat it, I don’t want to give it to them,” she says.

This hobby became a business in Homegrown Hounds, an online holistic pet food company, and its associated food truck, which parks anywhere dogs are gathering. But Fox wanted a business with a cause, so 100 percent of proceeds benefit Hound Haven, a foster-based dog rescue that has saved hundreds of dogs over its nine years. Now Fox is working with multiple dog rescues to form a dog rescue coalition so she can help even more homeless pooches.

You can find the Snackin’ Waggin’ in

a different Dallas neighborhood almost every weekend. She even offers classes where dog-lovers can learn to bake their own treats at home.

Fox’s homemade treats include mini donuts, cakes, cookies and more. They look so good, even people can’t help but take a bite. And many say they love the flavor.

“I have people regularly buy the treats and say, ‘Those are my favorites’,” Fox says.

Ambiance: Dog friendly

Price: $2 for a treat, $30 for a personalized cake

Location: Varies, find the food truck at facebook.com/snackinwaggin

homegrownhoundfood.com

The Snackin’ Waggin’ dog treats are all handmade. (Photos by Kathy Tran)

CALL

OF THE WILD

Pets, beyond dogs and cats

By Christina Hughes Babb

FULGENCIO

Throughout history we humans have been drawn to nature, fauna in particular, frequently of the furry, snuggly and — in the Instagram era — photogenic variety. Our wants and impulsivity can put pets du jour in peril, if we aren’t mindful. We recently spent time with Lake Highlands families who have adopted atypical pets — some with snouts or scales — and gained first-hand insight into the pros, cons and conditions of unconventional-pet ownership.

Photos by DANNY

Moments of pandemonium ensue a time or two each day. When Maribelle and Olivia are allowed inside, mostly. They explode across the back-door threshold and dart into the kitchen. Quick attempts to punch open the pantry door and unlock a childproof gate prove futile, so they pop a U-turn, and scurry up a hardwood hallway. Hooves clip-clop, tails swing and snorts escape upturned snouts in manic bursts. A few rounds and they start to settle. Their chief caretaker, 15-year-old Haley, commands them to sit; she rewards them with a treat when they do. Olivia, the smaller, blonder pig, a kunekune, plops down, appearing comatose, awaiting a belly rub. Maribelle, the larger, darker Juliana pig runs a few more laps before making a pillow out of a visitor’s black

dress shoe and exposing her paunch.

If anyone cracks the fridge, chaos resumes.

When a pig needs to poop, she trots to the back door and rings a bell attached to a bright red ribbon dangling from the knob. They prefer outside — with their muddy pen, plastic pool and sprawling yard — to indoors, notes mom Delene Ephraim, whose silky blonde hair, tidy clothing and unruffled demeanor baffle considering her home contains three children, two swine, one python and a bearded dragon.

The love inside this large, traditional-looking, cul-de-sac-situated home is palpable. The atmosphere is joyful, not stressful.

That is by design, says Delene, who is allergic to dogs and cats.

Clockwise, from left: Pigs come running when Haley Ephraim opens the fridge; Mr. Cuddles the python; Hayden Ephraim gets cozy with his pet snake.

Hayden wears

Mr. Cuddles like a slithering accessory — shawl, necklace, hat, belt.

When Haley — a well-spoken Lake Highlands High School student with red hair and porcelain skin — asked for a pig, she promised to care for it, as young people are wont to do when pleading for a pet. Her parents told her to write a proposal, a research paper outlining proper pig care. When Haley turned in a first draft, they wanted more detail. “It took two years,” Haley says. But by the time Maribelle moved into the Ephraim house, Haley was a proficient in pig.

“They are insanely smart. The house is baby proofed, which means pig proofed,” she says. Her mom adds that generally they have the intelligence of a 4-year-old. Olivia later joined the family, fitting in quite seamlessly.

Haley’s 13-year-old brother, Hayden, might help with the pigs on the morn-

ings Haley doesn’t rise early for volleyball practice. Whoever is up first has no choice. “As soon as they hear a footstep or see a light come on, they start squealing,” says Hayden, a precocious Dallas Academy student with surfer-blonde hair to his shoulders.

Haley, however, wants little to do with Hayden’s main squeeze, a 4-foot-long python called Mr. Cuddles.

“My son loves this snake,” Delene says.

That is clear — Hayden wears Mr. Cuddles like a slithering accessory — shawl, necklace, hat, belt. He wraps Mr. Cuddles around the neck of a towering stuffed giraffe, which the python circles repeatedly, never attempting to strangle the toy (for what that’s worth) and when Hayden says, without concern, “he’s gonna fall,” Mr. Cuddles falls. The snake hits the hardwood with a thud. Hayden says not to worry. It’s the same when the python escapes his enclosure, a regular event. Cuddles’ knack for absconding and hiding in the house for days until his hunger draws him out is a habit Delene and Haley do not particularly relish.

