Musings of an Old Man

Heritage

2012-01-23T09:44:00.002-05:00

Heritage is what you leave behind; the habits, characteristics, or genes you pass on to the following generations through your children and their children. This heritage can be good; someone quoted Toni Thomas as saying, “I was raised. I didn’t just grow up. I was taught to speak when I enter a room, say please and thank you, to have respect for my elders, lend a helping hand to those in need, hold the door for the person behind me, say excuse me when it’s needed, and to love people for who they are, not for what you can get from them! I was also taught to treat people the way I want to be treated!”

This heritage can also be bad; despite all his outstanding qualities, Abraham had a tendency toward deception, as when he lied to King Abimelech about his true relationship with Sarah. That same character flaw can be seen in his son and grandsons. The examples you set for your children become a part of their heritage. A grandson was sitting in a booster seat equipped with a little steering wheel and was helping his father drive on the interstate. When another driver suddenly cut in front of us, the little toddler exclaimed, “dumb ass!” I wonder where he learned that heritage.

I’ve been a football fan and followed the sport for over 60 years, and I cannot remember another single player attracting the attention and media coverage of the rookie Denver quarterback, Tim Tebow. Beyond his performance on the playing field, this recognition comes from Tebow’s speaking out and demonstrating his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Tim is the son of evangelical missionaries and much of who he is can be credited to his heritage. In 2009 Tebow led the Florida Gators to the College Football National Championship; and wore “John 3:16” printed in his eye black during the game. The results of his action would be hard to measure, but it’s been reported that following the game, 97 million people “Googled” John 3:16 to see what it said; 97 million people exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ through one man’s actions. God bless this man’s heritage.

Most people alive today know of Billy Graham, but few have heard of Edward Kimball. On Saturday morning, April 21, 1855 in the back stockroom of a shoe store in Chicago, Illinois; a shoe salesman and Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball led another young shoe salesman to the Lord. On that morning Dwight L. Moody accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior. Subsequently young Moody became an evangelist and stirred F. B. Myer to become a soul winner. Meyer brought Wilbur Chapman to the Lord, and Chapman, along with Billy Sunday, held a revival where Mordecai Ham was saved.

It was Mordecai Hamm who led Billy Graham to the Lord and Graham became possibly the greatest evangelist of all time. Could Edward Kimball have dreamed of the avalanche he was starting and the heritage he was leaving when he witnessed to that young shoe salesman on that Saturday morning?

Imagine what could result the next time you witness to someone about the Lord? God has promised that His Word will not return void. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11

Let’s be cautious with our heritage and bold in our witness.

Sometimes we need a boost, (Contributed by Les Killion)

2012-01-07T07:17:00.002-05:00

Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

As a little boy one day, I ran back and forth behind the crowd. The parade was coming, and I really wanted to have a good spot to watch it from. Everyone was so much taller than I was. Wherever I went, somebody was standing in front of me. In frustration, I started to cry. Suddenly, two strong hands lifted me up and placed me on shoulders high up above the mass of people. From the vantage point of the stranger's shoulders, the entire parade was easy to see.

Sometimes we need a boost. Problems loom too large, and we can't see our way around them. Pressures build up, and we don't feel big enough to cope with them. God sees all that and He is ready to lift us up; to give us a new vantage point. Reach up to the Lord, and He will lead you to Himself, a rock which is higher than any problem we might have. The best part, just reach up a little. He'll reach down a lot.

Brother Les

Armageddon in Alabama

2011-11-28T14:44:00.002-05:00

My Unger’s Bible Dictionary says “Armageddon has becomes a poetical expression for a terrible and final conflict”. It’s a battlefield that has previously been the site of two great Biblical victories. This year is the first time I’ve heard the expression used in connection with a college football game, but the 2011 LSU-Alabama game was so dubbed by the news media. I’m not sure “Armageddon” was a good descript word for the game since it surely was not a “final conflict”, however it was a slobber knocking defensive battle that LSU won 3 field goals to 2, in overtime. There is still the possibility of a rematch, I suppose it could be called Armageddon in New Orleans.

Something in excess of 101,000 fans packed the stadium in Tuscaloosa as I watched from the comfort of my living room. They arrived painted, costumed and screaming. Streaming through the gates for hours before kick-off you could tell easily whose side they were on by the school colors they wore.

I wonder how big a crowd would gather to see Good do battle with Evil, Jesus vs Satan. Would there be enough interest to fill the stadium? I’m sure it would be much quieter, with little cheering and screaming; since you can get a funny look if you say amen aloud in some churches.

What I really wonder about though; is if we could tell which side they are on by the way they look. Would they dress different, act different or talk different? Can you tell a Christian from the world by what they wear, or the way they behave and what they say?

I sure hope folks can recognize me more readily as a Christian, than as a Bulldog fan.

Sighing

2011-10-26T15:50:00.002-04:00

Without a word, a deep sigh can say so much. When my boys were young and I told them they had to cut the grass, or do some other chore before they went off with their friends, I rarely heard back talk or complaining; but I often heard a long sigh, which said clearly how they felt. My little sister-in-law, who was mentally handicapped, had a unique way of ending a long sigh with a grunt, which left no doubt that she was not pleased. An audible sigh from my wife always gets my attention. My Webster’s dictionary says a sigh is an audible breath expressing sorrow, relief or fatigue. I wonder how we all learned to sigh? I don’t remember anyone teaching me, and I surely did not teach my children this irritating noise, it just seems to come naturally.

I never thought about the Lord sighing, but Mark 8:12 says Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit when the Pharisees questioned him about a sign from heaven. It makes me wonder how many times I’ve caused the Lord to sigh, too many for sure. I’ll to try to be careful about this in the future. When I lay down at the end of the day, I don’t want to visualize Christ sighing, I want to visualize Him pumping his fist in the air and saying, “Yes, That’s my boy!”

Faithful

2011-09-08T10:51:00.001-04:00

There is a prayer, "Lord help me be as good of a person as my dog thinks I am."

A couple of nights ago, a strong thunderstorm came through. When the thunder began, my cats holed up under the bed. My dog, though, jumped on the bed and laid down next to me. It was as though he was saying, "If you think it's no big deal, then I believe you. I will be safe as long as I am by your side."

That got me to thinking: He doesn't worry about anything. He trusts me to feed him. He loves me, craves my attention, and wants to make me happy. He pays attention to what I tell him and tries to master what I teach him. He still has his own will. He doesn't always listen, and sometimes he wanders. But his love and loyalty endure.

That's just what Christ asks of us: Don't worry about tomorrow. Trust Me to feed you. Love Me and follow my commandments. Listen to Me and try to master what I teach you! I know you aren't perfect and you will wander. But I'm still here! Return to Me!

Maybe a better prayer is, "Lord, help me be as faithful to You as my dog is to me!"

Doug Honea

How Big Is God

2011-08-04T15:12:00.002-04:00

Don’t tell God how big your storm is; you tell your storm how big your God is…..

The Bible teaches us that the heavens were created by God for His pleasure. Hebrews 1:10, “And Thou Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:” Revelations 4:11, “Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they were created.” The Bible compares the stars in the sky, in multitude, to the sand on the seashore (Hebrews 11:12).

Scientists tell us that compared to other celestial bodies in outer space the earth is like a tiny speck of dust in a huge room with all the other specks of dust around it; or like a single grain of sand amid all the sand on all the beaches of the world. They tell us that if the earth were to fall out of its orbit and spin away into space, it would create no more disturbance than the dropping of a pea into the ocean.

Webster’s says a Light Year is a unit of distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year, or approximately 6,000,000,000,000 miles. That distance exceeds my capacity to comprehend. Then I read where the Hubble telescope took a picture of the M104, Sombre Galaxy which is 28 million light years from earth, contains 800 billion suns and in size is 50,000 light years across. How big is that? How big is the God that created it?

Why would we ever doubt that God can relieve any predicament of the human soul, and has the means and power to meet every human need? What fools we would have to be to think that our resources could run dry. God help us understand that our demands could never exceed Your supply.

Angels

2011-06-25T11:35:00.002-04:00

Pop was into his eighties and driving a Ford almost as old as him. I had tried numerous times to get him to buy a newer car, but he always said it was foolish to buy anything new at his age. He said he didn’t even buy green bananas.

He was alone and southbound on busy Interstate 75 when the Ford died and stranded him between exits. Because of his age and arthritis, he didn’t ambulate so well and was pretty sure he could not walk to the next exit. Of course he didn’t have a cell phone because “at his age he didn’t need any new fangled, wireless telephones”.
He was telling me the story a few days later and I expressed concern, saying something brilliant like, I bet you were upset and worried. Pop said no, he really didn’t worry he just talked it over with the Lord.

Within minutes a pick-up truck with two young ladies in it pulled in behind him on the side of the Interstate and asked if they could help. He told them the situation thinking maybe they could give him a ride somewhere or send help for him. One of the young ladies was a mechanic and the other was her sister. They were in town from Florida for a NASCAR race. Pop’s angels made emergency repairs to the old Ford and then drove it to a nearby dealership for permanent repairs. Only after receiving assurance from the dealership that Pop would be going in about an hour did his NASCAR angels leave him.

The Bible teaches us that the Angels of God are given the wisdom to know all things that are in the earth. They excel in strength to do His commandments and hearken unto the voice of His Word. They are Spirits sent forth to minister to believers. Angels are exceedingly numerous, inconceivably powerful, and are concerned about the physical well being and safety of believers. Although angels are spirits, we are given numerous examples of them being visible in human form.

I believe there are “full-time” and “part-time” angels. I believe there are angelic spirits from God that are full-time angels. Then I believe God gives all believers the opportunity to be “part-time” angels. Something like a “weekend angel permit” to help others in need. We need to be alert to our “weekend permit” opportunities, and make good use of them or God could give these privileges to others who will appreciate them. If we lose these opportunities, we also lose the blessings that come from them. The Bible says, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully……God loveth a cheerful giver”. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”…..“Give and it shall be given unto you……”. These promises are for physical, emotional and spiritual needs; they are financial, material, help in the time of need, comfort in time of sorrow or loneliness, and wise advice in times of decisions. They apply to all phases of our lives, cash in on them. Pop did.

Obedience

2011-05-13T13:01:00.002-04:00

As a teenager I could not wait until I was 18 and could move out on my own, make my own decisions, establish my own hours, be my own boss and not have to answer to anyone. The year from 17 to 18 was almost as exciting as from 15 to 16 when I was anticipating my driver’s license.

Looking back, it’s hard to understand my rebellion to obedience. My parents were the greatest; I never had reason to question their love and loyalty, my mother was an angel who never raised her voice and there were never unreasonable controls, demands, or instructions. I knew my sisters loved me, even when they were aggravated by my presence. God blessed me with a childhood and family life that could be the envy of any boy. Yet, I resented authority and having to be obedient to anyone, I longed to be my own man.

I now believe the thing that made me resist obedience was the same thing that makes a two year old scream no, or have a temper tantrum when they don’t get their own way. It’s not something we have to be taught, or learn through life experiences, it’s something we are born with; it’s called a sinful nature. Deep down, we all long to be free, but we don’t always know what’s best for us.

Christ our Savior is also our example. Hebrews 5:8-9 tells us; “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

Christian character is produced by being submissive to the Holy Spirit, not by being free from obedience. The fruit of that submissiveness is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Gaining real independence and freedom has less to do with calendar age and more to do with the age of accountability and making the right decision, to surrender your life to Christ....“and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32

Anticipating His Return

2011-03-07T20:27:00.001-05:00

Over fifteen hundred years before Christ was born, Job (19:25) said, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” Thirty one years after Jesus’ crucifixion John (5:28) said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” About twenty three years later Paul (I Thessalonians 4:16) said, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Although they do not know exactly what to expect, Christians have been eagerly anticipating Christ’s return since His ascension from the Mount of Olives, forty days after His resurrection. I’ve seen a comparison made with a faithful dog separated from his master by a closed door. The dog will scratch and claw trying to get through the door, not knowing what’s on the other side, because he knows “who” is on the other side.

When I was a child I looked forward to Christmas with great excitement. Around Halloween, I’d start thinking about how many days till Christmas and trying hard to be a “good boy”; especially if I thought something special, like an electric train or bicycle might be a possibility. After Thanksgiving the excitement would build and I’d start checking the backs and shelves in closets and under beds for any suspicious packages. I professed belief in Santa Claus for several years after my big sisters had enlightened me; because I feared the effect this knowledge might have on Christmas. I never knew exactly what Christmas would bring, but I knew I was going to like it.

