Richard Knerr died this week. My first notice came on the CNN news scroll at the bottom of the television. The news saddened me. It possibly should sadden most people around my age. He provided hours of joy for us over the years. What? You don't know the name Richard Knerr? He lived to be 82 years old. His business began in 1948 and thrived for years with constant innovations. What he invented as well as adopted in his business changed the entire culture of American life in the 20th century. Is your curiosity getting best of you yet? His inventions or adaptations include the Frisbee, Silly String, the Hula Hoop and the Slip and Slide. He is even responsible for the name of our next big holiday. The Super Bowl got its name as a NFL owner watched his child play with a Super Ball. The rest as they say is history.

Knerr's contributions to American life are very simple yet quite profound. How many kids of years past played with one or more of his toys from Wham-O? Think about how different his toys are from the electronic gizmos our kids crave today. We shake up a can then watch foamy string land all over people who will need a shower to remove it. We take some shaped plastic and launch it all over the yard and usually up on the house. We slide into a hoop just to throw our back out trying to keep it from falling. I did all those things in my younger years. It was just the simpler times with simpler toys.

Life really is not that hard. We live with all the technological advances in our world yet real life is still about the same things. Jesus said that what He really wants out of us is to love God and to love others. The rest of His instructions grow out of those two priorities. Ever wonder why we fail to live up to expectations? I think it is because we miss the priority. Richard Knerr gave us simple tools to enjoy. Jesus gave us simple words to obey. I hope we remember both.

Bro. Trey