“He won’t come up the stairs on his

own, to the bedrooms,” Haley says, a small comfort.

Still Hayden sometimes gives Cuddles a lift. He likes to torment his sister’s friends, allowing the snake to squeeze itself under Haley’s bedroom door when the girls are gathered inside. “I know now that we have to wait it out,” Haley says. “It takes it a while to squeeze itself under the door, and it would injure him if Hayden opened the door while he was under it.”

So she tells her friends to stop screaming. It will be over soon.

Mr. Cuddles eats live white mice every few days. They live in a little house situated, appropriately and disconcertingly, on the pet food shelves.

The littlest Ephraim, Braxton, 11 — red headed like his sister, with a spray of freckles across his nose and an infectious smile — owns the smallest and least threatening among this White Rock Valley menagerie: a bearded dragon.

With an average adult size of 24 inches, including tail, it’s a lizard with a flap of skin under the chin, the beard, which flares in response to stress. But don’t call it a lizard or a “beardy,” as many do. “Dragon” was a selling point for charismatic Braxton. These dragons are harmless as can be, like the Game of Thrones hatchlings; never will they grow to the size of an aircraft and set fire to your enemy’s kingdom (nor yours, which is reassuring). They don’t have sharp teeth and are not easily rattled. Noodles the dragon rides around atop a toy Camaro. He poses patiently for his photo shoot that is, until he sees his own reflection in the lens and makes a run at it. Noodles willingly endures a leash on which Braxton attempts to walk him, though Noodles seems content cruising, sitting on the couch or in a lap. When the interviewer holding him asks about his bathroom habits, he answers. “Well, he’s doing it right now,” says Braxton, cracking up. Everyone is in stitches, even mom, who dashes for a roll of paper towels, even the shat upon, as she lathers her legs in sanitizer.

This page: Braxton Ephraim with Noodles the bearded dragon. Opposite page: Winter the TV-watching rabbit.

Noodles willingly endures a leash on which Braxton attempts to walk him.

winner

Aphoto of Winter the snow-white rabbit wearing a ruffle dress snagged first place in the Advocate’s 2017 Pet Contest. Grace, 11, a Wallace Elementary School student, nominated the fuzzy winner.

Winter does not like the dress. But she loves Grace.

When we meet Winter, she’s in the buff, all ivory fluff, exquisite as an eiderdown pillow. A touch of charcoal liner encircles marble eyes (“They are

brown, like mine,” Grace points out.), and the tips of her perpendicular ears seem dipped in the same dark hue.

Grace was not immediately allowed the pet for which she pleaded, at birthdays and Christmases, year after year.

First, she would need to do her homework and gain full understanding of what it means to raise a rabbit. Bunnies require special care, and “are not toys.” That’s the first thing you’ll read upon clicking the homepage of the North Texas Rabbit

Sanctuary. That’s where Grace, with her mom Melissa Strack — once they were fully prepared — found Winter.

Approaching age 9, Grace researched rabbit care, watching hours of YouTube videos on the topic. What do they eat? “Some think carrots,” Grace says, “but hay is really best.” She learned about the animals’ temperament, habitat, healthcare, litterbox training and exercise. The studying paid off, because — although operators at the sanctuary want to find homes for their rabbits — prospective bunny parents are probingly vetted.

“Barbara quizzed me,” Grace says. “I was really glad I studied.”

Barbara Yule is the founder of the rabbit sanctuary in Garland. She let Grace pick up and hold three rabbits, teaching her the proper techniques.

Winter was the most playful. Grace immediately adored her. “The other ones seemed lazy,” she says with a smile.

The sanctuary operators note that only 5 percent of bunnies offered up as Easter gifts live past age 1.

“They are a cute 10-year commitment,” they warn, adding that a stuffed toy bunny should do just fine as a gift, because you cannot kill a toy bunny with neglect or abandonment. When it comes to bunny care, the sanctuary volunteers mean business.

Grace’s brother Ian, 9, also a Wallace student, is enamored with the bunny. Even the 12-year-old beagle mix, Belle, didn’t seem to mind the addition. Winter does anything for a raisin — sit, stand, turn a circle, wear a fuchsia headband. Winter is content on Grace’s bed, playing with toys designed for human babies — rattles and oversized keys.

“Winter loves HGTV, we believe,” says mom, Melissa, who discloses she has wanted a bunny since her own childhood. The rabbit watches TV and seems to favor home and garden shows. Grace’s grandfather, Jimmy, built Winter a large wooden habitat. Grace and her father, Glen, later added a second level, basically creating a bunny mansion, now situated in front of an expansive window in Grace’s room. When Glen works from home, he lets Winter roam. He loves that bunny more than he lets on. “Sweet Winter,” muses Melissa. “She brings so much love and joy to our family.”