Because of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I can anticipate Christ’s return with that same excitement; I don’t know exactly what to expect, but I know I’m going to like it.

Twenty Minutes that Changed my Life

2011-01-30T14:07:00.000-05:00

(The following testimonial was shared with me a few years ago; it’s ghastly “Food for Thought”)

I have had a problem with driving for a long time: other drivers. I can be perfectly content to go 15 in a school zone or 55 on the highway, as long as I am not behind someone else. For some reason, though, getting behind someone who goes the speed limit, or worse, a few miles per hour under it, really sets me off. Some days it has been so bad that I really feel like I shouldn't be behind the wheel at all. This was one of those days.

The morning started like most any other. I hit the snooze button one too many times and was running about ten minutes late. I've never liked being late. Something in my psyche just can't handle being late, even if I know I will be the first one there and no one else will even know. That's something I have to work on.

I was out the door on time, though, and started the 20 minute commute to the office. The ride was pretty smooth until I got to the last couple of miles. I fell in behind someone in a van who was going 25 in the 35 zone and refused to speed up or pull over. That REALLY set me going. Wasn't long before I was right up against his bumper (maybe he will see me and realize that he's going too slow?). He saw me, all right, and tapped his brakes a couple of times. Yeah, right, buddy, I'm not scared of your brake lights. By the time we got to the next major intersection, about a mile up the road, I was livid. I had called him every name in the book and my blood pressure had to be about doubled. At the light, he made the right turn while I went straight. I made the point of laying on the horn as I passed, to make sure he knew I was pissed. Then I sped on down the road.

I will never know why that little girl had to dart out from between the cars at that instant. Maybe she had a problem being late for the school bus, even though it was nowhere in sight. At 40 mph (in the 25 zone), there was no way I could stop in time. I felt the "clunk" with every fiber in my body. Praying and hoping as I jumped from my car, my heart dropped as I saw her crumpled in the road. Please God, let her just be stunned. I didn't mean to hurt anybody. I didn't even need to be rushing. PLEASE give me a break here, God!

I called 911 and waited, afraid to move her for fear of making something worse. I couldn't tell if she was breathing or not. I was blocking the road and a crowd started to gather. No one ever wants to see a child hurt; some folks were crying--I was one of them. A police car was almost too quick to arrive and the officer quickly assessed the girl. The paramedics were not far behind, and though I could not hear what they were saying, I could tell from their expressions that things didn't look good.

The police officer took me to the side. "I was behind you the whole last mile, while you were tail-gaiting that van. You were speeding after you got around him, too. What was the rush? I hope it was important, because you may have just killed that girl."

From that moment, things are a blur. I vaguely remember being cuffed and put in the patrol car, the booking process, calling my wife, getting bail posted, and going home. I was totally numb. I remember the agony of hearing that the girl had died from her injuries, news I received as I was sitting home with my own daughter.

With her death came charges of negligent vehicular homicide. My lawyer said I should plead not guilty and we would try to build a defense around my being stressed by things at home. I knew the truth though: I took somebody's little girl away forever FOR NO GOOD REASON. I deserved to be punished, though there was no way the authorities could punish me the way I was punishing myself, the way I was punishing my family.

The plea deal my attorney worked with the D.A. meant I have to spend two years in jail. I lost my job, of course, and without my income, my family lost everything--our house and most of our possessions. My wife and daughter moved in with her parents and tried to pick up and get on with their lives. I don't know what our lives will be like when I get out of here. I know my relationship with her will never be the same. I will never get a job as good as the one I had, now that I have a felony conviction.

I have re-lived that 20 minute period a thousand times in my head. I don't know why I had such a problem with being impatient behind the wheel, but I am certain that the problem is cured now for good. I so wish it hadn't taken such a horrible event to teach me what I should have already known...what my wife had been telling me for years. I just hope that someone else can learn from my experience before another innocent person has to die and the lives of two families have to be destroyed forever.

Note: This is a true story with a fictional ending. I thank God and the police officer who stopped me that morning and told me "you need to calm yourself down....". When the realization of the risk I was taking fully hit me, I broke down and cried. From that day, whenever I start to feel that impatient urge, I tell myself "Twenty Minutes" and remember the potential life changing consequences...it slows me right down.

Guest Blog: Doug Honea, Upper Darby, PA.

2010-12-12T21:30:00.002-05:00

In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus answers the question, "What is the greatest commandment?"

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

First, we need to recognize that "love" here is a verb. It's not an abstract feeling that comes and goes, it is conscious, deliberate action that we take. Jesus didn't say, "Feel love towards your neighbor, or even 'like' your neighbor." He told us something specific to do.

This sounds simple enough and should be easy to understand. Yet, how do we know if we are following Jesus' commandment? Is my definition of "love" the same as yours?

Fortunately, we don't have to "wonder" if we are loving according to the Bible. The Apostle Paul defined love in a set of specific traits and actions that we can use as our "checklist."

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul tells us this about love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

It's as simple as that!

Puppy Love

2010-11-15T05:07:00.001-05:00

Don’t ask me to explain love. I can’t, because I don’t understand it. I can’t explain the Creator’s love for the creation. Like electricity, I know it’s there, and although I can’t explain it, I know how to use it. I can’t explain Christ’s love. Jesus knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, every thought I’ve ever had, and He loves me anyway. I don’t understand this, but I’m thankful for it.

When God looks at me He doesn’t see me, He sees Jesus because I‘ve “put Jesus on” (Galatians 3:27). He sees Jesus, and opens his arms to welcome me. I don’t understand this, but I’m thankful for it; and I’m resting in it to get me through this life and into the next.

I’ve wondered why, since God wants me to live righteously, He doesn’t make it easier by removing some of my desire to sin, some of that sinful nature that makes it so hard to resist temptations. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t want his relationship with us to be like puppets on a string that dance when He pulls the strings. That would not demonstrate our love for Him.

I’ve seen battery operated toy puppies that would dance around and yap when you turn them on. Then you can turn them off and put them in a closet. Compare the toy to a real live puppy that loves you and gets excited when you come near. He jumps around, wiggles, yaps, wags his tail, licks your hand, and leaves no doubt that he loves you and is glad to see you. God wants that pure sincere excited puppy love from us, not the reaction of an automaton.

Remembering “Puppy Love” should help me resists temptations, then when God comes near I won’t have to take on that pathetic, shameful, hang-dog look puppies get when they have forgotten to go on the paper.

Laughter

2010-09-30T08:19:00.001-04:00

Around 1000 BC, the wisest man in the world said, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Prov.17:22). A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance (Prov.15:13). He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast (Prov.15:15). Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones (Prov.16:24)”.

I think it was Ludlow Porch that said, “Don’t take life so serious Dearheart, it ain’t permanent nohow”.

Laughing makes us feel good. I read that the physiological effects on our body are amazing. Laughter provides a safety valve that shuts off the flow of stress hormones and the fight-or-flight compounds that comes into action in times of stress, rage or hostility. Laughter boosts the immune system, increases the natural killer cells that destroy tumors and viruses, and defends against the entry of infectious organisms through the respiratory tract. Laughter basically brings balance to all the components of the immune system.

Laughter can lower blood pressure, increase vascular blood flow, and increase oxygenation of the blood which further aids healing. It can lead to hiccupping and coughing which can clear the respiratory tract by dislodging mucus plugs. Laughter also gives your diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory and facial, leg and back muscles a workout. Basically laughter is an all over body workout. Some believe that laughter may help prevent life threatening heart disease since anger and fear are two common emotions which frequently cause heart attacks. If you feel exhausted after a bout of contagious giggling, it’s because you have just had an aerobic workout.

I like it when medical science catch’s up with scripture.

Immigration

2010-08-28T08:35:00.002-04:00

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American; and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.” (Theodore Roosevelt 1907)

Most Americans agree with Teddy Roosevelt’s position on Immigration; and are offended by immigrants who make no attempt to learn our language or pledge allegiance to our flag and country. We are insulted if those who want to enjoy the advantages and benefits of America continue to speak their native language and fly the flag of their home country. We believe those coming to America should comply with our laws and be loyal to our country. “America, love it or leave it” is our position.

I wonder if the Lord has similar feelings toward those that have joined His family and then continue to live the old life; how disappointed is He with those refusing to live an obedient life? Read Roosevelt’s statement again substituting “Christian” for “American”. Now there’s food for thought.

Pride

2010-07-01T10:49:00.003-04:00

I once had the stupid idea that people who held subordinate positions, or worked with their hands or got dirtier, or made less money, or had less education, or lived in a poorer part of town or in a smaller house, or had a different accent or used poor English, or didn’t dress as nice, were somehow of less value and/or not as smart as me. The longer I live the more I realize how dumb that attitude was.

In Luke 14 Jesus talked about the ambitious wedding guest that sat down in a higher position than he should have, and had to be asked by the host to give up his seat to a more honorable guest. He should have assumed a lower position and he would have been honored in front of the other guests when asked to move up higher. Jesus said, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Vs 11).

Proverbs 3:34 says, “he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace to the lowly”. Proverbs 15:33, “before honor is humility”. Again in 18:12, “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility”. James 4:6 says, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”. Again in 5:5, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”.

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord”. (I Corinthians 1:26-31)

I believe the deepest, most complex and profound theology in the scriptures can be expressed in only three words, “Jesus loves me”. He knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, and everything I’ve ever thought, and He loves me anyway……awesome isn’t it?

Instead of being concerned about our status in the pecking order, or who is more valuable, or who is smarter than whom; it would seem best if we spent our efforts feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothes to the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned (Matthew 25:38-40)

Forgiveness

2010-05-18T09:16:00.002-04:00

God is the creator of the universe, the creator of mankind. He has no need to show you he’s boss, or to exert his authority, or to prove himself in any way. God does not have an ego problem. When He tells us something, it’s for our own good. Jesus said, “If you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14&15) We are taught to pray; “and forgive us our sins; as we forgive those that trespass against us”. You’re physical, mental and emotional health is dependent upon your ability to forgive others and release the anger in your heart.

Repressed anger can lead to depression and anxiety. Unexpressed anger can be the cause of depression, and feelings of suicide. Someone close to you hurts you and fearing the loss of that person's love, you keep silent about your anger and ultimately, as a way to escape the guilt of your dependency, you begin wishing for your own destruction.

Unresolved anger is absorbed by the nervous system, and all major organs remain on alert. Blood pressure remains high and stresses the circulatory system, stomach lining, heart and lungs. The body stews in it own juices.

God says there is a simple way to avoid all this hurt and suffering, simply forgive and forget…..turn it loose. Can’t do it? Just can’t turn it loose? Then ask for help, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Allow Christ to do it through you.

Don’t go through life looking in the rearview mirror, forget the past and look to the future, don’t have a bad day today over something that happened yesterday, or even worse, years ago; regain the joy in your life by forgiving past hurts.

Butterfly Hug

2010-04-13T15:41:00.001-04:00

They tell a story of a young boy who loved butterflies so much he could not resist giving them a hug. Sometimes it’s hard to keep your hands off when you care so much. Remember that God loves them more than you do and love can be elusive if you pursue it too hard, but will come to you if you be still. That’s what He means when he says “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself” (Psalms 37:7). Have faith and believe that God can do it without your help. In the end every person will have to answer for themselves.

Next time you feel desperate and just don’t know what to do; keep on doing what you know is the right thing to do, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day and there will be a payday some day. Have faith, let faith replace your fear, and wait on the Lord. Just keep on keeping on. “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9).

When considering solutions, remember that doing nothing is always a valid option. Take it to the Lord and leave it there. Don’t dig up something in doubt that you laid down in faith. Pray about it, turn it over to the Lord and move on, don’t continuously revisit the same old problems. God’s been running things without your help for a long time.

Lord teach me to care without crushing; to guide without pushing; and to love without smothering. Help me remember that sometimes you want to deal with folks without my help.

Complaining

2010-03-18T13:25:00.002-04:00

Why are some people so unhappy? It’s hard to find folks today that don’t have a list of complaints. The Bible has much to say about complaining, and none of it good.

Numbers 11:1 says, “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord”. Nothing has changed, it still displeases the Lord to hear us complain. Exodus 16:7 says, “…..he hears your murmurings …..” The Lord had various ways of dealing with complainers in the Old Testament: In Numbers 11 it was with fire,”….and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them…..” In Numbers 16 it was an earthquake,” And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up…..they went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them; and they perished.” Again, it was with the plague, “for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.” In Numbers 21 it was with snakes, ’and the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Israel died.”

I’m glad He doesn’t deal with us like that today. In the New Testament; Jude 16 refers to complainers as ungodly sinners walking after their own lusts… It’s obvious to me that God still takes complaining seriously.

God doesn’t like to hear us complain because He knows what it does to us; it gives us a negative attitude, and robs us of our joy. It keeps us and those around us from enjoying the abundant life He has for us. Usually, you find what you are looking for; if you’re looking for something to complain about, you’ll find it, if you’re looking for something to be glad about you’ll find that too. It takes no intelligence to find fault, any dummy can find something to complain about, but there’s real power and encouragement in positive thinking.

It’s not hard to understand why the Lord is unhappy with murmuring and complaining; and why we are instructed to do all things without murmurings and disputes (Phil.2:14); and why Jesus said, murmur not among yourselves (John 6:43). We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should be very thankful.

Be Happy

2010-02-25T07:11:00.001-05:00

Recently a grandson said. “But we’re happy Poppa and that’s what’s important” or “that’s what counts”, or words to that effect. I didn’t respond or comment at the time, because I really didn’t know what to say, but in reflection, I wish I had said, “No son, that’s not what’s important”.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that there is a time to be happy, but it’s not all the time. Chapter 3:1-8 says; “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to pluck that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.”

One time, or season, is often dependent upon another; except there be a time of plowing and planting, there can be no time of harvesting and eating. One season may be more fun than the other, but success and true happiness comes from learning to be content during both seasons.

I Timothy 5:8 say’s if any man provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Then, (6:6) say’s godliness with contentment is great gain. I think contentment is more to be sought than happiness, but will be elusive if there are unmet responsibilities.

Do Over

2010-02-08T14:49:00.001-05:00

Some of our fondest child-hood memories involve do-over’s. A do-over would serve as judge or arbitrator in the resolution of disputes in games, compensate for slip-ups, cool tempers, continue a game, preserve friendships and make everybody feel better. Sometimes our worse mistakes could be undone with a simple do-over. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use do-over’s in our lives today?

How often have we regretted something we did, or said, or thought? How many times have we needed to apologize for thoughtless comments or acts? How many times have we wished we could have a do-over?

The good news is that every day can be a do-over. The Prophet Jeremiah says, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23)

This tells me that the Lord’s mercies and compassions are new every morning; they give me a do-over every day; a new heart and a fresh start. It matters not what I did, said or thought yesterday that displeased the Lord; if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. He will not remember yesterday’s sins; not because He can’t; but because He chooses not to remember them.

He expects us to do the same for others, “love one another”; no building on yesterday’s disagreements; no bringing up past problems; no re-hashing of bad memories; forgetting prior hurt feeling; because we choose not to remember them; every day’s a do-over.

And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us………

Attitudes

2010-01-14T13:25:00.001-05:00

I’ve heard real estate folks say that the three most important things in real estate are location, location, and location. I believe the three most important things in Christian living are attitude, attitude, and attitude. What happens to you or around you is not nearly as important as is how you react to it. I believe God sometimes allows events in our lives to test how we will react to them; and maybe allows them to linger until we display the proper attitude.

The Bible makes it clear that God does not like for us to complain. Numbers 11:1 says, “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord”. In Exodus 16:8 Moses told the people that when they complained, it wasn’t against him, but against the Lord.

I figure I do enough every day already to displease the Lord without adding complaining to the list. So I try hard to not complain, and in truth, I have nothing to complain about. But sometimes it happens anyway, and when it does I try to visualize myself standing out in a lightening storm shaking my fist at God……that ought to give anybody instant repentance and a change of attitude.

Our dishwasher went out recently, and the first thought I had was how thankful I was for the six years of dependable, reliable service it had given us. Yeah right, well, it should have been my first thought. When the muffler and tailpipe fell off my old car as I was backing out of the carport, my first thought should have been; thank you Lord that this didn’t happen on the interstate, coming home from Columbus in the rain yesterday ….. it should have been my first thought, but wasn’t.

I remember a little primary era song about counting your many blessings and naming them one by one; we don’t do enough of that. I’m seventy years old and never one time in my life have I ever been hungry and had nothing to eat…..didn’t always want what I had, but had food. Never one time in my life have I been alone with no friends or family I could call…..I’ve been lonesome, but never alone in the world. Never one time in my life have I ever been homeless, without bed and shelter. Sometimes it was shaky and leaky with past due payments, but always a bed and a roof over my head. Millions and millions of God’s people cannot make these three statements. That’s what I mean when I say I have nothing to complain about.

Lord free me from eyes which see nothing but faults and a mind which always thinks the worse, grant me always an attitude of gratitude.

Jackass

2009-12-14T15:34:00.001-05:00

Jeremiah tells of the vessel of clay which was marred in the hand of the potter (18:4); so he made it again, another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. The Lord said, “cannot I do with you as this potter, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine”. (Romans 9:21) “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another into dishonor?” From the same lump of clay the potter creates a beautiful vase for display in the parlor, and a chamber pot to hide under the bed. Have you given much thought to your role in life, what you are and what you ought to be?

God has given each of us different roles, talents and abilities. Jesus said, without me you can do nothing. Remember this when someone compliments you. It’s like complimenting the tool instead of the craftsman. Would you look at a finely built house and talk about what a good job was done by the hammer, or listen to a smooth running engine and brag on the socket set? Likewise, we’re just a tool in the Master’s hand.

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of an ass. It was first told by the prophet Zechariah(9:9) over 400 years before the birth of Christ, and subsequently by Matthew(21:7), Mark(11:7), Luke(19:35) and John(12:14). A very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved saying; who is this? And the multitude said this is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. It must have been some sight, the garments and branches in the road, the multitudes, the shouting, cries of Hosanna, the whole city was moved.

It was no doubt a great honor for the little donkey to carry the Son of God into Jerusalem, but it would have been a gross mistake for him to have thought the shouting and celebrating was for him. When you’re complimented for presenting or representing our Saviour to the world, remember it’s not about you, like me, you’re still just the jackass.

Timing

2009-11-02T15:40:00.001-05:00

Timing is so important. Don’t put off doing what you know God is calling you to do. Opportunities can be quickly lost. I visited an acquaintance in a Hospice Facility and was uplifted and encouraged by his attitude and cheerfulness. He had no fear of dying and was peacefully awaiting the arrival of the angels to take him to meet Jesus. When I left, I promised I’d be back. About a week later I felt a pull to go back and visit him, but was busy and put it off a couple of days. When I returned, I discovered he had died the day before. In this case, he was a Christian and I had heard him give his testimony, but what if he had been lost and I had delayed and missed the last chance to witness to him?

I believe that sometimes God intervenes in our lives to change the timing. When I’m stuck in traffic I wonder what is occurring down the road that God wanted me to avoid. In Ephesians 5:20 we’re taught to be thankful always for all things. What seems to be an inconvenience could be saving you from a catastrophe. We’ve all heard stories of people who worked in the Twin Towers and were delayed and spared on the morning of 9/11.

Most of us tend to procrastinate sometimes, especially with things we don’t particularly look forward to doing, but the Bible has a lot to say about assuming you can do it tomorrow:
Proverbs 27:1; “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
Luke 12:20, “But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be; which thou hast provided?”
James 4:13&14; “Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

Personal Testimony

2009-10-08T10:55:00.002-04:00

Jesus’ famous story about the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is a good example of my spiritual experience. This young man had it all, born into a solid family with all the comforts and security, but wanting to experience more of life. My favorite verse in the story is Luke 15:17, “And when he came to himself.” When he came to himself and found himself among the swine, he said I will return to my father. His father welcomed him home and said this is my son who was lost and now is found. The story ends with a party and banquet honoring a good for nothing son who had sullied the family reputation. No one can drift so far away that they will not be welcomed home by our Father, and no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

I can’t point to a specific event or time in my life when “I came to myself”. There was no dramatic incident that changed my life. I was unhappy and God spoke to my heart and said come back to me and I will give you peace and return your joy. I did and He did. I began reading my Bible and studying every day and the more I learn the more I want to learn.
I can’t imagine starting a day without talking with God and reading His Word, and praising Him for the multitude of blessings He has poured out on me and my family.

God is good !

Follow the Leader

2009-09-14T12:39:00.002-04:00

When I was 10 or 11 years old, some older friends taught me this neat trick of placing a penny on the track in front of the train. After the train passed, you found the penny and it would be smashed flat. The penny came out oval shaped, looking something like a little copper football. We would carry this smashed penny around as a lucky coin. For some reason, it seems we were not supposed to put the penny on the track until the train was in sight; I don’t know why this was, except it made the whole experience more exciting. It would take a second or two to get the penny balanced on the track, and then you ran as fast as you could to get out of the way of the train.

One day Anthony slipped in the gravel and fell by the tracks, escaping the train by only inches. We proudly told the story of how Anthony was almost killed by the train when explaining the game to new-comers. I guess it made us seem braver or gutsier or something, but it proved to be my undoing one day when Mama heard me telling the story to Charles. Mama did not find the game to be exciting, fun or intelligent and I was banned from the game for life.I tried to convince Mama that it was a safe game and explained how “everybody was doing it”, but she didn’t buy it.

I couldn’t guess how many times I tried to justify something I wanted to do by telling Mama “everybody else is doing it”, only to hear her say “if everybody else jumped off a bridge would you jump too” ? She never was one to go with the crowd. Mama believed like Ezra (10:11), “…..separate yourselves from the people of the land…..” “Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord…..” (II Cor. 6:17) “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil….” (Exodus 23:2) "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." (Col. 2:6).

We all want to be popular and have people to like us, and sometimes it seems the best way to achieve that is to follow the leader and blend in. But following Christ has never been about blending in.

Two Sticks

2009-08-08T13:38:00.003-04:00

I hate politics, they seem to bring out the very worse in everyone, and have divided our nation. We endured eight years of “Clinton bashing” about his morals; followed by eight years of “Bush bashing” about his intelligence. Now we begin “Obama bashing” about his nationality, religion, loyalty, intentions or whatever happens to be the topic of the day. I’m sick of it. We’re so divided that we are not even “Americans” anymore; now one has to indicate their nationality with a hyphenated name. There is a firm line drawn in the sand between Republicans and Democrats, with no crossing allowed. Unfortunately it’s not drawn accurately, and there is in reality a lot of crossing back and forth in both directions. Recently, some of the most often forwarded items in my Email are quotations of Thomas Jefferson sent by my republication friends describing how the democrats are destroying our form of government. They don’t mention that Thomas Jefferson was a democrat.

Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand”. This is found in Matthew 12:25, and then for added emphasis or importance it’s repeated in Mark 3:24, and again in Luke 11:17. Jesus said that this division, if allowed to continue, will bring America to desolation.

Psalms 75:6&7; “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, But God is the judge: he putteth down one and setteth up another.” Romans 13:1, tells us to be subject unto the higher powers and that “there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God”. Solomon said’ “My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change”. (Proverbs 24:21) In Titus 3:1 we are told, to “be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work”. These scriptures tell me that after the election we need to stop throwing rocks at one another and get about the business of coming together as one people and one nation under God.

To bring the divided nation of Israel back together, God instructed Ezekiel (37:15-28) to take two sticks and write “For Judah” on one of them and “For Joseph” on the other, then hold them together and they would become one in his hand. He goes on to say, “I will make them one nation…..they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places where they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so they shall be my people, and I will be their God”.

We need an Ezekiel to write “For Republicans” on a stick and “For Democrats” on another and hold them together. Remembering that God told Ezekiel to “hold them together”, He didn’t say to take one stick and beat the other one to death with it or break one stick and throw it into the fire, just “hold them together and they would become one”.

Prayer

2009-07-03T12:43:00.002-04:00

Voice of God
Chapter 19 of 1 Kings tells of Elijah fleeing from an angry Jezebel who has sworn to take his life. On Mount Horeb, believing he is he only one remaining on earth serving the Lord, he seeks God. A great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a still small voice, and it was so that Elijah heard the voice of God.

Prayer should be much more than a list of requests. It can include speaking, singing, praising, meditating and listening. Surely God can speak to us through the wind, earthquake, thunder or fire, but often it’s only during a quiet time of listening can we hope to hear the still soft voice of God.

We can reach out and touch God in prayer anytime and anywhere. You may have an unusual and strange place where you regularly pray. Jonah prayed out of the fish’s belly. Paul and the disciples prayed on the beach. Jesus prayed in the garden. The thief reached out and touched the Lord while hanging on a cross. I knew a lineman who said his most Spirit filled prayer came while hanging by his foot, upside down from a power pole.