Winter the rabbit loves cuddling her owner Grace Strack, 11.

They are easy to care for. Fun, they have cute little personalities. Safe, they don’t bite, and if they do, it won’t hurt. The creatures are improbably charming — wide wondering eyes; mouth in a semi-permanent smirk; a spikey “beard” like a thousand tiny spears evokes a prehistoric origin; the endearing head tilt, like a curious dog when his human speaks.

Crickets make up about 75 percent of its diet. Feeding resembles a video game; the reptile picks off the insects as they scurry in all directions. If one happens to escape into a crevice of a decorative aquarium rock, it chirps throughout the night, keeping the household’s humans awake.

“We found that out the hard way,” says Heather Wilson, whose 7-year-old, Asher, received Ivan the bearded dragon for his sixth birthday. Heather adopted Ivan from a young woman at her church who was heading to college.

What lives in Old Lake Highlands and has 12 legs, long ears, a spiky back and a sack of skin that puffs up like a beard?

It isn’t a mysterious lake monster, but three of Sonay and Colt Baker’s pets. Their rabbit, bearded dragon and hedgehog make for quite the diverse household.

Sonay is a pet photographer and former zookeeper, but Colt is the one who researches how to care for this unique herd.

Their rabbit, Henry, has free range of the house much like an indoor cat,

though he is more likely to gnaw through the coffee table than your average feline. Thankfully, this bunny is litterbox trained and gets along swimmingly with his three canine companions. Henry has starred in many an Easter portrait alongside neighborhood children, and isn’t scared to hop in your lap and snuggle up. That isn’t to say he can’t spook an unsuspecting victim, as his blood red eyes on his white fur are reminiscent of Bunnicula the vampire rabbit.

Cali, the hedgehog, hates to be out of his cage, his safe space. He makes a

snorting sound that would be terrifying if he wasn’t 8-inches long. He retreats into a spiky ball when he feels threatened, and in nature, hedgehogs actually do roll down termite mounds in a ball like Sonic from the video game. Cali loves to go for night runs, when her exercise wheel can be heard squeaking through the house.

The bearded dragon gets its name from a sack of skin that is a darker color below the reptile’s mouth, looking like a beard as he puffs it up when he senses danger. The Bakers say that these lizards are great for children because they don’t

He makes a snorting sound that would be terrifying if he wasn’t 8-inches long.

have teeth, and their own little dragon, Maui, is relaxed enough to ride around on your shoulder.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that Colt grew up training horses while Sonay’s mother was certified to rehab raccoons and possums at her childhood home. Zoos are a staple of the Bakers’ vacations these days, where Sonay uses her connections to get behind the scenes for up-close animal encounters.

“It’s how I knew we were a good fit,” Sonny said of Colt. “We have a lot of love to give.” —WILL

MADDOX

WALLACE TO THE RESCUE

Sonay Baker’s love for animals goes deeper than most. Her dog Wallace once saved her from a home intruder. A man walked into her open garage and up to her kitchen door when Wallace started barking. Baker turned as the man asked, “Is this the open house?” There was no open house. Wallace, sensing the danger, attempted to bite the man, and as the intruder jumped back and kicked the fur ball, Baker was able to shut and lock the door. Wallace was fine, but later that week, Baker received notice that a woman had been attacked at her complex that week by a man of the same description.

Clockwise from left: Marley the dog and Henry the rabbit cuddle on the couch; Cali the hedgehog strikes a pose; Maui the bearded dragon on the hunt.

Join Us for a Clinical Trial

Join Us for a Clinical Trial

Do you have heart failure, also called “fluid around the heart?”

Is your Blood Pressure

Do you have shortness of breath and fatigue due to a weak heart?

150-180/90 mmHg?

Are medicines not controlling it?

Is there a chance you will need an artificial heart or a heart transplant?

Would you like to take part in a study using an investigational procedure rather than pills for your high blood pressure?

You may take part in a Research Study using stem cells for your heart problem at the Baylor Soltero CV Research Center. Call to find out more information and to see if you qualify, 214-820-2273

You will be paid for time and travel.

Do you have heart failure, also called “fluid around the heart?”

Do you have heart failure, also called “fluid around the heart?”

Do you have shortness of breath and fatigue due to a weak heart?

Do you have shortness of breath and fatigue due to a weak heart?

Are medicines not controlling it? Is there a chance you will need an artificial heart or a heart transplant?

To learn more about clinical trials or to enroll, call the Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center at 214.820.2273

Are medicines not controlling it?

Is there a chance you will need an artificial heart or a heart transplant?

DANIEL HART: THE MUSIC IN HIM

You may take part in a Research Study using stem cells for your heart problem at the Baylor Soltero CV Research Center. Call to find out more information and to see if you qualify, 214-820-2273

You may take part in a Research Study using stem cells for your heart problem at the Baylor Soltero CV Research Center. Call to find out more information and to see if you qualify, 214-820-2273

A product of Lake Highlands, this gifted artist made ‘S-Town,’ ‘Pete’s Dragon’ and ‘A Ghost Story’ even more magical

By CHRISTINA HUGHES BABB

Daniel Hart chuckled when the woman on the phone said she was Ira Glass’ assistant. Could he spare a moment to speak with Mr. Glass, she asked.

It’s a friend pulling a prank, Hart figured.

The Hart family reveres the radio broadcaster who hosts “This American Life” on National Public Radio, says Daniel’s father, Kenneth Hart, laughing softly, “So, I can imagine his disbelief.”

Then Glass’ venerated voice was on the line. He was working on a new project, a podcast called “S-Town.” He wanted Hart to write the score. wasn’t something the 41-year-old composer from Lake Highlands had done but that never stopped him. traveled a winding career path, learning something significant from every endeavor, he says.

Carried along on a current of Daniel’s music, the “S-Town” series was a hit which listeners downloaded a record-breaking 10 million times in the first four days following its March 2017 debut.

The call from NPR shouldn’t have been a shocker, really.

Hart’s sundry achievements include a stint with pop rock choir Polyphonic Spree, a solo album produced by singer-songwriter sensation St. Vincent, and several musical beds for programs and movies. He composed the score for “The Exorcist” on FOX; for the documentary “Eating Animals,” produced by Natalie Portman; and for four feature-length movies by Dallas-based director David Lowery, including Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” and “A Ghost Story,” starring Academy Award winner Casey Affleck.

Now Hart is preparing to tour with his band Dark Rooms and arrange the music for Lowery’s upcoming film, “The Old Man and the Gun,” whose notable cast includes Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek and Elizabeth Moss.

When we spoke in late summer, Hart’s parents, both professional church musicians, had just returned from the Los Angeles premiere of “A Ghost Story,”

which dad Kenneth Hart calls “profound and thought provoking.” And that is not a father’s bias; the critics love it too.

The indie explores the enormity of time, space and loss. While it stars powerhouse actors Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, Daniel Hart’s music is as pivotal a player.

In a flashback scene, a centerpiece of the story, a musician plays for his wife the song he’s been slaving over, his final artistic bequest, as it turns out.

Headphones on, unmoving, she hears in its entirety “I Get Overwhelmed,” written and performed by Hart and his band Dark Rooms. The song also serves as the track for the movie’s trailer, which has been viewed some 2 million times on YouTube. The piece has this mesmerizing, habit-forming effect — Lowery told music magazine Vents that Hart sent him the song before he began shooting.

“I listened to it over and over again, in the car, at home. After about three days of this, I called Daniel and asked if I could use the song in ‘A Ghost Story.’ ”

In a later scene, Affleck plays a brief ditty on an old piano — Hart taught him how.

“Daniel taught Casey enough piano

for him to look like he knew what he was doing in those short scenes,” says Kenneth who has lived in Lake Highlands with Daniel’s mom, Ellen, for 30 years.

St. Vincent, formerly known just as Annie Clark, happens to have lived on Kenneth and Ellen’s street, right off Ferndale, though Daniel, who is a few years older, would not become friends with her until later in life.

Daniel and his brother Justin began their musical education at an early age, with Daniel playing the violin before he was 3. Music was a family pastime, “something we all wanted to do,” Kenneth says.

It did not take long to realize Daniel had a gift — specifically, two lessons, Kenneth says. Daniel had a unique vocal ability, phenomenal for a child.

Daniel was 10 when the family came to Dallas. Kenneth took a position teaching at Southern Methodist University.

The kids took lessons and sang in choirs, Daniel, from a home studio in Los Angeles, recalls of childhood. For fun, the family played a lot of board games. “And there was religion, and religious music, and Bach, which is also religious.”

Daniel attended Northlake Elementa-

Lowery pressed until Disney hired Hart, a virtually unknown composer, to score the big-budget picture.

It was a risk, Hart says.

For him, it meant going from arranging music for a six-piece ensemble to a 104-piece orchestra.

It was high pressure and he worked tirelessly and learned as he went along, he says, “but we were really proud of the work we did.”

It also was the first movie “Uncle Dan” made that his 8-year-old niece, brother Justin’s daughter, could watch. (Justin is now associate chair of the history department at Texas Tech University.)

“S-Town,” the PG name for the Ira Glass-produced nonfiction series about

MARKETPLACE

a place one resident nicknamed “Shit Town,” is decidedly not kid friendly.

The darkly entertaining audio series follows the brilliant, disturbed, immeasurably complex John B. McLemore and a parade of characters from his southern Bibb County town.