Prayer is conversation with God and is not confined to a particular time or location. God is in all places at all times and will hear your prayer wherever you are, and whatever your circumstances. But to consistently hear the still soft voice of God, you need a quiet time and location. Jesus said to go into your closet and shut the door (Matthew 6:6). You also need a regular time for prayer, usually early in the morning is best, before you get involved in the activities of the day.

What Do You Really Need?
Acts 3:1-10 tells of Peter and John entering the temple at the hour of prayer and meeting a lame beggar asking for money. How many times have we all had such encounters? Certain locations are cluttered every day with folks asking for a handout. It’s usually the same people every day. Acts 3:2 says the lame beggar was laid daily at the gate of the temple.

The beggar fixes his eyes on Peter and John expecting to receive money from them. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee”. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”……..”And he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God”.

If he had received the few coins from Peter and John he requested, he no doubt would have been back in front of the temple the next day, begging alms from those passing by. But he received much more, he received life changing healing. The beggar thought he needed money, but Peter showed him that what he really needed was Jesus, and Jesus changed his life.

Have you had a similar experience? Prayed for something specific only to learn you needed something entirely different. Instead of a band-aid on your problem Jesus decides major surgery is more appropriate.

A farmer scratches out a living on forty acres of hard clay with an old mule and plow. When the mule dies, he prays for another mule. God says no to the mule and gives him a tractor instead. Sometimes instead of the short term fix we seek, God has for us a life changing experience. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray “Thy will be done”.

Intent

2009-06-01T17:22:00.001-04:00

Intent: Having the mind or attention firmly directed or fixed; an act of purpose, will or determination.

How important is intent?

I remember times when my children would err and their immediate retort would include “I didn’t mean to”. They understood at a very early age how important it was that I knew that they didn’t do it on purpose. I had an employee once tell me I was lying, and I had to explain the difference between lying and being mistaken. I may have been wrong, but I certainly wasn’t lying because I believed I was correct.

In Matthew 23:23-36 Jesus addresses the matter of intent with the Pharisees; they were concerned only about outward appearances toward other men. They omitted fairness, mercy and love. Intent was very important to Jesus.

The scriptures tell us to surrender all our opinions, preferences and beliefs to the law of love. The law of love fulfills all other laws. Romans 13:10, “…..therefore love is the fulfilling of the law”. Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” James 2:8, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”

When we critique others for their lifestyle, diet, dress, hair or other personal preferences, we need to be careful of our intent. For when our opinions and preferences become more important to us than what God says is important to Him, we make idols of our own beliefs. When trying to influence others, the greatest force on earth is love.

Peace

2009-05-01T13:39:00.000-04:00

Webster’s defines peace as: Freedom from disagreements or quarrels; harmony; undisturbed state of mind; absence of mental conflict; serenity; calm; quiet; tranquility.

Chastise means to punish. Jesus died for our sins; was punished for our peace; and by His stripes we are healed. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

How’s your peace of mind and mental state? Do you fret and worry, toss and turn at night? Are you calm, serene, tranquil? You should be Jesus made provision for your peace of mind.

Fearful Christians are an abomination to the Lord, it’s insulting to Him. They are saying to the Lord, “I can’t trust you”. He has promised to provide your needs and never to leave you, do you not believe Him?

Read Revelation 21:8 to see how God feels about the fearful and look at the company you’re keeping; “But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”

We claim salvation through His death and blood; peace and mental health through His chastisement; and physical healing through his stripes…..they’re free gifts, paid up, waiting for you to claim them.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4: 6-7

Loving Others

2009-04-02T14:09:00.001-04:00

When I first entered supervision, many years ago, I was taught to remain aloof, not to get close to my employees. I was told they would take advantage of me if they thought we were friends; that they would be looking for special favors. I even had one superior tell me that if my employees liked me, it was evident I wasn’t doing my job. Much advice was dumped on me that first year, but none worse that this. What I learned through experience, was the exact opposite.

When I was a craft employee, the supervisor who got the most out of me, my best effort, was the one who treated me with respect, the one who said, “I need your help please”. The supervisor that took me by the front of the shirt and tried to cram something down my throat got the least; he got minimum effort while he was watching, and even less when he wasn’t. What I learned through experience was that I was not that different from other craft employees, most folks react just like I had. I also learned that my “real” friends would come early, stay late and bust their backsides to get the job done. Time and again they pulled my fat out of the fire.

The greatest Teacher of all was our Lord Jesus. The scholarly religious leader Nicodemus said to Jesus, “We know that you are a teacher come from God” (John 3:2). We would be wise to follow His example in our relationships with others.

The Thirteenth Chapter of First Corinthians tells us of the importance of love in everything we do. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels……though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries…….and have all knowledge…..and though I have all faith so I could remove mountains……and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and give my body to be burned…..if I don’t do it with love, I am nothing.

Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another…..These things I command you, that you love one another” (John 15: 12 & 17). The Apostle Paul said. “….ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another” (I Thess. 4:9). One of the most important lessons we can learn in life is to really love people.

Dr. W. A. Criswell preached for fifty-five years at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. In a sermon on love, he said, ”However, eloquent we may be, however gifted, however wonderfully blessed of God with talent, if our spirit is crude and rude and rough, if our heart is not filled with the milk of human kindness, if we’re not actuated and motivated by a wonderful care and concern for God’s fellow creatures, our eloquence is like sounding brass and clanging cymbal. Our gifts of the spirit are nothing and our very philanthropies fall to the ground”.

Christ knows everything we have ever done, said or thought, and He loves us anyway. He is our example; that’s how He expects us to love others, “anyway”. It matters not what they do, say or think; we’re to love them anyway. It’s a lesson better learned sooner than later.

Pledge of Allegiance

2009-03-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

In Malachi 2:15 we are told, “let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth”. I looked up treachery in my Webster’s and found; “a betrayal of trust, faith, or allegiance”. It occurs to me that this involves much more than the obvious; it covers all secrets from one another, and/or the betrayal of another’s privacy. It involves conveniently neglecting to advise of events or occurrences in which they would have a concern or interest; physical or verbal abuse; words intended to put down or hurt; comments made behind one’s back; a lack of openness or failure to share feelings; and any failure to apply the Golden Rule. Ephesians 5:25’ “Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it”. Maybe we need a periodic Pledge of Allegiance. “I pledge allegiance to my wife and to the family for which I stand, one union, under God, indivisible, with love and kindness for all”.

Fix it Daddy

2009-02-01T16:59:00.001-05:00

I can remember when my children were toddlers, to get them off a swing set or down from some other high level, I would hold out my arms and say “jump”, I’ll catch you. When I said that, I had to be ready to catch him because it would no more be out of my mouth before he was sailing through the air into my arms. He never paused to think, or wondered if I could catch him, or considered what would happen if I missed him, or doubted my sincerity, or hesitated for any reason. Daddy said jump, he jumped with joy.

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, “except ye come as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”. He’s talking about the same childlike faith a child demonstrates when he dives into your arms; no pausing, no wondering, no considering, no doubts, no hesitation. When Jesus says “come”, jump into His arms, He will not fail you.

Romans 8:15&16 says, we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father…..that we are the children of God. “Abba Father” translates into our “Papa”, or “Daddy”. The scriptures make it clear that our Heavenly Father wants us to have the closeness of a simple childlike faith in our relationship with him.

This childlike relationship also applies to forgiveness for our sins. My children never brought something broken to me and asked what caused it to fail, or blamed the breakage or the manufacturer, or poor quality materials or workmanship. They never asked for an explanation or an opinion, nor offered one; they simply held it up and said “fix it Daddy”. Sometimes we need to stop trying to explain our failures and problems to God and just ask Him to “fix it”.

Diseases

2009-01-13T03:32:00.002-05:00

I am told “Alcoholism” is a medical condition that can be diagnosed and treated, like any other medical condition. And, that “Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)” is a condition that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years, making it hard for them to control their behavior and/or pay attention. A once-daily medication is recommended to solve this problem. My most recent discovery was that adults can suffer from a ”Discipline Deficiency Disorder” condition which adversely affects their ability to perform their job. I assume we are looking for a pill to solve this problem too. It seems that all of our problems and wrongdoings can be related to diseases and illnesses and then treated with medication.

I’m not qualified to be judgmental about the accuracy of these approaches to our problems and wrongdoings, but these “disease” definitions leave something out. They leave out “guilt”. If it’s a disease I have, then how is it my fault? I’m not a drunk that needs to change his behavior, I just “caught” alcoholism, and need medication. That child doesn’t have a behavior problem that needs the attention called for in Proverbs 22:15, he just happened to catch “ADD”, and needs medication. This man isn’t a lazy bum, he just was exposed to DDD, and needs medication.

This may be the work of the Devil, removing personal responsibility for actions, and giving an “not my fault” excuse. Can you see how this robs a man of the opportunity to repent, which is first step toward forgiveness and salvation (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9)
Trying to hide our personal responsibility when we’ve done something wrong comes naturally. We feel guilty, but our desire to avoid admitting our responsibility is stronger than our guilt and the “disease” approach to our wrongdoings makes it easy. After all, it’s really not my fault.

If you’ve sinned, it’s time to say so. God is offering His cleansing and forgiveness, but it must start with repentance.

O Lord, help me to come to You; When I would rather hide my sin; Give me the courage to confess; So I can be made clean within. (Sper)

Doctrines

2008-12-21T18:33:00.002-05:00

For years people have studied the Bible and religion. Many have degrees upon degrees. There seems to be no end to the various areas of study folks have pursued.

Things like “Ecclesiology”, the study of church architecture or art; “Numerology”, the study of numbers; “Theology”, the study of God; “Apocrypha”, the fourteen books of the Septuagint that are rejected in Judaism and regarded by Protestants as not canonical; although eleven of them are fully accepted in the Roman Catholic canon; “Septuagint”, a translation into Greek of the Old testament, made several centuries before Christ; “Pseudepigrapha”, a group of early writings not included in the Biblical canon or the Apocrypha; some of which were falsely ascribed to Biblical characters; “Gnosticism”, a system of belief containing ideas derived from Greek philosophy, Oriental mysticism and Christianity stressing salvation through knowledge.

“Josephus”, the writings of a Jewish historian; “Linguistics”, the science of language; “Rabbinic”, a language from the writings of Rabbis in the early middle ages; “Epigraphy”, the deciphering ancient inscriptions; “Papyrology”, a study and translation of ancient manuscripts written on papyrus.; “Archaeology”, a study of life and culture of ancient peoples; “Hermeneutics”, the study of Biblical exegesis; the science of interpretation; “Hellenistic”, a study of the history, language and culture of the ancient Greeks; “Semitics”, the study of Jewish culture, language and literature; “Eschatology”, end times theology; “Theism”, the belief in a god; “Atheism”, the belief in no god; and the list goes on…….and on…..and on…….

Hours upon hours of study; we’ve done all we can to complicate a very simple thing. Jesus said’ “…Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17)

The deepest, most profound and complicated theology in the scriptures can be stated in only three words, “Jesus loves me”. He knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, and everything I’ve ever thought, and He loves me anyway. Which is also our example for loving others; it matters not what they have done or said or thought, we’re to love them anyway.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation….For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (Romans 10:9,10 &13)

It’s just that simple.

Sharing

2008-12-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

Sharing with others is optional only for hermits. If you are around others, you are sharing with them, intentional or not. You share your bad mood, your bad attitude, your anger; or you share your good mood, your joy, or your love. You have no control over what I share with you, and I have no control over what you share with me. We can however, control what we share with each other. Did I really want you to share in that anger, frustration, hatred and such like; or do I sincerely wish I had instead shared love, joy and peace?

Do I enjoy seeing you happy or sad?

Can we avoid sharing the works of the flesh; anger, hatred, strife and the like; (Galatians 5:19-21)?

Can we be sure we share only love, joy, peace and other fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:16-26)?

With God’s help I’m sure going to try.

In Christ

2008-11-16T14:34:00.001-05:00

“Therefore If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. (II Cor. 5:17) If this is true, and I believe with all my heart that it is, then why do we see Christians still doing the “old things”? The Apostle Paul said, “for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do” (Romans 7:15)

It’s because a man can have Christ “in him” and not be “in Christ”. We can have Christ in our hearts and not have Him in our heads. We pray and draw closer to God emotionally, in our hearts, but we need to be asking Him to get in our head; to give us the “Mind of Christ”. Then we will be “in Christ” and those old things will truly pass away.

It was the “facts” about Christ that first drew us into an intimate relationship with Him. The “feelings” came later. He started off in our heads and we had to make a conscious decision before He moved into our hearts. Afterwards we begin to direct our attention to the feelings more and less toward the facts. We need to get back to asking Christ into our heads.

Never Surrender: Book Review

2008-11-09T14:05:00.000-05:00

This autobiography by LTG (Ret) William G. (Jerry) Boykin and published by FaithWords, provides an inside view of U. S. Army Special Forces and Delta Force. From pursuing Escobar in Columbia, and arresting Noriega in Panama; to Vietnam, a failed rescue in Iran, Black Hawk down in Mogadishu, Sudan, Grenada, Waco and Washington, Boykin’s career has been an action packed adventure. For those of us whose knowledge of these crises has been limited to news reports, it’s exciting and informative to get an insider’s view of the action.

Most impressive through it all is Boykin’s unfailing faith as an evangelical Christian. Nearing the end of his career, back home in the friendly confines of America, he experiences his toughest personal battle. Because of his outspoken Christian beliefs, he is labeled an intolerant extremist and un-American and is attacked by the news media calling for his removal. By standing strong and remaining faithful Boykin is ultimately exonerated of any wrong doing. This personal battle of his was just what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5:11 & 12; “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

This is an easy reading, exciting, educational and inspirational book that I recommend highly.

By the Book

2008-10-26T13:55:00.002-04:00

I’ve heard many times about how impossible it is to fire a Civil Service employee. However, having spent 37 years in supervision and management in the Postal Service, I know from experience that it’s not true. I never failed in an attempt to remove an employee who refused to perform. The cumbersome process we had to use was intended to protect employees from over zealous supervisors and unjustified removal. Supervisors had to document their case and build a file of progressive discipline leading up to the removal. The system was tedious, but it worked.

When our employees transferred between units, their discipline file followed them. Subsequently, when you received a new employee you could build on the progressive discipline efforts initiated by prior supervisors. I once had a carrier transfer into the Briarcliff Branch accompanied by a very thick discipline folder. I was surprised, with his history of disciplinary actions, that he was still employed. His discipline history was mostly minor infractions that did not hinder service nor pose a threat to others; most seemed to be the result of boredom or possibly an employee who was under employed. I decided to give him an opportunity to start over with a clean record, hoping that this would improve his attitude and performance. I explained my intent to him and purged his discipline record. His performance as a carrier at Briarcliff was exemplary and within a few years he was promoted to supervisor; and subsequently a Branch manager. All this man needed was a little encouragement and a chance to start over.

The phrase, “by the book” was common, and clearly understood by all. It was a safe way to operate, but it was often abused by leaders without compassion for people, or who did not want to make a decision or were afraid to take chances. The most effective leaders understood that it is not possible to write rules for every possible circumstance, and that every situation can not be resolved with a black or white answer. There are a lot of gray areas, many exceptions which should be made and situational flexibility that must be exercised. One of the worse phrases ever developed in this country is “zero tolerance”. A zero tolerance policy undermines the authority of judges and courts and removes humanity from workplace decisions. Every situation and event is different and should be dealt with individually.

I’m glad God doesn’t build a file on us……I’m glad our sins are removed as far as the east is from the West……I’m glad we can “start over” every day with a new heart and a fresh start.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9)

I Don't Understand

2008-10-05T14:05:00.001-04:00

I have sons who are computer savvy and on many occasions they have attempted to explain something about the computer to me, without success. I’m usually more confused when they finish that I was in the beginning. I’ve also had grandsons attempt to instruct me in the proper use of my DVD player, and the accessories on my cell phone without much success. I sometimes feel that the modern conveniences have left me in the dark ages. It’s good I’m retired and don’t have to understand, I can just call them when I have a problem. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be to them when they can’t get through to me or make me understand; they must wonder how I’m able to find my way in out of the rain all by myself.

I’m glad the Lord understands the limitations of this finite mind. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8&9) When Habakkuk the prophet questioned God he was told “I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told to you”. (Habakkuk 1:5) Knowing we are unable to understand as He does, many things are not revealed to us. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law”. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

God’s plan for our life has been presented to us simply so that a child can understand, but we insist on trying to complicate things. We need to remember the acronym, “KISS (keep it simple stupid)”. He gave us the law in ten simple commandments that a child can understand, and we have managed to expand them into thousands of thousands of laws, many that even our lawyers can’t understand.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah said, “what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) Jude, the brother of James, identified only seven (7) duties for Christians; study the Bible; pray in the Spirit; watch for the second coming; keep yourself holy; be charitable; win souls; and hate sin. (Jude 20-23)

I think we would be better off if we left the secret things in God’s hands and focused our attention on following our simple instructions.

Wait on the Lord

2008-09-28T15:18:00.001-04:00

Throughout the Bible we are told to wait on the Lord. Psalms 47:7 is clear, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself…..”

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…...” Again in Romans 12:7 we are told, “…..let us wait on our ministering…..”

Webster’s Dictionary defines wait as to stay in a place or remain in readiness; a second meaning is to serve food at a meal. The meaning in Psalms is obvious, it’s saying to stay in place and remain ready. I’m not so sure about the verses in Isaiah and Romans; I believe wait in those verses involves service to the Lord. It reminds me of the old cliché, “Good things come to he who waits so long as he works like a dog while he waits”. It’s clear the Lord wants us to watch and wait, but I don’t believe He wants us to wait in a sitting position.

The Mind of Christ

2008-09-21T15:17:00.003-04:00

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 2:5) In this particular verse Paul was referencing humbleness and an attitude of servitude, but it is also applicable in so many other aspects of our lives. I’m thinking of discouragement and allowing ourselves to be overcome by our circumstances.

Sometimes I let “things”, “people”, “circumstances”, “situations”, “conditions”, “tasks”, “responsibilities”, “problems”, or other temporary events overwhelm me and discourage me; Even to the point of despair; I become afraid and apprehensive; I lose my courage and confidence. In my mind I want to give in, or give up to the elements. At such times I certainly do not have “the mind of Christ”, and my attitude is certainly not pleasing to Him.

There are two verses that comfort and encourage me through these events.

Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on things that are true and honest, just and pure, lovely and of a good report. Get your mind off your problems, stop meditating and concentrating on your circumstances and count your blessings.

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest”.

Our Part

2008-09-14T14:27:00.002-04:00

Jesus said, “Take ye away the stone”; John 11:39. Then in verse 43 he said, “Lazarus come forth”. With those two statements he raised Lazarus from the dead.

A couple of thoughts jumped into my mind. First, how precise Jesus had to be with his words. If he had said, “Come forth” and forgot to say “Lazarus”, that graveyard would have looked like a new plowed field.

Then, since a word from Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, don’t you know how easily He could have ordered that stone to remove its’ self? Why did he tell those around him to remove the stone?

Every promise from God requires an action on our part. If we’ll do “this”, He’ll do “that”; He requires our participation in the fulfilling of all promises.

“Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do”, Deuteronomy 29:9

“If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods…..and serve Him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines”; I Samuel 7:3

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”; II Chronicles 7:14

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”; Romans 10:9

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”; Romans 9:13

If it seems the Lord is not listening or is not responding to our prayers, we need check out our side of the equation and see if we’re doing our part.

Holy Spirit

2008-09-07T13:51:00.001-04:00

Is the Holy Spirit “with” us, or “in” us; or “upon” us? Various expressions are used in the scriptures. Luke 1:15 says that John the Baptist was “filled” with the Holy Ghost. Mark 1:8 says you will be “baptized” with the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:44 says the Holy Spirit fell “upon” all them which heard the word. John 14:16 tells us that the Holy Spirit will abide “with” us forever.

I believe the Holy Spirit has been “with” us always. He was with the children of Israel during their flight from Egypt in the form of a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). and
The Holy Spirit has been “in” all believers since His coming at Pentecost to form the church, the body of Christ (Acts 2:4). and
The Holy Spirit is “upon” us at our discretion, when we yield ourselves to Him.

However, this verbal is much less important than the reality of His presence. Jesus said, “…..the Spirit dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17)…”He will guide you into all truth”…..”He will show you things to come” (John 16:13)…..”He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance”. (John 14:26)

He is our comforter, our teacher, our reminder, our constant companion, and prays for us when we don’t how we should pray for ourselves.

Freedom

2008-08-31T14:46:00.001-04:00

We hear and talk a lot about our freedom and how much we value it. Hundreds of thousands have died ensuring and defending our freedom. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to be effective January 1, 1863 freeing the slaves in all territory still at war with the Union. We’ve been through two world wars and many skirmishes in the name of democracy and freedom. When I think of how quickly we sometimes freely surrender our freedom, it makes me wonder how much we really value it.

Jesus said that to commit sin puts us in bondage to sin. John 8:34, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” Whatever we submit to becomes our master.

Our other option is to be a slave of righteousness. Salvation means a change of masters, a change of bondage. Where we once served sin, we should now be committed to a life of righteousness and freedom. John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”. True freedom can only be found is bondage to Christ.

Aging

2008-08-24T14:12:00.002-04:00

Does it seem to you that old folks draw closer to God? Is it because of fear that they are nearing death? Or is God’s way of preparing them to leave this world? Is it all part of God’s perfect plan?

Psalms 84:7 tells us that man goes from strength to strength…..from physical strength to spiritual strength….. then, appears before God. Paul tells us in 2Cor 4:16, “though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

Someone once said that trying to ensure long lasting physical health is like trying to stem the tide with a pitchfork”. Our bodies keep ticking away in inevitable decline. We have a graphic picture of aging in the twelfth chapter of Ecclesiastes. Pleasures are few (vs1); hands tremble, back bows, teeth fallout, eyes grow dim (vs3); sleep becomes light, hearing fades (vs4); fears increase, muscles weaken, desires fail (vs5); possessions break (vs6); dust returns to the earth (vs7).

The conclusion of the whole matter (vs13&14) is fear God and keep His commandments; the significance is not found in the number of our days, but in what God says about how we have used them. The senses fade, then the body and then the mind. Gradually stripped of everything that props us up; our wealth, health, independence, dignity, beauty, and all of the above; we are left with more and more of God, and are more and more ready to meet Him face to face.

Joy

2008-08-17T12:39:00.000-04:00

I was surprised at my own reactions while watching the recent Olympics on television. I watched sports I only vaguely knew existed and athletes I never heard of, and found myself swept away with the excitement and emotion of the moment. I experienced exhilarating joy over victories and shared tears of happiness at award presentations. It was especially exciting when the cameras would focus on the faces of the athletes’ family members.

Because worldly joy relies on surroundings, conditions, other people and circumstances; disappointments and losses can often rob us of our joy and cause sadness. We can be deflated from ecstatic happiness by harsh words, aches, pains, discomforts or inconveniences. Christian joy should not rely on worldly circumstances; it should be there even when we are disappointed, inconvenienced, hurting, or alone. In John 16:22 Jesus said, “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you”. In Psalms 30:5, David said, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning”.

1 Thessalonians 4: 16 & 17 tells of our Lord’s second coming, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”.

If I can get so pumped up and excited over something as temporal as the Olympics that occur every four years; I cannot imagine what the joy will be like when I hear the shout of the archangel.

Prayer

2008-08-10T12:57:00.001-04:00

Sometimes a seemingly innocuous statement turns out to be extremely profound. Such was one I heard; “God has no ego problem”. It was said in reference to why He gave us the Ten Commandments; that it wasn’t for His benefit, but ours. I’ve found this also applies to our prayer life.
They say that prayer changes things, and it does, but even more important, prayer changes me. When I kneel in prayer I remember that for every little problem I have, there are ten thousand blessings. I remember that for every minus in my life there are a multitude of pluses.
I’m reminded that life is not all about me, and that I’m here to serve, not be served. I’m reminded that I’m to be longsuffering and forgiving regardless of how I’m treated. I’m reminded that I’m to love others “anyway”. Jesus knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, and even everything I’ve ever thought, and He loves me “anyway”. And that’s how I’m to love others. Regardless of how they talk to me, how they treat, disrespect or abuse me, I’m to love them anyway.
When I rise from prayer, the circumstances have not changed, people around me have not changed and my problems have not suddenly disappeared. What’s changed is my attitude and how I can approach and deal with those circumstances.
When Jesus set the example and taught us to pray, it was not because He needed to hear from us, although He does want that, but it is for our benefit. He knew how badly we would need to talk to Him and have our attitudes adjusted everyday.
I know a person that’s always smiling. Every time you see them they are pleasant, cheerful, smiling. Of this person, someone else once commented that such a countenance is not natural.
I agree, it’s not natural, it’s heavenly.