Hart wrote the music upon listening to each segment.

Though vastly different from the approach to movies, the type of music composed for S-Town comes most naturally to Hart, he says. Complex, nuanced, enigmatic, captivating in its twists and turns, in its fits and bursts of jauntiness and intensity. In the hands of a less-capable composer, S-Town’s score easily could have played on southern stereotypes, but,

LAKE HIGHLANDS ACUPUNCTURE

Bryan Ellett, L.Ac.

The World Health Organization recommends acupuncture for: chronic pain, high blood pressure, depression/anxiety, digestive problems (IBS, heartburn), common cold, allergies and more! Come see why! Now accepting insurance!

10252 E. Northwest Highway 214.267.8636 lakehighlandsacupuncture. com

DAN “THE COMPUTER GUY”

Computer Repair

Don’t panic! Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky windows computer. Hardware & software installation, troubleshooting, training, $60/hour — one hour minimum.

972.639.6413

stykidan@sbcglobal.net

as Hart told the Columbia Chronicle, “In a time of oversimplified and often exaggerated, headline-grabbing lives we live, I am searching for the complexity I know to be actual human existence.”

Hart excels at and prefers darker, soul-searching sound, one might assume. Not entirely true, he says. While that indeed comes most easily to him, he also loves the big, epic, inspirational, feel-good stuff. “Like ‘Enchanted.’ Have you seen ‘Enchanted’?”

It’s a live-action, musical, fantasy, romantic comedy, and Hart calls composer Alan Menken’s score one of his favorites.

The new Lowery collaboration, “The Old Man and the Gun,” is slated to hit theaters in mid-2018.

DALLAS NAILS SPA

20% OFF All Services (mention this ad)

Appointments or Walk Ins Welcome. Manicures, Pedicures, Waxing, Facial and Lashes Treatments Available. Mention this ad for 20% OFF!

Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm Sat: 9:30am-7pm Sun: 12-6pm

URBAN THRIFT

Thrift

New stuff & sales everyday! We accept ALL donations! You’re welcome to come drop them off or schedule a FREE pick up! We give back to our community!

AC & HEAT

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

CLASSES/TUTORING/LESSONS

MUSIC TEACHER Lessons in voice, piano, guitar, bass & uke. Master’s degree SMU. North Dallas area. dalerdan@gmail.com 214-535-3895

PIANO LESSONS Cert. Teacher, 30 Yrs. Exp. North Dallas Area. 214-906-4649.

Family Owned & Operated

Serving the Dallas area for over 30 years

We raise our kids here, too!

214-330-5500

ClassicAirandHeat.com

TACLB29169ETACLA29042C

APPLIANCE REPAIR

JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE

TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898

USED APPLIANCES FOR SALE Washer $125. Dryer $89.1 yr. Warranty. Repair. 972-329-2202

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

Five Rings Financial has part-time opportunities! JR@FiveRingsFinancial.com 214-702-0033 x502

BUY/SELL/TRADE

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models. 2000-2016. Any Condition. Running Or Not. Top $$$ Paid. Free Towing. We’re Nationwide. Call Now 1-888-985-1806

GOT AN OLDER CAR, RV, BOAT? Do The Humane Thing. Donate It To The Humane Society. 1-855-558-3509

RANGERS, STARS & MAVS

Share front-row Texas Rangers, Stars & Mavs seats. Tickets are available in sets of 10 games (sets of 2 or 4 tickets per game available). Participants randomly draw numbers prior to season to determine a draft order fair to everyone. Call 214-560-4212 or rwamre@advocatemag.com

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

CABINETMAKER Design/Build Custom Furniture. Repair, Refinish. 40 yrs. Exp. Jim 214-522-0315.

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

Cabinet Refacing, Built-ins, Entertainment/ Computer Centers. Jim. 214-324-7398 www.squarenailwoodworking.com

CLASSES/TUTORING/LESSONS

ART: Draw/Paint. Adults All Levels. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Days: Mon & Wed. Students bring supplies. Nights: 1xt month workshop, supplies furnished. Jane Cross. 214-534-6829,

CREATIVE ARTS CENTER

More than 500 adult art classes/workshops from metal to mosaic! www.creativeartscenter.org

DYSLEXIA THERAPIST/CALT/TEACHER

Individual or Group Tutoring for Reading. Grades K-12. References. Lindsay 214-566-4622

VOICE TEACHER with 40+ years experience. M.M. LSU • www.PatriciaIvey.com trilletta@msn.com • 214-769-8560

CLEANING SERVICES

A MAID FOR YOU Bonded/Insured.Park Cities/ M Streets Refs. Call Us First. Joyce 214-232-9629

A WORLD CLASS CLEANING SERVICE

You deserve High Standards and Quality Cleaning. You’ve tried the rest... Now try the Best! WindsorMaidServices.com 214-381-MAID (6243)

AFFORDABLE CLEANING Insd./Bonded. Move In/Out. Routine Cleaning. Reliable. Dependable. Residential/ Commercial. References. 28+yrs. Delta Cleaning. 972-943-9280.

ALTOGETHER CLEAN

Relax ...We’ll Clean Your House, It Will Be Your Favorite Day! Bonded & Insurance. Free Estimates. 214-929-8413. www. altogetherclean.net

AMIRA MAID 972-840-8880

Since ‘98. Insured. amiramaid.com Dependable Service. References

CINDY’S HOUSE CLEANING 15 yrs exp. Resd/Com. Refs. Dependable. 214-490-0133

FATHER, SON, GRANDSON Window Cleaning. Free Est. Derek. 682-716-9892

WANTED: HOUSES TO CLEAN Wkly & Bi Monthly. Great Prices $$. Verified Trusted & Reliable. Family owned 15 yrs. Excellent references. Call Sunny @ 214-724-2555

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

ALL COMPUTER PROBLEMS SOLVED

MAC/PC Great Rates. Keith. 214-295-6367

AT ODDS WITH YOUR COMPUTER? Easily Learn Essential Skills. Services include Digital Photo Help. Sharon 214-679-9688

BILL’S COMPUTER REPAIR Virus Removal, Data Recovery. Home/Biz Network Install. All Upgrades & Repairs. PC Instruction. No Trip Fee. 214-348-2566

CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $60/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net

CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK & STONE REPAIR

Tuck Pointing / Crack Repair. Mortar Color Matching. Don 214-704-1722

BRICK, BLOCK, Stone, Concrete, Stucco. Gonzalez Masonry. 214-395-1319

CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK, STONEWORK, FLAGSTONE PATIOS

Mortar Repair. Straighten Brick Mailboxes & Columns. Call Cirilo 214-298-7174

CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable. Chris 214-770-5001

EDMONDSPAVING.COM Asphalt & Concrete Driveway-Sidewalk-Patio-Repair 214-957-3216

FLAGSTONE PATIOS, Retaining Walls, BBQ’s, Veneer, Flower Bed Edging, All Stone work. Chris 214-770-5001

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC

Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com

50 Yrs. Electrical Exp. Insd. 214-328-1333

BRIGHT LIGHT ELECTRIC • 214-553-5333

TECL 31347 Brightening Homes and Businesses

EXPERIENCED LICENSED ELECTRICIAN Insd. Steve. TECL#27297 214-718-9648

LAKEWOOD ELECTRICAL Local. Insured. Lic. #227509 Call Rylan 214-434-8735

TEXAS ELECTRICAL • 214-289-0639

Prompt, Honest, Quality Service. TECL 24668

TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658

WHITE ROCK ELECTRIC All Electrical Services. Lic/Insd. E795. 214-850-4891

EXTERIOR CLEANING

G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul. Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925

FENCING & DECKS

#1 COWBOY FENCE & IRON CO. Est. ‘91. 214-692-1991 www.cowboyfenceandiron.com

4 QUALITY FENCING • 214-507-9322

Specializing in Wood, New or Repair.

AMBASSADOR FENCE INC. EST.96 Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks Ambassadorfenceco.com 214-621-3217

FENCING & WOODWORK oldgatefence.com . 214-766-6422

HANNAWOODWORKS.COM

Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers. 214-435-9574

KIRKWOOD FENCE & DECK New & Repair. Free Estimates. Nathan Kirkwood. 214-341-0699

LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975

Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers

NORTHLAKE FENCE Locally owned and family operated. Celebrating 36 years of service. 214-349-9132 northlakefence.com

EST. 1991 #1

COWBOY

FENCE & IRON CO.

214.692.1991

SPECIALIZING IN Wood Fences &Auto Gates

cowboyfenceandiron.com

FLOORING & CARPETING

CONSUMERS CHOICE AWARDS 2007-2016

Making Homes Safer One Call at a Time

TECL20502

972-926-7007

arrowelectric.net

Phones Answered 24/7

EMPLOYMENT

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certified. Approved for military benefits. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204

PET SITTERS, DOG WALKERS reply to http://www.pcpsi.com/join

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

WANT TO MAKE MONEY? Richardson Mercantile is looking for dealers who want to join one of the best antique malls in DFW. Need details? Go to richardsonmercantile@gmail.com

FENN CONSTRUCTION Manufactored hardwoods. Stone and Tile. Back-splash Specials. 214-343-4645

HASTINGS STAINED CONCRETE New/Remodel. Stain/Wax Int/Ext. Nick. 214-341-5993. www.hastingsfloors.com

WILLEFORD HARDWOOD FLOORS 214-824-1166 • WillefordHardwoodFloors.com

FOUNDATION REPAIR

• Slabs • Pier & Beam

• Mud Jacking • Drainage

• Free Estimates

• Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797

We Answer Our Phones

GARAGE SERVICES

IDEAL GARAGE DOORS • 972-757-5016

Install & Repair. 10% off to military/1st responders.