Word Power

2008-08-03T15:52:00.001-04:00

We need to be careful when judging folks, or assuming what or who people are based on names, labels, tags or titles. Words often mean entirely different things to different people. I’ve been a Baptist all my life, but a Baptist today can be anything from Anglican to Pentecostal.

For most of my life, the word gay meant impetuous, joyous, lively, merry, happy or lighthearted; or in reference to colors it meant bright or brilliant. Now it almost exclusively refers to a homosexual. That’s quite a change from my original teaching.

Liberal use to mean belonging to the people, not restricted; it also meant giving freely, generous, large or plentiful, not restricted, broad-minded, tolerant. Liberal can refer to democratic or republican forms of government as distinguished from monarchies or aristocracies. Politically today, liberal means someone that wants to spend it all, or give it all away, someone who is wasteful. However I still want my government to be liberal when it comes to old folks and children. Often I hear conservative preachers say liberal like it was a profane word, but they still want us to be liberal with our tithes and offerings. And I believe the good Samaritan in Luke 10 was very much a liberal.

The word amateur has been misused over the years to the point that it has lost its original meaning. By definition, an amateur is someone who does something simply for the enjoyment of it. In today’s way of thinking, if you get paid for doing something, you’re a professional, so you must be really good at it. Subsequently, you would do a better job than an amateur. We all know from experience that that isn’t necessarily so. I’m reminded of the old joke about the Titanic being built by professionals while the Ark was built by an amateur. Jesus didn’t choose the wise, mighty, or noble by human standards (1 Cor. 1:26). He sought those willing to follow Him. Things are much the same today, God is still looking for “amateurs,” those compelled by love who will serve Him for the sheer joy of it.

Down Home

2008-07-27T14:58:00.001-04:00

A Common expression in my life has been, “that’s down home”. It refers to anything that’s very familiar, something we did growing up, something Mama used to say, something we used to eat, etc; anything that involves a de ja vu or raises a vivid memory can be said to be “down home”.

To me, a “down home” chapter in the Bible is Psalms 51; which was David’s prayer after Nathan the prophet exposed David’s sin with Bathsheba by relating the parable of a rich man taking “his little ewe lamb” from a poor man.(2 Sam.12:1-15).

David confesses his sin (vs4), “Against thee and thee only have I sinned and done this evil”; pleads for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration (vs10), “Create in me a clean heart. O God; and renew a right spirit within me”; (vs12),”Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation”.

We are reminded that (vs17), “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart”; and (vs19), “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness

Another “down home” chapter is Luke 15, which includes the parable of the prodigal son.

Jesus’ famous story about the Prodigal Son is a good example of my personal spiritual experience. This young man had it all, born into a solid family with all the comforts and security, but wanted to experience more of life. “And when he came to himself” (vs17), he found himself among the swine, he said I will return to my father. His father welcomed him home and said this is my son who was lost and now is found. The story ends with a party and banquet honoring a good for nothing son who had sullied the family reputation.

No one can drift so far away that they will not be welcomed home by our Father, and no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

You are Unique

2008-07-20T13:59:00.002-04:00

I’ve never been real happy about the way I look. Most folks I know feel the same way. Everyone wants to be a little taller or a little shorter; a little heavier or a little slimmer; wish their nose was smaller or straighter; wish their skin was a little lighter or a little darker. I don’t guess you could find many folks that think they’re perfect.

We were chosen before the foundation of the world; predestined according to the good pleasure of His will; and accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:4-6). We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). Paul said, By God’s grace I am what I am (I Cor. 15:10).

If we are accepted and chosen by Him, why do we have a hard time accepting ourselves? Folks in the cosmetic business are getting rich selling products to make you look younger or prettier or different. Daily we see folks trying to lose weight or gain weight, exercising or working out, being pierced, tattooed, undergoing liposuction, plastic surgery or other means of changing their appearance.

By God’s design you are an absolutely unique person, a Christ redeemed human being who can never be replaced or duplicated.

Accepting Jesus’ free gift of salvation frees us to accept ourselves. We need to thank God that we are ourselves and can never be anybody else.

If the Lord has accepted us, surely we can learn to accept ourselves.

Chain Reaction

2008-07-14T08:06:00.000-04:00

On Saturday morning, April 21, 1855 in the back stockroom of a shoe store in Chicago, Illinois; a shoe salesman and Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball led another young shoe salesman to the Lord. On that morning Dwight L. Moody accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior.

Subsequently young Moody became an evangelist and stirred F. B. Myer to become a soul winner. Meyer brought Wilbur Chapman to the Lord, and Chapman, along with Billy Sunday, held a revival where Mordecai Ham was saved.

Dwight Moody founded the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, training thousands of young preachers.

It was Mordecai Hamm who won Billy Graham to the Lord and Graham became possibly the greatest evangelist of all time.

Could Edward Kimball have dreamed of the avalanche he was starting when he witnessed to that young shoe salesman on that Saturday morning? Can you imagine what could result the next time you witness to someone about the Lord? God has promised that His Word will not return void.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11

Let’s be bold in sharing the Lord with others.

You are what you say

2008-07-06T14:42:00.001-04:00

We become what we say; if we tell a lie, we become a lie; if we talk trash, we become trash; if we talk holiness, we become holy. One of the worse things about telling a lie is trying to remember what you said, and having to live every day with someone you cannot trust. Saying something aloud reinforces it in our mind; that’s why actors and speakers practice aloud; that’s why we are told to confess the Lord to others. Jesus said’ “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”. (Matthew 12:37)

If we speak positive things, things that are true, honest, just, pure, and lovely; these things become a part of us and we become them. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think (and speak) on these things.”(Philippians 4:8)

The Bible has much to say about how we talk: I Timothy 4:12 says to be examples of believers; in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity. “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”(Proverbs 15:2 ). “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”(Psalms 34:13) “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”(Proverbs 21:23)

You become every word you speak, so be sure everything you say is true and reflects the fruit of the Spirit. (Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance….. Galatians 5: 22& 23)

Right Thinking

2008-06-29T13:28:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been visiting with an old friend or relative and got to jaw-boning about old times, old experiences and old war stories? And then later you think back on the visit and remember things you said that you wished you had not said, or stories you told you wished you had not told. Stories about things you should have been ashamed of back when they happened, and even more embarrassed to re-tell now? I wonder what makes us this like this? I suppose its ego or pride or one-upmanship, trying to best a story told by someone else. It’s happened to me more than once, and every time I promise myself that it won’t happen again; I’ll not drag out my dirty linen and wave it in the air boastfully; then it happens again. It’s like the old competitive spirit comes out and you have to try and best the last story told.

Proverbs (23:7) says that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. James (1:14&15) says that every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed; then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Our thoughts lead to actions; sin starts as a thought. It’s important that we put more effort into “right thinking”, and into keeping our mind on the right things. Paul told the Philippians(4:8) to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. That would sure tone down the war stories, wouldn’t it? He also told the Philippians(3:13&14) to forget those things that are behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before; to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. There should be no room for glorying in the past, good or bad.

I Timothy 4:12 tells us that we are to be examples in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. It’d be hard to tell a raunchy war story while meeting this requirement.

I need to line up my lips and life, I need to walk the talk, I need to concentrate on right thinking; Maybe you do too………………

Much More

2008-06-22T14:54:00.002-04:00

There is an expression frequently used in the Bible when discussing Christ, our relationship to Him, and what He wants for us. That expression is “much more”. God has declared that the salvation He has provided is “much more” than enough to meet all our needs. We need to claim this promise, not question it.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not "much more" clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)

Now unto him that is able to do "exceeding abundantly above" all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20)
[He is able and willing; to do above what we ask or even think].

Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into bans; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are you not "much better" than they? (Matthew 6:26)

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how "much more" shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11)

How can we even consider the possibility of our prayers not being answered?

Oath of Office

2008-06-15T13:38:00.001-04:00

“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and, that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” That’s the oath that everyone serving in our military services must take; there are no exceptions, no choices or conditions, no modifications. Similar oaths are required for law enforcement personnel, postal employees, and other occupational fields. There are no opportunities to pick and choose which parts you will obey and which parts you will ignore. You surrender unconditionally to obey or you understand that you will pay the consequences.

The scriptures also call us to obedience. If an oath of office were required for Christians it might go something like this: “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Word of God against all enemies, within and without; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and, that I will obey the High Priest and the prophets appointed over me according to the ordinances and commandments found in God’s Word, the Holy Bible. So help me God.”

I wonder if we would take our call to obedience any more serious.

Book Review- The Shack

2008-06-08T16:11:00.000-04:00

“The Shack”, a novel by William P. Young (Windblown Media, Los Angeles) tells the story of Mackenzie Allen Phillip’s period of “Great Sadness” and his eye-opening experience with the Holy Trinity. Mack’s youngest daughter, Missy, is abducted and brutally murdered on a family camping trip, thus beginning his “Great Sadness”. Mack responds to an unusual invitation to meet with the Holy Trinity at the scene of the crime. What he learns there addresses age old questions such as, “How can a God of love allow such great suffering and pain?” And “Where is God when children are suffering?” You’ll want to share this book with many folks in your life who have experienced pain and suffering, it’s an enlightening view of our lives from God’s perspective. I recommend the book, and I suggest a box of Kleenex nearby.

God's Plan

2008-06-01T19:27:00.000-04:00

God did not create us to be defeated, discouraged, and frustrated, wandering through life without joy, peace, and contentment. God’s plan for our lives never includes downtime or valleys…..we bring these on ourselves. God’s plan is for us to soar from victory to victory regardless of our circumstances. Acts 16:22-25 tells of Paul and Silas being beaten and thrown into prison with their feet in stocks, there they rejoiced and sang praises to God. If Paul and Silas can have victory in beatings and stocks and prison, we should be able to experience our disappointments without losing our joy. The Bible teaches us that, “…..in all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37); and “…..we know that all things work together for good to them that love God……” (Romans 8:28).

Fear

2008-05-20T06:37:00.000-04:00

Are you fearful? Of what? Why? Should you be?

Jesus had a lot to say about anxiety and fear. (Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:4-7) Some of the things He said not to worry about included; your life and those that kill the body; food, drink, and clothes. He said, ”but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” You were also given dominion over the beasts of field, the fowl of air and the fish of sea (Psalms 8:4-8).

Moses said, “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, not forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

We’re told that approximately 6.3 million people have some type of specific phobia; Hydrophobia=fear of water; Nyctophobia=fear of darkness; Acrophobia=fear of heights; Claustrophobia=fear of confined places, etc. That’s a large number of people living in fear. With God, there is no need for us to lead a life of fear; He’s the one who created the heavens and earth and told the wind and waves to be still. God tells us that He “hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2Timothy 1:7) If you feel fearful you can be assured it’s not of God. You can also be assured that God will help you overcome your fear. John said, “And this is the confidence that we have in him that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him.” (I John 5:14-15)

Jesus said. “…..if ye have faith, and doubt not…..whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:21-22); “Therefore I say unto you; What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

I recently read this somewhere, and it’s worth repeating here; “If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy. And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world. If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world. If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare. If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.”

God is out front, He’s already in tomorrow. Its tomorrow and what it may bring that often causes fear, and God is already there. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass Him before they can get to us. “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”(Psalms 34:4).

To go through life fearful is casting doubt upon the truthfulness and trustworthiness of the Lord. God is good and no promise of His has ever failed, or can ever fail; “For the Lord thy God is a merciful God; he will not forsake thee…..” (Deuteronomy 4:31)

Book Review- "Monday Night Jihad"

2008-05-10T05:06:00.002-04:00

“Monday Night Jihad” by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn (Tyndale House Publishers) is the first of what I hope will be many novels by these authors. The story evolves around Riley Covington, a Second Lieutenant in the USAF Special Ops who, after his tour of duty, returns to his dream career as a professional football linebacker. When a radical group brings terrorism to his home stadium, Riley reverts to his secondary profession with Special Ops to help track and stop them. It’s a great suspense story with some strange twists that will keep you on edge, and then adds some “on target” comments about current sportscasters/commentators that will make you giggle. Elam is a veteran NFL Pro-Bowler who was recently traded by the Denver Broncos to the Atlanta Falcons. Yohn is the director of adult ministries with the Fellowship Community Church. They have combined to paint a very scary and realistic scenario which will make you realize how vulnerable we all are to acts of terrorism. I look forward to their second novel which is due out early next year.

Do we know when our time has come?

2008-05-01T06:03:00.001-04:00

I had been to Bulldog ballgames with Jim Stone many, many times and we always stopped at Poss’ BBQ to eat on the way into Athens. Jim would spend money on something he really wanted, but by and large was very tight with a buck. At Poss’ he always, without exception, ordered the cheapest thing on the menu which was, as I remember, a hash sandwich. This Monday night we were headed for a basketball game against Kentucky, and Jim ordered a filet steak. I didn’t think much about it until later that night. We were sitting in Jim’s living room talking with Virginia, his widow; Jim had died of a massive heart attack on the way home from the game. One of the first questions Virginia asked was about his last meal; it was strange she would ask, strange also that Jim changed that night.

Aaron knew when his time had come: (Numbers 20:26) “And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.”

In the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:20), Jesus said. “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee”; obviously this rich man did not know his time had come.

Moses knew when his time had come: (Deuteronomy 32:48-50) “And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain…..and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:”

Joshua knew when his time had come: (Joshua 23:14) “And behold, this day I Am going the way of all the earth”.

King Hezekiah knew when his time had come: (II Kings 20:1) “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the Prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.” Hezekiah subsequently pleaded with God and was granted 15 more years, see verses 2-6

God says because we forsake Him and go backwards, He will stretch out his hand and destroy us; for He is weary of our repenting (Jeremiah 15:16). For Christians, I believe this is the destruction of our physical bodies. In answer to the original question, “Do we know when our time has come”; the answer is a definite “sometimes”, and I think also that sometimes we may know why.

Fishing

2008-04-20T05:34:00.001-04:00

All are not called for the same purpose or the same vocations. Ephesians 4:11 says, “And He gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers;” If we were all preachers then where would the preachers get their shoes, clothes, and groceries? Who would provide their medical and dental needs, who would keep their automobiles running? We need laymen, we need cobblers, doctors, tailors, barbers, dentists, merchants and mechanics. We need plumbers, musicians and entertainers too.

Whatever our vocation, all Christians are called to be fishermen. Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Fishing for men is somewhat like fishing for fish in that you have to catch them before you can clean them; except with men one never gets thrown back.
Jesus said, “…..him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”. (John 6:37)

Jesus calls us to be fishers of men. It matters not where you fish, because every pond needs to be fished. But if you follow Christ, you must fish.

Close Calls

2008-04-10T05:23:00.001-04:00

When I was 16 years old I was driving my Daddy’s new Ford home from school one afternoon. I had several of my buddies in the car with me and was showing off. Driving way too fast, I topped a hill on a two lane rural highway only to see a school bus unloading children about 100 yards ahead. About 50 yards ahead was a small dirt and gravel road off to the right. To avoid hitting the bus and running over a dozen or more children, my only option was to try to make the turn into the dirt road. It all happened so fast, I can’t begin to describe how I made that turn. It was a miracle the car did not roll over, that I did not hit the bus or any children, and that we were not all killed. All I can surmise that God’s hand was on us and his mercy spared us in a close call.

I was forty nine years old Labor Day Weekend in 1988 as I walked around a hot and crowded arts and craft show with my wife. When I began to have mild chest pains I looked around for available assistance and saw an ambulance parked at the top of a hill near the restrooms. Without mentioning the chest pains I steered us toward the restrooms. After using the restroom and resting briefly in the shade, the pains went away; assuming indigestion, I made no mention of them. However, the pains returned the following Thursday night with a vengeance and we went to the doctor on Friday morning. After an EKG, he sent me immediately to Saint Joseph’s Hospital for consultation with cardiologists. I was admitted to the hospital and for the next six days underwent a series of tests. On Wednesday evening the cardiologist advised me that they would do a catheterization on Thursday and let me go home on Friday. If surgery was needed, they would schedule it in a few weeks since they were backlogged at that time. After the test Thursday, I was advised that by-pass surgery was scheduled for the following morning. I protested the timing, reminding the cardiologist that I was told I would go home Friday and come back in a few weeks if surgery was needed. He smiled and patted my hand patronizingly and said “we’re not sure you have a few weeks”. I think for the first time in my life I suddenly faced my own mortality. The surgery was successful and in a few weeks I was back to my normal routine; once again God had allowed me to escape a close call.

One summer I was late leaving Atlanta, driving to a convention in Florida. Driving much too fast down Interstate 75, I encountered a gentleman in a new BMW who was evidently running late also. We were making very good time, running side by side when we encountered a jack-knifed tractor trailer blocking the Interstate ahead. A State Trooper was already on the scene. When I tried to stop the car, it slid all over the road and rocked back and forth on two wheels. The BMW had similar problems. When we finally stopped, we had rubbed off each other, damaging the paint, but no serious damage had occurred. Only a miracle kept us from hitting each other, rolling over, or hitting the wreck in the road ahead. Once again, God had spared me in a close call.

After a work-out session in late September 2007 I noticed a heartbeat in my lower abdomen. I don’t know a lot about anatomy, but I was sure my heart should be higher in the body. I consulted with my physician who sent me for a cat scan where they discovered a large aortic aneurysm in my abdomen. I was rushed through the preliminaries for admission to the hospital for surgery. The aneurysm was successfully repaired on October 8th. The surgeon told me they usually operated on these aneurysms when they reached 5cm and mine was over 9. He added that this was the largest aneurysm he had seen outside of an autopsy. Had it gone un-repaired, within a few months it could have been fatal for me. Once again God had allowed me to escape a close call.

These close calls come readily to mind; I don’t know how many more there may have been that I’ve forgotten, or how many others of which I was never aware. I remember reading about multiple incidents of people being late for work for various reasons on 9/11 and being spared when their building came down. Matthew 10:29-31 tells us that the very hairs of our head are numbered and not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father’s notice. It also tells us not to fear because we are of more value than many sparrows. The Lord works in mysterious ways; the next time you’re stuck in traffic or have a flat tire, remember it’s possible that you are being spared a much worse fate if you had not been delayed or inconvenienced.

“I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”(Martin) With God’s eye on us, we need not fear anything on this earth.

We make schedules and plans; but remember Proverbs 16:9; “A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.” Unexpected inconveniences can be opportunities, look around for why God has you there at that time.

Book Review

2008-04-01T06:17:00.001-04:00

I recently read “My Grandfather’s Son” by Clarence Thomas (HarperCollinsPublishers). This is an autobiography by Justice Thomas and pays homage to his Grandfather, Myers Anderson. Thomas was born in a community called Pinpoint, in Liberty County, south of Savannah, Georgia and reared primarily by his Grandparents. He tells of the values instilled into him by his Grandfather, and how he drifted away from them only to return to them as he matured in wisdom. It’s a success story beginning with poverty and hunger and ending with appointment to the United States Supreme Court. The road leads through Holy Cross College, Yale Law School, a period of radical rebelling, and two marriages. I found it especially interesting and enlightening. It was written by a contemporary; I too lived through this social period in Georgia; and followed some of the story in the media as it was occurring. I recommend the book; it increased my already significant esteem for Justice Thomas, and is captivating, quality reading.

Personal Testimony

2008-03-20T03:43:00.001-04:00

Complaining

2008-03-12T05:42:00.001-04:00

Why are some people so unhappy ? It’s hard to find someone today that doesn’t have a list of complaints. The Bible has much to say about complaining, and none of it is good. Numbers 11:1 says, “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord”. This has not changed, it still displeases the Lord to hear us complain. Exodus 16:7 says, “…..he heareth your murmurings against the Lord…..”.

Recently I read where someone was questioning why political polls showed 67% of the people were unhappy with the direction the country was headed and wanted change. This individual wondered, “If folks were unhappy because we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day,
7 days a week? Or is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This is in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents, and neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of our people unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S, yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.”

We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times each day, and be thankful and appreciative. It’s not hard to understand why the Lord is unhappy with, “…..murmurers and complainers, walking after their own lusts;…..” (Jude 16). And why we are instructed to “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Phil 2:14) and why Jesus said, ““Murmur not among yourselves” in John 6:43

I'm Thankful

2008-03-02T15:52:00.001-05:00

Have you ever tried to list the all things for which you are thankful?

I’m thankful for a Mama that insisted I show “gumption”, and a Daddy that insisted that I have “Backbone”. Webster’s defines gumption as shrewd practical common sense with courage and initiative. Backbone to Daddy was guts, courage, masculinity, gentlemanly manners, and all that is associated with being a man.

I’m thankful for the simplicity of the gospel; that the deepest, most complex and profound theology in the scriptures can be expressed in only three words; “Jesus loves me”. He knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, and every thought I’ve ever had and He loves me anyway. For this I’m very thankful.

I’m thankful for my parents, my sisters, and my heritage. I’m thankful for my wife, my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; my entire family. I’m thankful for a wife who cares and loves me enough to nag me to death sometimes. I’m thankful for a son that’ll put his own life on hold to move in and take care of me when I can’t take care of myself. I’m thankful for a grandchild that calls “just to see how ya’ll are doing”.

I’m thankful for the comfortable life God has given me here on this earth. To wake up in a comfortable and warm bed; have a hot cup of coffee, take a hot shower, put on clean clothes. Most of God’s creatures don’t have it so good. I’m thankful for the last can of soup in the pantry and the last pair of socks in my drawer, even the ones with the holes. It’s so easy to lose our attitude of gratitude.

I’m thankful for the medical profession and the way they can relieve pain; and for surgeons that can go inside of us and fix things.

I’m thankful for a Preacher that preaches the Bible and for southern gospel music. I’m thankful for a son that reinforces my faith by demonstrating his own and a friend that is always there for me.

I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness and love, His patience and forgiveness, His healing touch, the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life; and for answered prayer, especially when He allows me to witness it.

Most of all I’m thankful He chose me, loved me, and saved me; I’m thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ.

How Big is God

2008-02-25T05:45:00.001-05:00

Follow the Leader

2008-02-10T18:12:00.000-05:00

Like many small towns, my hometown of Hapeville Georgia was divided down the middle by rail road tracks. When we went to the Post Office, to church, to school or to Wilder’s Ice Cream Parlor, we had to cross the rail road tracks. In those days, many trains went through every day and waiting at the crossing for a train to pass was a common, everyday experience. Initially, this was scary for a little fellow because the trains were so big, fast and loud. But quickly it became nothing more than waiting at a traffic light for the cars to stop.

When I was 10 or 11 years old, some older friends taught me this neat trick of placing a penny on the track in front of the train. After the train passed, you found the penny and it would be smashed flat. The penny came out oval shaped, looking something like a little copper football. We would carry this smashed penny around as a lucky coin.

For some reason, it seems we were not supposed to put the penny on the track until the train was in sight; I don’t know why this was, except it made the whole experience more exciting. It would take a second or two to get the penny balanced on the track, and then you ran as fast as you could to get out of the way of the train. One day Anthony slipped in the gravel and fell by the tracks, escaping the train by only inches.

We proudly told the story of how Anthony was almost killed by the train when explaining the game to new-comers. I guess it made us seem braver or gutsier or something, but it proved to be my undoing one day when Mama heard me telling the story to Charles. Mama did not find the game to be exciting, fun or intelligent and I was banned from the game for life.

I tried to convince Mama that it was a safe game and explained how “everybody was doing it”, but she didn’t buy it. I couldn’t guess how many times I tried to justify something I wanted to do by telling Mama “everybody else is doing it”, only to hear her say “if everybody else jumped off a bridge would you jump too” ? She never was one to go with the crowd.

Mama believed like Ezra (10:11), “…..separate yourselves from the people of the land…..”
“Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord…..” (II Cor. 6:17)
“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil….” (Exodus 23:2) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. (Col. 2:6).

We all want to be popular and have people to like us, and sometimes it seems the best way to achieve that is to follow the leader and blend in. But following Christ has never been about blending in.

Angels

2008-02-01T08:02:00.000-05:00

Angels

Pop was into his eighties and driving a Ford almost as old as him. I had tried numerous times to get him to buy a newer car, but he always said it was foolish to buy anything new at his age. He said he didn’t even buy green bananas. He was alone and southbound on busy Interstate 75 when the Ford died and stranded him between exits. Because of his age and arthritis, he didn’t ambulate so well and was pretty sure he could not walk to the next exit. Of course he didn’t have a cell phone because “at his age he didn’t need any new fangled, wireless telephones”.

He was telling me the story a few days later and I expressed concern, saying something brilliant like, I bet you were upset and worried. Pop said no, he really didn’t worry he just talked it over with the Lord. Within minutes a pick-up truck with two young ladies in it pulled in behind him on the side of the Interstate and asked if they could help. He told them the situation thinking maybe they could give him a ride somewhere or send help for him. One of the young ladies was a mechanic and the other was her sister. They were in town from Florida for a NASCAR race.