ROCKET GARAGE DOOR SERVICE - 24/7. Repairs/Installs. 214-533-8670. Coupon On Web. www.RocketDoor.com

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

GARAGE SERVICES

UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES

Res/Com. Locally Owned.214-826-8096

GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS

JIM HOWELL 214-357-8984 Frameless Shower Enclosures/Custom Mirrors. Free Estimates

LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR

frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160

PRO WINDOW CLEANING

prompt, dependable. Matt 214-766-2183

ROCK GLASS CO Replace, repair: windows, mirrors, showers, screens. 214-837-7829

HANDYMAN SERVICES

ALL STAR HOME CARE Carpentry, Glass, Tile, Paint, Doors, Sheetrock Repair, and more. 25 yrs. exp. References. Derry 214-505-4830

BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730

HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/ Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635

HOME REPAIR HANDYMAN Small/Big Jobs + Construction. 30 Yrs. Exp. 214-875-1127

HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606

HONEST, SKILLED

General Repairs/

WANTED: ODD

Allen’s Handyman

Your Home Repair Specialists Drywall Doors

Senior Safety

Carpentry

HOUSE PAINTING

BENJAMIN’S PAINTING SERVICE Professional Work At Reasonable Prices. 214-725-6768

PROFESSIONAL PAINTER & HANDYMAN

40 Yrs Experience. 214-868-2645

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT

Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

TONY’S PAINTING SERVICE Quality Work

Since 1984. Int./Ext. 214-755-2700

TOP COAT 30 yrs. exp. Reliable, Quality Repair/Remodel Phil @ 214-770-2863

VIP PAINTING & DRYWALL Int/Ext. Sheetrock Repair, Resurfacing Tubs, Counters, Tile Repairs. 469-774-7111

KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

HOLMAN IRRIGATION

Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061

LSI LAWN SPRINKLERS “Making Water Work” Irrigation system Service & Repair. Specializing In Older Copper Systems. LI #13715. 214-283-4673

MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Insd. CC’s Accepted. 214-924-7058 214-770-2435

PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation.

RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779

RedSunLandscapes.com

TAYLOR MADE IRRIGATION Repairs, service, drains. 30+ years exp. Ll 6295 469-853-2326. John

Back-to-School and busier schedules. Fall into Autumn Stress-free with these tips:

Arrive at the office 10 minutes early. The sun rises later; get to work earlier for extra time to adjust to a new schedule.

· De-Clutter your workspace. Give yourself a visual clean plate, trash old files and papers on your desk.

· Invest in what brings you joy at work. Identify projects you love most and maximize those parts of your job.

· Revamp your daily routine. Take care of your body. Stand up, move around and workout.

Be sure to have water and a piece of dark chocolate on hand for when those deep breaths won’t suffice.

classifieds.advocatemag.com

KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS LLC

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS

TRACY’S LAWN CARE • 972-329-4190

Lawn Mowing & Leaf Cleaning

U R LAWN CARE Maintenance. Landscaping. Your Personal Yard Service by Uwe Reisch uwereisch@yahoo.com 214-886-9202

A Better Tree Company

Call Mark Wittli J

Your trees could look like a work of art, I guarantee it!

Call Mark Wittlich 214-332-3444

”WE CARE ABOUT YOUR TREES”

On Staff:

• 4 - Certified Arborists

• 1 - Tex- Tech Degreed Ag

• 1 - Tex A&M Degreed Forester

• 3 - Certified Applicators

Small & Odd Jobs

HandymanMatters.com/dallas

And More! 972-308-6035

Bonded & Insured. Locally owned & operated.

HOUSE PAINTING

1 AFFORDABLE HOUSE PAINTING and Home Repair. Quality work. Inside and Out. Free Ests. Local Refs. Ron 972-816-5634

A+ INT/EXT PAINT & DRYWALL

Since 1977. Kirk Evans. 972-672-4681

Complete Kitchen And Bath Remodels. Tile, Granite, Marble, Travertine, Slate. Insured. 214-563-5035 www.blake-construction.com

FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645

MELROSE TILE James Sr., Installer, Repairs. 40 Yrs. Exp. MelroseTile.com 214-384-6746

STONE AGE COUNTER TOPS Granite, Quartz, Marble For Kitchen/Bath-Free Est.. stoneage.brandee@gmail.com 940-465-6980

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

Complete Full Service Repairs, Remodeling, Restoration. Name It — We do it. Tommy. Insured. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