Pop’s angels made emergency repairs to the old Ford and then drove it to a nearby dealership for permanent repairs. Only after receiving assurance from the dealership that Pop would be going in about an hour did his NASCAR angels leave him.

The Bible teaches us that the Angels of God are given the wisdom to know all things that are in the earth. They excel in strength to do His commandments and hearken unto the voice of His Word. They are Spirits sent forth to minister to believers. Angels are exceedingly numerous, inconceivably powerful, and are concerned about the physical well being and safety of believers. Although angels are spirits, we are given numerous examples of them being visible in human form.

I believe there are “full-time” and “part-time” angels. I believe there are angelic spirits from God that are full-time angels. Then I believe God gives all believers the opportunity to be “part-time” angels. Something like a “weekend angel permit” to help others in need.

We need to be alert to our “weekend permit” opportunities, and make good use of them or God could give these privileges to others who will appreciate them. If we lose these opportunities, we also lose the blessings that come from them. The Bible says, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully……God loveth a cheerful giver”. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”…..“Give and it shall be given unto you……”. These promises are for physical, emotional and spiritual needs; they are financial, material, help in the time of need, comfort in time of sorrow or loneliness, and wise advice in times of decisions. They apply to all phases of our lives, cash in on them. Pop did.

An Open Letter to my Grandchildren

2008-01-21T05:25:00.000-05:00

So You Have a Baby

What does it mean; this little human life? You’ve created a living person who may live 80 or 90 years or longer, walk, talk, make decisions, maybe make significant and lasting contributions to civilization and mankind, maybe be a career criminal. You will see this little one’s personality emerge much earlier than you expect. This little person may have many children and grandchildren and pass your genes on for years. Someone said that our children are our messages to the future. They will tell others who will never know us who we were.

So you have a baby, congratulations, you have assumed serious responsibilities that will last for the rest of your life. When you are in your 80’s and this child is in its 60’s, you will still feel the same responsibilities you feel today. For sure you are responsible for food, clothing and shelter, the basic needs; also for training, education and rearing into adulthood. You need to teach good manners, social skills and responsibilities. The responsibilities you have assumed are great, no doubt, but they pale when compared to the happy times and joys you will experience. When that little one first recognizes you or your voice and smiles, your heart will melt and run out your eyes.

I know it’s awesome to try and think of this little one living 80 or 90 years or longer. But it’s even more awesome, and almost overwhelming, when you remember that you have created a living soul that will live for ever, and ever, and ever. That 80 or 90 years is just a wisp of time compared to forever. As you train this child to live their short while on earth, don’t neglect to prepare and teach them to make their decision about eternity. The world will teach them more than they need to know about sin, so it falls to you to expose them to the gospel. Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

More Mama Said

2008-01-10T11:18:00.000-05:00

If there are a hundred members in your church, I bet there are only a half dozen or so that will sweep the floors, cut the grass and clean up the cemetery. The Bible says to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only; Mama said not to just stand around and pray when there’s work to be done.

There are only two kinds of people in this world; everyone is either a taker or a giver. Takers are generally looking for something for nothing while givers are generally trying to lend someone a helping hand. Mama said I was raised to be a giver and to stay away from takers cause they will bleed you dry and then get mad at you when you run out.

Once Mama caught me looking at an attractive young lady too long and too intense and told me I’d better keep my eyes straight ahead. I tried to explain that it was like admiring beautiful flowers, just because I liked to look at them, it didn’t mean I wanted to pick them. But she said I’d best save that tale for someone that didn’t know me. Mama said the best way to avoid forbidden fruit was to stay out of the devil’s orchard.

During a discussion about sin, little white lie sin or really bad sin, and which sins might be worse than others, Mama said that sin is not a smorgasbord you can pick and choose from. It’s like soup, and when you drink it you get it all.

Pop always had a head-full of dreams about things he wanted to do, places he wanted to go, and things he wanted to buy, including big recreational vehicles, property in Florida and in the mountains, and exotic vacations. When he went too far with his dreams, Mama would bring him back to earth. Mama said that every decision we make and action we take is based either on Pride, Greed, Lust, Prejudice, or God’s Will. We need to make sure our decisions and actions are based on God’s Will for our life.

Sometimes I find myself praying for things I don’t really feel down in my heart, especially when it involves forgiving someone or giving up bad habits. Mama said God hears your words, but He listens to your heart.

When I was about twelve I decided that smoking cigarettes would make me tough, bad, cool, or whatever it was I wanted to be at that age. I was making about eight dollars a week from my paper route so it was no problem for me to drop a quarter into a vending machine and get a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes. I got two pennies change back, stuck down in the cellophane on the pack.
I knew Mama would never approve of me smoking, so I got a large tomato can and hid my cigarettes behind the garage. I would lay the cigarettes and matches on the ground and turn the can upside down over them. By stepping on the can and pushing it into the ground over my stash, it would hide them and also protect them from the rain. When I left for school each morning I would take a short cut through the back yard, pick-up my cigarettes, and proudly puff away as I walked to school. Any cigarette not completely smoked would be carefully extinguished and the butt placed in my pocket for later. This thrifty habit proved to be the Achilles Heel of my scheme when Mama called me to the washing machine one day to explain the loose tobacco she had found in my shirt pocket. She was hurt that her son would stunt his growth by smoking cigarettes (we didn’t know about cancer back then). Mama cried, and I promised faithfully never ever to do such a thing again. Many times I have said I was sorry for something I did or said. Then I went out and did it again. I was not so sorry I had done it as I was that I got caught. Mama said that real repentance was being sorry enough to stop doing it.

Did you ever feel like some of God’s commandments and rules were designed to keep you from having fun or a good time? God has no need to show you who is boss or to demonstrate his power. Everything He says is for your own good and benefit, to ensure your eternal home in heaven, and to improve the quality of your life on earth. Mama said God doesn’t have an ego problem.

As a homemaker, wife and mother, especially during the years she had three teenagers at home, Mama must have had many exasperating and frustrating days when nothing seemed to go right, as we all do. But Mama never shared her frustrations with us; she would smile and said: “Jesus knows my deepest need, He knows my every care. My Lord has promised to be near, and all my burdens share.”

Mama said that God wants a son/daughter relationship with you. Your prayers should not be a wish list, or a turning to God as a last result when you are sick or in trouble. Your daily prayers should be an intimate conversation with God about your life; praise and thanksgiving for your blessings; and His direction for your future.

Mama said the deepest, most complex and profound theology in the scriptures can be expressed in only three words; “Jesus loves me”. He knows everything I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever said, and every thought I’ve ever had; and He loves me anyway. I don’t understand this, but I’m sure thankful for it.

They say that time is relevant, how long five minutes is depends on which side of the bathroom door you are on. We think of 80 or 90 years being a long life and then we read in the Bible of Methuselah fathering a child when he was 187 years old and living to be 969 years old. But even Methuselah’s long life was just a brief wisp of time as compared to eternity. Mama said it’s awesome to realize that during this brief time we spend on earth, we get to personally decide where we will spend eternity. Eternity is for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever…….

Have you ever resisted attacking a situation or problem that subsequently went away by its self? Mama said that many times the smartest thing to say or do is nothing.

God said despise not, judge not (Romans 14:3) Mama said a person that does a certain thing should not despise one that does not do it; and a person who does not do a certain thing should not judge one who does it. The Bible says, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14: 12).

God created the Garden of Eden for Adam, but He expected Adam “to dress and keep” it. (Genesis 2:15) Mama said God expects us to maintain things He gives us too. If He gives you a house, He expects you to keep it clean and painted, if He gives you shoes He expects you to keep them clean and polished, if He gives you a car He expects you to keep it maintained and washed. The same principle applies to everything God gives you.

When Mama was on her deathbed at the Henry Medical Center, we prayed with her and tried to encourage her, but she would turn it around and comfort us. The last words I ever heard my Mama say were, “All is well in my Father’s house”, as she smiled and patted my hand.

Mama Said

2007-12-28T08:59:00.000-05:00

God blessed me by allowing me to be born into a Christian home, with Christian parents that loved the Lord, each other, and my sisters and me. They worked hard, teaching us right from wrong and setting the right examples for us. I was exposed to the Gospel at an early age and gave my heart to Jesus while still a young boy. I’ve not always lived and acted like it, but I’ve been a Christian for almost as long as I can remember.

I don’t know how many real true angels God has put here on this earth, but my Mama was one of them. Look up sweetness and kindness in the dictionary and you’ll find my Mama. She reared three of us siblings and I can never remember her raising her voice. I may have had a few spankings early in life, because something had taught me to listen when Mama spoke. But from the time I was old enough to have a clear memory, I remember only one spanking by my Mama. I can remember many, many times I should have been spanked, but when I did wrong, Mama would usually cry. I can clearly remember how it broke my heart to see my Mama cry, and how much more I would have preferred a spanking.

My Daddy was a Railway Mail Clerk, working on the trains, and was gone from home a lot. While Mama had the most profound influence on my life, “Pop’s” influence was also significant. Pop did a little boxing early in life, and frequently used language from those days. Early in my life he stressed to me that whatever happened, or whatever I had done, I should always know that he “was in my corner”. I understood what that meant, and throughout life whenever I got into trouble Pop was the first person I wanted to see. I remember friends in high school having problems and hoping their Daddy didn’t find out; but that never made sense to me, because my Pop would be the first one I’d turn to when I had a problem.

Pop took his fatherhood duties seriously and there was never much playing around with him. He was quick to correct and stern with discipline, but it was done in such a way that there was never a doubt in my mind that he loved me very much, and he wanted me to be the best I could. Pop held ladies in high esteem, placing them on a pedestal, and behavior that might be acceptable to him around men could draw a sharp rebuke if there were ladies present. I can remember him getting up in a restaurant and going to a table of strangers to remind them that there were ladies present that could hear their conversation. Although he was not a large man physically, he had a presence that demanded respect and usually received an apology for his efforts.

He impressed upon me that I was to be a gentleman around ladies and that boys do not hit girls. My sisters could do nothing that would provoke me into hitting them, because I knew how Pop felt about boys hitting girls and I did not want to find out what would happen to me if I did it. I must confess that I did find sneaky and conniving ways to get even when they made me mad, but I never hit one of them. Pop always corrected my behavior when I erred in his presence, and his rebuke usually started with, “Boy ! ”. Whenever he started his comments with an emphatic “Boy”, I knew what was coming. The last time I remember hearing this was in my living room when I used a vulgar word in front of my wife. Pop said, “ Boy!, do not talk like that in front of a lady!” I was 60 years old and he was 84.

My mind is crammed full of things “Mama said”. She had a way of teaching with parables, and stories, and examples that would stick in your head for the rest of your life. Like when things would not be going well in life and you would wonder why God was letting all this trouble happen to you; Mama explained that life was like a big work of God’s embroidery. He is on the top looking down at the beautiful picture taking shape. And we’re on the bottom looking up at the mess of tangles and knots. When we would pray and tell God what a mess things were, He would look down at the work nearing completion and say things looked just fine from there.

What follows is some things “Mama said”. Since it’s all from memory, Mama may get credit for some things she didn’t actually say, but in every case it is something Mama would have said if she had thought of it. And besides, some days I’m pretty sure Mama is still talking to me.

Mama said your conscience is a very small, sharp pointed, metal triangle embedded in your heart. When you do something you should not do, it turns ever so slightly and the three points prick your heart to let you know to stop doing it. If you ignore the pricks in your heart and keep doing it, your conscience will eventually cut a circle in your heart so it can spin around with no pricks at all. That’s when you’re in trouble because you won’t know right from wrong anymore.

Mama said a lot of folks in this old world are hungry and we should be thankful for any food we have and never ever complain about what it is or how it’s cooked or even how it tastes. Just be thankful you have something to eat. The Bible says, “When the people complained, it displeased the Lord”.

I spent 37 years of my career in supervision and management, giving instructions and trying to motivate folks to do their best. Sometimes I was tempted to slam my fist down and say “because I said so”, but I could never forget that Mama had said for me to not ever let the love of power replace the power of love in my life.

Mama said I should read and study my Bible every day so when Jesus comes back I won’t have to try to explain to Him why I didn’t have time to read the book he gave us. And besides that, if some false prophet starts quoting Hezekiah 10:18 to me I’ll have sense enough to know Hezekiah’s not a book in the Bible.

Mama said when you become a child of God, he does not take away your freedom of choice or your human desires. You still have temptations and the ability to choose sin. But He hooks a big bungee cord on the back of your belt so you can only go so far away from Him. The further you stretch this cord and go away from God, the harder you are coming back when you reach the end of your cord. It can be very painful.

More later