Professionals, Experts, Artists. Trim, Remove, Cabling, Bracing/Bolting. Cavity-Fill Stump Grind. Emergencies, Hazards. Insd. Free Est. 972-803-6313. arborwizard.com

A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 12 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925

CALL A TREE EXPERT - 469-939-3344

Prune. Stump grind. Plant. Burris Tree Service

CHUPIK TREE SERVICE

Trim, Remove, Stump Grind. Free Est. Insured. 214-823-6463

DALLAS GROUNDSKEEPER Organic Lawn Maintenance designed to meet your needs. 214-471-5723 dallasgroundskeeper.com

DALLAS K.D.R.SERVICES • 214-349-0914

Lawn Service & Landscape Installation

FULLY

WORSHIP

ANGLICAN

ALL SAINTS EAST DALLAS / allsaintseastdallas.org

Sunday worship 5:00 pm / Live in God’s Presence. Live Out His Love.Meeting at Central Lutheran Church / 1000 Easton Road

BAPTIST

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

Worship & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

BIBLE CHURCHES

NORTH HIGHLANDS BIBLE CHURCH / nhbc.net / 9626 Church Rd.

Sun: LifeQuest 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am / 214.348.9697

Wed: AWANA and Kids Choir 6:00 pm / Student Ministry 6:30 pm

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel 10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

EPISCOPAL

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH / stjd.org

Worship: Sat 5:30 pm, Sun 8 & 10 am / Christian Ed Sunday Morning & Weekdays, see calendar on website / 214.321.6451 / 848 Harter Rd.

LUTHERAN

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

Sunday School for all ages 9:00 am / Worship Service 10:30 am

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Ln.

Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule.

214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

METHODIST

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH RICHARDSON 503 N Central Exwy / fumcr.com / 972.235.8385 / Dr. Clayton Oliphint

8:45, 9:45, 11:00 am sanctuary / access modern worship 11:00am

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee

Worship: 8:30 am & 11:00 am Traditional / 11:00 am Contemporary

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

LAKE POINTE CHURCH – WHITE ROCK CAMPUS

Classic Service at 9:30 & Contemporary Service at 11:00 am lakepointe.org / 9150 Garland Road

PRESBYTERIAN

LAKE HIGHLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 214.348.2133

8525 Audelia Road at NW Hwy. / www.lhpres.org

9:00 am Contemporary, 9:55 am Christian Ed., 11:00 am Traditional

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr.

214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Sundays 8:30 & 11:00 am

Sunday School 9:35am / All Are Welcome

Tortured by choice

In his book “Steal Like an Artist,” Austin Kleon makes the case for limitations.

“The right constraints can lead to your very best work. My favorite example? Dr. Seuss wrote “The Cat in the Hat” with only 236 different words, so his editor bet him he couldn’t write a book with only 50 different words. Dr. Seuss came back and won the bet with “Green Eggs and Ham,” one of the bestselling children’s books of all time.”

The spiritual life requires discipline. We can’t wander willy-nilly through our day with no direction or guardrails to our thoughts and actions. To live a truly spiritual life is to follow a narrow path of virtue.

Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount amount to wisdom for daily living as much as warning about eternal destiny. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Americans love choices. We hate to commit to one path. We think of wealth and education and social networks as the means to widen our options, as if that is the key to a happy life. But the German poet, Goethe, was right when he said: “The one who chooses is tortured by choice.”

Freedom is paradoxical: It comes from slavish discipline to a way of life that liberates. The writer Eugene Peterson titled a book on the spiritual life that is ironically based on the words of the Christian critic, Friederich Nietzche: “A long obedience in the same direction.”

As a pastor, I see the problem more acutely than most. Too many options of other things to do on Sunday morn-

By GEORGE MASON

ing besides worship, too much money to spend on things instead of given as an act of stewardship, too many ways to be served instead of serving others: These undermine the spiritual life precisely by widening rather than narrowing our scope.

The road of abundant living is found in denying the self that is driven by ego and worldly definitions of success. The true way of life Jesus calls us to is the path of loving our enemies, doing good to those who hurt us, adopting the values of humility and charity. (Other religions demand similar commitments

that transform the self by not being conformed to the values of the world at large.)

Our souls expand by a deepening process of compression. Like a caterpillar pushing through the narrow opening of a chrysalis, strength is gained by the struggle to emerge as a new creature.

Singer and songwriter Jack White puts it this way: “Telling yourself you have all the time in the world, all the money in the world, all the colors in the palette, anything you want — that just kills creativity.”

Jesus’ words are often hard but always good.

George Mason is pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church. The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and the neighborhood businesses and churches listed here. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

Ironically, it’s the narrow gate that leads to abundant life

The German poet, Goethe, was right when he said: “The one who chooses is tortured by choice.”